Inviting Autumn Home

Last weekend, as the Madison temperature dipped, it was time to introduce autumn to my home decor.  The mantle above, formerly inhabited by a collection of antique clocks, received a new arrangement dominated by the cornucopia.  The antique Stratfordshire dog now stands guard over the room.  The ceramic dog adds smoothness to balance the textural arrangment.  The column adds height and works with the vertical mirror. 

Guests are now greeted by an arrangement of pumpkins on the foyer table.  The deep camel color of the walls is the perfect backdrop for autumn decor.  Even the foyer table was recently painted an even deeper brown to blend in with the wall color.

The coffee table received a makeover as well!  Hints of summer were packed away and a square basket holds a variety of pumpkins along with berries, leaves and pinecones.  A rustic ceramic pitcher adds smooth contrast.  The arrangement in the basket is easy to move so the table can be used for games or snacks. 

Dinner guests now dine by candlelight.  The pillar candle is nestled in a clear glass vase for safety.  The decorative metal bowl holds an assortment of natural gourds, leaves and potpourri.  Green placemats complement the natural colors of the centerpiece.  Again the arrangement is easily moved, contained in the bowl. 

As soon as the windows are closed against the chill, a spice candle is lit to fragrance the air.  The ambiance is warm and welcoming, evocative of the season. 

Has the coolness of the air inspired you  to invite autumn into your home?

 

Recycle, Reuse, Repurpose

Shoji Screen

This used to be a shoji screen with paper backing.  The previous owner discarded it curbside because of a hole in the paper. Apparently they decided it was not worth fixing. However, if you can think of another way to use an item, it becomes worthwhile again. 

After taking off the paper backing, sanding, and spray painting black lacquer, this screen is now a place to hang a few pictures without damaging a wall. I like that it now lets more light in without hiding anything.

Office After

 Premiere Home Stagers readily repurposes things when gathering items for staging. It’s what makes a home unique, comfortable, or memorable. So, think about what you may have around your house that can be repurposed with new fabric, new paint, or just used in a different way. Imagine how much longer our landfills will last.

 

Declutter for a Quicker Sale

Is it really true that decluttering your house may bring you offers sooner and for more money than if you didn’t declutter? Premiere Home Stagers believes in the statistics that point to that fact.  We recently were a part of those statistics when we staged this occupied home.  It had been on the market twice before. But after staging and good marketing by Katie Michelle of Century 21 Affilitated, this home received two offers within 5 days of being listed.

   These were the pieces that we set aside for the homeowner to move to the basement for an upcoming garage sale, or to pack up for their upcoming move.

The more items you have on display, the less they make an impact.  The same with family photos.  Select only your most cherished pieces to display. 

  Premiere Home Stagers selected the homeowners’ majolica pottery for display in the lawyer’s bookshelf and hung a watercoloring of their house above it.

“Less is More” when selling your house quickly and for more money.

 

Rule of Three

This homeowner recently painted her bedroom and changed out the carpeting and bed linens.  She likes the monochromatic style– using colors in the same color family. 

She used to have lots of family photos all around her house. But, the kids are grown, photos have faded, and the different sizes and colors of frames made the walls look cluttered.  We came up with a better idea.

Rule of Three

Choose three photos that mean something to you. It could be family, vacation places, or even your pets. Enlarge them so that you can see them from the bedroom door.  Then hang them so that they are not in a line–as that gives more visual interest.  The photos framed in the above picture are just one way to accomplish this. All the frames are the same, which gives the photos more cohesiveness, yet the photos are in black and white, which makes them more artistic.

It’s a great idea to hang your family photos in the more informal or intimate areas of your home since your family is important just to you. Even though there is a small family photo on this end table, we suggested that a neutral piece of artwork go above the loveseat. One idea is purchase metal art, another idea is to hang a silver-framed mirror to complement the photo frame. . When rooms are painted a darker color, the light is absorbed, so hanging a mirror to reflect light makes the room brighter.

If you are getting ready to place your home on the market, Premiere Home Stagers can make your home more desirable not only to you, but to the next buyer and therefore, get better, quicker offers.

 

Spa Luxury

Does this tub inspire you to linger with bubbles and a glass of wine on a cold evening or when you want to soothe away your muscle aches?  It looks sterile, uninviting, and unimaginative. It’s just a bathroom fixture.

Now, how about this photo:

The picture on the wall has angels resting comfortably as if in a dream. (Maybe your dream!)  I can dream that  I am soaking in this tub surrounded by candles, a glass of wine, and soft music playing.  It doesn’t take a lot of accessories to make an emotional connection and visualize how you might use this space.  I imagine that your house has a special place where you want to spend time.  If you don’t think so, why not call Premiere Home Stagers to redesign a special place just for you.

 

That Cabinet Ledge

If you live in a newer home you may not have soffits above your kitchen cabinets but a ledge–just begging for the right decorative treatment. My (Libby’s) kitchen has the added feature of a vaulted ceiling giving me quite a high space to work with.

I love decorative plates so I have 2 matching black-bordered plates on racks on the ledge (one is visible in the picture). A dear friend gave me the black metal sign, “The perks are best here”–a tribute to my love for morning coffee. A ceramic hen completes the trio above the stove. To the right, instead of putting another object on the ledge, I filled the space by hanging a fruited wreath. Another hen resides overlooking the counter. The far right area is a space up to 4 feet high–a challenge to place something to scale. I painted a small stepladder red and arranged 3 clay pots of silk sunflowers on the steps. The ascending angle of the flowerpots follows the angle of the ceiling. Voila! The ledge is ‘filled’ with a few carefully placed pieces.

P.S. A note on my husband’s stepladders–a tall one is painted white (pressed into use as a decorative accent at a party). The small one is now red and definitely out of convenient reach. Oh, the woes of being married to a home stager!!

 

A Glitzy Centerpiece

The theme of a recent bridal shower was funky shoes. Rather than visit the party store for confetti and manufactured centerpieces we created our own. The closet of the bride-to-be provided all the inspiration we needed! Using a metal charger and a bowl covered with pink satin, we balanced patent stilettos stuffed with shredded ribbon. A shiny evening bag and a necklace completed the ensemble. The result … a glitzy, colorful vignette to grace one of the tables. The guests and the bride-to-be loved it!

 

Subtle Changes

After - A restful space

Sometimes small changes make a big impact! The focal point of this family room is the fireplace wall. Its attractiveness was hidden by the many small accessories residing on the mantel and the hearth. We removed the accessories and started over, making careful choices for maximum impact. Now the focal wall looks uncluttered and intentional.

We also reversed the location of the navy chair and ottoman to the other side of the sofa. This allowed the sofa to be centered under the window. The room now has a more balanced and restful feel.

Before