• 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!

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!

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/should-you-hire-a-home-stager/ http://abellahomestaging.com/should-you-hire-a-home-stager/#comments Mon, 06 Sep 2010 23:26:06 +0000 admin http://abellahomestaging.com/?p=401 Should you hire a home stager, when selling your home? Most homeowners can decorate their house to sell for the most part. They can repaint, get rid of clutter, clean the carpet and on on. So why use a home stager? At Abella Home Staging & Redesign, Long Island New York, we think staging is much more then simply painting, cleaning and eliminating clutter.

A home stager can give an unbiased opinion of what needs to be done. The see what a buyer will see when walking through your home. And even though a home owner can paint, they are often unsure of what color to choose, or what items to eliminate. There many good reason to hire a home stager, here are just some of the reasons:

1. A home stager will know where the correct placement of furniture should be and if there are too many pieces.
2. A home stager can view the house objectivity. They are not emotional attach to the home. They can see faults that you can no longer see.
3. A home stager can bring in the necessary accessories needed to update the look of the home at a substantial saving to the homeowners.
4. A home stager has knowledge of what the buyers are looking for in a home.
5. A home stager knows the real estate market and can create the right atmosphere needed to make the buyers “fall in love” with your home.

Most homes today need to stand out among the competition. Staging your home will give you the edge you’re looking for. Not only will it stand out it among the rest, but chances are it will sell faster and for more profit. When you take into consideration that your home is probably one of your biggest investment, why wouldn’t you want to get the best return on your investment?

Make you home stand out among the rest!!

Staging and the house market: What effect does it have on your home? What target are you marketing? What area? What are your clients willing to spend? These are some of the questions a stager should know. After all, as stagers, it’s easy enough for us to stage, but what market are you staging for? As a stager there’s no end to the recommendation we can make. But since we are working with a budget it does help to prioritize.

A Home in Long Island, New York, should be stage differently then say, a condo in New York city. Different area, different market. You would assume that the house on Long Island is in a  family based neighborhood while the condo in the city is geared to young professional. But if you don’t know your market,  you could be  costing your clients money and the ability to appeal to the right buyers.

You must research the area. Talk to the real estate agent to find out what kind of neighborhood this will appeal to buyers. If the real estate agent has done their homework, and I’m sure they have, they will have the answers. If the home isn’t listed yet. drive around the neighborhood what do you see? Does it seem to be geared to families? What amenities are near by? This could help you determine the neighborhood.

A good stager will make the right recommendation for your home. Staging and the house market does have an effect on your home. Hiring the right stager can make all the difference in the world.

• 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

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.