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!


Thursday, November 3, 2011

The One That Finally Stumps Me!

As I prepared to tackle this staging project, I had convinced myself that this was the one – the house that was going to stump me.  It lacked energy and I lacked inspiration.  It was a gigantic puzzle to me that I pondered for days trying to find a way, a hook, or an inspiration for the home staging.  It was just not happening.

I built a plan for how to stage the house still fighting the fear that this one was going to stump me.  I packed my stuff hoping that I would find some magic home staging fairy dust.  I kept coming up empty and uninspired.  Oh well, I can always go back to my CPA tax career!?!?

And, then it happened – the hook, the idea, the inspiration.  It came in an unlikely space – the sunroom.  As furnished by the seller, this room appeared to be an afterthought.  You can see what I mean in the accompanying “Before” photo.  Then, I had a vision of a seating area with a colorful rug, Pier One chair covers and pillows along with opening up the window shades to highlight the gorgeous statues and backyard.  See the “After” photo to experience the inspiration too.

Presto!!!  I had my inspiration and found my energy.  The puzzle fit together and the rest of my staging work blossomed from this inspiration.  The other rooms came to life as well as I built color and pizzazz into the master bedroom, bath, family room and kitchen.  Suddenly, this dull, uninspiring house was popping with life, energy and color.

Then, I envisioned myself living in this house (reading a great book in the sunroom and entertaining in the large family room).  It is a really good sign when the stager starts imagining living in that house.  It bodes well for the real buyers who will find the eye popping online photos and visit this wonderful house.

When I finally made it home, I did have to stop my husband who was researching CPA continuing education classes and updating my resume.  He had heard my concerns and took them seriously.  He was helping me ease out of my home staging adventure after I was finally stumped!?!?!?

I admit this one was a real challenge, but I am back and better than ever.  In a way, this challenge inspired me to find the possibilities and the inspiration in every house.  Now, I look forward to the feedback from my Realtor partner about how much the buyers loved this house and imagined its possibilities for their life adventure living in it.


Dwell in possibilities


Cindy
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