Thu
26
Jan
2012
Update- Offer accepted and pending inspection twelve days after being staged and listed- staging works! Watch the video below and see these rooms vacant of color, furniture and personality transformed by home staging. Nine out of ten buyers choose which homes to go look at after sifting through hundreds of photos online first- vacant rooms soon begin to all look the same. Having photos of staged rooms will differentiate your home from the masses- staging is key!
Thu
19
Jan
2012
Has your messy and care-free teen suddenly morphed into a thoughtful and looking-to- the-future young woman? This is the story of one young lady's bedroom make-over journey from teenage turmoil into a more calm, sophisticated look and lifestyle.
Thu
12
Jan
2012
We recently had the pleasure of staging this wonderful 2600 square foot view home on Newberry Hill in Silverdale, Wa. Click on the photo above to see a photo show and flyer. Listing info
Thu
15
Sep
2011
When trying to sell an unoccupied home it's critical to dfferentiate your home from other vacant homes on the market. Over 90% of potential buyers search online first to find the homes they will actually go look at. Photos of empty rooms quickly begin to all look the same in your buyers' eyes, so having beautifully staged rooms will be sure to capture their attention and interest.
Spaces Streamlined staged this beautiful rambler on a quiet lane in Allyn, Washington's Lakeland Village Community. By filling the rooms with a beautiful mix of contemporary furnishings and accessories, we created a vision for how potential buyers could enjoy living in this wonderful property- stepping inside the entry foyer, they'll instantly feel at home! They can imagine relaxing in front of the fire, entertaining in the lovely dining space and having fun cooking in a large and inviting kitchen while visiting with family and friends. The adjoining den/ sitting room with patio doors opening onto a covered deck has been staged with just a few pieces of colorful and comfortable furniture to highlight the warm and cozy atmosphere. A spacious and romantic master bedroom suite is sure to delight. By staging to create friendly and memorable impressions in a buyer's mind, we've ensured this home will be a standout among the many homes on the market in this community.
Fri
22
Jul
2011
My organized home pantry featured on Professional Organizer Krista Colvin's blog- thanks Krista! Check it out for pictures and ideas for your own pantry.
Sun
26
Jun
2011
People often ask me if my house is perfectly organized and my answer is no, of course not. I deal with all of the same challenges as everyone else (not enough space, not enough time, too much stuff!). But I find having an organized home makes life so much easier so it is a priority for me to come up with solutions to make my home and its’ limitations work for me. A good example is my master bedroom closet. It is a very small walk-in I share with my husband that holds ALL of our clothing (everything but our coats and everyday shoes that we keep in the coat closet near the front door). We removed the dresser in our bedroom space in order to make room for a sitting area (my refuge when our daughter has a bunch of teenage friends over!) so we added some drawers to the existing shelves to hold socks, underwear, t-shirts, etc that used to be stored in the dresser. Needless to say, this small closet has to be super organized in order to hold everything. Here are some of my strategies for dealing with this limited space:
Wed
01
Jun
2011
Home decorating used to mean special ordering fabrics, furniture and materials and spending large amounts of money in the process- making it out of reach for many of us. Most people just do not have the budget to get rid of everything they have and start over from scratch to create a new look for their rooms. Today’s decorating is much more obtainable and affordable. A new wave of interior decorators called Redesigners, One-Day Decorators or Room Stylists are here to transform homes affordably by remixing, repurposing and rearranging the existing furnishings and accessories in creative, new ways. Beautiful rooms don’t have to cost a fortune anymore- Interior Redesign services can help you use what you have to the fullest, saving you the expense of buying a lot of new pieces.
A typical redesign consists of:
A consultation with the redesigner so that they understand what you want to achieve in your space- better flow or functionality, a lighter feel, more style?
Establishing which things work well in the room, should stay and can be used to build the new design upon, then removing furnishings that won’t be included in the new design.
Taking all of the room’s accessories such as lamps, pillows, rugs, plants, knick knacks, etc out of the room temporarily so the “bones” of the room can be seen.
Reworking the furniture arrangement to make the best use of the space and highlight the room’s natural focal point (fireplace, picture window, etc) and architectural features.
Reaccessorizing by bringing back your favorite treasures and pieces that work well together to create a cohesive, warm and welcoming design.
Leftover pieces can then be used to decorate another space or packed away to rotate back into the room later, creating yet another new look such as a seasonal decorating scheme.
And lastly, your redesigner can recommend which, if any, finishing touches are needed to complete the new look and where to buy them at a reasonable price. Redesigners offer shopping services and can shop with you or for you, often extending their professional discounts to your purchases and also have valuable connections with local tradespeople such as painters, house cleaners, closet designers etc they can refer you to, if needed.
So if you’re tired of the same old space and would love to give it a fresh new look without having to spend a lot of money on new purchases Interior Redesign (also known as Staging to Live, House Fluffing or Use What You Have Decorating) could be perfect for you. It is also extremely useful for those who are moving, combining households or downsizing and makes a wonderful gift for young people setting up a household for the first time or for a loved one making the transition from a house to assisted living.
To learn more about Interior Redesign services and fees, contact us. We are experts at using what you own and love to create a warm and welcoming space that perfectly reflects you and your family. We would love to help you redesign, restyle and give your space a whole new feeling- affordably and in less than a day!
Mon
17
Jan
2011
Start the New Year right and get your home organized now. Napo (National Association of Professional Organizers) on getting Organized:
Many people start the New Year with a resolution to get organized. The amount of information available to people continues to grow at a rapid pace, as do the number of demands on our time. Organized people save time and money, and reduce their stress and frustration levels. Organizing systems help you deal with everything from your paper to your professional responsibilities and give you parameters on what to keep, what to toss, and where to take action.
What is the best way to get organized?
Experts in the organizing industry agree that there are no “cookie cutter” solutions for getting organized. There are many different personality types, work styles, and environmental influences, so each person must find the system that works best for him or her. The number of organization-related products and services is continually increasing. With the help of a NAPO member you can determine the areas in which you want to improve, such as filing, clutter control, time management, maximizing storage space, or juggling projects and priorities.
How long does it take to get organized?
Organization is a process, not a state achieved in one day. Think about it as “being organized” or “staying organized,” not “getting organized.” A NAPO member can help you set up an organizing system in a few days. After that, the challenge is to continuously maintain it and work on it one day at a time. The good news is, once you learn good systems, habits, and tools, change becomes easier, as does bouncing back from an unexpected detour or period of feeling overwhelmed.
Being organized benefits your life in so many ways:
You will be able to find what you need when you need it, no more frantic searches for your car keys!
You’ll save money- no more buying duplicates of things you can’t find or paying late fees on your bills.
You will reduce the amount of time it takes to clean your home by 40%.
You will be able to park your vehicle in your garage again.
You’ll arrive at your appointments on time and un-frazzled.
Dressing yourself becomes so much easier when everything in your closet is clean, currently fits and is at your fingertips, easy to find and coordinate.
You will experience much less stress.
You’ll have more time for spending with friends and loved ones and doing the things you love to do!
Create space in your life by finally getting your home organized. Take it one room at a time, keep your organizing solutions simple to fit your family’s habits and don’t expect perfection- clutter is managed, not cured in today’s busy households. Have everyone in the family pitch in to clean up and maintain order and if you find you need additional help contact us, we can customize organizing systems to fit your life.
Sun
12
Dec
2010
I love the holidays and spending time with family and friends. We try to get together several times a year with special family members who live a few hours drive from us and keeping things simple and relaxed is key to making overnight stays easy and fun.
Before our guests arrive, the bedroom and bathroom are given a good cleaning (clean is the ultimate luxury!), the shower curtain and bath rugs are washed and fresh smelling and the soap dispenser is filled with fragrant soap. Guest towels and washcloths are stacked on the vanity for everyone to help themselves to and extra toiletries are stashed under the sink just in case they’re needed.
To give the adults a private space, we transfom our teen’s room into a guest room. Luckily she has a queen-sized bed that can be dressed in clean, smooth cotton sheets, soft pillows and a more grown-up style comforter. We keep these in the linen closet ready for such occasions. My daughter doesn’t mind giving up her room since she gets to have a bit of a sleepover party with her cousins in the family room where they stay up late, play games, watch TV and then crash on sofas and air mattresses.
Tue
28
Sep
2010
Being a professional organizer, my home is usually pretty neat and well organized but like anyone, when life gets busy I tend to let some things slide. Before I know it, I find certain areas of my home (usually closets, cupboards, drawers- places visitors don't usually see) have become somewhat cluttered. Having a family and a business to run, it's easy to put off dealing with them.
Fri
06
Aug
2010
Would you love to create an oasis of calm apart from the busy everyday happenings in your home? Put two simple rules to work in your bedroom to begin and end each day in a restful and peaceful-feeling space.
Mon
19
Jul
2010
When you are marketing your home to sell don't neglect to stage your outdoor spaces. Creating a backyard sanctuary is one of the smartest things you can do to make your home stand out from the crowd.
Thu
08
Jul
2010
When people ask me what I do, I’m surprised when they often ask “What is home staging?”
As an avid watcher of all of the TV home improvement shows it seems as if home staging should be a common term but I’ve found that to many people it’s a novel concept. So for those new to the idea, here is a little information about this valuable service.
Sun
27
Jun
2010
Sellers- do you think staging your home to sell is just another expense that you can't afford? Well, take a look at this article the Real Estate Staging Association has written about how much time and money staging actually saves you and you may realize its' money well spent. They've also put out a new calculator you can use to analyze your estimated savings vs costs when you stage your home.