2012 – My Most Meaningful Project. Home Staging & Redesign Minneapolis MN

At the end of each year I like to look back and think about the projects I have worked on. I had some that were great, some that were easy, some that were tough and of course I had my favorites or most memorable projects.

At the completion of each project I have almost always had fun but there is always one or two that stood out.  For 2012 I had a few:

1) Favorite Home Staging New Construction,

2) Favorite Redesign Project and,

3) Most Meaningful Project

So here is the third of my three ’2012 Year In Review’ posts: My Most Meaningful Project!

This project won’t make it on the cover of Home Beautiful….it won’t bring any Woos and Haaas over the spectacular furnishings and color.

But….it did bring tears to my eyes and joy to my heart to have the honor to do this quick project.

I received a call one day from a developer that I had staged Model Homes for before but this time he needed some help closer to home. His Mom was going to be moved into a Nursing Home as she was in the final stages of Parkinson’s Disease.

The move was taking place in a couple days and on that day, I only had a few hours to complete the project. My assignment:

1) Pick pieces from her home to take to the nursing home room to make it feel like her home,

2) When I removed pieces from her home….fill in with other pieces so the home looked unchanged, and

3) Do the entire selection, packing, loading, move, unloading (we even moved her hospital bed) and decorate the nursing home room in 3 hours or less.

On the day she was being moved I showed up at her home with my movers and waited to the side as she was put into their vehicle and left her home for the last time.

Her husband of 60 years whom I had never met sobbed in my arms. He couldn’t believe she was leaving their home.

I was then told to also pack up a room of items for the husband as he was going to get an efficiency apartment at the same facility down the hall from her so he would be close by. I still had only 3 hours total!

Nursing Home Room Before:

After: She was greeted with her own items when she was wheeled in…..

I made sure she was surrounded with small mementos and family pictures.

Her Husband of 60 Years: His efficiency down the hall before…..

A few hours later……A cozy room for him at the end of a very difficult and emotional day.

Bedroom on Left Side:

And on the right his favorite recliner, TV and an extra chair for his Grand-kids when they visited.

And a few special photos and mementos to make it seem like home for him. I felt he deserved some flowers too…..

I want to commend the son for what he did. He wanted his Mom to enter her new home (the nursing home room) having it look as much like her own home as possible.  He also wanted to ease the pain for his Dad in taking her there.

What a true sign of love for his Mom and Dad.

I felt the pressure to get this one right more than any other project. I had 3 hours while they drove her around and fed her lunch to do the impossible but in the end it was the best 3 hour project I have ever done.

If you missed the first two 2012 Year In Review Posts check them out at:

2012 – My Favorite Home Staging for New Construction.

2012- My Favorite Redesign Project of the Year.

If you would like assistance with your home contact Rooms With Style. 952-567-1124

2012 – My Favorite Redesign Project. Home Staging & Redesign Minneapolis MN

At the end of each year I like to look back and think about the projects I have worked on. I had some that were great, some that were easy, some that were tough and of course I had my favorites or most memorable projects.

At the completion of each project I have had so much fun and gotten so involved that it feels like I have given birth to a child and it is my favorite. We really shouldn’t have favorite children but how can you not?  For 2012 I had a few:

1) Favorite Home Staging New Construction,

2) Favorite Redesign Project and,

3) Most Meaningful Project

So here is the second of my three ’2012 Year In Review’ posts: My Favorite Redesign Project!

This project was so much fun! First of all it was a lake home about an hour outside of Minneapolis so I got to spend the entire beautiful summer day at the lake!

Second, when working on Redesign projects the purpose is to use as much of the owners items as possible. You take what they have and ‘Redesign’. Well this client had the COOLEST items!

I had worked with this client before on her principal residence in the city so when she called me to come Redesign her lake home I couldn’t wait. I literally arrived on moving day with the movers taking out the past owners things and bringing in my clients things.

I had free rein to do what I wanted and put things where-ever I thought they should go.

Take a look:

Entryway Upon My Arrival:

Entryway Upon My Departure:

Living Room Upon My Arrival:

Living Room Upon My Departure:

Family Room Upon My Arrival:

And My FAVORITE AREA EVER!! Hip Urban Chic Meets the North Woods!!

Family Room Upon My Departure:

So….can you see why it made my Top Favorites List of 2012?

If you missed My first 2012 Year In Review Post check it out at: 2012 – My Favorite Home Staging for New Construction.

If you would like some assistance with your home contact Rooms With Style. 952-567-1124

I love outdoor urns in the winter months. They add so much to the front of your house in the cold and drab winter months in the Northern Lands.

Start with basic treetops that you can buy almost anywhere….I got mine at Home Depot in two different heights.

It doesn’t matter what size or color of your urns. I have large black urns by my garage doors as they are a great contrast to the light tan house color.

On the front step I have a smaller white urn that is softer in appearance.

The #1 way to add interest to your Urns is to use different colors and textures of greenery.

Add some twigs and a birch bark branch. These basics in the urn will get you through until April when you are ready to plant flowers.

For the Holiday Season add some drama and pizzazz. You can choose classic and formal or you can do what I did and add some whimsy.

Why not lime green with glitter!

Sparkly white and red for the Christmas touch.

The urns can bring a smile to your face. They are Happy Urns!

Add a touch of glam…..

Gold bejeweled twigs also pick up the sunlight….

Make your guests want to walk up and see what you have hidden…..

Do the unexpected…..

Have some fun with your Outdoor Urns this winter season and think ‘outside’ the box!

www.RoomsWithStyle.com

952-567-1124

You know that jingle…..”Gedney…It’s the Minnesota Pickle”. Well….if you are not from MN you probably don’t know it but it is a great pickle made here in MN and their commercials can stick in your head for awhile.

When I go to the MN State Fair I always stop by the Dill Pickle booth and get the Fried Dill Pickles stuffed with Cream Cheese. OH MY GOSH is what I say.

Okay….I digress completely. This really is a Design Blog! Not a Food Blog!! LOL

As much as I love Pickles and as much as my favorite color is Lime Green….there is a paint color by Benjamin Moore called Dill Pickle so how could it be bad?? And it’s not.

I have been wanting to paint this boring white outdoor table I have for 2 years. Plus the tin top had gotten very weather beaten.

I finally got a little break in my schedule and got going.

It was okay white….but it’s outside. Let’s have some fun!

So there is Dill Pickle the paint color for you. What do you think?

I spray painted the worn stainless nautical lamp in gloss white as well to perk that up. Much better.

This color is part of Color Preview by Benjamin Moore. A collection of bold, saturated colors that brings spaces to life for those looking to illuminate their world with pure, extraordinary color.

Have some fun! Eat Dill Pickles and paint Dill Pickle. It’s only paint for crying out loud!

Be Inspired! Add some pieces that make you smile.

THEN RELAX. ENJOY.

www.roomswithstyle.com

Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis MN

952-567-1124

I am Now a DCC!! And of Course I Had to Reward Myself!

Yes….I just completed my training and received my DCC certification.

No, not Doctor of Chiropractic, that is a DC.

This is much better! Dewey Color Consultant!! How Fun Is That!

Yes, I went throught the two day class to learn now to put together 25,000 color combinations and make no mistakes. I learned so much.

“We Make Color Easy”!

Undertones. Blends. Neutral blends. Split Compliments. Triadic Color Schemes. Achromatic Color Schemes.

What if my client wants a triadic color scheme with a neutral blend? Is that okay??

Now I know with certainty! My clients don’t need to know those terms, I just need to help them decide what colors they love and how to put them together.

Better yet, if a husband and wife have totally opposite tastes in color I now know how to find some common ground. I now have the tools to do so.

OH…AND OF COURSE I HAD TO REWARD MYSELF AFTER COMPLETING THE CLASS.

What better way than with a new bag. AND WHAT A BAG!!

It holds my ‘Dewey Color Coordinator’ and ‘Embrace Hue You Are’ Books perfectly plus my note pad.

Isn’t it fun? Oh…and what color scheme is it?? LOL

Are you looking for assistance with color in your home but are afraid of color? Don’t know where to start or what colors to put together?

As a Certified Dewey Color Consultant Shar Sitter from Rooms With Style can give you the confidence to pick the right paint and fabric colors for one or multiple rooms.

Yes….That’s What I Said. This is Part 5 in my 4 Part Series on “Home Staging is More Than De-Cluttering and Moving Furniture”.

So don’t tell me I can’t count, I know, I know!

I first told you that this would be a four part series featuring one home and suggestions I made in each room. I wasn’t going to include the bedroom and I wasn’t going to include the kitchen because that had been a separate post.

But then I thought, why not highlight the Master Bedroom even if the suggestion was basic? And why not show the kitchen again for those that missed it since it is all the same house.

So, the bedroom.

My suggestion: buy some simple luxurious bedding and make this room feel like the best Five Star Boutique Hotel you have ever been in. Think escape, retreat, a sanctuary from the kids and life.

The homeowner decided at the last minute to have me bring in furnishings from my warehouse since I was doing other rooms. This wouldn’t have been needed as there was nothing wrong with her furniture. But she wanted to get settled in her new home.

I also suggested paint for the room and it definitely added warmth.

When staging a bedroom the linens should be neutral but it doesn’t have to be boring. It can be fun and have some pizazz.

Throw pillows, large lamps to frame the bed….you get the idea.

So now for the kitchen. In my post: “Are Your Kitchen Cabinets Dated But You Don’t Have Thousands of Dollars for New?” I highlighted the kitchen in this home. You can link back and read the entire post but I wanted to recap it here so you can see the entire house with all the suggestions I made. Here is the kitchen.

I suggested painting both the upper and lower cabinets and purchasing stainless steel appliances. What a difference!! The counter tops look like new and the modern “dark on bottom light on top” cabinet mixture looked great.

Miss any of the series? Here is a recap so you can catch up on what you missed:

Part  1: The Family Room

Part  2: The Living Room

Part 3: The Dining Room

Part 4: The Porch

The Kitchen Post

Home Staging is so much more than de-cluttering and moving furniture so call Rooms With Style for expert advice on how to get your home in top selling condition.

952-567-1124

www.roomswithstyle.com

Home Staging Isn’t Just About De-Cluttering and Moving Furniture Around – Part 4

Staging A Home – Minneapolis, MN

This Four Part Series takes place in one home and I am highlighting the suggestions I made to the client in various rooms.

Part 4: The Porch

This porch was an addition; built around the original stucco exterior of the home. It looks out onto a stunning landscaped yard. Let’s take a look.

ERRrrrrrrrkkkkkkkkk……hold on! Is it the porch???

Let’s check again……maybe we took a wrong turn.

Nope I think it’s the porch but it sure is looking like an office to me.

Pretty tough to sell a wonderful 4-season porch (a huge plus in Minnesota) when it isn’t looking like a porch.

Easy Home Staging suggestion: Stage it for it’s original purpose.

That’s it. No paint, no repairs, no lighting changes. Just stage it for what it is.

Priceless!!

To Read More From This Series:

Part 1: The Family Room

Part 2: The Living Room

Part 3: The Dining Room

Oh….and Surprise!! I decided to add a 5th part to this 4 Part Series!

Need home staging advice? Rooms With Style is the Premier Home Staging Firm in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area with an entire warehouse of furniture and accessories to assist with your every home staging need.

952-567-1124    www.roomswithstyle.com

Home Staging Is So Much More Than De-Cluttering and Moving Furniture – Part 3

Home Stager Minneapolis, MN

In this series I have been showing rooms in one home and explaining the suggestions I made in each room.

Part 1 was the Family Room, Part 2 was the Living Room, and Part 3 now looks at the Dining Room.

The suggestions for this room were simple. Simplify and Paint!

The room had too much going on with the table and chairs, chairs in the corners, a huge hutch, a busy rug, and art work that was too small for the walls and not really “dining roomish”.

The furniture was all antique (table needed some repair) which can be beautiful but it sets a tone that isn’t modern or one that a younger buyer can relate to.

The original paint color was not doing much for the room; much like the other rooms in this series as well. I suggested something warmer and with more punch.

Throughout this series you have noticed a lot done with paint. I chose one main color throughout the home but added something slightly darker for the formal dining room and something darker yet for the family room.

Although the paint colors were different they are within the same tones so the home still flowed from room to room. Your eye didn’t jump from one extreme color to the next.

Paint color selection is key!!!

Paint is a simple fix for your home whether staying or selling.

Suggestions do not always need to be huge to make a huge difference.

Rooms With Style will make the suggestions to best fit your budget as well as reach your potential buyer.

Check out the tips from the first two parts of this series:

Part 1: The Family Room

Part 2: The Living Room

Coming Soon to a Blog near you……Part 4: The Porch!

www.roomswithstyle.com

952-567-1124

Home Staging Is So Much More Than De-Cluttering and Moving Furniture – Part 2

Home Staging Minneapolis, MN

If you saw Part 1 of this series you will remember that I am showing pictures of one home and suggestions I made in each room.

Part 1 showed the Family Room and now lets take a look at the Living Room.

It was the first room you saw inside the front door. Yes the client was moving but they never really used this room so it was empty and neglected.

The focal point of the room is the fireplace and it isn’t looking very happy. The light blue walls are actually making it look even more tired.

Here is the room after. Modern furnishings were rented from my warehouse since the room was empty and needed to set a great first impression. But other than the difference with the furniture what do you notice?

My first suggestion was the paint color but what else do you notice???

Clue……look at the fireplace. Do you see the difference in the wood mantel?

I suggested that they paint it white to highlight it, making it a feature of the fireplace as well as making it look more modern.

And an extra little touch…..white birch logs in the fireplace. The white mantel and white logs make a great contrast to all the brown brick.

I also put a picture with color and vibrancy on the mantel, a few tall accessories to further draw your eye up and show off the high ceilings.

Home Staging is so much more than de-cluttering and pushing furniture around. Hire a trained expert who can provide the suggestions that will make a room sizzle with excitement.

Be sure to check out Part 1 of My Series “Home Staging Is So Much More Than De-Cluttering and Moving Furniture.

Rooms With Style is a full service Home Staging and Redesign firm serving the entire Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area.

952-567-1124

www.roomswithstyle.com

Home Staging is So Much More Than De-Cluttering and Moving Furniture – Part 1

Home Staging Minneapolis, MN

Yes, Home Staging is about de-cluttering, yes it is about moving furniture for the best traffic flow and focal point. But it is so much more.

In this Four Part Series I will show one home with suggestions made to each room.

This is the Family Room. The paint was the main issue. Although blue is an ‘in’ color right now, it depends on the shade and tone of blue and the room it is used in.

This blue wasn’t doing much for the room, it didn’t show off the beautiful wood floor or the hand crafted white entertainment center.

I suggested a dark paint color…..yes much darker than most people would think a home stager would suggest.

The homeowner even emailed me and said “Shar, this is dark”.

“Trust me…it will be okay”

I received this email three days later: “The paint color is fabulous!! It makes the room look so modern and it isn’t too dark”.

The difference it made in enhancing the details of this room are amazing.

The paint color isn’t too dark because the room has southern exposure with a huge double french door and three other windows.

The homeowner also took my suggestion and had Rooms With Style bring in modern furnishings.

When staging your home for sale it isn’t just about de-cluttering. It is so much more so hire a trained professional home stager to give you the best advice to to get your home ready for sale.

Call Rooms With Style to gain the best advantage in this competitive market.

952-567-1124

www.roomswithstyle.com

More Before and After Photos