DIY Decorating that Doesn't Sell Your House

Hey lovelies, it's been a loooooooong time since I've posted.  Not feeling the excuses today so--I shall dive right in.

WTH!  These owners painted their fireplace and mantel GREEN! My head exploded when I saw this are-you-kidding-me offense. No, no and no. Why didn't the realtor have the balls to tell them this is a NO-GO and to change it.  Fireplaces are the #1 amenity buyers want in a home.  When buyers recite their list of 'must-haves' and "a fireplace" heads their wishlist, you can pretty much bet a GREEN fireplace isn't in their wildest dreams.

And, oh yeah, Stager Linda must point out the seductive picture over the fireplace. Really? A lusty picture should be stored for the boudoir in the seller's next house.

(Nit-picky Stager Linda also says: Don't photograph the back of furniture. The blue and white chair should have been repositioned in the room. What about that black chair that looks like a small alien watching TV.)

Look-y here!  I guess the seller didn't have it in the budget to buy wall art. I say a big negatory to the closet mirror displayed H-O-R-I-Z-O-N-T-A-L-L-Y as a ceiling hugger.

Here's a Bonus Room with Granny's bed staged diagonally so she has a great view of the TV!  Listen up folks:  No Beds in the Bonus.

Speaking of beds, here's a head-scratcher. This room has to be a bathroom, right?  I mean, look at all the tile.  So, let's put a bed in the bathroom? And, by all means, place a tray on the bed. Doesn't everybody sip tea in their bathroom?

P.S. I love staging a vintage alarm clock on the bedside table. I'm thinking hubby in the shower might wake you up :).

Mo' sooner than later,

Joy, Bread Dough and Energy Bandits

Sending happiness and joy, Lovelies!

I am so grateful that every morning I am rallied by a chatty, sweet man with a hot cup of coffee. THE most lovely way to start my day.

After coffee (--check this out--) I PUT ON MY SWIMSUIT.  Wiggling into a swimsuit has always ranked up there with public speaking as an anxiety producer. After a year of H20 Aerobics, I can honestly no mo' swimsuit anxiety. Rock on bread-dough thighs...

Who'd a thunk I would love a daily workout?  And, it's not just the salt water pool, the jammin' music and the fabulous instructors; it's the people in the class!  My amigos!  We monitor each others attendance more than a high school principal.  We share thumbs up, knuckle bumps, and atta-girl/atta-boys while pooling it. Our Crew provides unwavering support in the gym and in our lives. They are my sunshine.

Just as shocking as cold water, it's like shifting gears to go back out into the world after class.  I do so try to hold my Joy-Aura all day.  But, dang it, the Energy Bandits lurk around corners waiting to pounce.

These misery fairies seem to slither about just waiting for the opportunity to sabotage my 'it's a beautiful day' day. Damn the horn blowers and middle finger saluters! Be gone the ding! of ranting texters. See ya later those,"Well, hello-stranger-haven't-seen-you-in-ages!" guilt-givers. (There's a reason you haven't seen me in ages...but I digress.)  Banish the flu-sneezing, cold-coughing, noise-blowing-while-standing-next-to-me-in-line sickies. Just consider cancelling you chronically Tardy-for-the-Party make-me-wait-for-you people. Please shuddy-uppy to the long-lamenting-soul-suffering-second-guessers. Hit rewind, then play to the person that done you wrong. Recanting over&over&over ain't change your mess.

Energy Bandits can suck the joy outta MY bones! Know what I mean, my joyful lovelies?

Enjoy a joy filled weekend.

An Ommission of Transmittion Could Lose An Agent's Commission

Triangle Multiple Listing Service

A friend of  mine is on the hunt for a historic home.  She has two storage units crammed full of gorgeous European antiques and unique flea market finds. She was so excited when she stumbled across this beauty. Hello, Miss Scarlett!  Let's have a picnic on the lawn.

She could picture herself waving to her guests from the balcony as the drove up the long and winding road.

There's a quaint gathering room with a cute old fireplace and french doors leading to the sun porch.  The hardwood floors throughout the house are in pristine condition.

Yeah, you aren't supposed to fall in love with a house because of the decor.....but you know about the emotional appeal of good staging.  This romantic vignette tugged at her heartstrings.

Nice layout to the kitchen. But, those cabinets were going to get a facelift with Dover White.  Look at those AWESOME light fixtures. What's not to love about those?


She was so intrigued by the listing that she had to see it.  Off they go! Husband and kid pile into the car and trek to the nearby town.


What the listing didn't mention was a utility tower and electrical lines that ran close to the house.

My friend felt duped.  

What do you think?  Is it the listing agent's responsibility to include information about the power lines? Or, do you think it is not very important?

Have a great weekend.  

More 90's for us.....come on fall!

Purple Don't Reign for Selling

Unless the bedding and drapes are selling with the house, this color won't appeal to buyers.

Hello Lovelies. I've recently returned from my fabulous month at the beach. I was able to work from my beach retreat using Facetime.  My tablet provided a large screen for viewing as the realtor walked me through the house and yard.  Gotta love being able to work anywhere.

The first thing I did when I returned home was check on our local multiple listing service. (Triangle MLS includes Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and surrounding areas.)  Checking out the latest listings helps me read the pulse of local homes for sell.

Wouldn't ya think that neutral paint colors is Staging 101?  These purple-violet-y rooms amaze me.  All of these pictures are from homes that have been listed within the last 7 days.

This Plum-delicious accent wall does liven up the boring brown decor. But, I'm thinkin' all a buyer sees is a coat of primer and two coats of paint. (Egads! Calling Martha Stewart We have a botched attempt at flower arranging. Please abort.)

Put yo sunglasses on, baby!  It's a neon orchid bonus room!

See the reflection from the window?  Here we go with a high sheen ViO-let.  Flat paint for bedrooms, please.

Toooo many toys = clutter.   Clutter + paint color = no bueno for selling.

I always tell my clients, "Do the buyer's work for them."

Think about it from a buyer's perspective. They have been forced to reveal every detail and justify every spending-gone-wrong snafu to get a loan. They've suffered through a ton of loser houses. Wrong neighborhood. Wrong schools. Bad commute. They probably did find the perfect house. Sadly, they couldn't afford it unless they put a meth lab in the basement. House hunting sucks.

Finally they found your house! Yippee! Then they had to agonize through negotiations, home inspection repairs, packing--you know the drill. And yes, due to max stress-test-squared, they snapped. After going all Kanye West on their spouse, they now live in mortal fear of a memory that may refuse to fade.

Don't make that buyer have to paint the purple room.

Adios mi amigos,

Linda

This Day Reminds Me Of....

Butterfly kicks

Writhing pain

Miraculous joy

Drooly kisses

Sleepless nights

Riding on my hip

Bedtime stories 

Big Wheels
Hot Wheels

Cuts and scraps

Basketball camp

Catholic School
Football games
Track meets

Driving lessons
 Guy friends

Girlfriends

Pouting silence

Screaming rage

Slamming doors

Honor Roll

Many Graduations
Appalachian dorms

NCSU transfer
Diploma & walk

Falling in love

Married man

Duke MBA

Climbing the Ladder
Executive

New father

Being a delighted mother/grandmother

Indians on a Rampage Over A Victorian Couch with a Mirrored Coffee Table Sporting a Crown Centerpiece and a Morracan Table Between kinda-sorta Wooden Winged Back Chairs

Relax & Enjoy the Moment by Frederico Veiga

Yes Lovelies, I've missed you.  I am still alive and kicking. It's time to take, "An Affection for Staging" off of life support. With the ventilator removed, this patient will soon breathe on her own and rally. Praying to the heavens for reader-forgiveness and divinely inspired posts.

My days have been filled with some wonderous and many mundane fancies.(Sometimes felt like the woman in the Relax & Enjoy the Moment painting.) Times they are a changing and the staging business is no exception. How does this seasoned stager with 15 years under her belt appeal to a market that is saturated with newbies?  I'm working on a unique twist for my staging talents. Fingers crossed. No guts no glory.

Oh Crapola! I had to a few trips to the Doc-in-a-Box.  It seems infections find me a delightful host for throwing a party.  Money can't buy you love but it did buy me several rounds of antibotics. Killed that damn bug.

Rest in Peace?  Last rites were preformed on a seriously sick relationship that showed no signs of regaining anything akin to being healthy. RIP.  Not another nano-second shall I further invest in that Drama-Mama.

Travel anyone? What a process obtaining a passport became.There were days that I thought getting a passport was my second job. It only required 25 phone calls, call backs, waiting lists and a trip out-of-town to apply.  PTL--it should be arriving next month.

Books have been read. Classes completed. Letters written. Prayers prayed. Gardens finished. Thrifting-sifting explored. New friendships celebrated. My latest guilty pleasure is frequenting "The Junction Salon and Bar".  Picture blow outs, gel nails, fun pedi's with 20 minute reflexology foot massages.  Nothing beats being pampered with girl friends while imbibing razzel-dazzel adult beverages.

Virginia, Linda and Linda (Me) at The Junction

Back to staging.....

I have to share with you this picture of a living room. This decor takes eclectic to a new place.

This room made me go, 'Huh"?

Indians on a rampage, over a Victorian couch with fringed damask pillows and wee square ombre pillows, parked behind a mirrored coffee table sporting a crown centerpiece, a side Moroccan table, between two kinda-sorta wooden winged back chairs anchored by a contemporary textural rug. Tucked far in the corner is the floor lamp which draws attention to the olive-drab over sad-brown wall colors separated by screaming white chair rail.

I like the different pieces individually but !Yowsers! the combo seems odd. Lots of personalities in this little room. Split personality? World traveler? Curious hobbies?

Love Songs - A Spectacular Day for Expressing Love

This is the day of LOVE! 

How can a day about LOVE be anything but great!  Music always brings back memories. Here a few fave love songs (in no particular order). 

Crazy in Love - Boyonce & Jay Z

Love Me Like You Do - Ellie Goulay

It's Your Love - Tim McGraw & Faith Hill

Love Me Tender - Elvis Presley

All You Need Is Love - The Beatles

My Love - Paul McCartney

Love Will Keep Us Together - Captain & Tinnille 
Love Letters in the Sand - Pat Boone

I Can't Stop Loving You - Ray Charles

Chapel of Love - The Dixie Cups

Baby Love - Supremes 

Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime - Dean Martin

I Would Do Anything for Love - Meatloaf

Good Lovin' - Young Rascals

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY, LOVELIES!
Any favorites bring back memories for you?