Abella Home Staging & Redesign

Archive for the ‘Interior Redesign’ Category

Wet Basement problems? Recently a client hired Abella Home Staging & Redesign to design a man cave in the basement. The issue with the basement is, it sometimes gets flooded. So I had to come up with a viable solution. Carpet was no good, mold issue. Wood out of the question. Laminated floors, adhesive gets wet making the tiles pop up. Floating floor, water will damaged the particle boards. So I did some research and found this great product. It’s called Place N Go Flooring. Place N’ Go flooring is recycled composition which is totally waterproof.

No adhesive and easy to install!!

Comes in different colors and styles

Kids & Pets friendly

Can be used in any room

Unlike conventional laminated floors, it won’t swell or buckle in high humidity. And if you get flood, you just pick up the tiles, let dry and put them right back. What is the secret? It’s an interlocking covering that is adhesive-free. Simply snap it together. No need to prep the floors. No underlayments or moisture barrier. Simply put it over your old existing floor. Damaged a tile? Simply pull up the tile and replace it. Easy to maintain, just damp mop using regular cleaners.

Should you use stock photos in your Home Staging portfolio?  It can be a difficult question to answer. I don’t’ think you should ever use stock photos for your portfolio. As a home stager & redesign of Abella Home Staging & Redesign, I never have. It gives a false impression of your work. There is nothing worst then when a clients asks you about a (stock) photo . Do you say it’s not your work or do you lie and say it is? If you say it’s not your work, what kind of messages are you sending? And if you lie, well I don’t ever believe in lying to anyone. Eventually you get caught. Your portfolio should have pictures of your work and your work only. This can be difficult when you are first starting out. I know I had a difficult time in the beginning. But there is nothing wrong with asking your friends for help. Offer to redecorate a room for them. Or take apart your own house and put it back together. It’s great practice and it will be an investment towards your new career.

Should you use stock photos in your website? Again, never use stock photos for show casing your work. But I have seen stock photos use on website. I’ve seen it used on the home page. Picture of landscape, beaches, and so on. By law, you can not use stock photos to represent the actual product being sold if it isn’t the actual product. Many companies have use stock photos. It’s an effective way to market your business without having the expense of hiring a professional photographer. But be careful, using stock photos can be misleading. Stock images should not be used on your business cards, post cards or any mailings you do. Use your logo instead. If you’re going to use stock photos, use it sparingly, perhaps a photo or two. Never use stock photo as your logo or any “branding” material. Remember your credibility is your lifeline, once destroyed it’s very hard to get it back.

Idealaunch.com

Going “green” in the kitchen is the latest trend. As stager and owner of Abella Home Staging & Redesign in long Island, New York, I often recommend going “green” a great way to increase the value of your home. When remodeling your kitchen here are some suggestions to incorporate eco-friendly products.

1.  Appliances-With the tax incentives, buying Energy Star Appliances will save you money in the long run. Yes, they do cost more to purchase than other appliances, but the savings and the resale value will more then make up the cost over time.
2.  Flooring-Did you know that bamboo is a fast growing natural resource? It grows in abundance, almost like weeds. Because of this, bamboo flooring is a wise choice when going “Green”. And it looks beautiful as well.
3.  Windows-Don’t scrimp when purchasing new windows. Energy saving window will save you a small fortune when it comes to paying your utility bill. Buy windows with argon gas between the panes.
4.  Lighting-Use fluorescent lighting as oppose to incandescent lighting. There is talk that incandescent lighting will eventually be banned in the future. Also, use sky light to let the natural light in. If you don’t have the room or don’t want to incur the expenses, use solar tubing. A much more affordable option then sky lights.
5. Countertops-Recycled glass is an excellent choice for counters. The colors are dazzling and it’s quite durable. Another choice is concrete. It comes in array of colors. Concrete, like glass are in abundant supply.
6.  Paint-Using a low or no VOC paint. These paints have no volatile organic compounds that are hazardous to your health. They cover just as well.

There are many more ways to go “Green”. These are only a small sample of what can be achieved. When it’s time to remodel your kitchen, do your homework and research your materials. But most of all have fun experimenting, that’s what good design is all about.

Painting can be a daunting task but with the right tools you can rest assure the task won’t be so daunting!! As a home stager and redesigner of Abella  Home Staging & Redesign. I often recommend my clients to paint the room. Painting is the less inexpensive way to dramatically change the look of the room without spending a fortune and if you’re a DIYer you can save a lot of money.

Here are 8 tips to get you started!!

1. What paint type to use. Latex is water based and cleans up with soap and water. Dries quicker and has less odor then oil. Oil is solvent -based. Dries slower and must be cleaned with mineral spirits. It also has a more durable surface.
2. Quality. Yes you do get what you pay for. The good quality paint comes with primer in it. Saving you time and money. Usually takes less coats so you use less!
3. Rollers. Synthetic for latex paint, natural fiber for oil paint. Here’s a trick I learned from my husband (painter). Take blue tape, pull out about 3-4 feet and run the roller over it a few times. This will trap all the loose lint from the roller so it won’t get on your surface.
4. Brushes. Again good quality paint brush will save you a lot of heartache. Look for angle brushes that are set in multiple lenghts. This will form a slim tip, great for cutting. For oil base use natural bristles.
5. Paint finishes. Choosing the right sheen can have a dramatic impact on your room. Here are my recommedations. Flat-good for ceilings. Matte-good for bedrooms, living rooms, dining room. Satin/eggshell-good for high traffic areas like hallways. Semigloss-good for trim work and doors. Gloss-also good for trim and door I don’t much recommend it anywhere else.
6. Low VOC. Volatile Organic Compound. These paint eliminate potential hazard chemical that can effect your health.
7. Calculating paint. Divide the square footage of wall surface by the coverage  per gallon (listed on paint can)= number of gallons to buy.
8. Pouring spout. Paint now comes in plastic snap-on spout that allows you to pour the paint, making it easier and prevents  it from clogging the lid.

DIY House Painting

White Kitchen, trendy or timeless? Have you notice when going through design magazines they are showing a lot of white kitchen? White kitchen seem to be stealing the show. And I couldn’t be happier!! As a home stager and redesigner and owner of Abella Home Staging & Redesign I often recommend painting the kitchen white, especially when it’s outdated. Why white? It’s crisp and clean. Makes your kitchen look bigger then it is. Works whether your kitchen is traditional, transitional, modern or even shabby chic country! Just make sure you add bold pops of color to ground the space. Add different textures and finishes to spice things up!

Colour me Happy

Decor Pad

 As you can see from these picture, by adding a dark floor, you help ground the kitchen and make it more balanced. Add old element with new finishes also gives it character. The options are limitless!! White kitchen I believe are here to stay. White kitchen, trendy or timeless? You decide. But it’s definitely here to stay!!

Decorating your Outdoor Space will not only give you more living space but will increase the value of your home especially here on Long Island New York. As a home stager & Redesigner, I always like to add value to my clients’ home. This is a great way. There are many things you can do without spending a fortune. Here are just some suggestions to get you started.

• Create an outdoor seating area.
• Mismatch furniture, paint it all the same color.
• Don’t forget to accessorize it with pillows, bringing in lots of color.
• Add drape to an arbor or gazebo.
• Treat your wall like an indoor wall, just make sure it can withstand the elements.

2 Clicks Outdoor Furniture

Patio  Garden Tips

Of course you can add more elaborate items and spend more money but you don’t have to. Check out magazines and your local garden shop to get ideas. And remember “Decorating your Outdoor Space” not only creates more living space but adds value to your home!

What’s old is new again! How many times have we looked at a furniture piece and though it had seen better days and discard it? What if we had painted it instead? We never seem take in consideration that painting furniture can bring new life to an old piece!  As a home stager in Long Island New York, when doing a Staging Consultation or Redesign project, I often see outdated furniture that can be reused when painted. Clients are often surprise at my suggestion, saying “I never thought of that!” It save money and reuses existing items. That’s what staging is all about!!

All you have to do is sand it down, fill in holes, prime and paint. Not difficult to do or you can hire a professional. It would still probably be cheaper then replacing the piece. And what a difference paint makes!! So the next time you have an old piece of furniture that you want to discard, ask yourself, can this piece be save by painting it?

If the answer is yes, then by all means do it! What’s old is new again!!

Centsational Girl

Centsational Girl

Living Room Before

Living Room After

As you can see from these before and after photos. I simply remove the corner section of the sofa and added an end table with a lamp and accent pillows. Changed out the curtains and moved the plant to a different location.

Dining Room Before

Dining Room After

In the dining room I had the home owners remove the curtains and added the plant (the plant detracted from the air conditioner unit in the wall).

Master Bedroom Before

Master Bedroom After

In the master bedroom I suggested that they remove the headboard. It took up too much space and it expended 6″ from the wall (radiator was there). By removing the headboard we gained precious space. We used pillow to detract from the fact that there is no headboard. I also suggested that she replace her comforter since it looked worn out. I gave her some suggestions as to what would work . She went shopping and picked out this comforter. We replace the lamps and curtains. Took down family photos and replace with neutral wall art. The transformation speaks for itself!!

In the office it was simply a matter of de cluttering and removing the hutch which took up too much space.

With the girl’s bedroom I had the homeowner remove the wallpaper, which was way to busy and paint the wall instead. They de clutter and removed the curtains.

Bathroom Before

Bathroom After

In the bathroom, I had them paint the cabinet which was worn out and the mirror frame (can’t see). Remove the shower curtain which, was too busy and replace with a simple white shower curtain. These were simple changes that had a dramatic effect on the home. After sitting on the market for five months, when the staging was done, they had an open house and an offer was put in!! Staging doesn’t have to be expensive, for the most part I work with what the homeowner has. Implementing small changes to have the dramatic effect we want.If you need help staging or redesigning your home call Abella Home Staging & Redesign, Long Island New York, and let’s get started today!

Rust-oleum Countertop Transformation, this is a relatively new product. Not too long ago I wrote a blog about Rust-oleum cabinet transformation. It’s nice to see they now make a countertop transformation. This is a great alternative for people who don’t want to spend a lot of money or time transforming their countertops.

Like it’s counter part, it’s easy to use. Comes in five different colors, and can be done in a few days. As a home stager & redesigner living on Long Island NY, I am constantly asked what can I do to update my kitchen without spending a lot of money or time. It’s great to know I can now offer this product as a solution. Imagine what you can achieve if you use both these products in your kitchen! It can totally change the look of your kitchen!!

Rust-oleum Countertop Transformation

The Seven Elements of Creating a Beautiful Room!

When you’re creating a room, there are certain aspects to consider. Using these seven elements will help you achieve a well balance room.

1. Balance: Have you achieved balance?  Horizontally? Vertically? Color?
(Three Zones?)Texture? ( all same finishes in your accent pieces?)Metal?
(all brushed nickel? bronze?)
2. Harmony: The way the rooms flow together. Do they tell a story or is it chopped                        up?
3. Proportion: The way things relate to one another. Ex: Is the lamp the best                                   proportion to the table?
4. Scale: The way things relate to the room. Ex: Is the sofa the right scale for the                           room? Or is it too big? Too small?
5. Color: Does it hit the 3 zones? Function, power and skyline?
6. Style: Does it have the flair and have you honored what it is you are trying to                             achieve? Does it pull the elements together?
7. Rhythm & Flow: Keeps the room moving. This is where you’re going to repeat                           things. Be true to the form.Ex: Round table has round table mat, round                                         accessories. Doesn’t mean everything in the room has to be round!

If you need help putting together a beautiful room consider using the services of Abella Home Staging & Redesign. They can help create the room of your dream!