Artwork Can Help Give a Room Some Life

I have been sorely absent from my blog and I apologize.  Life takes over sometimes - and time just slips away. Today I just wanted to give you some ideas on how to give your home more zip and punch when it's on the market. 

A fresh, neutral paint job always helps a room...but after that you need to add some color back into the room to give it a lift.  Adding a colorful throw and pillows or perhaps a colorful rug can add some zing to the room. 

Above, this home in Seaford NY (that you've seen on this blog) has just sold. Without the colorful accents and artwork, this room would have looked very dull. The color gives it a lift - for very little money. 

The powder room above, in a $3.5 million home that sold in 3 weeks, gets a little facelift with a beautiful metallic plaster in a sage green on the walls, an inexpensive gold mirror...plus a beautiful piece of artwork framed in black.  Left plain white, as the builder had it, it looked uninspiring.  Small changes will give you more bang for your buck.

Here are some prints being offered right now (the offer expires in 2 days - so you'll have to act fast) from One King's Lane.  If you don't know about this online site, you should sign up HERE because they offer some great furniture, bedding, candles, mirrors, artwork and other home decor items at discount prices - especially wonderful at this gift-giving time of year.

This framed fish print, for only $79, would look great in a bathroom

Here's another - but slightly more expensive at $159 because of the beautiful frame

For $159, this would look beautiful in a Master Bath or Powder Room

This is a little pricier, at $269, but these antique bird prints would look wonderful

in a den, library or great room

This one I want for myself!  It would look great in a bath or a ladies' dressing room

Not as colorful - but so elegant for $139!  Shells are a great accent for any home.

Another shell print for $139

Add this pair of fish prints in a man's office, den or library - at $139 each.

So sign up and try the One Kings Lane site out - I know that you will find some wonderful items there.  Whether for staging or for your own home or as gifts, the site offers some great deals on a daily basis. I buy my staging items there - as well as for my own home.

If you need some help staging your home or listing, give me a call.  Whether it's vacant - or it's been on the market for a long time with no success...I can help you.  Give me a call at 631 793-1315.

A New Staged Home for Sale in Sands Point NY

Image via Wikipedia. Beautiful Sands Point, NYHOME STAGING IN A FLASH:  A few weeks ago, my partner Marty and I staged a lovely contemporary home in beautiful Sands Point NY.  Realtor, Geeta Shukla from Century 21 Laffey, called me in to help her with this home - that was going to be photographed as soon as we were done.  We had to act quickly because we only had 4 hours to create some magic


Geeta was referred to us by Sonny Declara in her office - because we helped him sell a new construction $3.5 million home in Muttontown this year.  The home sold 3 weeks after we staged it!


Most of the time when we stage an occupied home - it is cluttered and you can't see the beauty of the home because of that.  This home was a bit different.  It had its normal share of everyday clutter - but what I noticed more predominantly was that many of the furnishings were not placed for optimal living.  We re-arranged many of the chairs and tables so that a potential buyer could see "how" they could live in this home.  We created some additional "nooks" and focals points that were not being used to their fullest potential.

Because it is a contemporary home - it has an open living plan, which is one of the hardest areas to design - most people do not know how to design around this or create a color plan for this type of home.  We added some interest to the existing living room/dining room/den area by adding a small "conversational spot" in front of the fireplace...plus a place to have tea, coffee and conversation in the picture window are - and an additional game/card area between the dining and living room.  We opened up the game table that was already there and we added a beautiful seating - plus we opened up the table to a chess board - and had an actual game "in progress." These small touches add personality and they showcase additional functionality  to an open space, but more importantly they show a potential buyer how they can live in a home.  These personal touches help to sell a space - that otherwise would be bland and lifeless.


We also decluttered the kitchen to showcase how beautiful it is.  Every amenity that you would want - the best appliances, granite, technology (this is a "smart" home") - and beautiful finishes - were there.  We pared down the clutter and excess stuff in the kitchen to showcase all of the luxury appointments.


The exterior was alo an another area that we tackled.  Though the summer is over, you still want to showcase how you can live outside as well as in.  We placed all the furniture (that was stacked high) and we placed all the cushions back on the furniture.  The deck featured a fire pit - but it was covered in an accumulation of vegetables from the garden.  We placed the furniture around the fire pit to showcase it.


We also did some fast and furious painting, which was necessary.  The home had a beautiful entryway with double doors - but they had not been painted in about 20 years!  A quick coat of paint brought them back.  In the entry there was also a huge phildendron palnt flowing from the upstairs landing to the first floor entry.  This would have been the only thing you would have noticed (instead of looking at the entry itself).  We removed it - so that the home's entry now is clean and inviting - plus you can see the home...instead of the plant!


Here's the link to the home

http://www.laffey.com/listings.cfm?fuseaction=view&id=2334325

If you would like to see the home, please contact Geeta Shukla at 800-478-2940 or email her at

gshukla@laffey.com


Call us at 631 793-1315 if you would like to learn more about our home staging ideas and services