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

My Madmen House. Home Staging St. Paul, MN

Yup….I got to stage a Madmen house. Well…that’s what I called it anyway.

Do you watch the TV program “Madmen” set in the 50s and 60s?  

Well I got to stage a Mid-Century Modern Home and had a blast!

The home was built by the home owner who was an Interior Designer. She raised her family in the home and died at age 93.

Everything was original and many things outdated so the children had to decide what to update and what to leave as is. Where was the best place to spend money to get it sold?

They decided staging the home was one of the best places to spend the money rather than on major updates.

Clean lines…..beautiful views…..but it was tired.

Below, do you see the swinging door on the right of the dining room going into the kitchen? When I was a kid I used to watch ‘Family Affair’ and every time Mr. French came through that door I thought “How Hip”! I wanted one.

Yes….the kitchen is dated.

Yes….the tile in the informal eating area and sun-room is dark and dated.

But oh what potential! Let’s show the buyer what it can look like! The fireplace is stunning and the dated washed paneling got a warm coat of paint.

Keeping true to the straight lines but making it warm and cozy were important. I incorporated one of the original mid-century console tables in the living room to keep the character.

Fresh paint in the Dining Room….but still loving the swinging door.

Again….just fresh lime green paint on the walls to brighten up the look of the original cabinets and refinishing of the original butcher block made a huge difference. (I am standing in the swinging door, ha….yes, I LOVE that door).

I don’t think the dated dark tile is as obvious now!

I staged the home on a Friday. It was ‘officially’ going to be on the market on Monday with a Realtor Open on Tuesday. But….someone came through the property on Sunday and made an offer. SOLD! IN ONE DAY!

If you don’t have Tens of Thousands of dollars to update your home make sure to ask an expert where you should spend the money to get the most bang for your buck.

These sellers knew where to spend their money to get the home sold. Make sure Home Staging is an important part of your budget when putting your home on the market!

www.roomswithstyle.com

952-567-1124

Don’t Forget to Stage the Office!

Home Offices are important square footage. Most buyers want a  home office as many now telecommute or have their own businesses that are run from their homes.

If it is important to a buyer it should be important to you! Set the stage, show them how great the space can be!

This??

Or This??

Many new construction homes or homes built within the last decade have the office right inside the front door. Even MORE important for Home Staging.

Sometimes the office is self explanatory with built in desks and shelving but it doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be staged. Here is a perfect example of a high end rehabbed home we staged for an investor. If you walk in, take your shoes off and see this it may not leave much of an impression.

But this might:

When it comes to staging your home for sale don’t forget the office. It is space wanted by the buyer and that means money to you!

Your home is  your biggest asset. Make all the square footage count by calling a Professional Certified Home Stager.

Rooms With Style Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/St Paul MN

www.roomswithstyle.com

952-567-1124

“Dear Shar:

Here is a very belated thank you for your assistance with staging our house back in February.  I was dubious when our real estate agent suggested staging.  I was worried it would add more stress to an already stressful situation but just the opposite was true.  It was so reassuring to get a professional opinion and it was amazing the difference small changes in our own furniture arrangement and accessories made in the appearance of our home.

You were so upbeat and supportive – even answering panicky e-mails on a Sunday afternoon!  Despite 7 other units in our townhome community being on the market at the time of sale in June (some bigger, some less expensive, some end unit models) our unit was the first to sell, and one of the very few to sell at all in the complex this spring/summer.

Thank you again for your help!”

Need assistance in getting your home sold? Call Rooms With Style and get an edge over your competition!

Do You Think It Would Be Fun to Stage a Home on the National Registry of Historical Places?

Home Staging, St. Paul, MN

That is kind of a stupid question isn’t it? Of course it would be fun to stage a historic home on the National Registry!! And I was privileged enough to be able to do it.

Check out this 1878 Mansion on Summit Ave in St. Paul, MN with 7100 finished square feet, six bedrooms and seven bathrooms. It is the Historic McKey House situated next to the stunning St. Paul Catherdral and the famous James J. Hill Mansion.

The foyer is  not only stunning it has it’s own fireplace! Although pretty is was kind of boring without furnishings…..

So let’s add some interest.

Unfortunately this is a bank owned property and I was hired by the banker to ‘make it standout’. Her main request was that I “don’t make it stuffy”. She didn’t want period pieces and I totally agreed with her. It needs to relate to a modern family but keep it’s character and charm.

Absolutely….no stuffiness allowed!

So let’s see how it turned out……

The living room is gorgeous with it’s bay window and wood floors.

The dining room is huge and the original light fixture is worth tens of thousands of dollars alone.

The kitchen of course has modern appliances……

And what mansion would be complete without a library.

Although the bank wanted it modern and not stuffy, some fun eclectic accent pieces to speak to it’s history is needed too.

Like a picture of the keys of an antique typewriter!

Replica antique radio bookends.

A spark of whimsey of who the gentleman of the home may be….hmmm… Mr. Thomas Jefferson?? Just kidding!!

And of course a grand table to entertain in your grand mansion!

So yes, staging this vacant home on the National Registry of Historic Places was one of the most fun projects I have had the privilege to stage.

If you need your home staged, old or new, Rooms With Style will pick the furnishings to best fit the home and the neighborhood.

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

330 Days on the Market then…….Home Staging in St. Paul MN sells it 5 Days later!!

Yes, approximately 330 days on the market and then a home stager was brought in. What a transformation. This house is magnificent and because of that the owner thought the bones of the home alone would sell it.

As you can see it had very dated gray carpet and very cold gray paint. It did nothing for the architectural features of this 1928 house. The owner listened to the advise and pulled up the carpet, refinished the floors (STUNNING) and repainted the cold walls. As you can see this alone was a HUGE improvement.

The owner also listened to the home stager’s advice and brought in fresh furnishings to replace the very tired limited furniture. This really created a “WOW” factor and showed the home at its full potential.

Yes, the owner did invest some money to do this but it paid off. Not only were they thrilled with the results but they got an offer 5 days later.

Home Staging is important any time in the process but before the home is ever listed is the best. This home is almost 6000 sq. ft so although they spent some money to update it, if they had done it from the beginning they may have saved 11 months of carrying costs such as heat, electricity, and insurance ; not to mention the daily trips to the home to check on it.

At the second Realtor Open for the ‘unveiling’ of the new and improved home , Realtor’s mouths literally dropped for those that had seen it before. The purchase agreement says it all.

Rooms With Style Can Assist you with All your Home Staging and Redesign needs.

The 70′s were a great decade for many of us. Can you say “Disco”? How about “love the water-bed”. But the 70′s when selling a house is not the best flash from the past. This townhome in Rosemount, MN got a quick ride on a time machine so it can now compete for a modern 2010 buyer.

Selling a home is competitive and your buyer needs to see themselves living in THIS decade.

Listen to the feedback you are receiving on your home or listing and do something about the negative feedback whenever possible. A professional Home Staging Expert can be a huge help.

I was called to stage this vacant property that had almost been sold when first listed but the buyer walked away because they loved to entertain and they didn’t know if they could fit a dining room table in the area right outside the kitchen. Months went by with no more interest so the owner wanted my opinion on whether or not the area could be a dining room.

I took a look and made the decision that is was a perfect spot for a dining room. There was even a light right above the center of the area for a chandelier to be added. The previous owner did not use it as a dining room and the MLS photos reflected this as it showed it with their living room furniture prior to them moving out.

Rooms With Style staged the property to reflect a dining room and in addition I put in a larger table in the eat-in space in the kitchen. The kitchen area can now seat four instead of two; the “formal” dining area right outside the kitchen can now seat 4-6.

This home went from showing an area that only two could eat comfortably to seating for up to ten.

The first showing after the vacant home staging was a couple that looked at 32 homes. They listed this one as their Second favorite and it was their Realtor’s favorite. How is that for changing opinions! 

Listen to the feedback, when it is negative address it and do something about it whenever possible. Ask the advice of a Professional Home Stager.   

Rooms With Style was recently called to complete a vacant home staging in this newly refurbished and updated home in Golden Valley, MN. The home is stunning with beautiful detailing.

The problem was the buyer could not differentiate between the living area and the dining area. Although the wiring had been completed, the builder chose to not add a dining room light fixture so the new home owner could place it exactly where they wanted it. Great idea but it did leave some confusion.

The dining space is small but appears so much smaller when it is vacant. The living area is also small making it difficult for the buyer to imagine how the furniture will be place in this open room floor plan. In addition, the room echoed and was cold and sterile. 

The rooms are now well defined and cozy. Home Staging can make a HUGE difference! Which do you think the buyer can visualize themselves living in?

Don’t let your listings be cold and stark. Have a Professional Home Stager turn them into a charming and cozy home that anyone would want to move into.