Q: Dear Barb,
I've watched shows on "staging" and "redesign"
and wonder if it's really worth the time and effort. Do staging and redesign
help homeowners sell their homes faster? And if so, how do I go about it?
Natasha F.
A:
Dear Natasha,
People confuse the terms Home Staging and Redesign. Redesign is "personalizing"
the home to reflect the style of the homeowner, using what they already own.
Staging is
"depersonalizing"
to
SELL, creating a "product" that appeals to a broad audience. For optimal
selling, "stage" the home. Bring out the best features in the home itself,
rather than focusing on the furnishings and accessories. De-clutter rooms,
repaint certain walls in neutral colors, rearrange furnishings-even remove some.
Staged homes do sell faster and at higher prices than un-staged homes, even in
slow markets. A professional staging consultation is inexpensive. In some states
like California, most realtors will not list a home that has not been staged.
Staging is inexpensive, and the pay-off can be BIG! |
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Q:
Dear Barb,
My teenage granddaughter is at odds with her mother. She wants to paint her
bedroom a bright purple and use neon pink accessories. Her mother wants a more
conservative look. Is there a way to reach a happy medium here?
Renda J.
A:
Dear Renda,
Teens should express themselves, but it's hard to shell out money for trends.
Solution: Ground walls with a rich, sophisticated shade of the color your teen
loves. Anchor the room with quality furnishings in solid, neutral colors, then
go to "Crazy Town" on bright, bold, ACCESSORIES that can easily be changed.
Instead of bright purple walls, choose rich, jewel purple. Paint very LARGE,
chunky picture frames in bright purple and neon pink, add fun prints, and hang
them up. This will look AWESOME against the rich purple walls. Make a custom
wood or fabric headboard in hot pink. For a contemporary look, cut out wooden
circles in various sizes, paint them in bright colors or cover with trendy
fabrics. Hang them at varying heights above the bed. Make a GIANT floor pillow
accented with smaller pillows in FUN fabrics. The mother-daughter war will
surely end! |
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Q:
Dear Barb,
When decorating a room, where do you start? Do you pick paint colors then
accessories? Or do you select flooring first?
Alice R.
A:
Dear Alice,
This is a GREAT question. Most people pick paint first, which can work, but a
much better way is to pick your main fabric first (which will be used for
upholstery, bedding or window treatments) and choose paint colors and
accessories to that anchor. This concept also works with accent rugs and art
(although high quality art and very fine rugs do not have to "match" or
perfectly blend with walls). You can apply this principle to flooring as well.
Pick flooring first, and then paint. The reasoning is that with thousands of
paint colors, shades, tints, layered finishes, and custom paint colors, it is
easier to find a wall color that blends with fabrics, furnishings, and
accessories than it is to try to find decorative elements that match or
coordinate with walls. |
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Q:
Dear Barb,
I see many homes these days with window treatments that don't go with the
surrounding decor. What are the basic rules in selecting or fashioning window
treatments that will add to the ambience instead of compete with it?
Ann V.
A:
Dear Ann,
We normally expect to see window treatments that are matched to the style of the
home: Queen Ann swags for formal homes; pleated draperies hung from fluted rods
for traditional homes, and sculptured upholstered cornices for contemporary
homes, for example. That's all changing. Now, you may see Roman shades with an
elegant Kingston in a formal home, casual woven wood shades with rich silk
drapery panels in a traditional home, and swags in a geometric fabric in a
contemporary home. More than ever, today's design reflects individuality. Many
people toss the rules for what feels right and looks pleasing to the eye. Rather
than seeking strict style, use color, balance, and other elements and principles
of design to bring the space together. |
