Since creating the “to be continued” blog, I’ve been closing each post with the words “dwell in possibilities.” I must confess that I borrowed this phrase from the great poet, Emily Dickinson. I saw her quote and realized that it summed up what I am doing as a professional home stager and interior designer.

I am most grateful to Ms. Dickinson for her insightful and inspiring phrase.

Regardless of the size or price range of a house, my objective is to find the possibilities in that house. I am looking for those unique features of that house and finding possible ways to accentuate them for the potential buyer. I am analyzing those unusual spaces that buyers find difficult to understand upon first glance and finding possible functional uses for those spaces.

In the end, my mission is to help the potential buyer see how they could dwell in the possibilities of this house!


Wednesday, July 27, 2011

The Serendipity Factor

Every once in a while a staging project comes along that goes smoothly; the weather is cooperative; there is plenty of time; my back and knees don’t hurt; there are no crises on the home front; and, the budget is just right. I thank my staging stars when this happens because it doesn’t happen very often! 

Regardless of the challenge of the house or the circumstances surrounding the staging project, I try to be positive and just know that something is going to happen.  And when it does, I will be a pro and just go on.   

I have also learned that sometimes things happen that I don’t plan and the result is wonderful.  I have come to expect (and look forward to) this wonderful surprise, which I call the Serendipity Factor. 

This staging project on East 109th Street is a good example of this phenomenon. 

I had a clear vision of how I wanted to stage this very cozy but very dark living room.  It needed light and playful furniture!  So, I ordered a certain clean lined and off white linen sofa, two bright and light colorful upholstered chairs and a large upholstered ottoman.  I spent a day assembling artwork, a rug, pillows and accessories to go specifically with that particular sofa and chairs.  Great!  This project was moving smoothly along. 

Then, I got an email the day before the installation.  The chairs were not available………  I was very unhappy.  I begged and questioned and drove my supplier crazy.  They were patient and did their best to help find substitutions.  I was not enthused, but finally, we came up with alternative chairs, a coffee table and end tables.   

I have to tell you, I was thrilled with the results!    I don’t think my first choices would have worked out near as well.  Serendipity was at play and so were new possibilities.

As you can see from the two “Before” pictures, the living room was functional, dark and not so organized.  My goal was to brighten up the otherwise dark room and create a brighter but more relaxing room. 

I began by anchoring the living area.  The soft white shag rug contrasted nicely and showed off the scraped beautiful rich dark wood floors (one of the “best features of this home).  The “serendipity factor” sofa and chairs were cleaned lined, ivory upholstered and extremely comfortable.  I jazzed them up with brightly colored throws and pottery barn pillows.  Also notice the fresh blue and yellow artwork above the sofa.  To keep up the light and fresh feel, I brought in graphite and light wood end tables and a coffee table.  Matching lamps with white shades add much needed ambient lighting. 

You can see more “Before” and “After” photos of the East 109th Street-Tulsa project at http://www.transitions-home-staging.com/East-109th-Street---Tulsa.html  

Possibilities abound when The Serendipity Factor is present. 


Dwell in possibilities


Cindy
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