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?

 

Guess Our Age

Have you ever visited a Guess Your Age booth at a carnival?  What are the clues the ‘guesser’ uses to come so close to a person’s actual age?  It’s amazing, and I’m sure it is more than pure guesswork!

Our challenge in home staging is to increase the appeal of a home to any age buyer.  It should be hard to guess the age of the current occupants–thus more successfully marketing the home of grandparents to the thirty-something buyer, for example.  Pictured below is a recent project–the beautiful home of a retiring couple.  Premiere Home Stagers was tasked to spend a few hours staging the home.  A clue to the age of the occupants is the many antiques and family heirlooms that are lovingly displayed throughout.

We love antiques and use them in our own home decor.  But when it comes to staging, antiques can ‘age’ a property.  Since this living room is the first thing seen when entering the home it was imperative to update its look, using what the homeowners have.  We scoured the house for other pieces.  We rearranged and pulled the sofa in from across the room to form a conversation grouping.  We left clear access to the lovely sunporch beyond–a big selling feature.  Below is the result.

Now the room is harder to categorize as belonging to an older couple.  We suggested the addition of a warmer tan paint color that blends well with adjoining spaces.  The home should appeal to any buyer.

 

Resolutions

Floor Mosaic

Some of us make New Year’s Resolutions and actually keep them….for a little while. 

 Perhaps you’d like to learn a new skill–such as photography, mosaics, painting, cooking, sewing,  upholstery, etc.

The elderly man who lives in this Apartment recognized that he needed help and wanted to start the new year fresh. Sometimes people just don’t know where to start. It seems too overwhelming.  That’s where Premiere Home Stagers can help.

Start 2010 off right—feel good in your space.  We sell inspiration!

 

Family Room Redesign

Before

This lovely basement family room had all the components, but not the right furniture arrangement. The sofa blocked the walkway to a storage room and the TV received glare from the sunlight coming in the window. When you entered the room all you saw was the back of a large easy chair.  The homeowner knew this space didn’t feel right, but was wondering what to do. 

After

Sometimes all you need is another pair of eyes. There was a “niche” that the TV fit perfectly in.  That meant the sofa could now slide under the window on the large wall and the chair could be angled toward the TV. When you enter this space, you are cordially greeted by comfortable seating that invites you come on in and have a seat.  You don’t need to spend a lot of money to make a rooom feel comfortable and welcoming. This room only needs one piece of artwork to go on the wall to the left of the TV niche and it’s perfect for this family. Time for popcorn and a movie.

 

Formal Living Room

House design has changed in the last 10 years. You rarely see that lonely room at the front of the house called a formal living room anymore. It’s usually too small to have the “gang” over and too big to just ignore it. So, how should one utilize this room when staging for a sale?

A few ideas:

1. Re-purpose the room as an office or library if there isn’t one already. 

2.  Another feature that most of these rooms have is good lighting. Lay a small tarp on the floor, then put up an easel with a canvas propped on it and some watercolor paints;  hang some artwork nearby.  Replace the formal furniture with more casual furniture.

 3. Set up a music stand with some sheet music and have two instruments propped up on straight back chairs–such as a violin and a guitar. Again, the casual furniture would fit in nicely.

One caveat is that this is the first room that is seen by a prospective buyer and thus it needs to have a focal point and a purpose.  Formal living rooms are usually unimaginative and rarely get used.  Show a prospective buyer that this room is not wasted space.

 

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