Friday Treat – Review of Best Staged Plans

I finally read the much touted (in real estate staging circles anyway) book Best Staged Plans by Claire Cook.  It was a very light and somewhat entertaining read.  It was also a bit “cutesy” for my taste, but, nonetheless, I enjoyed it.

The first sentence on the book cover pretty well sums up the premise.  “As a professional home stager, Sandy Sullivan is an expert at transforming cluttered rooms into attractive houses ready for sale.  If only reinventing her life were as easy as choosing the perfect paint color…….”

I could relate to Sandy as we are similar in some predictable ways.  She is a home stager, she is middle aged and her children are grown, and she wears reading glasses which she is constantly losing (my solution is to just have multiple pairs).   

I could also relate to how difficult it was for home stager, Sandy, to “de-clutter” and stage her own home.  I have to admit the progression of the storyline and the conclusion were clever and went a long way in explaining the title of the book.

As you can imagine, I especially enjoyed some of the story lines that involved specific home staging projects.  For instance Sandy had a very skeptical, territorial but motivated client with a very dated home (does this sound like it could happen in real life?).  

I don’t want to spoil the story, but, I can’t wait to use “million-dollar red” on a front door and try out her “neutral but chic, transitional palette” of “china white” and “pismo dunes”.   According to Sandy “a house will jump two and a half decades by the second coat”.  Of course, Sandy also handled her difficult client expertly!

So, if you want a quick and light summer read, you may enjoy Claire Cook’s Best Staged Plans. 

P.S.  Claire Cook also wrote the best seller that later became a movie “Must Love Dogs” which starred Diane Lane and John Cusack.   Could there be a Best Staged Plans movie in the future?  And if so, then who will play the home stager?  Just think of the possible glamorous actresses who could play a middle-aged home stager - Meryl, Julia, Gwyneth, Diane, or Roseanne!

 

Dwell in possibilities

Cindy

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 109^th 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

Friday Treat – HGTV Design Star’s Home Stager

Today’s Friday treat starts with a confession.  I absolutely love the HGTV Design Star show which premiered last week!!  You will know where to find me on Mondays at 8:00pm – in front of the television watching creativity in action under bright lights and tight deadlines.

HGTV Design Star (http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv-design-star/show/index.html ) is a one-hour series which “features 12 competitive and creative finalists executing ingenious designs, as well as an illustrious judging panel of acclaimed HGTV interior designers (Genevieve Gorder, Candice Olson and Vern Yip) and special celebrity guests.  They must navigate innovative design challenges and dazzle the judges with creativity and ingenuity until one wins their own show on HGTV”.

Where else can you pit creative types with such diverse backgrounds like these contestants?

·         former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, cruise ship entertainer and mom of a blended family (and some think my former CPA background is unusual!)

·         Emmy award winning broadcast news reporter

·         construction company project manager

·         married mom of two from Edmond

·         fashion merchandise director and window dresser

·         criminology major turned designer

My Friday treat is that one of the Design Star finalists is Cathy Hobbs, an interior designer and home stager and member of RESA (Real Estate Staging Association).  She is also the former broadcast news reporter mentioned above. 

Despite winning five Emmy Awards for outstanding news reporting in New York City, Cathy's passion for design propelled her into a second career. She attended morning classes at the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she earned a bachelor's degree in interior design, and then returned to the station to report the evening news.  Married with an 8-month-old daughter, Cathy now owns a flourishing interior design company and specializes in residential and commercial properties.

If you have the time and interest, catch HGTV Design Star.  If you are so inclined, cheer for Cathy.  Or you may prefer to cheer for the Edmond mom, former cheerleader, window dresser or someone else. 

Dwell in possibilities

Cindy   

Have I Got the Girl for You!

Typically, my connection to savvy sellers is through their Realtor who recommends that their house be staged for maximum effect.  On occasion, a savvy seller learns about Transitions through our website, “to be continued” blog or word-of-mouth and contacts me directly.  Today, I share the story of a new client who found me through one of my resource providers – that was a first for me. 

My savvy seller was transferred to Seattle and needed to sell her Tulsa home.  She was smart enough to recognize that she needed to replace the furniture she was moving to her new home with other furniture and accessories.  My savvy seller understood that a house shows better when it can help the buyer understand its potential. 

She was at my resource provider’s showroom feeling overwhelmed by the task and the choices.  My resource provider partner told her that “have I got the girl for you!” and gave her my name to help her stage her house.  She called me and the rest is now up to the Realtors and potential buyers.   

As it turned out, I had been eyeing several pieces of furniture and artwork in the showroom and was just waiting to be able to use them.  This house was perfect for many of those pieces.  I was like a kid in a candy store.  And it ended up being a fun project as the photos will attest.  

·         In the large and open living room, I paired a nice sized, comfortable and cleaned lined sectional with a geometric patterned upholstered ottoman and contrasting contemporary chair.  The large bold piece of abstract art over the fireplace tied them all together.  

·         I think this “old world” glass top table and antiqued gold metal chairs look great in this dining room.  The contemporary piece of art and casual floral bring down the formality a notch to carry on the “traditional but young” feel I wanted for this house. 

·         The master bath is large, bright and light.  The red and yellow rugs and towels and large forsythia looked fresh and again “traditional but young”. 

·         The china cabinet that is located between the dining room and kitchen is a nice touch.  I played it up with simple accessories.  My homeowner really liked this feature when she initially looked at this house.  I expect it will be a desired extra for the next buyer too.

You can see more “Before” and “After” photos at our web site (http://www.transitions-home-staging.com/76th-Place-Tulsa.html )

Opportunities appear from many sources and possibilities always abound.  When an opportunity presents possibilities like today’s story, the results can be spectacular.   

Always dwell in possibilities

Cindy

Accentuating the Best Features

When it is done well, home staging accentuates the home’s best features and provides a nice, easy and consistent use of space and movement.   

When I stage a house, I focus on the home’s curb appeal, focal points, flow, furniture arrangement and accessories.   

Each house is different and each buyer is different.  Home staging helps set this house apart from the competition for all of the right reasons.  It creates a more universal appeal for the house.  If done correctly, buyers imagine their best selves living in the house.   

I look at the how appealing it is when you are looking at the house from the front curb.  One of my primary staging areas is the entry because I know that buyers make up their mind in the first 30 seconds upon entering a house.  The rest of the time in the house is spent justifying their first emotional reaction. 

I then decide what is unique and distinct about the house and finds ways to accent those focal points.  I make sure to build a flow in the house to carry an even pace from room-to-room.  Most importantly, I streamline the furniture and arrange it to lead the buyer’s eye around a room.  Finally, we remove clutter and use an assortment of useful and ornamental items to decorate the house.

Home staging is more art than science but the results speak for themselves.  Buyers want to walk-in a professionally staged home.  And once in, they want to see more.  Most importantly, buyers imagine living in that house and making it their home.  When they have those impressions, buyers are more likely to make an offer and buy that staged house.  And that is why we staged the house in the first place.

 

Dwell in possibilities!

Cindy