Cool Home Trends + Classic Elements = Great Staging Style

Staging a home for sale is not only about accentuating the strengths of a home, those features that most buyers want, but also creating a feeling that buyers envision as their desired lifestyle. Creating that vision means staying up on design trends that people want in your area, as well as balancing classic elements to appeal to a large percentage of potential buyers. That does not mean being boring or "too safe" in choices, no one's dream home looks like an Embassy Suites. (Not that there is a darn thing wrong with them...we just don't want to live there!)

As I contemplated mixing current trends with classic elements of style I came across this awesome video that I think exemplifies my formula of cool trends+classic elements =awesome style. 

Enjoy, have a great weekend, and find inspiration everywhere!

Teresa

Salvaged Kitchen Cabinet DIY Project

The Industrial Style trend is everywhere. The look has darker color furniture body with salvage or recycled elements, often with a wood top. An entire home in this style is usually best left to lofts or urban condos, but small elements of this style are on trend and can be incorporated into any home. Keeping a blend of timeless style and current trends is vital when staging a home for sale. Budgets however are a reality, and a piece of furniture that only has a supporting role in a room need not cost a fortune to give that same look. 

I love a good challenge. Budget challenge? Bring it on! Time frame challenge? I got it! Neighbor puts old kitchen wall cabinet on the curb? My inner dumpster diver resourceful salvage gal accepted the challenge!

There it is...not much to look at really. (ignore the pallets....we'll talk about that adventure another day) Since this was a wall cabinet there is not a flat top, doors are long gone and...the "best" part...it is not real wood. I know at this point you are thinking I should have just walked on by this beauty but I had a corner in my house though that needed something, this could be it. If not, I will use it in staging loft/industrial style spaces.

This was a straight forward job, so really no pictures. Just steps.

Step 1: Take a damp towel and wipe off really well and let dry.

Step 2: Since this is laminated particle board, it must be primed with a quality primer.

Step 3: Paint. I used spray paint, but you can also use a brush and roller.

Step 4: Attach the top of your choice. I had some old salvaged redwood boards, But be creative....Part of an old door, slab of marble, old table top even old shutters. Use a construction adhesive appropriate for your materials.  (check back of adhesive for this information)

Step 5: Put something heavy on top while adhesive sets. I used bricks, but you can use books, gym weights
what ever you have on hand. Let sit overnight.

Step 6: Step back and enjoy your handiwork!

Styled here for my home, but could easily fit into an Industrial space.

This is an easy project anyone can do. There are no special tools required and you can even do it inside if you are short on yard or garage space.

One last favor before I go, I have added a link on the right hand side of the blog where you can sign up for blog updates to go right to your email. If you enjoy my ramblings, please sign up so you don't miss a thing.

Happy Hunting,
Teresa

DIY Outdated Lighting Transformation

Beautiful lantern light fixtures in a dark oil rubbed bronze finish are in style now and on many home buyers' wish lists. This fact is something to consider when staging your home for sale. When you look at this picture, do you fall in love a little bit? That is the same feeling I want buyers to have in your home!

I know, I know....brass is coming back you say. Yes, beautiful real brass with an aged patina is clearly making a come back in the current design trends.

These gorgeous brass creatures are not the topic of my conversation today. If you have beautiful real brass fixtures....embrace them or take them down and store them until you feel you can love again. Today's targets are those shiny yellow faux brass fixtures of the 80's and 90's.

According to sandiegorealestate.com one of the top turn offs for home buyers in the San Diego area is outdated decor from the 80's. Hey....the 80's were great, they were fun, but nobody wants them hanging around in the living and dining room or bath room. Literally...those shiny faux brass light fixtures are stopping home buyers from seeing your property as a place they want to live. At the very least they are calculating the cost to have them replaced, and taking that number off of your asking price. Let's be honest, when you create a vision of your dream home....this is not in the picture.

Neither are his friends.

If your SBF (shiny brass fixture) has good lines that are classic, you can fix it up with just a little effort and a can or two of paint. This will take one objection off of potential buyers lists.

Here is the tutorial for updating a light fixture, thus updating your 80's decor.

1. Turn off all power at panel before removing light. (If you are thinking to yourself "what is a panel?" Please go hire an electrician to do this part for you.) Always check power with a voltage meter. Once power is off remove light. Again, if you are not experienced in this please hire an electrician. Here is my SBF. I am redoing it for some clients whose entryway fixture has lines that are too dated to salvage. I bought this for $12.00 on Craigslist.

2. Take pictures of the SBF. Lots of up close pictures.....you will need them later.....trust me on this.

3. Disassemble your SBF as much as possible. Carefully. My SBF was able to be totally taken apart. Some have the glass attached permanently, you will have to tape over the glass inside and out if that is the case. Stay organized so you don't lose parts.

4. Carefully layout all of the metal pieces remove all dust/dirt and lightly coat with Rustoleum Universal Spray Paint. This is the only brand I have used, I can not speak to the effectiveness of other brands. Patience is a virtue here. Light coats, let dry according to label, turn, repeat. 

5. Once paint is dry, reassemble the light. (Here is where all those close ups taken before come in handy.) If you like puzzles, you will LOVE this! If your glass was removable like mine, use blue painters tape to hold it together while reassembling. It will act like another pair of hands.

6. Turn power off at panel again, retest with voltage meter and rehang. Again, If you have no experience or don't know what a panel or voltage meter are...call an electrician.

7. Step back and look at how much money you saved yourself in two places. Two places? Yes! 1st: You did not have to buy a new fixture ($300-ish) 2nd: Your home buyers will not be subtracting the cost of a new fixture and electrician off of your asking price!

Here is a side by side of my light ($12 +$16 for 2 cans of paint) and one from Pottery Barn ($300 )

BTW...mine has lovely beveled glass which looks divine when lit!

Good luck on your home projects whether getting it ready to sell or ready to love!

Happy Painting!

Teresa.

Staging Accessory Shopping Trip to Cedros Avenue

I love going up to Solana Beach. I love the art, shops, the restaurants and the gardens. I needed  a few things the other day and decided to make the trek north to the Cedros Avenue Design Distrct in Solana Beach. If you go up, go early, as with most San Diego beach towns there is not a ton of parking. If you have to park a bit far though, you are guaranteed a lovely walk. I always start me trip with a stop in Cedos Cafe for a coffee. I love their patio with all of the funky art and plants. Plus, they are just so darn nice in there! I was pressed for time so it was just one quick trip into the Leaping Lotus (BTW they have the most gorgeous marble stairway in all of San Diego I think) and then back down to La Mesa. I parked a block away and decided to see how many things I could find in that block that made me happy.

Enjoy the slideshow of the happiest one block walk of the day!

Share a smile today,
Teresa
www.thesellablehome.co

Adventures in Real Estate Photography

Taking better pictures of my work is one of my goals for 2014.  I struggle with the room or project not translating to the screen accurately. In person, my spaces have soul and depth and personality. In pictures....meh. Well, maybe meh+. In my quest for photographic nirvana I have learned some things.

1. My cellphone is ok for instagram or a picture of my ancient dog and cute kitty in the sun....it is not ok for my business.

2. Composition in life and in photos is different. Less is more in pictures. (More on that later)

3.Patience is a virtue. Wait for the right light, take way more shots than you think you will possibly need. You can delete all the horrible ones later.

4. Tell a story, set a mood. This one really is the easiest for me to understand in concept. I do this in homes easily.....getting it to convey....I am still working on this one.

Realtors as well can use this advice for their listing photos. Using a professional photographer is not always an option, so if you are taking your own pictures, remember.....they are the virtual gateway through which your buyers will pass, and a dark, dingy, cluttered doorway is not inviting. (here comes the "more on that later") Matthew Millman, professional photographer from San Francisco gives this advice

"While the eye can handle complexity well, the photo is more democratic and does not respond to clutter as gracefully. Your photos should be ambitious, trying to tell as much of a story as possible, but the styling or staging should be simple. Let the project speak for itself. Do not add too much. And if a space is cluttered, pare it down. Remember that your viewer is building their own story about the space through your images. If the images are messy, the viewer will figuratively trip on the things in a space and miss the design. However, if the space is crisp (not sterile), then the viewer has room to imagine what they would feel like if they were there."  See Matthew Millman's homepage here.

So I am off today to learn how to use the "real digital camera" in the house. Hopefully I will return a little bit better at photography and at conveying the image in front of me to people on the other side of the monitor. Until  then...I will leave you with one last cell phone picture.

Vintage table, sofa, sconces and prints. New cat.

Say Cheese,

Teresa
The Sellable Home

PS....if you are following me on Google+, please follow my business page, The Sellable Home, LLC on google+

Interview with Barbara Corcoran of Shark Tank on Importance of Home Staging

Instead of writing witty words today, I am going to share a great interview with real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran on selling homes, home staging and the market today. Enjoy.


part 1


part 2


Short. Sweet. To the point. I am not even going to clutter your mind with a picture!

Happy Humpday.

Teresa.

Yard Sheds..... Often Unrealized Assets.

Do you have a little square footage of un-claimed equity in your back yard? Two of the top items on homebuyers lists today are A)Storage and B)Offices. A shed can provide both of these requests. While you don't need to do an overhaul like I have planned when selling your home.....you do need to clean it up and make it an asset buyers will want!

 I have a shed in my yard. Sadly, it is not the cute Hobbit House pictured above. It used to be "the man shed", but "the man" got a whole new addition and garage, so I have claimed the shed as mine. Don't feel sorry for me thinking that I got the short end of the sick in this deal...I think I got the best part. I have however been paralyzed by the options available to me as what to do with the shed. This is not like me at all, I usually jump right in hammers and paintbrushes flying. But I really want this to be special, or useful, or both...heck, I don't really know what I want to do with it.

I am inspired by all the gorgeous and amazing shed photos out the on the "inter-web"...lol. It is truly overwhelming.

I would like this......

Or this.....

Maybe the inside could become a haven, like this...

Or incredibly useful, like this....

Or an office, like this...

The sad truth is.....what I have right now, looks like this........

This is pretty dreamy stuff heh?

Can you feel yourself relaxing yet?

Yeah.....Welcome to my reality... and probably yours too. But really, it is nothing a truck and a trip to the dump can't fix! Have ideas for my shed? Put them in the comments below, or email me thesellablehome@gmail.com. If you are a google+ user,  The Sellable Home, LLC. I really want your thoughts.....so get going!

Spring is around the corner....hang on.

Teresa.