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!!

]]> http://abellahomestaging.com/white-kitchen-trendy-or-timeless-long-island-ny/feed/ 0 http://abellahomestaging.com/itsmall-changes-that-have-the-greatest-impact-when-staging-a-home/ http://abellahomestaging.com/itsmall-changes-that-have-the-greatest-impact-when-staging-a-home/#comments Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:11:53 +0000 admin http://abellahomestaging.com/?p=610 It’s the small changes that have the greatest impact when staging a home. Home Staging doesn’t have to cost a lot, not if it’s done right. Many people don’t want to spend money or don’t the money to do major updates to their homes. And I believe it’s important to keep the cost down. So how can you stage a home without spending a fortune. Here are some easy ways to do just that.

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!

1. Curb Appeal. Now is the time for planting flowers and mulching. Just these simply suggestions can make a huge difference in your curb appeal.
2. Furniture placement. Do you have too much furniture in you home? If so, eliminate pieces. Remember space sells and if your house looks too cramped, then buyers will think the house is too small. Less is more!
3. Clutter. Nothing turns a buyers off faster then too much clutter.
4. Updating your kitchen and bathroom.. It doesn’t have to be costly. There are many new products on the market that can totally change the look of  kitchen or bathroom. Rust0leum has a great product that can literally transform your cabinets and countertops.
5. Clean! Clean! Clean! I can’t stress that enough. Buyers will be turned off if they perceived your home to be dirty.
6. Hire a Home Stager. Hiring a professional home stager will give you the edge in this very competitive market. Well worth the cost!

These are just a few suggestion to improve the look of your home. Home owners would be wise to follow as many of these suggestions as possible. Spring, real estate busiest time; are you ready?

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

This old House

This kitchen is done in what looks to me in lime green and black. Unusual to say the least!  As you can see this is not an old outdated kitchen. The shaker style cabinet and the clam shell knobs all signified an updated kitchen.

Here’s another one. Pale yellow and light sea foam green.

Handy Man of Charlotte

This one is done in light turquoise!

Although I do like the brightness and versatility painting your cabinets can bring to your kitchen, I’m not sure most buyers would appreciate this look. Will this look become mainstream? Maybe in time, but for now I believe this is a trendy look. Not something I would recommend when staging a home.

Kitchen cabinets with a spice of color, what do you think?

]]> http://abellahomestaging.com/kitchen-cabinets-with-a-spice-of-color/feed/ 0 http://abellahomestaging.com/rust-oleum-cabinet-transformations/ http://abellahomestaging.com/rust-oleum-cabinet-transformations/#comments Tue, 14 Dec 2010 16:24:11 +0000 admin http://abellahomestaging.com/?p=522 Rust-oleum cabinet transformation, is a do-it-yourself cabinet refinishing system. It is sold at Home Depot. It is a great way to refinish your cabinets without spending a lot of money. Although I’ve never used the product, I was impressed by the color selection and the easy of this product. It comes in dark color kit and a light color kit. The dark color kit has 24 tintable colors and the light color kit has 11 tintable colors.

This could be a great way to update your kitchen when you’re looking to put your home on the real estate market. As we all know kitchen and baths sell a home. If your kitchen is looking out dated, this could potential be a great way to update it. As a home stager  in Long Island NY, I am always looking for way to save homeowners the cost of remodeling or refacing.Rust-oleum Cabinet transformation could be the answer people have been looking for!

Rust-oleum Cabinet Transformation

• Repaint cabinets. That alone will drastically change the look of the room. You can paint vanity and medicine cabinets. Just make sure you prime it well or you can hire a professional.
• Change out the hardware.
• Update the light fixture.
• Replace the vanity sink or kitchen sink if it’s old.
• Update the faucet.
• Update the floor. There are relativity inexpensive stick on tiles that look amazing. There is even a stick on tile that looks and feels like wood! It’s called Allure. Great product.
• Paint the walls.

The reason kitchen and baths are deal breakers when selling your home, is the fact they are expensive to remodel. But doing these inexpensive fixes allows the potential buyer an opportunity to see how great your kitchen and bath are. They can then remodel at a later time.

Bath

Kitchen

There are many ways to drastically change the look of a room without changing out the furniture. Here are just some suggestions:

• Paint the furniture.
• Recover your sofa. It’s like a brand new sofa!
• Recover your dining chairs, the look can be very elegant.
• Paint your cabinets instead of replacing them. Much less costly!

These of course, are just some of the way you can drastically change the look of the room without going broke. If you are doing the job yourself, make sure you get the right paint and if you’re out sourcing it, make sure they are qualified to do the job. As a professional home stager it’s our job to transform the seller’s home without going over budget. If we do our job correctly not only will we have transform the look of the room but we would have worked with what the home owners have.

Before and After Photo by Centsational Girl

In home staging we are trying to increase the value of the home, by increasing the “perceived value” of the home. If buyer falls in love with the home, then the value will increase even more as they compete with one another. It’s the law of supply and demand. So how do you increase “perceived value” in your home?

If you stage a home to show off its best feature and you’re consistent throughout the house then the “perceived value” increase. The finishing details in you home can suggest a higher value. For examples:

• Decorative molding in any room will give it a more substantial look.
• Expensive looking door knobs in kitchen can completely change the look of the cabinet.
• Painting kitchen cabinet that may otherwise look cheap and outdated.
• Replacing the builder special on light fixture, especially in higher end home will dramatically change the look and feel of the room.
• Curtains or drapery that hang floor to ceiling can make ceilings appear higher. Thereby increasing the perception that the room is somehow bigger.

These are just some of  the suggestion that a home stager can make. A professional home stager can help you achieve that perceived value in your home, by showing off the best features and creating the best environment throughout your home.