Rave Re:view Home Staging & Redesign

RESA Finalist for Professional Home Stager of the Year

2011-12-03T10:06:00.009-04:00

Great news! I'm a finalist for an award given to a Home Stager who has been in business for more than 2 years. RESA (Real Estate Staging Association) is a North American organization that works to strengthen the Home Staging industry. Every year RESA honours stagers with vaious awards. I'm a Canadian finalist for the Professional Stager of the Year award. The winner will be announced at the annual convention on February 1st in Las Vegas. Proud to be from Halifax Nova Scotia, I'm thrilled to have been selected by my peers in RESA, who hail from all over the continent, as a finalist for Professional Stager of the Year. Members choose finalists based upon annonymous photos of entrants' work. Now it's in the judge's hands.

You can count on Rave Re:view when you hire us to stage your property for the real estate market.

How Do I Know When To Stage A Room?

2011-11-15T20:57:00.071-04:00

Here in Halifax Nova Scotia the vast majority of listed properties have not been staged. Because 90% of buyers search the net prior to contacting a real estate agent, enticing online photos are a must. I get soooooo frustrated when I view mls listings because I know how much better these homes can present themselves if a professionally trained stager is brought in to help prepare each and every one. Sometimes it is pretty obvious that a home requires staging. One need not be a trained stager to know that the room above is in dire need of help. Left as is, buyers aren't going to give it a second thought but believe it or not I have seen online photos that market rooms in this state of affairs.

In most cases, to the untrained eye, a room such as the one just above will look 'ok' when in fact a professionally trained home stager knows how to bring it to another level. This room is the family living space which is open to the kitchen. It lacks sofa seating and the fantastic built-in bench is functioning mainly as a place to display accessories.

Warmed up by the brown and rust colour palette and with the addition of pillows to let buyers know that the built-in can act as extra seating, the room is not only more functional after staging but has a higher end feel than it did in its original state.Today's buyers are a generation or two younger than the average seller. Many homes in Halifax / Dartmouth/ Bedford and surrounding areas present as does this next property. Today's buyers don't want to purchase homes that remind them of their parents' or grand parents' homes. No, they want current flooring and light fixtures and rooms that are spacious and airy feeling. Don't you?

The highly determined 70 plus year old home owner who was desperate to sell her house heeded my every word. She purchased an up to date fixture (sorry it's not visible in the photo) and a smaller dining room set which she planned to use in her new home. After the consult I returned to showcase the property. With some rentals, some furniture rearranging, some accessories added and some taken away there was an accepted offer less than 3 weeks after the house was listed.
With it's dated light fixture and an oversized table that dwarfed the dining room, had the photo on the mls site been that of the room before staging do you think the viewing traffic would have been high? Rooms appear to grow in size when they house furniture that allows a space to open up. Professionally trained home stagers know how to enhance the size of any room. That was my goal when I staged the tiny den below. My clients were told by their agent that the services of a home stager were not needed-that the house showed well .In a panic to sell, after the house was on the market with no offers, I was hired. The agent was right in that the house was move -in ready but staging isn't only about move-in ready. Staging is also about opening up spaces. By removing a couple of pieces of furniture - voila- this small room appears to be much more spacious both online and in person. The entry way ( below) was also made more spacious when furniture was removed. And much to the delight of my clients, they had an accepted offer 4 days after the staging took place.

I've seen countless rooms online that resemble the rooms I've presented in their 'before' states. They're 'o.k.' but 'o.k.' is NOT good enough for me. Is 'o.k.' good enough for you?

So the question is ....How Do I Know When To Stage A Room?

It's really hard for the untrained eye to see what a professionally trained stager can see. My advice ....hire an expert in the field to ensure that your home is not just 'o.k'....to ensure that it catches the attention of every potential buyer in your target market and keeps them wanting more once they enter the front door.
Ciao

Modern Stone House Staged By Rave Re:view in Halifax

2011-06-28T22:06:00.062-03:00

It's been quite some time since I last wrote a blog entry. My staging/redesign/decorating business Rave Re:view Home Staging & Redesign which is located in Halifax Nova Scotia has really taken off. I'd like to thank everyone who has entrusted me to stage or redesign their living spaces and for passing my name on to others. I was lucky to have been given the opportunity to stage one of Halifax's most architectually interesting properties this past week. Thanks to the listing agent Ethan Michaels of Bryant Realty Atlantic for hiring me to do the initial consult and to the owner who subsequently enlisted my help to project manage and carry out the Showcasing. When I first arrived on the scene the house, in spite of its incredible bones, presented as the minimalist bachelor pad that it was. While the owner has very current cool furniture, accessories and area rugs- more was needed to warm up the space. In today's blog I just want to show you the end result. In entries to come I'll share some of my staging strategies with before and after pictures. For now, enjoy the photos and if you're looking to live in an incredibly cool, one of a kind house both rustic and modern in character with a 30 foot massive exposed beam in its main living space; a cozy panelled den with built in book shelves surrounding a designer fireplace; a huge family room with a bed sized window seat and exposed stone walls; and a master suite hide away with an over sized walk in closet, multiple skylites , a balcony and an extra large outdoor deck; check out both the Bryant Realty Atlantic web site and the Mls listings. (#34o562). And remember you can count on Rave Re:view when you enlist our help to stage or redesign your living space.

902 440-4676 ravereview@eastinlk.ca

Home Staging-an Investment NOT an Expense

2011-01-04T20:55:00.066-04:00

I just destaged the home in Halifax Nova Scotia that was featured in my previous blog entry. The good news is that the owners accepted an offer the day before Christmas Eve. I'm thrilled as are the owners who had already offered conditionally on the home of their dreams prior to listing with Christeen Chiasson and so needed a quick sale to ensure they did not lose the house they so desperately wanted. While hesitant at first, their decision to paint based upon my recommendation paid off!! This spurred me on to write today's entry entitled `Home Staging- an Investment NOT an Expense'.

For the most part, when individuals first decide to sell their homes they have no desire to spend another penny on a property they have chosen to vacate. Many view home staging as a decorating service and home improvement as an expense they should not have to incur.

BUT.....the reality of today's real estate market is that most buyers are willing to pay more for

'move in ready' homes. They do not have the time nor the inclination to repair or update their new homes. They want freshly painted walls, current flooring and up to date light fixtures. They shy away from homes that have well worn walls and flooring, chipped sinks and stained counter tops, dated lighting, dripping faucets and dark crowded living spaces. They simply want to move in and get on with their lives.

Savvy real estate agents who have their clients' best interests at heart know the value of home staging. They know that staged properties draw in buyers who want turn key homes. They know that 90% of the buying public choose properties to view via the internet.

Because they know that the photos of their listings must portray their sellers' properties in the best light possible, they understand the advantages that professionally staged properties have over those that have not been prepared by a trained home stager.

They know that home staging is a marketing tool and not a decorating service. They know that staging is not just decluttering but is both an art and a science.

They know that a trained specialist such as myself is capable of opening up living spaces and highlighting the features a home has to offer by rearranging furnishings.

They know that I am able to brighten up dark spaces and make architectural features come alive through the recommendation of paint colours, window dressing or undressing, and lighting placement.

Like all services, there is a financial cost to the client. But .....the fee for a home stager's service should be viewed as an investment and not as an expense. Still skeptical??? Look at the results of the 2009 survey carried out by HomeGain, a website designed to both connect the

buying /selling public with agents and to disseminate real estate information to agents, buyers and sellers alike.

The HomeGain chart and bar graph I've included in this blog entry compare the average cost of each home improvement with the resulting average increase in selling price. A $300.00 to $400.00 investment in my professional Home Staging services can on average add $1500.00 to $2000.00 to the final selling price. That is a possible 586% return on the cost of the services I provide. If that is not a good investment, I don't know what is?????

When I carry out a preliminary consultation of a lived in property, the recommendations I make can include any one or all of the Home Improvements mentioned in the HomeGain survey. And while there is a cost incurred by the home owner for every improvement undertaken, the investment not only can bring in monetary gains but can result in a speedy sale as well.

Based on the recommendations I made during my initial 2 hour Home Staging Consult, the owners of this property had their main bathroom painted, changed a dated lighting fixture and replaced the nondescript mirrors with ones I purchased for them. After they carried out my recommendations I returned to 'ice the cake' so to speak. Their investment in home improvements and my hands on staging paid off........

Their house sold 4 days after it was staged for more than the asking price in a city where buyers traditionally offer less than the list price.

Yes........ Home Staging is AN INVESTMENT and not an expense.

You'll garner many a Rave Re:view when you invest in my services here in Halifax , Dartmouth and surrounding areas to prepare your property for the real estate market. My satisfied clients, both real estate agents and sellers will attest to that!

Think 'Some' NOT 'None' re: Wall Art and Accessories

2010-12-27T14:12:00.049-04:00

I invite you to take a look at my latest project, a semi-detached house located at 58 Fleetview off of Larry Uteck Blvd in Halifax Nova Scotia . I want to thank Christeen Chiasson of Royale Lepage Anchor Realty Al Chiasson Selling Team, for hiring me and for acting as my assistant when I did the hands on staging. While it is romanticized on television, Christeen saw first hand how physically demanding staging can be. I carried out a consult but the owners had not yet decided to move forward with the hands on work when later in the week, two hours before a showing, Christeen asked me if I could prepare the house for a viewing that very day. I raced around town, gathered up needed rentals and with Christeen's help got the job done. Christeen sees staging as an effective marketing tool and so not only paid for the consult but paid for a good portion of the hands on staging and rentals as well. Lucky are her clients for listing with an agent who has their best interest at heart and is marketing their property in the most effective way she can.

Some sellers have too much furniture crowding rooms, others don't have enough to create an inviting living space. The key word here is inviting living space. Buyers know within minutes of entering a property if this will be their chosen home. Without staging, a sterile blank walled vestibule darkened by heavy drapery covering the door and windows would have greeted buyers. Now, light pouring through the sheer covered windows and a piece of wall art allows the entryway to present itself as bright and airy.

This house had a sufficient amount of furniture but absolutely no wall art. Many sellers shy away from hanging wall art because of the holes left in the walls once it is removed. But.... barren walls result in cold uninviting living spaces. Today's buyers purchase homes based upon emotion. It's hard to fall in love with a living space that feels cold and unwelcoming. While I try my best to use a client's wall art, I do have an inventory that I rent to clients who have limited art work or art work that will not appeal to the target market. Alternatively, I can source out and purchase wall art for clients who will make use of it in their new homes.

Some sellers have an overabundance of nic nacs both large and small. Buyers can't help but see the 'stuff' that fills the living space and as a result fail to notice the features the home has to offer. Others have very few accessories. Homes devoid of accessories, like homes lacking in wall art, present themselves as sterile and uninviting. There is a fine balance between over and under accessorizing. This property had too many small accessories concentrated in certain areas of the house but had almost no accessories elsewhere. Decorative pillows, throws, greenery, vases with branches were needed to warm up the living space. Working within an alotted budget, and having less than an hour to quickly gather items from my inventory which is stored in two separate locations , almost all of the accessories in the photos are rentals I provided.

Before you view the following photos I would just like to say, in defense of the sellers, that the 'before pictures' which show a messy floor are not the manner in which they live. The day I arrived to do the consult and take the pictures, they were in the midst of gathering and packing belongings so as to declutter their house. The items on the ledge , however, were displayed this way by the home owners. Not a problem for personal living but when staging, too many items are distracting. The crowded line up of nic nacs draws the attention of buyers away from the room itself.

Without distractions it's spaciousness and brightness are what buyers will focus on.

The feedback has been very positive re:house presentation but over and over again a deterrent has been the condition of the walls. In my consult I recommended that certain areas of the house be painted but the owners chose not to do so. The house was staged in early December and after two weeks of comments by viewers regarding the poor condition of the walls , the owners decided to follow through with my recommendation. Unfortunately 3 weeks of viewings were impacted by walls in need of painting.

Most of todays' buyers not only want but are willing to pay more for move in ready homes. They don't have the time or inclination to improve their new homes. There are 3 main features that buyers look at to determine if a home is move in ready: current flooring, organized storage space and freshly painted walls. This home had current flooring throughout, a very good amount of storage space but did not have freshly painted walls.

Lesson learned: Listen to your stager when she suggests that you paint some or all of your home. Experience tells her this is what buyers are looking for.

You can count on Rave Re:view in Halifax Nova Scotia when you enlist our help to stage or redesign your living space.

From House To Home

2010-10-12T23:54:00.088-03:00

Some houses present themselves as 'houses' and not as homes. Such was the case with the house that I staged last week because it was used as a student rental property rather than as a home for the owner who lives out of country.

Houses are purchased when they invoke feelings of warmth and belonging. This vintage house, located at 2114 Windsor Street in Halifax Nova Scotia, with good sized rooms and architectural features that faded into the clutter and coldness of the space would not have enticed buyers looking for a nest of their own. The owners who had already begun the process of cleaning and repairing and painting their student rental property before contacting me, still had the foresight to call a professionally trained home stager to help them give their property an edge over the competition and to turn their 'house into a home'.

Unable to enter through the front vestibule which was blocked by a huge blue sofa and a giant sized TV, prospective buyers' first impression would have been the back mud/laundry room. Not a way to wow viewers! The extra large entry foyer with its cozy bay window alcove was masked by the over sized living room furniture that read crowded college dorm rather than I want to curl up with a good book and sip my morning tea.

Staging can turn a 'house into a home'.

The hallway made narrower by coats hanging on the wall will enable buyers to 'sale' right down now.

Staging can turn ' house into a home'.

Cluttered and lacking character

Now warm and welcoming

Staging can turn a ' house into a home'.

Open shelving full of food makes buyers feel a kitchen lacks storage space.

Staging can turn a 'house into a home'.

A fireplace in the kitchen-lost amidst the chaos

now beckons buyers.
Staging can turn a ' house into a home'.

Overcrowded with furniture

and a queen sized bed

and darkened by heavy drapery, prospective buyers would not have been able to envision this room's potential. BRIGHT, AIRY, SPACIOUS ROOMS WITH ARCHITECTURAL DETAILING-features that buyers seek out -went unnoticed before the house was staged.

Removing the drapes not only allowed the sunlight to pour in but exposed the once hidden bay windows.

The main floor living space was expanded when the bed was replaced with a sleek futon couch and a family room was created .

A fresh coat of white paint brightened the room and made it feel more spacious.

Staging can turn a 'house into a home'.

With a little editing

And with the addition of some BLING- the upstairs bathroom was transformed.

This house boasts a main floor bathroom- in vintage homes a rare find.

Now sparkling white and newly dressed - it was reborn.

Rave Re:view Home Staging & Redesign can turn any 'house into a home' .

Two days after this property was staged the owners received a conditional offer! Prospective buyers are still welcome to view it by contacting the owner.

You can count on Rave Re:view in Halifax Nova Scotia when you hire us to prepare your property for the real estate market or to help you create a living space that meets your design tastes and lifestyle needs.

Unoccupied Properties- To Stage or Not To Stage

2010-08-29T16:52:00.031-03:00

Which will make a lasting impression on home buyers?

THIS.....

OR THIS
THIS.....
OR THIS
THIS.....
OR THIS

Because 90% of buyers cannot visualize the potential of an empty space, and because home buyers purchase properties based on emotions, unoccupied properties that are staged are more likely to sell faster and for more money than those left empty.

My latest staging project, located in Bishop's Landing which is an award winning condo development on Halifax Nova Scotia's waterfront, is listed with Bryant Realty. Thanks to Heather Munroe for referring me to her selling clients. They understand that staging an unoccupied property is both an investment and a marketing tool that draws in buyers, the majority of whom search the internet for the home of their dreams.

The right furniture correctly placed will show buyers that even condos that are less than 800 square feet can be both functional and current. See for yourself.

Design Tip: Mirrors are multi functional. In addition to serving our personal cosmetic needs, they also can be a stager and a redesigner's best friend. They brighten dark spaces. They expand small spaces and they are an inexpensive form of wall art. Just remember to take into account the reflection produced by the mirror you are hanging. The reflection can be either an embellishment or an eyesore.

The photos of the empty condo prestaging and the bedroom and full bathroom views are courtesy of Anita Macpherson, a professional photographer based here in Halifax.

You can count on Rave Re:view in Halifax Nova Scotia when you hire us to stage your property for the real estate market or redesign the home you are living in.

Staged and Sold

2010-07-10T21:47:00.043-03:00

Just wanted to share a recent staging project, some design tips and to thank Heather Munroe of Bryant Realty for referring me to her selling clients.

The large formal living room, with windows on three walls, has a back area bounded by pillars and two half walls. With its view of the beautifully manicured back gardens, it is a great spot to curl up with a good book.

Design tip : A stand up easel is a wonderful way to display large pieces of artwork-an alternative to hanging pictures on the wall.

The family/great room has quality built-in shelves and cabinetry that flank the substantial fireplace. A corner built- in unit houses the TV.

Design Tip: An example of less is more. The uncluttered arrangement of good- sized accessories on the glass shelves is simple and clean looking.

The sunny bright solarium style large eating area in the great room , with its skylights and high ceiling, overlooks the back gardens.

Design Tip: Think multiple large scale accessories on a large scale table.

The dining room of this house is made more elegant by the substantial fireplace that graces its focal wall. I love the drama of dark walls.

Design Tip:When hanging pictures on dark walls, think light coloured matting. Light matting allows the artwork to pop and also brightens up the space. Grace a dining room table with a tall centre piece to add impact .

The well proportioned master bedroom even has a boudoir area off of the main room.

The master bath is spacious, with two sinks, a separate shower and a spa tub.

Design Tip: Place a tall vase in the centre of a long dual sink vanity to add interest to the countertop . By filling the vase with flowers or greenery or as in the case of this bathroom- feathers- the reflection that is produced adds an artistic touch.

Below, the vignette of multi height vases and an orchid is simple yet elegant and adds a punch of colour in the guest bedroom. Oops- I just noticed that the angle and proportions of the vases looks off - In reality the vases are all more substantial than the orchid whose container is actually quite small. The vases are also arranged in a way that their three varying sizes are evident- not so in this photo. I still have to develop my photography skills!!

Design Tip: A simple modern geometric piece of artwork meshes well with a more traditional curvacious Tuscany styled vase. The curves of the vase and the straight lines in the piece of artwork compliment one another.
Design tip: A framed mirror is always a great way to dress up a bathroom. And.. a pop of red -what can I say-my favourite colour-one little pop of red goes a long way!

You'll be sure to garner many a Rave Re:view when you hire us to prepare your property for the real estate market or redesign the home you are living in.

A Halifax Gem-Staged By Rave Re:view

2010-06-30T16:21:00.028-03:00

It has been too long since I last blogged and for that I apologize. I want to share the photos of my most recent staging project-an unoccupied beautifully renovated 2 story house on Lawrence Street in Halifax. Paul Macnutt, a real estate agent with Bryant Realty, and his business partner Marshall Lewis meticulously restored the property which is move in ready and is now on the market. See for yourself!

(OOPS! Didn't mean to display this photo twice. I'm rusty!)

You can count on Rave Re:views when you hire us to stage or redesign your home!

Drapery Panels Are Multi-Functional

2010-05-19T16:11:00.018-03:00

In many of my staging projects I have removed dated or worn drapery panels from windows as well as those that are far too short in length. Windows look better bare than dressed poorly.

In addition to enhancing a room's decor or creating privacy from the outside world, drapery panels are multifunctional. Take a look at this bedroom that was closetless. I reused one of the rods from a window that was dressed with dated drapery panels that hung too high off the ground- placed it across an alcove and created a closet.

To hide the very large stacked washer/dryer which was housed in a shower stall turned appliance alcove in the main floor powder room of that same property, another set of drapery panels and a reclaimed rod were used. The solution not only softened the look of the room and hid both the unsightly appliances and wall tile that was at odds with the floor tile, but further was an inexpensive fix .

In the Atlantic provinces of Canada we are lucky to have a number of Wicker Emporium stores to provide us with high end looking drapery panels at low end pricing. The closet draperies were on sale for 10.00 a panel and the powder room drapes were 20.00 a panel.

Design Tip: Think outside the package when it comes to drapery panels. You'll be sure to garner a Rave Re:view.

Waking Up A Tired Bathroom

2010-05-13T21:46:00.018-03:00

I had a good day today helping one of my fellow stagers prepare an occupied property that is just about to be listed in Halifax. She asked me if I'd mind showcasing the bathrooms and I responded that I love doing bathrooms. As a matter of fact my daughter, an architect, has dubbed me the 'Bathroom Queen'. She is impressed with the way I transform nondescript bathrooms into spa like retreats without renovating or updating the existing space. I rely on my best friend 'paint' and the many accessories, pieces of wall art, towels and drapery panels turned shower curtains that I am amassing.

In the bathroom above , the stained counter top and chipped sink had to be replaced as did the faucet and taps. There is an alternative now available in Nova Scotia to replacing counter tops and chipped sinks and tubs. Check out the Enviromedic web site. Their process can be used to revive tired ceramic wall and floor tiles as well! Next time, to save labour costs and the mess of replacing sinks and counter tops, I'm going that route.

If you can't afford to renovate a tired bathroom, I'd love to help you wake it up and garner many a Rave Re:view. If you want to start from scratch I'd be more than happy to help you as well!

More Paint Pointers

2010-05-10T15:54:00.023-03:00

I just Picked up the latest issue of Style At Home magazine and one of their articles is all about

'The Power of Paint". I feel like everyone will think that I latched on to their idea when truly the timing is coincidental !!

I want to share a few more photos that attest to the power of paint and how it highlights or hides a property's features.

The feel of this powder/laundry room was made more tranquil when the baseboards, the radiator and the transition into the appliance alcove ( once a shower) were painted the wall colour (Cable Knit by Benjamin Moore).

The master bedroom walls were originally mauve. I have no issue with mauve walls and if I was wearing my decorating hat and my clients loved mauve I would create the mauve room of their dreams. But this house was being staged and so out came the can of warm neutral paint ( Cable Knit) and once again paint's power can be seen. Doesn't it look like new wider trim was added to the window frame. Not so! Same trim , same window -new look achieved with a coat of Benjamin Moore's Simply White.

Painting the nondescript basic wooden doors white creates a soothing, cleaner, richer, fresher, new look for the master bedroom.

While I am a fan of rusty red and have left strong coloured accent walls untouched when staging a property, because this room was not going to be furnished, I knew that a calming neutral pallet would be more to the liking of potential buyers than would an in your face red wall that had no furnishings to tame its bold colour. And once again, notice how the painted doors create a look that is more high end than the look that would have greeted buyers had the doors been left in their original state.

Design tip: Paint is a Home Stager's best friend. It can be yours too but if the task of selecting the correct colour is too daunting, please, send me a photo. I'd love to help you garner many a

Rave Re:view.

Paint-A Home Stager's Best Friend

2010-05-07T08:30:00.025-03:00

Paint -as I wrote in my last blog entry-has the power to camouflage or embelish. Paint is a Home Stager's best friend. It can transform any room. Take a look at these before and after photos to see what I mean.

Compare the trim on the pre and post painted sliding glass door. See how the painted trim creates a frame around the doors that makes more of a statement. There are those who believe that painting wood is sacreligious. Not I. My decision -to paint or not to paint wood- is dependent upon the look I want to achieve, the features I choose to highlight or hide and the condition of the wood. Look at how clean and refreshing the painted trim looks against the walls with their saturated camel colouring. The darker more saturated camel was chosen to help the kitchen cabinetry pop as well. The white used to paint both the kitchen cabinets and the trim throughout the house is Benjamin Moore's 'Simply White.' The camel colour used elsewhere in the house, a lighter shade, was selected to brighten up the sometimes dark living space.

Radiators- also touched upon in my last blog- can be a major eyesore. A Home Stager's best friend, PAINT, can provide a quick and easy fix. On the wall to the right of the sliding glass door, the radiator was camouflaged by painting it camel. White became the colour of choice as the L shaped radiator wound its way along the base of the breakfast bar. With the radiators blending into the walls, home buyers are better able to focus on the positive features this house has to offer.

Take a look at the white door in the picture above. It's height and whiteness are what attract the eyes' of viewers who as a result hardly notice the unit of cabinets adjacent to it. See how the cabinets become more of a focal point once the door, painted camel, blends in with the walls.

By painting the wooden coat rack/shelf the same colour as the walls, it too fades into the background and allows the cabinets to take centre stage.

When you look at the powder room transformation below, you can see why paint IS one of a Home Stager's best friends!

Design Tip: Think before you paint. Ask yourself what it is you want to highlight in a space and what is it you choose to hide? Not sure? Send me a photo. I'll be happy to help you garner

Rave Re:views.

The Power Of Paint

2010-05-03T22:40:00.020-03:00

Let's talk 'paint'. One feature of the home I just staged, that could not be changed due to budgetary constraints, was the camel/indigo blue 'Spanish style' floor tile that began at the front door and ran throughout the hallway, into the kitchen, the powder room and beyond to the mudroom/garage entryway. While I love the colours of the tile, the fact that the tile is no longer current and is the first feature of the house that greets buyers, necessitated a solution that created calm and allowed the tile to feel like it belongs. While the tile stuck out like a sore thumb because of it's strong pattern and outdatedness, this was amplified further by the different paint colours used both on the walls, doors and trim work. Everthing stuck out! Nothing blended in. The result- a very busy, chaotic , unattractive 'fixer up feeling' front foyer.

My challenge- the first of many -How to create an inviting foyer in spite of the busy pattern on the floor tile?

The solution- paint almost everything one colour-trim, doors, radiators and walls included.

My one regret, as I view these pictures now, is that I neglected to have the white trim running up the stairs painted the wall colour. The white baseboard in its brightness breaks the calm and competes with the wooden French doors which are the one architectual detail that make a statement in the foyer. Lesson learned. Take photos as the project progresses. The lens of the camera allows one to observe what the eye does not always notice.

Many people think that trim should always be painted a different colour than the walls and.... that doors should match the trim colour and not be painted the same colour as the walls. If the trim is white then so must the doors and all the woodwork be white.

I beg to differ. Trim, radiator and door colour choices are dependent upon what one wishes to emphasize or camouflage. In the case of the hallway, the busy nature and intensity of the floor required quiet everywhere else. Hence the front doors and trim, the bifold closet doors, the radiators and the inconsequential baseboards were all painted Benjamin Moore's Cable Knit (cc 306).

Baseboards that are nondescript usually fare better when they are painted the same colour as the walls. This adds height to the walls and camouflages the fact that the baseboards lack character.

More paint tips next time.

Design tip: Calm busy flooring by painting the surrounding trim, walls, baseboards, doors and radiators one of the quieter colours in the pattern.

You can count on Rave Re:views when you do so.

It's been a long time since I've written. Sorry for my absence but I'm back. I want my blog and the advice I impart to reflect the work I do. March was a slow month. A slow month results in fewer blog entries.

One project kept me busy for a couple of weeks in April and I would like to share some of the results.

Once again a Home Staging job that was to simply involve the rental and placement of furniture, wall art and accessories in an unoccupied property, became much more involved than was anticipated. It required that I become a full out project manager responsible for finding a contractor, electrician, painter, window and carpet cleaner etc. New fixtures, doorknobs and a bathroom sink, faucet and counter top had to be chosen and purchased. The job kept me hopping and I loved every minute of it.

Visualizing Wall Colour Made Easy

2010-03-23T13:10:00.018-03:00

Hope you've been having fun fooling around with mydeco. Along with mydeco and Polyvore ( a site I shared with you in a previous blog that I use to create design/mood boards) I have discovered the benefits of Sherwin Williams' Colour Visualizer. It's a great tool that enables you to view rooms in varying colours. My clients, who are often both excited and nervous about changing the colours in their living spaces, love seeing the finished product before the painting has begun.

One such couple recently hired me for a colour consultation.

The photos below show you the options I presented to them. The furnishings and accessories were already in place when they contacted me. Which do you like best?

Like any tool, the Colour Visualizer needs a bit of practice to master. After uploading a photo, you mask off a space you want to paint. At first I simply used the brush tools and my edges were very uneven. So I started practicing with the tool that masks off complete areas and now have a good sense of how to use it efficiently. There are 2 such tools; one is labeled 'rectangle' and the other 'polygon'. You can paint the walls, ceilings, trim, doors and even furnishings. I have painted over bathroom vanities and window and bed coverings as well.

Have fun with the Colour Visualizer. If you want some colour suggestions or confirmation of your colour choices, just send me a photo. I'd be happy to help you garner Rave Re:views.

Oops! In my haste to pack for Toronto and write my last blog on March 11th close to the midnight hour, I neglected to actually post the entry. It wasn't until the following week when my husband wondered why I hadn't written a blog since early March that I realized my faux pas. Lesson learned: Don't pack and write a blog entry a couple of hours before you have get up early to catch a 6:00 a.m flight!!!

My Deco -Easy to Use Interior Design Floor Planner

2010-03-11T18:18:00.019-04:00

I just wanted to introduce you to a site called 'mydeco'. I happened upon it while in search of

an easy online site that I could use to create floor plans. A few years ago I purchased a program when I was designing the interior of my husband's animal hospital. It was called 'Punch-Interior Design'; appropriately named because in attempting to learn how to use it, I wanted to punch my computer over and over and over again!!!! I never did master it. I tried again about a month ago, came close to punching the computer and my husband, then gave up!!!!

Now, I know that I should learn how to use a more sophisticated design program and fully intend to do so, but for the time being 'mydeco' suits me fine. Basically there are items that can be purchased or can just be arranged in a floor plan . The floor plan can be viewed both aerially in 2D or side on 3D. The colours and styles of both the hard and soft furnishings may not be spot on, but I have been able to create facsimiles that help my clients better visualize what their rooms will look like.

I am on the hunt for an easy to use click and drag floor plan/furniture placement program that can be personalized more than can mydeco . I have heard that Icovia and HGTV are two easy to use programs, but reviews suggest otherwise for the HGTV program . The Icovia reviews are hot and cold.

Unlike mydeco which is free, Icovia and the HGTV design program cost money.

Any suggestions???????

So enjoy mydeco . I don't think you'll feel the urge to punch. All you have to do is click and drag. I'm sure your designs will garner Rave Re:views!!

I'm off to Toronto to visit family and friends so I probably won't be posting again until the end of next week. Be careful.... clicking and dragging can become addictive.

Mirrors Are A Reflection Of The World We Live In

2010-03-05T23:12:00.029-04:00

I recently read a highly informative posting about the placement of mirrors, written a few years back by one of my Canadian Staging Professional course instructors. Because mirrors reflect the world in which we live, I have always taken into account the reflection produced by mirrors I hang throughout our living space. I have a love affair with interesting looking mirrors and try to incorporate them everywhere. Stylish mirrors can be an inexpensive form of artwork as long as the reflection they produce is pleasing to the eye. That is the essence of the article written by Jackson. If only my pictures looked as professional as do his!!!!

You can't really see the reflection in the mirrors below. I'm sharing them because I love them. I love their uniqueness. I love the fact that each frame has the same brown/black colouring but that each has its own design. I love the fact that the mirror on each frame is a different geometric shape. Maybe I'm drawn to them because I'm a 'rewired' elementary school teacher. Oh! And I love their price-$16.00 each at Winners/ HomeSense. Originally I purchased two but a few days later, the set was made complete when a third called out to me as I wandered the aisles at another Winners' location.

On another note...... I am in heaven! I met a lovely family of 4 who met me through my blog and have hired me for a redesign project. The bright, articulate, song writer to be 13 year old female member of the household and I are working together to create a living space that will meet her needs and tastes.

Wall colour choice-grey. Furniture colours- white and espresso or black. Accent colour-lime green. The room already contains the coolest, vintage- look green patterned swivel chair you can imagine. Should be done by the end of the month since March break is upon us. There will be at least one cool mirror in the room. You can count on that!

Oh and the young lady's name happens to be the same as my daughter's nickname.

Must be -meant to be!!!

Do you want to garner Rave Re:views?

Design Tip : Consider a mirror's reflection before you position it on a wall.

Not sure how high to hang it? Send me a photo. I'll be happy to help you out.

Here's the link to Jackson's posting on Active Rain called Reflecting On Home Staging.

A Quick And Easy Kitchen Transformation

2010-02-27T17:14:00.011-04:00

When I first walked into this kitchen I felt nothing. And I am sure that is what the countless disinterested buyers felt when they entered what was supposed to be the heart of the home. All I could see was a humongous, 12x12 foot, 1980's vintage florescent grid light that covered the expanse of the work area. The fact that the kitchen was both large and well configured with its centre island , Mediterranean tiling, sun room like dining nook, fantastic pantry; solidly built cabinetry and incredible view of the city was obscured by the overwhelming immensity of the light. Rather than falling in love and 'mentally' moving in; with the words ' renovate and big expense' etched in their brains buyers walked away from this home over a period of 5 months.

But the fix was a simple one. The work area lighting came down and the change was dramatic.

A coat of fresh paint; the removal of tired looking blinds, not needed because there are no houses behind the property whose privacy and view should have enticed any number of buyers: a shiny new current looking faucet purchased for 62.00; simple, inexpensive yet attractive lighting placed over the work area to compliment the original fixture in the eating area; the removal of an under cabinet toaster; and the addition of accessories with a mediterranean feel that worked well with the floor tile, all did the trick. The kitchen garnered Rave Re:views. How do I know?The house sold a week after its new photos appeared on the MLS site to a couple who had seen it months ago in its original state. The fruits of my Home Staging paid off. In fact there was a second very interested party as well.

Moral of the story: Home Staging works! To those who say 'Home Staging' falsely portrays a property, I counter and argue that stagers bring out the best in a home in the same way that hairstylists bring out the best in those of us who do not cut or style our own hair.

I'd be happy to prepare your home before it is listed on the MLS site. You can count on

Rave Re:view to get the job done in a professional and timely fashion.

Mirrors Can Wake Up a Tired Bathroom

2010-02-21T22:21:00.013-04:00

No bathroom is complete without an aesthetically pleasing mirror gracing its walls. In a bathroom that lacks an updated vanity and sink; whose tub surround consists of tired, nondescript tiles and whose floor is covered in vinyl , an attractive mirror can be the focal point that draws buyers in.

As a matter of fact, three mirrors that I rented to my clients in a home I recently staged, became a bone of contention after the offer was accepted. The mirrors were not permanently affixed to the walls, but rather were hung on picture hooks. They belonged to me and not to the sellers. But.... the purchasers loved them and wanted them to remain. Remain they will. They lent a high end feel to otherwise plain bathrooms, much as did the mirrors in my most recent staging project whose pictures you see below.

Design Tip : Use high end looking mirrors to add lustre to tired bahrooms. You'll be sure to garner Rave Re:views and win the hearts of potential buyers.

An Inexpensive Bathroom Transformation

2010-02-16T17:07:00.027-04:00

Today's real estate buyers want 'move in ready' homes. Properties with nondescript, dated bathrooms do not meet their 'move in ready' criteria, especially when the toilet , sink and tub are not white. I promised I'd share before and after photos of a property I have been staging this past week. Blinded by its dated look, buyers failed to notice its many positive features.

The main bathroom was lacklustre with its grey sink/toilet/tub/ bidet and its gold light fixtures. The out of fashion faux marble countertop with its dual sculpted sinks could not be missed, sitting atop a natural wood cabinet. Buyers did not take note of the bathroom's generous size, its two sinks, its 6 foot jetted tub, its bidet and the fact that there was a step-up to the tub which added interest to the space.

My goal was to camouflage the faux marble counter top and grey bathroom fixtures. To do so I had the walls painted a grey, very close in colour to that of the toilet and had the vanity painted glossy black. Then it was time to ice the cake. And voila!

I love the challenge of transforming bathrooms when renovating is not an option. The hotel style towel rack was strategically placed to hide an ancient, unsightly, large, plastic intercom cover . The towels were not cooperating so I used straight pins to keep them in place. One of the tricks of the trade Here's a cost breakdown:

2 wall sconces-$15.00 each on sale at Home Depot

Black Melamine paint-$20.00

Grey Sherwin Williams Paint-$23.00

Extra long curtain panel instead of shower curtain from Wicker Emporium-$15.00

Shelf/Towel rack that hides unsightly intercom- 20.00 Kent Building Supplies

2 towel racks- HomeSense-$25.00 each

Large black lacquered light weight bamboo vase Homesense-$25.00

Branches- HomeSense-$12.00

Grey Towels HomeSense- 2 sets of 6 towels 25.00 each-

Poppies HomeSense on clearance- $3.00

Greenery with poppies HomeSense clearance-$2.00

White rectangular poppy container HomeSense - $15.00

Picture on wall HomeSense- comes as a set of 2-$25.00

2 mirrors Canadian Tire ( Debbie Travis)-each-$40.00

Planter on counter HomeSense-$30.00

2 Soap dispensers/cups that come with soap dish( not used) from JYSK- each $7.00

TOTAL=#317.00

Can't afford a bathroom renovation? Want your bathroom to garner Rave Re:views? Send me a photo. I'll be happy to help you out!

Home Staging And Loving It!!

2010-02-11T23:14:00.013-04:00

Why have I not blogged for a few days??? Because.........
this week I was hired to stage an unoccupied property. My first such project. The owners moved into their new home in December. The house has been on the market since the early fall. The initial intention was to rent furniture and create a warm inviting space. Room size was not an issue. The 80's fixtures, bathrooms, kitchen and carpeting were. And so what began as a day of 'showcasing' has grown into a week of project management. (Check out my web site to learn more about 'showcasing') Soliciting and overseeing the services of painters, electricians and handy women/men has been one of my job requirements as has been the sourcing of lighting fixtures, faucets, furniture rentals and paint colours.

Have you seen me darting around town ?

I am thankful to my very busy clients who have put their trust in me. While I have done this as a nonprofessional both when renovating my husband's animal hospital and designing the kitchen and bathrooms of our condo, this is the first time I have done so as a full fledged Home Stager.

Home Staging is both a mental and physical undertaking. I'm exhausted and exilharated and loving it!!!! Once the job has been completed I'll share my before and afters.

Say Good-bye To Unsightly Plastic Electrical Covers

2010-02-05T22:45:00.025-04:00

In one of my first blogs I despaired over the placement of light switches and plug receptacles by contractors, and shared how I hid a receptacle with a votive holder turned vase.

Just wanted to share how I camouflaged four more, necessary but unsightly, electrical covers.

In our bathroom we have a wall heater that stares you in the face as you enter. The perfect cure.....

a light weight, black laquered, $25.00, (yes I did say $25.00) bamboo vase from HomeSense

( Canada's HomeGoods). A perfect fit and the perfect foil, it makes a bold statement in our master bathroom.

The wall on which our floating kitchen shelf hangs is just shy of 5 feet in length. That one wall plays host to a light switch and 2 plug receptacles.

Since one receptacle meets our needs and because the 3 misaligned plastic electrical plates are an eyesore, I hid 2 of them behind pieces of original art. The switch is masked by the painting on the left. We simply slide our hands behind the light weight frameless stretched canvass to turn on the pendant lights. The second receptacle, which we don't use, hides behind a prized painting my now 28 year old architect daughter created when she was nine. A simple fix!

Design Tip: Think vases and wall art and plants and baskets to mask unsightly electrical covers.

You'll be sure to garner Rave Re:views!

Staging Works

2010-01-30T20:16:00.033-04:00

A few posts ago I shared some Before and After photos. I was proud of how I accomplished my goal as stager; to create bright, open, airy living spaces. Today I want to share some good news.......

The house went on the mls website on a Tuesday and by Saturday ( just 5 days later) it had sold for more than the asking price, in a bidding war, a rarity here in Halifax. I'm feeling pretty good but not as good as my clients who can now head off to Toronto to buy their new home. I know their agent is feeling pretty good too, after all, his listing sold just days after the sign went up.

Thought I'd share a few more pictures showing the transformation.

Sometimes it takes a little to stage a room. Just remove the clutter and replace some accessories.

MASTER BEDROOM BEFORE

MASTER BEDROOM AFTER

MASTER BEDROOM BEFORE
MASTER BEDROOM AFTER

Sometimes a fresh coat of paint, a layering of towels and new knobs are needed.....

BASEMENT BATH BEFORE To create a spa like feel.

BASEMENT BATH AFTER

Sometimes a bigger cherry is needed to ice the cake.
KITCHEN BEFORE
KITCHEN AFTERAnd wall art has to come tumbling down.
KITCHEN BEFORE
KITCHEN AFTERSometimes a door mat needs neutralizing, light fixtures need updating and boots need to be hidden from site.
FOYER BEFORESometimes out of fashion wallpaper needs to disappear.....
FOYER BEFOREto make a great first impression.
FOYER AFTER

Sometimes out of scale pictures must say goodbye.

FOYER BEFOREAnd greenery is needed, to create a welcoming entry way.

FOYER AFTER

But.........sometimes it takes A LOT to stage a room.

STAIRS TO BASEMENT BEFORE
STAIRS TO BASEMENT AFTER

BASEMENT BEFOREBASEMENT AFTER
Staging works!!!! These Before and After pictures speak for themselves. You can count on

Rave Re:views when you hire us to stage your home in the Halifax Regional Municipality.

Area Rugs Add Intimacy

2010-01-23T14:37:00.045-04:00

For quite some time I have been on the hunt for a rug to add intimacy to the conversation area in our multipurpose living space.

However, because the space is small and the rugless natural birch flooring beneath the glass coffee table allows the accessories to take centre stage, finding the perfect rug proved to be a challenge. I love black and red and knew that either would work both with the furniture and colour scheme. I knew, too, that the accessories would fade from sight if black or red took to the stage. A patterned rug was out of the question because the pattern would do battle with the accessories.

A cow hide was my first choice, only lighter in colour than the one below that I used in a client's house. I love the way that a hide can be placed on the angle so as to soften the geometric layout of a conversation area and I like the fact that furniture can sit comfortably atop it but.....

my husband, who rarely gets a chance to voice his opinion on matters of decor, was adamant that he did not want a hide so .......a hide was out of the running.

I didn't want a 'low pile' nondescript rug . While neutral is lacklustre, it was the necessary backdrop to maintain the look of the room. Because most rugs, unlike cowhides, are linear in shape, a neutral low pile rectangular rug shouted out 'boring' and uninviting to me. I wanted something with more pizazz to soften the room and create a feel of intimacy. I happened upon this shaggy white carpet but......... it was too small.

I kept it anyways. At $49.00 I felt I had to keep it. Right now it roosts as a throw on our large 80's vintage, leather hide -a- bed.

Then, the other day, while perusing the new arrivals at HomeSense, ( Canada's HomeGoods) staring me straight in the eyes was the perfect rug.

Just $59.00, it fits the space like a glove and although neutral and linear, its thickly layered pile, soft and cozy, is already garnering Rave Re:views. ( the actual colour is richer, almost exactly the same shade as the darkest variation in the engineered hardwood, and not one bit the grey it appears to be in the photos).

Design Tip #1: Cozy up a conversation area with a rug.

Design Tip #2: Unless using a hide, atop which furniture can rest, a linear rug should be surrounded by a border of flooring. Not sure if your rug size is right? Send me a picture. I'll be happy to help you garner Rave Re:views!

Design Tip #3: If you are laying a rug beneath a glass topped table, ensure that the accessories and carpet create a harmony. Need help? Give me a shout.

Design Tip #4: Don't shy away from patterned rugs, even under glass topped tables. They add punch to a room. Beneath a solid surface coffee table, the accessory/ patterned rug conflict is not an issue.

Design Tip #5: Interesting rugs need not cost hundreds of dollars. A high end look can be created on a limited budget.

Photo Faux Pas- What Not To Do

2010-01-23T01:08:00.004-04:00

I have a super new camera with an incredible wide angle lens that is a very user friendly 'point and shoot' camera. In my last entry, the 'Before' photos were taken with my dying camera which was incapable of capturing the true size of a room. The 'After' pictures, taken with my Panasonic Lumix ZS3, convey the spaciousness I aim to create when preparing a property for the real estate market. So no more excuses! Because of my impatience to photograph the finished product, the eye for detail with which I attack every project I undertake, is thrown by the wayside. No longer can I fault my camera when pictures are not what they could be. The fault is mine and mine alone!

So here are some 'What Not To Do's'......

Don't include yourself when photographing a room with a mirror.

Don't photograph electrical cords. Make sure they are hidden.

Don't take your picture until you are sure bedding is perfectly in place (pillows and bed skirt included).

Don't take an After picture from an angle that differs from your Before picture.

Don't include your client in the photos as I did on my first job.

Do look through the lens of the camera with the same critical eye you use when you carry out your initial consult. No more 'faux pas' from me!!!!! I always want to garner Rave Re:views!

Before and After

2010-01-18T12:18:00.053-04:00

I just finished a staging project. The house goes on the market today. Thought you might want to see some of the Before and Afters. New at the home staging game, I still question my capability , but I must say I am feeling pretty proud of myself after hearing that the real estate agent hired by my clients gave my work a Rave Re:view. Upon entering their home after I had completed the showcasing, he remarked on how beautiful the living room looked. I must admit, I thought it looked pretty good too.

BEFORE

DINING ROOM

The furnishings in the dining room occupied every inch of space. Not seen in the photo is a tall china cabinet which further compromised the flow. It now resides in the living room. Potential buyers accompanied by their agents would barely fit in the room let alone manouever around around the table. The huge painting not only overpowered the space , but added to the illusion that the room was smaller in size than it actually is. By simply relocating the buffet and china cabinet to the living room and paring down the artwork, the dining room becomes an airy open formal space for entertaining. The only expense: a few dollars spent to rent faux greenery and artificial fruit that was placed in a bowl once hidden away in a kitchen cabinet.

AFTER
AFTER LIVING ROOM
BEFOREBEFORE

By removing a bulky love seat and replacing it with a sleek buffet that originally was housed behind the dining room table, the living room was opened up and the hardwood floor, a buyer's dream, was further exposed. Artwork was rearranged and a few added floral rentals allow buyers to notice the spaciousness of the room as opposed to the 'stuff'' in it. Once again a little money goes a long way.

AFTER

FAMILY ROOM

BEFORE

This was the family room I wrote about a few weeks ago re: the 'to paint or not to paint the wood' issue. As you can see the cabinetry was left as is. By removing the dark green leather love seat and the ottoman, both of which overpowered the room, the carpet now more fully exposed, lightens the space. By clearing the bookshelves, adding white vases and resting a bright painting on the mantle, a once dark room was further lightened. Other than the faux plant resting on the hearth, along with two others not in the photo, the accessories, furniture and artwork belong to the homeowners. The two small tables in front of the sofa were nestled under a larger table in the living room. The two pull up chairs were initially gracing the living room as were the throw pillows. The painting on the mantle was hiding in the basement. Big changes do not require big bucks.

AFTER

Except for the bathrooms, the house feels younger than its age. The kitchen has recently been updated and there are gleaming hardwood floors in the living and dining areas. There was no money in the budget to replace the beige toilet and sinks, to remove the powder room wall paper and to install tiled flooring. The other two bathrooms received a fresh coat of neutral paint. The generic nondescript mirrors were replaced in the main and master baths with attractive wooden mirrors, and current accessories were added. The goal: to create a spa like feel and to disguise the dated beige bathroom fixtures. With a minimum of money, the bathrooms no longer stick out like sore thumbs in an otherwise updated house.

MASTER BATHROOM

BEFORE
AFTER

MAIN BATHROOM

BEFORE AFTER

BEFORE

POWDER ROOM

I love the challenge of using a home owner's furnishings to create bright, open, current living spaces that have a focal point, a good flow and a recognizable function. The changes I make when staging a property are not made out of disrespect. I believe that everyone should create a living environment that suits their needs. People don't inhabit magazines, they live in homes. It is not for me to pass judgement on the decor, flow or room function of other people's dwellings. As a stager, however, I owe it to my clients to create spaces that possess the features today's buyers are looking for. Any changes made reflect the demands of the buying public and are not a commentary on clients' living styles or decor preferences.

Home staging for the real estate market is an investment not an expense. By hiring a professionally trained individual who can make your home stand out from the others, you are upping the equity in your property.

AFTER

Pillow Power-A Quick Fix

2010-01-12T22:52:00.024-04:00

My client Joan, who recently hired me to redesign her bedroom, took me on a tour of her home on my first visit. She and her husband live in a lovely bungalow which is tastefully decorated and houses the very interesting and colourful treasures that they have collected through the years. While showing me her living room, she commented on how she hated the fabric on the sofa, wanted to recover it but was not in a position to do so at this point in time. In the photos, the fabric appears to be a solid colour but in fact it is a charcoal /black tweed with tiny flecks of blue, red and white. Now don't get me wrong. I love tweed but the colour combination in the fabric doesn't quite work. While Joan has a good sense of colour and is spot on when putting herself together, her choice of throw pillows did nothing for the room.

I told Joan that the size and bulk of the sofa worked well and that by simply replacing the pillows, both the sofa and the room could be transformed.

Taking a cue from the vibrant painting that hangs above the sofa, 2 pair of throw pillows brought the room back to life. Now the little wicker coffee table wants to be spiced up. A sprinkling of paprika should do the trick. Homesense, here I come.

Joan is no longer talking about recovering the sofa. Because our eyes are drawn to the pillows, the flecks of colour on the sofa's fabric go unnoticed.

A simple redesign that cost a pittance, this quick fix is garnering Rave Re:views.

Design Tip: Reawaken your tired sofa with the toss of a pillow.

One Room - 4 Looks

2010-01-08T18:58:00.021-04:00

Today was supposed to be 'paperwork' day but as you can see I was in 'mood board mode'.
I learned how to select an image of a 3D painted room while using Polyvore and in so doing conceived the idea for today's blog entry. I want to show you how a room painted with a particular color can take on many looks. Built around the indigo blue walls that I chose as my beginning point, I created 4 rooms each with a very different ambience. Notice how indigo changes its hue as different colours nestle up against it.

Look#1

WINTRY WHITE INDIGO

Blue and white always send warm chills up and down my spine.

Look #2

OPPOSITES ATTRACT

Indigo's attraction to orange it's complimentary colour, and the funky chair with it's Victorian era wooden legs was inspiration to this room's inception.

Look #3

INDIGO BOLD

The whimsical chair with its pops of red was the seed that bore the fruits of this room.

Look #4

OPULENT INDIGO-

The opulent floral chair and lamp both screamed out to me and hence the room evolved.

Any thoughts good or bad? I'd love to hear from you?

Why not give it a try and if you create a mood board rooted in indigo blue walls, e-mail it to me. I'll happily post it on my blog, giving you your due credit, of course. As a matter of fact, if you create a mood board based upon a colour of your choosing I'll happily post it as well. And if you have a room that you would like updated but are not a designaholic as am I, I'll custom tailor a mood board for you. I'd love to help you garner Rave Re:views. Just let me know me your preferred style and I'll be off and running.

Since yesterday when I introduced you to the world of Polyvore, I have honed my skills and know better how to use the program. For those of you designaholics who checked out the website and are now in mood board heaven, I want to clarify my last blog entry. I wrote that you can import pictures from online sites as well as from your own collection of photos. Still true. I then went on to say that I was unable to upload pictures from the Pier One Import site. Well today I discovered that there is no need to upload pictures from the Pier One Import catalogue because Polyvore provides you with some of Pier One's furnishings. Until today I thought that the only way to select pictures was to type a category such as 'pillows' or ' coffee tables' etc. But today I learned that if you click on the word 'site' which is located under the word 'price'....... a list of 100 stores in alphabetical order appears, one of which is Pier One Import.

I think I have finally mastered the program so if you are confused and need help just send me an email. While I learned how to use Polyvore by trial and error, it would have been nice to have someone help me along the way. Oh, and if I can learn how to use it, anyone can. It's really not that hard to figure out and once you know what you are doing it's a breeze to use.

Just one more tip. Type in the word "furniture" where it says ' all items' when you first begin. You probably noticed all of the clothing design boards. The program is deceptive. It appears to be just a clothing design site when in fact it too is a home furnishing site. Once you have typed in the word 'furniture', the stores that supply furniture and the like to the site are accessible. Having done this, you can now replace the word 'furniture' with the item you are searching for.

There is a place to click on labelled 'category' but when I did so , even after having typed in the word 'furniture' only categories of clothing appeared. Not to worry. Just type in your own category where it says 'search'. Have fun!

Well, I found my addiction and it is Polyvore. I keeping wanting more, more, more........Polyvore!!!

Mood Board Mania- A Designaholic's Dream

2010-01-06T23:49:00.015-04:00

If you are like me, a designaholic, you will have a lot of fun with a free internet site that I learned about recently. It's called Polyvore . With Polyvore you can create Design/Mood Boards at no cost. Interior decorators and designers use these pictorial collages to communicate their ideas to clients. Not only does Polyvore have a multitude of photos at your disposal but you can import pictures stored in your computer and many that you find online. I was able to import pictures of furnishings from some local stores although when I went to the Pier One Import catalogue I did not meet with success. This is a great tool for both the professional and the amateur. I've included a Design Board I created for a client's bedroom using the Polyvore images. Although my client's room will not have the actual furnishings that appear in the collage, the colour combinations and the mood we are working to achieve are communicated on the board. When the room is completed I'll share it with you. I've also included a board that elicits the mood of my condo's main living space.

So if you are a designaholic , register at www.polyvore.com, click on 'create' and design to your hearts content. You'll have fun and will be sure to garner Rave Re:views. Be careful though. It's addictive!

Bejeweled and Bedazzled

2010-01-06T19:53:00.028-04:00

Just wanted to share a little 'outside the box' thinking with you.

A couple of years ago I purchased the cutest little pillow to grace a bench I had in my dining room. Black and velvety, a gentle flounce of organza bordered it. I loved the combination of the two very different textures and the feminine touch that was created by the wave of organza. But.... nestled among the other pillows on the bench, something seemed amiss. Like a black dress in need of a gold necklace, my pillow lacked oomph. Well, I couldn't adorn it with a necklace, but what about a gold broach. Off to my jewelery box I headed. I didn't own a gold broach but a pair of earrings, untouched since the '80's, called out to me. I took one of the earrings, centred it on the pillow and voila! The little black velvet pillow bejeweled.... now bedazzled. When downsizing last year I just couldn't part with that little pillow. I knew it would find a home somewhere in our condo. And so it has.

Design Tip: Think inside your jewelry box when you want to transform bland into beautiful. And when you do , I'm sure you will garner Rave Re:views. I'd love you to share your "outside the box " thinking with me. Or in this case... inside the box.

Glad to be back blogging. I was away for a week and upon my return home a couple of job prospects presented themselves to me. What a great way to start the new year!

While away I bought a super new camera that I know will serve me well . As a home stager/ redesigner a camera is a necessity, not a luxury. My 7 year old Canon was dying a slow death. Goodbye to purple blurriness. My new camera, a Panasonic Lumix ZS3, with its ability to take wide angle shots is a dream come true. Today I ran around Homesense snapping picture after picture of some fantastic finds but please bear with me. Now I have to learn how to transfer the photos on to my computer. That's next on tonight's 'to do' list.

Down Sizing Dining Solution

2009-12-27T18:50:00.018-04:00

Downsizing- the act of moving from a larger to a smaller living space.

In actuality, downsizing is much more than that. It is a lifestyle change, growing in popularity, embraced by some, derided by others. Empty nesters, my husband and I represent the former. Tired of maintaining a large home, tired of the the feeling of loneliness that unused rooms evoke and finding ourselves at opposite ends of the house unable to carry on a conversation, we took the plunge and have not looked back.

Downsizing for us also signaled the beginning of a less formal living environs. We traded in our formal dining room with its rich red walls, 7 foot glass table, 8 black lacquered queen Anne chairs, elegant brass chandelier and plush Chinese wool area rug for..... no dining room at all.

The designated eating area in our multipurpose main living space consists of our former kitchen table and its 1970's 4 retro chairs. Six can just squeeze around the table, a slab of butcher block that sits atop the base of my grandmother's singer sewing machine. While we love the intimacy of small dinners for 6, there are times our guest list includes more than four. When planning our living space I sourced out a number of options, including coffee tables that convert to dining tables, plastic fold away tables and drop leaf console tables. I liked the concept and design of the convertible coffee tables but decided that a noguchi glass coffee table would work better with the look I was after.

It was at Ikea online that I found what I was searching for. Believe it or not, we do not have an Ikea store here in Halifax. Ikea has a collection of table tops and legs that allows you to 'design your own table'. While not a perfect match to our existing table, I selected a natural wood veneer butcher block table top and two like coloured trestles upon which to lay it. The table surface is not attached to the trestle legs but merely rests on top of them.

When not in use as a dining table, one of the trestles functions as a funky display shelf in our hallway.

I hide the very heavy table top and the other trestle leg behind our Chinese folding screen.

Is storage space lacking in your home? Don't have a screen behind which to hide the table top? A simple solution... slide it under a bed.

Don't have a spot to house the trestle legs. Stack them one on top of the other to create a tall shelving unit. Once again 1+1=1......Or...... use the table as a desk in an office space and reinvent it as a dining table when company comes.

Design Tip #1: From table trestle to funky decorative shelf, think outside the box when storage space is tight.

Design Tip #2: Folding screens are attractive hiding places for small living spaces lacking in storage. Decorative and functional they will serve you well.

Design Tip #3: Check out the Vika system to design your own dining table, desk/work surface in the 'Work Spaces ' section of the Ikea catalogue.

Design Tip #4: The most budget friendly solution to down sized entertaining would be to purchase a plastic table that folds in half when not in use. Cover it with a floor length table cloth and your guests will be none the wiser.

Intimidated by the thought of downsizing, you can count on Rave Re:view to ease the burden. Been there. Done that and loving it!!!!!

Merry Christmas From a Satisfied Client

2009-12-23T23:18:00.010-04:00

I was happy to receive this picture from my client whose living room transformation was showcased in the Better After Blog as well as on mine. You might notice a slight change. The glass vase, filled with branches has been replaced, after I found this incredible black vase at Pier One Imports which I felt would be the jewel in an already sparkling crown. No wonder those fiery red flowers that bedeck the vase are called POPies! Not to worry. The glass vase and curling branches which Paula and I both love, now reside in her dining room.

Talk about sparkle, your tree looks beautiful Paula! Thanks for the picture.

To Paint Or Not To Paint- Please Advise

2009-12-23T15:42:00.037-04:00

During a recent Home Staging consult the ' To Paint or Not To Paint" question came up. My client's family room fireplace is surrounded by solid oak shelving and cabinetry. The room is not overly bright and my thoughts were to paint all of the wood work white to brighten up the focal wall. As a stager I know that buyers are looking for bright airy living spaces but my clients have often been complimented on their oak cabinetry. Hence the dilemma.

In my newly chosen career I wear two hats; that of home stager and that of design/redesigner. Contrary to what many people think, staging is not decorating. As a stager I aim to prepare a property so that it appeals to the public in general. I arrange furnishings and choose paint colours that visually expand a space. As a decorator I aim to create an ambience that reflects the tastes and needs of one particular family. Hence the debate...'To paint or Not to paint'.

Home Stagers, 'What would your recommendation be?'

Buyers, what would you prefer in a home?

Home owners, what say you?

For every response I get during this first month of the new year I will donate $00.25 to....

Habitat For Humanity, a Charity of Choice For Canadian Staging Professionals. Hope you'll help me Reach My Goal of $100.00.

I'm happy to report that the clients hired me to do the final showcasing of their property. That will take place in early January after my recommendations have been carried out. Will they be painting the oak? You'll have to wait and see.

To learn more about the differences between home staging and decorating check out my website:

www.ravereviewhomestaging.com

I'm off to NYC to spend New Year's with friends and to squeeze in a very short visit with my son and daughter-in-law who are heading back to London via New York, having 'Christmassed' in Rochester.

I probably won't be able to write again until after returning home on the 4th. Here's wishing you a happy and healthy New Year!!!

Joanne

From Pillow Case to Cushion Cover

2009-12-23T13:14:00.021-04:00

Thanks to Encore Decor I was able to repurpose a downfilled pillow that no longer fit the palette in our condo. I was smitten by a pillow case with its soft cotton texture, its red patterning, its Asian inspiration and its border of camel ribbon embroidered with like coloured dragons. Not one for theme decorating , I am drawn to Asia decor and sprinkled it liberally in our eclectic living space.

While not a budget friendly find, it was affordable because I already owned a down filled pillow that was still alive and kicking in spite of the abuse it took through twenty years of family living. The deal was sealed when I found out that the cost to have Encore Decor make the pillow for me was only $10.00.

I loved the fabric so much that I had a second pillow made for our bedroom. From one quality pillow case, two sexy red pillows took form. With still enough fabric left over to make a third pillow cover, the purchase of a higher than average priced pillow case was more than worth it.

Two pillows for $ 45.00. Not bad after all!

Design Tip: To save money and the environment keep your worn out old pillows and breathe new life into them.

Ottoman Turned Sofa With A Little Help From Some.... Drapes

2009-12-23T10:49:00.028-04:00

I went to take pictures, today, of the rainbow of pillows that line the shelves of Pier One Import but my camera turned the riot of colours into a mass of blurry purple nothingness. Frustrated I headed to the nearest camera store only to learn that my camera has been dying a slow death. The sensor is failing. Panic stricken, because I rely on my camera both for my job and my blog, I have no option but to purchase a new 'home stager friendly' camera that will take wide angle pictures with a low angle cost. Any suggestions?

Enough of my camera woes, time for some pillow talk

Because a sofa, the obvious choice for the conversation/television watching/lounging area in our multi functional condo living space would have hindered our view of the Halifax Commons, I positioned a leather ottoman in front of the window. Determined to transform the ottoman into a cozy sofa substitute I decided to create the comfort and look of a sofa by leaning pillows against the window ledge. I selected my palette of pillows which included two soft shaggy sheepskins, one cream and one a black/cream mix along with a raw silk textured black pillow peppered with machine embroidered white flowers. Oh and of course a 'redophile , I needed that 'pop' of warmth to complete my palette. All cuddle friendly, down filled low cost finds. But the backless sofa, as I like to call it, is three feet deep. Great for lying on, but when I nestled against the pillows in a sitting position, my legs splayed out awkwardly in front of me and could not reach the ground.

Problem #1- How to create a sofa like piece of furniture that is shallow enough to sit on and does not obstruct the view.

Solution PART 1 : To keep the pillows upright I purchased a 4 foot long uncovered memory foam bolster. Because a hide of leather would have cost almost as much as the ottoman itself, I decided to cover the bolster with fabric. While wandering around Home Outfitters I found myself in the drapery section. A black microfibre tone on tone zigzag patterned drapery panel caught my eye. It's texture , a contrast to both the raw silk- like and the shaggy long haired pillows, was a perfect addition to my palette ........BUT.......the problem was not yet solved.

SOLUTION PART 2: The ottoman was still too deep. I have never been a fan of sofas that have 4 or 5 massive square shaped pillows rather than one or two rectangular pillows extending across the sofa. While this sofa design is aesthetically pleasing it tends to be lacking in the comfort department. I didn't want our ottoman turned sofa to be overrun with pillows since comfort is key. Then I remembered that hidden away in our storage closet was the perfect pillow-well almost perfect pillow. Over sized and rectangular it could rest against the bolster and support the already existing palette but it's outer covering left much to be desired. Not to be deterred I went on the hunt for fabric. Once again it was a drapery panel that saved the day.

A blackish grey & white tweed, it had a band of textured black tone on tone microfibre running across its top in which chunky chrome grommets were embedded. I fell in love with the chunkiness of the grommets and with the contrast of tweed and black microfibre banding.

I found the panel at a store that carries very stylish bed linens and drapery panels in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia called Encore Decor. They make custom pillows and charge next to nothing when the pillow covers are made out of a product they sell.

Seamstressly challenged, they were the answer to my prayers. Following my design instructions they helped me transform a nondescript pillow into a handsomely tailored addition to my pallette . Visitors love to cozy up on our ottoman turned sofa. So does our terrier mix, SOHO. As for me, when I nestle up against the pillows my feet now reach the ground.

Design Tip 1: No room for, or can't afford a sofa. Transform an ottoman into a sofa by leaning it against a wall and layering it with a palette of pillows. For comfort sake, the ottoman should be 3 feet deep, allowing room for the pillow 'back rest' and adequate seating depth.

Design Tip #2 Drapery panels are not just for hanging. Can't find the perfect pillow; can't find a fabric you like; think drapery panel.

Design Tip # 3 Don't discard the grommets. Adding a band of grommets to a bland pillow will be a sure fire way to earn you a Rave Re:view

Check out my last blog entry for more pictures of my reinvented ottoman.

A Pallette Of Pillows

2009-12-19T14:51:00.046-04:00

Pillows have the ability to turn mediocre into magnificent. Like icing on a cake or jewels in a crown, they add punch, pizazz and panache to any room they dress. Light weight, portable and budget friendly they are the perfect accessory. They come in a kalidescope of shapes, sizes, colours, fabrics, textures and styles. They can be used to enhance a stylish sofa or hide one that's nondescript.
Given the choice, do 'down'. Unlike foam or fibre filled pillows, they are pliable and can tuck cozily into any sofa or chair arm. How often have you tried to do battle on a sofa with a stubborn albeit stylish, foam filled pillow? Fashion should not get in the way of function even when it comes to pillows. There was a time when down filled pillows were out of reach for the budget conscious, but thanks to Homesense (Homegoods) they can be purchased in the $20.00 range there.

Like pants worn too short, the wrong pillow can become an eyesore rather than an embellishment. As when choosing vases and art work, too big is better than too small. An over sized down filled pillow can be molded to fit a space. Pillows that are too small lose themselves. Pillows that are too stiff stand awkwardly. A single pillow perched on a sofa, looks sad, lonely and out of place.

Some designers go by the rule of 'odd over even'. They prefer to place accessories in 3's or 5's rather than in 2's or 4's. I go by what looks right to me. A perfect palette of 4 pillows can be more eye catching than 5 pillows that are the wrong size, colour, texture or pattern. For me it is the combination of pillows and not necessarily the number that creates a pleasing pallette. So when in doubt...give a shout. Send a picture with your present arrangement of pillows or your barren sofa, chair or bed.

Four can be boring but......

...it doesn't have to be!! Texture and colour can add pizzazz.

( I want to apologize for my weak picture taking skills. My photos do not do justice to what my eyes behold.There is a fourth pillow hiding behind the black and white pillow. If I go to replace it with another photo I think I then am unable to to use this picture elsewhere in my blog entries. I've come a long way Re: blog layout skills but I am not there yet. As to my photo taking capabilities, I'm working on them. Oh to have a wide angle camera! One of these days.)

Two pillows tucked into each corner of a sofa, one large one small, make a stronger statement than do solitary pillows so placed. Notice how the fibre filled blue and camel pillows stand straight and unbending.! Stubborn in their stiffness they can't cozy up to their down filled mate.

Same sofa different looks. What's your preference?

Overdone

A bolster or rectangular shaped pillow flanked on either side by a duo of pillows can make an even stronger fashion statement. A new trend is to lay an elongated bolster or pillow on a sofa that stretches from one end to the other.

Just right!

Remember ....when placing your pillows create a pallette of varying colours, shapes, sizes and textures-a collage of sorts but don't over do it. You're sure to garner Rave Re:views!

In addition to the affordable, wide array of pillows sold at Winners ( T.J Max)/Homesense, Pier One Imports has an assortment of bold beautifully coloured pillows but they are higher priced. At Wicker Emporium the selection of pillow fabrics include Moroccan/ Indian, graphic and damask designs. Covers without pillows can be purchased for under $20.00.

I just learned about a site called CSN STORES .COM, on one of my Favourite Finds blog links, called Room Remix. Room Remix has a draw in which you can win $80.00 worth of products from CSN STORES.COM which is an online department store. Their assortment of pillows is extensive and they ship to Canada.

Better After - Thank You

2009-12-18T10:48:00.014-04:00

I want to thank Lindsey who has a blog site called Better After. This is a very popular site with well over 500 followers. Lindsey shares before and after pictures of both room redos and refinished furnishings/accessories. I was smitten by a boring, nondescript, dated wooden breadbox that was transformed into an eye catching, very 'today', black and white damask 'want to have' piece of functional kitchen art. Lindsey includes makeovers that she comes across as she roams the net but also welcomes contributions from her readers.

Lindsey featured my client Paula's living room on her Better After site last week. You can check it out for yourself at Better After. She called the entry Re Viewed Room.

Thanks again Lindsey for featuring my work and thanks to your many followers who paid a visit to my blog site on your recommendation. Your contributors have enabled me to dig deeper into my 'out of the box' thinking. I now see potential in furnishings once deemed dated . A bonus for my clients as I strive to reinvent their possessions and garner them Rave Re:views... on a budget.

Thinking Outside The Vase

2009-12-17T10:41:00.023-04:00

Needed a garbage pail for the main bathroom in our condo. Unlike past decades, there is no shortage of high style garbage pails in this day and age but these well attired receptacles of waste can cost a pretty penny. So off I went to Homesense hoping to find an inexpensive stainless steel garbage can. No such luck... however while scouting the shelves a shimmer of silver caught my eye.

"Too tall to be a garbage can. Must be a vase, " I thought. The wheels started turning. "Think outside the box.... no, vase... no, box. NOOO..... vase!"

And that's what I did . I thought outside the vase and brought it home. Here it is, vase turned garbage pail. Stylish with its off centre opening, the wide lip hides any unsightly waste collecting within. An unexpected bonus! It fits the decor of our bathroom to a T and has earned many a Rave Re:view.

Design Tip: Consider vases and plant containers when searching for a garbage can. Remember taller is better than shorter. Think outside the vase. You'll garner Rave Re:views!

Design Tip : Besides their great prices, another reason I am a Homesense/Winners(Homegoods/T.J.Max) gal is the fact that they tend not to stock multiples of items. I have purchased many an interesting find (vase turned garbage pail included) that I know is not adorning every house in the neighbourhood and may in fact be the only one in Halifax. So head to Homesense or let me head there for you.

Vase Theme Continued

2009-12-16T16:12:00.015-04:00

Here is a sampling of vases that I found at Homesense (Homegoods in the States) last week in Halifax. There were vases of varying sizes, shapes, colours and textures. Some smooth, some sleek, some rough, some straight lined, some curvaceous, some with embellishments carved or painted, some heavy, some light, some opaque, some transparent. Some spoke of yesteryear, some of today. Some spoke of faraway lands. A schmorgusborg ( Spelling?) of vases, a feast for all tastes with one thing in common-their price point. Most cost between $15.00 and $20.00 including some over sized , solid, high end looking vases. Wish I needed a vase or two or three or...... Remember to think big when it comes to vases and to think outside the 'vase'.

You'll garner Rave Re:views. I'd love to help you place a vase. Next blog entry -another example of thinking outside the vase.

When Is A Vase Not A Vase ?

2009-12-09T21:40:00.011-04:00

When it is reinvented to house a fish......

I have always been mezmorised by the rich vibrant colours of tropical fish but have never had the inclination to own an aquarium. So I bought an electric blue Beta fish, named her Indigo and housed her in a clear glass, willow branch filled vase. The vase serves two purposes. It is home to Indigo and with its curly branches it softens the straight lines of both the black lacquered buffet and the oversized flat screen TV. The maze of immersed branches, magnified by the water and accented with feathery pops of indigo blue, are nature's art. Thinking outside the box or shall I say vase, need not be expensive and can earn you Rave Re:views.

Vases Vases Everywhere

2009-12-08T19:30:00.033-04:00

Vases are a great accessory for a number of reasons. They come in all manner of shapes, sizes and colours. High end, current looking vases can be purchased for very reasonable prices. They can be used in any room in one's home. They can sit on tables, dressers, counter tops, desks, shelving units, bathtub ledges or can stand proudly on the floor. Vases filled with towering branches slide perfectly into room corners. They cosy up and soften spaces. Like an eye catching necklace, they make great fashion statements!

I have vases in every room of my condo and use them liberally in the homes of my clients. While some stand empty, most house branches - sculptural -with their arms reaching upwards every which way- inexpensive pieces of artwork for those of us with high end tastes and mid to low range budgets. Most of the vases you see in the photos were under 30.00

Sometimes a space cries out for two vases, one tall one short. Homesense (Homegoods) often carries sets of vases. Made of the same material, they come in a variety of shapes and sizes. At Homesense the price is always right. I have also purchased vases at Walmart, Zellers and Loblaw's Superstore - vases that are very 'today' and cannot be differentiated from those sold in high end stores.

Remember that when it comes to vases, big is always better. And as for branches, I like mine tall.

Want some vase advice? Email me a picture. I won't be evasive . I promise! You can count on Rave Re:views when you enlist our design/home staging services.

1+1=1 (Picture Perfect)

2009-12-01T01:08:00.025-04:00

When you hang artwork over a sofa, over a bed or on a large wall -be bold. Think BIG. BIG pictures make BIG statements in living spaces. Not that long ago, large pieces of artwork would have been out of reach to those of us with high end tastes and mid to low range budgets. Today, stores like Homesense (Homegoods), Winners(TJ Max), Homeoutfitters , Target, Walmart and Zellers have an assortment of wall art that is both attractive and affordable.

Sofas and beds are often better suited to rectangular rather than square shaped artwork. Large rectangular shaped pieces of art are not easy to come by. Don't despair! Simply remember the following formula: 1+1=1.

Purchase 2 same - sized, unframed, square shaped pictures and slide them together. Hence, one square picture plus one square picture equals one rectangular picture. Perfect for hanging over a bed or a sofa.

Often artwork comes in pairs. Pictures using the same colours, forms and lines are created in differing arrangements. In my client Paula's spare bedroom I slid together two such works of art. It was picture perfect.

In Homesense, an over sized painting with a fiery red poppy stopped me in my tracks. It was just what I was looking for to hang above the extra long sofa in Paula's main living space. Repeating my mantra '1+1=1' I searched frantically for a complimentary picture, to no avail.

Not one to give up, I purchased it and headed to the nearest Winners. As I approached the stacks of artwork, a picture, almost identical to the one I had just bought called out to me. I purchased it and headed straight to Paula's. Once again 1+1=1. Picture perfect!

Design Tip#1: Think BIG!

Design Tip #2: Sometimes, 2 squares are better than one.

Design Tip#3: Try two like pictures if a complimentary piece of artwork is not available.

Wicker Emporium's Can't Miss Sale

2009-11-27T12:14:00.011-04:00

A quick tip to my fellow Atlantic Canadians .....

Head on out to Wicker Emporium. They are having an incredible sale! Many of their curtains and pillows are half price. Their accessories, window coverings and pillows have a Bohemian/ Indian/Moroccan vibe. Their furniture runs from straight lines to ethnic to contemporary French provincial.

My client Paula purchased her 'parsons table breakfast bar ' there in the early fall. It's now on sale. Check out my blog entry entitled. 'From Breakfast Bar-None to Best Breakfast-Bar None' to see both it's clean lines and chunkiness. We also bought Paula's shower curtain at Wicker Emporium in August, for $29.99. It is now on sale for $14.99. I just ran out and bought 4 of them for myself. I love the richness of the black /gold combination, the pops of sparkly paprika, the solid lines softened by floral patterning, its Indian ethnicity as well as the texture, weight and sheen of the fabric. Talk about creating a living space that is current and not costly. Two drapery panels and a rod will garner you Rave Re:views for under $60.00!

While shower curtains are not sold at Wicker Emporium, their drapery panels are a million times more tasteful than a typical shower curtain. They will make a fashion statement in any bathroom! Since one curtain panel will not cover the length of a bathtub, you'll have to buy two. And of course you'll have to add plastic liners behind the curtains.

So wander off to Wicker Emporium and think out of the box when you are there.

From Folding Screen to Hanging Headboard

2009-11-26T09:48:00.033-04:00

When we downsized, our master bedroom shrank substantially. In spite of the fact that our previous bedroom was much more spacious, we decided to 'go for it' and purchase a king sized bed. The beautiful made in France Grange queen sized sleigh bed that we owned, along with its matching armoire, would not fit into our very narrow new master suite. As a result, we were in the market for a headboard. Our king sized bed protruded into a space that was barely 10 feet in length. With very limited walking room between the end of the bed and our wall mounted TV, the headboard could be no more than an inch or 2 in depth and a footboard, well that was out of the question.

My first thought was a flat woven bamboo headboard. While our previous bedroom was sophisticated and formal, I was now looking to create a more casual space. On my shopping forays, some headboards beckoned to me but none enticied me to take them home.

After a few days of searching, I returned home forlorn. Upon entering our disheveled new condo, its chaotic state a result of our recent move, my eyes were drawn to a wooden screen. For 15 years it stood sentry in the corner of our living room. Another piece of furniture purchased at Wicker Emporium all those years ago, for which I had no sentimental attachment, I just couldn't part with it. Made of rich dark wood, I loved the leather look and its soldier straight lines softened by carvings. I could tell that the screen was too narrow to use as a headboard for a king sized bed when left in a standing position. Not one to give up when a decorating idea germinates within me, especially when it involves 'flipping', I ran to get my tape measure. The height of the screen was almost exactly the same as the width of our bed. I was ecstatic! All that was needed to reinvent the screen as a headboard was a sideways flip and some nails to secure it to the wall. And so Voila, a wooden screen found its calling as a headboard that is functional, original, aesthetically pleasing and the recipient of Rave Re:views.

Design Tip #1: Screens make great headboards. Search out second hand stores, garage sales and flea markets for inexpensive finds. Wicker Emporium, Pier One Import and Jysk all carry screens that could function as headboards that are current but not costly.

Design Tip#2: View items every which way before disposing of accessories, furniture, artwork and the like. The differing perspectives may lead you to new and creative ways to reinvent your furnishings. Want some advice? Send me a question or a photo. I'd be happy to help you save money and earn Rave Re:views.

My Flip Theme Continued

2009-11-23T13:44:00.014-04:00

When we moved into our condo we brought and bought furniture. Because our new home is less than one third the size of our former living space, we had a lot of well used and much loved furniture to dispose of. Three kids and 32 years of marriage - you can only imagine how much stuff we had accumulated. Thank goodness for KIJIJI! And thanks to the people who chose to purchase our belongings. I really do believe they loved our antiques and furnishings as much as we did.

One of the tables with which I couldn't part, even though it had no sentimental hold over me, was an inexpensive find that I bought quite a few years ago at Wicker Emporium. I loved that table with its textured woven surface, a mixture of honey and chocolate tweed, that rested upon espresso flavoured long tapered legs. Yes.... I loved the legginess of that table. In our former home, it was sandwiched deliciously between two stately down filled melt in your mouth blue leather wing chairs. In our new condo, I centered it between my licorice red Eames Chair and my husband's sleek black leather recliner. But alas, it was too tall. And so I did the unthinkable. I had the legs cut down.

While aesthetically less pleasing in its stunted reincarnation, the still yummy honey/chocolate table top well served its purpose as a repository for a lamp, the books we read and pens for my husband's stab at his nightly crossword puzzle . It was a place to rest empty dishes and glasses of wine. But functional as it was, standing less proudly than it had in its former life , it blocked the pathway to our ottoman/sofa. Whenever I sought the comfort of the ottoman or my husband went to sit on his chair, we had to squeeze ourselves in between the table and one or other of the chairs that stood guard beside it. A cumbersome and dangerous undertaking. I lived in fear that the lamp would fall off the table and dent our brand new hardwood floors.

So much to my husband's chagrin, off to Homesense I went with bamboo on the brain.

None of the tables at Homesense that day matched the vision inside my head but as I was leaving the store, an item on one of the shelves called out to me. While not bamboo, it had the aesthetic I was searching for. Unsure of its intended function but fully aware that it was not a table, the reinventer inside of me sprung into action. I ambled, no, I raced over to take a closer look. I liked its form, its textured exterior and its proportions. A vase or perhaps an umbrella stand, it was a black metal container that was covered with some sort of natural fibre. Tightly layered, it resembled cork. I flipped over the container, hoping that the bottom could become a table top. Much to my delight, the bottom surface of smooth black metal was surrounded by, but not covered in the fibrous material. 'Perfect' I thought. Our table was born. Voila! From container to side table in minutes, it has garnered Rave Re:views.

Design Tip: Boxes, baskets, umbrella stands, large vases or containers have the potential to be reinvented as tables that are functional, original, current and inexpensive. Can't afford a new side table or can't find one that works for you, don't flip out, flip over!

Picture Perfect

2009-11-22T12:55:00.001-04:00

While visiting Lauren in Rome I was thrilled to see that the apple does not fall far from the tree. Young architects in Rome earn meager wages and so Lauren is living on a shoe string budget. She needed a night table but did not have the financial means to purchase one. So.... off she headed to the Porta Portese market. She picked up an old 50's era retro table base and a picture for a pittance, brought them home on the tram and Voila-she had a functional, fun, one of a kind , bed side table. Like mother like daughter!!!!
Lesson learned: You don't have to spend oodles of money to earn Rave Re:views.

Red Re:design

2009-11-20T14:39:00.003-04:00

The other day I was watching a home makeover show, as I so often do. When the owners proudly walked the TV host through their very red kitchen she cried out in horror "RED" to which the home owners immediately responded. "Red is in". The host countered mockingly " in 2000 !" Dejected! Humiliated! I'm talking about my feelings not theirs. I felt as if I had been stabbed through the heart. How could red be out? I LOVE RED as you well know. To add salt to my injury, Ron my husband who is usually supportive, called out from the comfort of his computer chair, "RED is out!!!" Fighting back the tears I regrouped my thoughts. Red is out???? Well there is no doubt in my mind that the manner in which the homeowners had used red in their kitchen was definitely out, not only in 2009 but way back in 2000 as well. All of the walls were swathed in red and an insignificant white chair rail wound its way around the perimeter of the kitchen where no cabinets stood. The homeowners most likely chose red because it was 'in' without taking into consideration the style and colour of their cabinets. By today and yesterday's standards the kitchen was a design disaster. I felt equally ill viewing that kitchen as I did hearing the words 'RED' is out. I felt sick because my beloved red, out of place in that environs, had lost her lustre .

Choosing a colour because it is 'in' is like buying a pair of trendy shoes whether they fit or not. A shoe addict, I've done that. Believe me it doesn't work. I'm not one to buck trends. I strive to create living spaces that are current. But, I also believe that if a colour is out and it is a colour you love you can make it work. So whether or not red is in or out, she will always be in my life. As I wrote in my last blog...red is medicinal and like all medicine an overdose can be deadly. The kitchen in the makeover show was bathed- no- it was drowning in red.

Read on to learn how red affects the human body and psyche so that when you choose to use it in your colour scheme you will feel the warmth and pleasure that red can elicit. The information I am sharing with you is found in the "Resource Manual' (Chapter 5 pages 27 and 28) upon which the Certified Staging Professional Course is based.

"RED is the colour of warmth and sensuality. It is said to stimulate the heart and the circulation system, fortifying the body and building up red blood cells. It can be an anti-depressant. It stimulates the brain and grabs attention. "

While wearing my stager hat I shy away from using red on walls. My goal is to neutralize and create mass appeal. As a stager I throw in pops of red to warm up neutral spaces. Talking about 'pops of colour', yesterday I came upon a great site for redophiles like myself. It is a site devoted to posting all manner of red furnishings. Check it out. www.popofred.com. It will link you to sites that highlight other colours as well.

While wearing my designer hat, I use red more liberally if my client has an affinity for my favourite colour. You can see how I dole out doses of red in the spaces I design by viewing my website. www.ravereviewhomestaging.com

Now that you have a feel for Red Re:design, let's continue Red Roming. Along the way some trendy finds of varying colours may do battle with red to grab your attention.

Red Roming

2009-11-19T11:45:00.002-04:00

I'm back. Had a wonderful 2 week visit with Lauren and Zacori in Rome and London respectively. I love little Halifax but Rome took my breath away and London... well London is an endless city of spice and colour. No longer staid and stuffy, a melange of fashions that range from quiet sophistication to wild and wacky cram its streets and underground.

While the goal of my blog is to demonstrate how high end design can be created using a mid to low range budget, I may deviate from the intended theme in my next few entries so that I can share with you some of the finds I stumbled upon as I strolled the streets of two extraordinary cities.

RED - My favourite colour in the whole world. Mezmorizing, Red has the power to stop me in my tracks. It penetrates my being. Medicinal, its searing heat is painfully comforting . Red brings a smile to my face and tears to my eyes.

On our first full day in Rome my daughter took us to the highly popular Porta Portese Sunday market. Confronted by an endless sea of wares, I began Roming and at the first table my eyes were immediately drawn to the ......... yes.......to the tomato red ashtray. Red loves to be noticed. See how she pops out in a crowd. Like a magnet, she draws us in.

Tables were brimming with -antiquities and their likenesses- retro and current treasures- some valuable some not. As I Romed the stalls I decided to record redness -more specifically retroredness which later expanded to redness in furnishings and then to all manner of redness both in Rome and London.

Are you reddy ? Let's Rome the market.

There I am, 'in the red' and loving it. A steal at 10 Euros....I couldn't resist. More Roming entries to come.

From Breakfast Bar-none to Best Breakfast- Bar None

2009-10-27T23:38:00.000-03:00

When my client Paula saw her 2 story condo for the first time, she fell in love. Having viewed a number of condos of varying styles and configurations this was her favorite -bar none. So she took me to see it before purchasing a unit to get my opinion re: room sizes, layout, closet space, functionality and aesthetic. A brand new brick fronted Georgian condo townhouse, with old world charm, I knew this was what Paula was looking for. While she wanted to live in a condo that fit into the landscape of the neighbourhood, she had visions of a trendier more current interior.

The kitchen which had ample storage space and attractive clean lined cabinetry suited Paula's needs and tastes. Its galley style layout, however, resulted in an enclosed space that would cut her off from visiting family and guests. Not one to like enclosed spaces she had been hoping for open concept living .

There was an easy but not inexpensive solution to this problem. A portion of the wall on either end of the kitchen was cut away, thereby opening up the kitchen to the living room on one end and the dining room on the other . The kitchen no longer felt merely like a passage way that connected the living and dining rooms but rather had the look and feel of a much more spacious room.

Paula had dreamed of cooking for company in her new kitchen, while guests chatted with her perched on stools at a trendy looking breakfast bar. Before deciding to have a portion of the kitchen wall removed this would not have been a possibility. Once the walls came tumbling down a perfect spot was created to build a breakfast bar but the wall removal was not an expense that Paula had anticipated when she fell in love with the condo. A granite breakfast bar was out of the question.

My first thought was to install a floating shelf that would stretch the length of the wall, under which stools could be tucked. An inexpensive and attractive fix. Jysk sells these shelves in varying lengths for very reasonable prices. But on a shopping expedition I found a great solid wood parsons table at Wicker Emporium that I knew would function as, and give the illusion of a breakfast bar. Because a table was being reinvented as a breakfast bar, stationary counter or bar height stools would not work. They were too tall. Luckily, today a good many stools have a mechanism for adjusting their height. Because height was at a premium, thickly padded seats would not work. At Home Outfitters I found stools that were a perfect fit and a perfect price. Less than $150.00 for the pair.

So voila! From breakfast bar-none a reinvented table became the best breakfast -bar none!

The Perfect Flip

2009-10-21T15:59:00.001-03:00

A couple of weeks ago, a staging job unexpectedly fell into my lap . I was both elated and exhausted before the job had begun. A friend and I had joined a Wednesday morning hiking group. Our former principal, Connie, and her sister-in-law, Rayeanne, were in the group as well. On the morning of our second trek, which was to be a 10K trek, Rayeanne informed me that her home was on the market and that the photographer was coming to take pictures for the MLS site upon her return. She asked me to take a quick walk through and wanted my opinion. While the house had good bones and I could see that it was move in ready, the over abundance of furnishings would not allow the average buyer to see what I, a trained stager, could see. It needed to be edited and showcased before any enticing photos could be taken .

Home Staging an occupied property is a 3 step process : STEP 1 The Consultation, STEP 2 The Prep Work, STEP 3 The Showcasing. Normally I would arrange for a consult during which time I would tour the property planning for Steps 2 and 3. After the consult and before the Showcasing , the prep work would have to be carried out. Clients would undertake the prep work on their own or with my help. With the prep work completed, I would return to the property to ' ice the cake'. The Consultation and Showcasing are carried out on two separate days. The number of days needed to complete the prep work is dependent upon the amount of work that needs to be done. I invite you to check out my web site for a more detailed explanation of the Home Staging process along with my philosophy and approach to preparing properties for the real estate market. www.ravereviewhomestaging.com

What has this got to do with 'flipping' you are probably asking yourself. I'm getting there. Don't flip out on me!

What would normally have occurred in 3 days was undertaken in a record 7 hours. There was no time to preplan. The photographer was rebooked for the next afternoon. In spite of the fact that my aching legs could barely hold me up after our 10 k walk, we dove right in. Dave with his painful cough was a trooper. He ferried furnishings across the bridge at least 4 times that day. Rayeanne never blinked an eyelash as I told her what to do. Belongings got packed up, nail holes got plugged up , chipped walls got touched up and closets got tidied up The consultation, prepwork and showcasing happened on the run and I am proud to say that instead of chaos Rayeanne, Dave and I performed a symphony of sorts.

Upon my arrival , there had been a good number of side tables and plant stands in the house almost all of which I had Dave remove . While the sofa was in need of a side table, none of the ones sent to storage fit the bill. Scouring the house for a suitable table, I found what I was looking for in the basement . An over sized basket, table height, that I knew would fit perfectly. Rayeanne and Dave had been planning to dispose of it. How true is the old saying 'one woman's garbage is another woman's treasure! I grabbed the basket and raced upstairs. It's amazing how quickly my weary legs sprung to life as my brain filled with thoughts of flipping.

And VOILA! That big over sized basket that was about to be tossed was the perfect flip!

Beyond exhausted, at the end of the day I felt an incredible sense of accomplishment. New to Home Staging, my confidence needs bolstering and bolstered it was as day turned into night.

This, my second official staging job which fell into my lap last minute, did not crush me! I learned that I can function under pressure and create move in ready properties that will garner Rave Re:views.

Jobless for the moment, and still in need of some confidence building, especially after hearing that a number of my fellow members in Home Staging Atlantic were unable to make the last session because they had to meet with clients and that one stager even has 3 jobs on the go, I know I will get there. I'll keep you posted.

My husband and I are heading to Rome next week to visit our daughter Lauren and then on to London to spend time with Zachary and Cori, our son and daughter-in-law whom we affectionately refer to as Zacori. Lauren will finish the portfolio section of my website after which you will be able to see the fruits of my labour including Rayeanne and Dave's transformed property.

Keep on flipping!

"Till next time.

Votive to Vase

2009-10-12T14:10:00.000-03:00

I can't understand why builders locate light switches or plug receptacles smack dab in the middle of walls. We have a number of light switches so placed in our new condo and as a result cannot hang artwork on these walls. Nine months after taking occupancy we finally own our unit and are now able to have some of the switches moved to one side or another on the wall.

In our kitchen we have a number of these eyesores, some hung straight others crooked. I have tried to hide them as best as I can. An easy solution, if the unsightly switch or receptacle is on the back splash, is to simply place an accessory in front of it.

I had a set of 4 votive holders on the counter and thought I might place a taller one in front of the receptacle but it was too short. When I picked it up to see if it would work in front of the receptacle, I noticed that the holder was hollow almost all the way up to the top. So .....

I flipped it over

filled it with water

added my favourite red flowers

and VOILA

My votive holder was reinvented .

Now a vase; it hides the receptacle.

Lesson learned: you don't always have to run out and buy new accessories to solve decorating problems in your home.

What draws me to home staging and redesigning is the satisfaction I get from reusing and reinventing clients' possessions, saving them money while at the same time creating pleasing aesthetics.

Bear with me. I have not yet learned how to cut and paste on blogspot so the pictures are still appearing at the top. By my next entry I hope to know how to place pictures where I so desire.

From One Table To Another

2009-10-10T16:59:00.000-03:00

A year ago my husband and I downsized from a 3500 sq. ft. house in a suburban neighbourhood to a 1400sq. ft condo in the city core. ( a subject which I will write about some other time) And I must add that I am loving it!!!!

Well, I purchased a trendy looking little table covered in faux snakeskin from Homesense, quite a few months prior to our move. I was going to place it in between two funky leopard look upholstered chairs. When we finally settled into our condo, the table didn't work in between the chairs. So what did I do? I reinvented it.

I flipped it on its side.
Lay a mirror on top to act as the table surface.
Covered the mirror with faux leather and VOILA......
My reinvented table.

I was going to simply use the mirror as the table top but found that the reflections on the table surface were distracting, hence the pleather insert.

The table looks great and functions perfectly in our den/ guest room as a side table next to our 1980's era black leather sofa bed. It has received a number of
Rave Re:views!!

Looking forward to sharing more reinventions and tips with you in the days to come.

Better Late Than Never

2009-10-09T21:51:00.000-03:00

Well it has been over three months since I trained in Toronto with Canadian Staging Professionals to become a certified real estate home stager. The 3 day course, or should I say 3 day and 2 night course, was filled with a mind boggling amount of invaluable information.

For the first 2 days, classes began at 8:00 in the morning and went on until 6:00 in the evening. After returning to my cousin's apartment I wolfed down some supper and continued my studies by writing a test that covered the information we had been taught during the day, as well as material we were required to cover on our own. My poor cousin had to tiptoe around her apartment so I could concentrate on the test questions made more difficult by the fact that my mind was overflowing with newly aquired information and I was exhausted. On both nights it was close to midnight when I tiptoed past my sleeping cousin, crawled into bed and dreamed of flat fees and consultations and focal points and props versus accessories.

The third day began at 7:00 in the morning. We were taken to a home badly in need of staging. We had an invaluable hands on experience, putting to practice what we had been taught in the classroom. That morning I learned that real estate home staging is HARD work, both physiaclly and mentally. I also learned that it is exactly what I want to do in my years of rewirement. Home staging satisfies my insatiable hunger to edit spaces and provides me with the challenge of preparing a property, spending as little money as possible by reusing and reinventing the furnishings found in its interior and exterior spaces.

I would like to thank my instructors, Christine, Jackson, & Duncan for putting up with my endless questions. Thank you especially to Christine, the incredibly knowledgeable and busy founder of Canadian Staging Professionals, who travels the world training aspiring home stagers. She took the time to personally mentor me through some difficult moments when I returned home . Her prompt and lengthy email responses showed me that she was a teacher who cared about her students.

While CSP™ and CCSP are 2 different designations given to stagers trained through Canadian Staging Professionals, the credentials are one and the same. A Canadian company that initially trained Canadians, graduates were given the title of CSP™ or Canadian Staging Professional. Training courses are now being offered around the globe. For Stagers trained outside of Canada , CSP™ stands for Certfiied Staging Professional. For Canadian stagers the new designation of CCSP ( Certified Canadian Staging Professional) is applied. Many Canadians may still use the initials CSP™ because that was their original designation.

I am just happy to say that CSP™ or CCSP, I am trained and up and running. I had planned initially to be ready to begin my actual staging career in September, not realizing the work involved in setting up a business. I figured it couldn't take all that much time to get a small home based business off the ground. There were contracts to compose, business cards and a web site to design, a bank account to set up, insurance to purchase, stationary to have printed, a portolio and client education binders to put together, price lists to establish; all before I could pound the pavement. But I'm there now.

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER!!!

My daughter Lauren, an architect living in Rome, collaborated with me to conceive my logo. She worked tirelessly to design my website. A huge time consuming undertaking that is now garnering Rave Re:views. Thank goodness for Lauren and thank goodness for skype. Without skype this entry would not have been called 'Better Late than Never " it would have been called 'Later than Ever' .

Now, I had intended on sharing some of my reinventions and design tips today but while I am wired to stage I am technologically inept. I'm wired less than my wireless when it comes to having computer savvy. So par for the course, I clicked file on my tool bar to save this entry and as a result the complete entry disappeared. I should have clicked on save at the bottom of this entry. Screaming silently, fighting back the tears, I rewrote the entire entry from memory which took a looooooong time. So tomorrow I will share some of my reinventions if I can learn how to insert pictures along with my text. I'll worry about that tomorrow.

On a closing note, a little explanation about my company name:

'Rave Re:view Home Staging & Redesign'

The : in the word Re:view gives my chosen name a double meaning.
One meaning refers to that fact that there is a before and after ingredient in Home Staging and Redesign. Pictures of a room pre-staging are posted as are pictures of the same room post staging. So a room is viewed and then viewed again or re viewed.
The second meaning refers to a review as in a book or a play or a movie review.

I enjoy playing with words almost as much as I enjoy playing with space. So here is my motto, a play on words :

You can count on Rave Re:views when you enlist our help to stage or redesign your home.