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Questions:
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Please submit questions to Barb,
owner and interior designer since 1975. |
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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.
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 of 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 “non-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!
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. He mother wants a more conservative look. Is there a way to reach a happy medium here?
Brenda J.
Dear Brenda,
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 wooded 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!
Dear Barb,
When decorating a room, where do you start? Do you pick the paint colors and then accessories? Or do you select flooring first?
Alice R.
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 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. Select flooring first, and then the paint. The reasoning is that with thousands of paint colors, shades, tints, layered finishes, and custom 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.
Dear Barb,
I see many homes these days with window treatments that don’t go with the surrounding décor. What are the basic rules in selecting or fashioning window treatments that will add to the ambience instead of compete with it?
Ann V.
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 valance in a formal home, casual woven wood shades with rich silk drapery panels in a traditional home, and swags in a geometic 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.
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