My Top 5 Predictions on 2015 HouseTrends

Homeinteriordesigns.com

1.  McMansions will be McEmpty.  Large house sales will suffer from being on the market a long time.  Folks are leaning towards more cozy, low-maintenance digs.  Mile high windows,super ceilings, and sprawling lawns hold less appeal in 2015. Tiny house sales are on the rise!

2.  Humpty Dumpty Needs a Wall.  Open concept living is in for an adjustment.  I think we may see some walls going up and/or partitions installed around kitchens--or at least the prep space.  Let's face it, folks don't like seeing a messy kitchen. Open kitchens create stress.

Eric Davis - HGTV

3.  Dining Rooms are Dinosaurs.  Talk about your oxymoron, people are spending more time in their homes entertaining, but not around the dining room table.  Check out Craigslist and you will notice a zillion beautiful dining room sets offered for a steal.  Boomers are downsizing and millenniums are turning dining rooms into home offices or playrooms.

Northshorerealty

4. Re-lo-ing to the Burbs. The dive in gas prices is setting records. I think more folks are going to forget the pricey housing in the city and drive to the suburbs.

5. "Uber Think" Applies to Buying and Selling.  We are all familiar with the start-up car service Uber.  I predict that the Uber mentality is going to penetrate the real estate market.  I think 2015 may mean more buyers and sellers taking the cheapest route.  Realtor fees may be thwarted by more FSBO's (For Sale by Owner) or sellers using discount firms.  Legitimate stagers will be back-burnered for DIY stagers. Ouch!

Waiting for Motivation in 2015?

Happy New Year!

As we open a new chapter, I hope you embrass 2015 as "MY YEAR" to create something amazing.

Waiting for motivation is futile.

I'm not quite ready.

Jump in.

 I am uncomfortable.

So what.

But it's hard.

  Push through it.

Maybe tomorrow?

Just start!

2015 is going to be a great year full of success.

With love and affection,

Happy, Happy, Happy Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving I am particularly thankful that my oldeast and dearest friend, Karen, got a clean path report after her double mastectomy a couple of weeks ago. Happy, happy, happy.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

Love,

Trust Me, Dear Client

I'm working on a family room for a client.  The client is one of my regular realtors that hires me for all of her listings.

I think I need to come clean that I don't work like the rest of you talented designers.  Oh, how I wish I could compose one of those boards with all the furniture and accessories picked out.

Nope, can't do it.  I have to have an inspiration. So, today I stumbled upon this chair and ottoman.

Jackpot!  I'm always happy when I see trendy upholstery on a classic piece. Check out the print on this chair is awesome.  Soooo much to work from!

 Love the vivid red, blue, black and gray.

Of course, there is white or beige as a background player.

A girl's gotta have curves.  This chair and ottoman have awesome curves.

Then I saw this over-the-top-but-would-be-really-cool-painting-to-go-in-the-room. 

Anyway....I'm sad.  I've already completed three rooms for my client. (No design boards-just trust in my vision--that the both the wife and hubs always loved.)

But, the out-of-da-box chair scared her.  It was my muse for a very wonderful room.  Oh, how I wish she would trust me one more time.  The chair was only one piece in the fabulous room.  Wish I was able to make a design board to show her my inspiration played out.....but can't do it.  Cuz I really don't know until I get there.

But, it would have been some kinda wonderful.

Walmart "STEELS" -- Interesting, Inexpensive Staging Ideas

I have a passion for unusual items that can serve as a staging accessory. "But IT doesn't go with my decor."   That's the point, dear seller! Matchy-matchy is (yawn) boring.  Then they say, "It looks great.  I never would have thought of "that"."

I'm also the queen of bargain shopping.  So, check out these items and prices for fun stuff.

EVERYBODY has a Walmart in the USA!  All of my lovely readers in the United Kingdom and China (thank you very much) also have Walmart.

So here we go with some metal jewels from Walmart:

Walmart  $11.97

I am in love with this Sapphire blue bucket (or 'pail' as BFF, Virginia, drawls.)

What to do with it:  Use it to hold kindling on your fireplace hearth. Roll up colorful towels and display in the bathroom. Try it in a kid's room to hold toys.  Put it in the kitchen with hand towels in it. Place this blue baby on a laundry room shelf filled with cleaning products. Magazines would look swell inside. It would be an ample waste basket or recycle bin. I can see it as a plant container, too.

Walmart  - $10.96 for all 3

Aren't these nesting baskets da bomb?

What to do with them:  These would look mighty cute as hanging organizers! However, I would probably separate them and use in different rooms (more bang for your buck). Put them in the kitchen to hold place mats, napkins, and utensils.  Load one with apples or a plant and use as a centerpiece. Remote controls and cell phones could rest in the small basket.  Place one a shelf to displaying books.  Corral collectibles like seashells or corks inside   Use in the bathroom to hold guest towels and facecloths.  Put the small one in the powder room to hold soap and lotion decanters. Display pretty stationary, markers or mail on your desk in one.

Walmart - $24.89

Hello Handsome!  I heart this though-shaped galvanized bucket!  Some kinda swell for under $25.

What to do with it: Can't you picture wine bottles in it?  Books? Magazines? A plant or two?  How about two mac-daddy big-ole-pillar candles and greenery?  Store paper towel rolls or TP?  Use for wrapping paper rolls in an office? Kindling? A bulky throw?

This bucket would be soooooooo great used for holiday decor, don't you think?  IT IS AWESOME!

I know you have some great ideas to share.  I'd love to hear them!

83 is Awesome!

I think only a few times in our lives do we brush shoulders with true inspiration.  Today, I was in an Aqua Aerobics class.  A lovely silver-haired woman was in front of me. She was far out preforming me.  When we did a  stretch and tone exercise she easily locked both hands behind her back and lifted high.  Her arms were very firm and toned. She was never out of breath or out of step.

Later in the locker room, I saw her sitting in her granny panties and 4" bolster bra as she rifled through her bag for clothes.  I said, "I was behind you in class today.  You are very fit.  I noticed how toned and defined your arms are."  She smiled a sweet, endearing smile and thanked me.


As she she walked out, she looked over her shoulder and said, "I'm 83."


I smiled and replied , "You are an inspiration."

She was walking so fast. I don't know if she heard me.

Awesome.

Really, really awesome.  Go 83!

Why Shrubs Should Come with an Expiration Date

Do y'all have any idea how dated old landscaping can make your property look?  Staging starts with curb appeal.  Buyers have to appreciate your house from the outside before they want to invest time looking at the inside.

Here's the front of the a house I recently consulted on. This is the picture after the the sellers had it landscaped according to my recommendations.  Notice the house looks bigger without the offending shrubs.

S. Brooks

Here's my before picture. The scrubs cover half of the windows. Big no-no. We are selling those windows and the view. Let the sunshine in.  Plus, scrubs look shoddy when they get 'trunky' on the bottom, see-through in the middle, and thick at the top.   Boxwood require time and attention for thinning as they grow. This Boxwood hedge is not attractive. (BTW, never make bushes flat on top.)

StagerLinda

Inside of a Boxwood that has surpassed its shelf life. (USDA)

Look at Your Property Through Buyer's Eyes
These sellers have a very large lot.  I walked the seller out to the edge of his property on the street side.  "Try to look at your house objectively.  Notice how the overgrown bushes and trees flanking the front door obstruct the front of your house?  Now, imagine the front of your house without the overgrown shrubs and the trees cut back."

Mr. Seller had a "BINGO" moment!  He was accustomed to seeing the dated landscaping.  He said, "It would never have occurred to me to remove the shrubs!"

High-Five, Mr. Seller.  Good work.