Staging with Pantone's Colour of the Year

Pantone is a company recognized throughout the world as the leading authority on colour. Every year a colour is declared as "Pantone's Colour of the Year" and this year's colour (2015) is.... Marsala.

In recognition of this lovely, deep and rich colour, I'm sharing some before and after pictures of a master bedroom we staged using this colour.

To give you an idea of how the staging process goes, I will take the 'before' shot during my initial visit to the house when I meet with the homeowner for the pre-staging consultation.  During this initial visit, I will give my recommendations of improvements that should be done prior to listing the home for sale as well as other tasks to complete in preparation for my next visit, which is when I come back to stage the home. Because each home is different, my recommendations will differ depending on the home. In this particular case, the house was fairly new, so there were next to zero repairs or upgrades needed. The walls were neutral in colour and still in good condition, therefore repainting was not necessary. Keep in mind, when I present my recommendations, it is entirely up to you as the homeowner to decide how much time and money to invest in this endeavor. If there are budget restrictions, we can prioritize the work and scale down how many rental items are brought in for staging.

So here is the 'before' shot....

Before

The following reveals my thought process when I am assessing your home and how I plan for what rental items are needed for staging....

These are small changes but all these enhancements make a big impact on the room's appearance, as you can see here in the 'after' shots....

After

After

The most significant change was adding the white duvet to the bed. This immediately brightened the room and accentuated the deep, rich marsala colour used in the room. The white also offsets the dark colour of the furniture and the floors, keeping the room from feeling dark and dingy.

As for the colour of the year, marsala?... Back in the day it was called 'burgundy.' And, well, it certainly brings back memories of my youth... as do several other colours that have come back in popularity, like emerald green, navy blue, gold, and amethyst. Usually, my initial reaction is why???? But, somehow we are able to keep it current and learn how to use it in slightly different ways that are better, fresher and modern. And we learn to love it all over again!

Here are some images I've gathered to give you more ideas of how you can incorporate the color, marsala, into your home.

Images: Pantone; Imelda Smith; Urban Outfitters; Apartmenttherapy; Etsy; Dailyfix; Cococozy; Style Me Pretty; decor8; The Everygirl

Making Your Guests Feel At Home

With the holidays around the corner it's that time of the year now when days are full with company parties, Christmas shopping, wrapping presents, decorating the house and making sure your home is clean and ready to receive guests. Out of town family and friends usually mean they will be staying overnight, so why not make their stay memorable by making a room for them that is comfortable and welcoming? Here is a guest bedroom I was asked to finish. We had to work with the existing colours, so the challenge was bringing together the yellow on the walls and the grayish purpley hue of the bed linens to make the colour combination more palatable.

Before

After

Before

After

How would you like to be a guest in this bedroom?

And, to help you with those little "extras," here is a checklist I took from realsimple.com  that you can follow to make your guests feel at home and well taken care of.

• Have a spare key made.Tell guests where it will be hidden (if they’ll arrive while you’re out) or hand it over when they get there, so they aren’t ringing the doorbell every time they return.

• Make the bed with clean sheets.If you have a guest room, freshen up its linens.

• Test the air mattress.If your “guest room” is a blow-up mattress in the living room, see that it’s in good condition. Inflate it to make sure there are no holes, and, if you have time, vacuum the surface so it’s free of dust.

• Gather extra pillows and blankets.Guests may be used to sleeping with two pillows, so an extra set (stored under the bed) is a good idea. Fold an extra blanket and lay it nearby in case guests get cold.

• Make room in a closet.If there’s a closet in your guest room, be sure that it isn’t stuffed with Christmas decorations and such. If there’s no guest room, clear a little space in your own closet for a suit jacket or dress that needs to be hung.

• Buy (or create) a suitcase stand.Clear off a storage trunk or have a folding stand ready for guests’ luggage. It will help them stay organized and keep the room neater.

• Have toiletries readily accessible.All of those mini bottles you've collected from hotels? Use them! Have shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, a bar of soap, and toothpaste in plain sight in the guest bathroom. If you’re sharing a bathroom, leave toiletries in a basket by the bed.

• Set out a spare towel.Consider offering one that’s a different color from your everyday towels, so a guest knows which is hers.

• Buy or make a few snacks.Have breakfast basics on hand: coffee, orange juice, fruit, granola, muffins. Small snacks for the afternoon will likely be appreciated too.

• Create a list of possible activities.Think about what guests might want to do when they visit, and know when shops or museums are open.

• Gather local magazines, brochures, and maps.If you’re heading to work instead of playing tour guide, have the local paper or magazines available with listings of attractions. Get a local bus or subway map, or provide directions if guests are driving.

• Put a few books near the bed.Give guests something to read before they go to sleep. If there’s an interesting book about your town, even better.

• Leave important phone numbers.Put together a list of emergency contacts in case something happens while you’re out. Give the name and number of a neighbor, family member, even a plumber (if you have tricky toilets)—anyone whom guests might need in a pinch.

• Write down household instructions.How does the remote control work? What’s the deal with that newfangled alarm system? Give guests some pointers in case they’re stumped while you’re gone.

Enjoy this time with your family and friends and may your home be filled with Christmas songs, cakes, candies and all the love that this festive season brings!

Real Potential

While kitchens and bathrooms give the most return on investment, not every homeowner is prepared to undergo a major remodel. Particularly if they want the home sold within a specific timeline.  So in a case where the home is old and outdated, if you present it well, you can help buyers appreciate these rooms for what it could be.

After we staged

A fresh coat of paint, crisp white towels and shower curtain, black and white scenic art, greenery, and a few shiny accessories... coordinating these items together in the room help renew and refresh the space, diminishing attention to the dated finishes.

Before we staged

The fall real estate market is upon us so if you think you're ready to sell, now is the time to call me for a pre-staging consult and we can book your staging date.  In the meantime, while you're thinking about that move, here is an interesting post to peruse on Why real estate heats up as the sun sets on summer.

Setting the Stage

Beds should take center stage when you walk into a master bedroom.  Creating a symmetrical look using lamps and side tables give a sense of "peace and balance"  ....not something that would be necessarily in the forefront of the buyer's mind when shopping for a home, but a calm and inviting space is what sparks interest and stimulates those "buying" sensibilities.

Mississauga project.  Originally there was only one nightstand in this master bedroom.  In order to create symmetry, we found a matching nightstand that we were able to take from another bedroom.  Rentals included are a set of lamps, accent cushions, a throw, tabletop accessories, and artwork.  The homeowner purchased the quilted coverlet which we recommended.  They can bring the coverlet to their next home and easily use it to match any colour scheme they choose since it is a neutral colour.  

Thornhill project.  The client had already vacated the property but to save costs, they were able to leave some furniture behind for staging.  The furniture was dated but adequate enough to create the desired effect.  With the right adornments, we were able to achieve a fresh look.  Rentals added to this master bedroom are a set of lamps, bedding, pillows and accent cushions, tabletop accessories and artwork.

Markham project.  This master bedroom was completely renewed after we had the original wood finish of the beadboard wainscoting painted.  We re-positioned the bed to the center of the wall and dressed it with lovely silk bedding the homeowner had.  We took the drapery panels from another room since it was more suitable and coordinated well with this room.  The rentals we brought in to finish the look are a set of nightstands, set of lamps, accent cushions, and art.

If you are planning to put your home on the market soon, call us and book a consultation.  For occupied homes, we take pride in having a vision for any style presented to us, utilizing your own belongings as much as possible.  We will put together a custom staging quote that is unique to you based on an equitable budget and your home's requirements.

Imelda :-)

Simple Touches

Continuity is carried through to the dining area by accessories which echo colours from the living room.  Working with the homeowner's dining table and chairs, we added the centerpiece, featuring a white silk orchid arrangement flanked by two large hurricane candle holders.  The hurricanes are a crackled glass with a hint of blue which coordinate with the wine glasses that were set in the living room.  The tall sticks add texture and bring repetition to the espresso colour of the table legs. The set of two mirrors on the wall reflect light and add dimension to the space, also drawing in more colour and texture as it reflects other materials in the room.  Isn't it amazing how a few simple touches can pull a room together?  Without these elements we've added it would be flat and boring.  We are experts at incorporating just the right amount of enhancements that will make your home resonate with the buyers senses.

Neutralizing High Contrast and High Style

 

If you follow me on facebook, you will recognize this home we staged not too long ago in Mississauga which was sold in less than a week!   After the process of decluttering and adding a soft grey paint colour to the walls, the room was pared down to an ultra modern sofa in blue and window coverings in a terra cotta shade.   A minor tweak in the furniture arrangement was made creating more room and ease of traffic flow.   Everything else you see here was added by us.  We brought in a light shag rug to neutralize and ground the space.  And, a careful selection and placement of cushions, lamps, table top accessories and art work was effective in tying the contrasting colours together.  I think it was a successful execution to bring warmth and style to the room, don't you?

Call me if you need help with getting home ready for sale! :-)

Imelda