I Would Like Your Opinions, Please!

I'm working on a consultation report on a house for sale.  I think I know what direction I want the seller to go.  Then I thought, hmmmm.....my blogger buddies have great ideas!

This is the family room on the lower level of a split-level house. What would you guys suggest for this room?  The painted white fireplace will remain.  The neutral beige walls and carpet, while not very exciting, is preferred for selling.

This mantel is real wood.  The color makes it appear plastic.  What color would you paint the mantel?

Would you recommend painting the bookshelves?

  What color would you paint the bookshelves?

 
You enter the room and see the back of the sofa and love seat.  The pillar, shelves, fireplace, sliding glass doors, and entrance make furniture placement difficult.  The wall behind the sofa is a built-in bar.

Your ideas on rearranging furniture?

The owners will be staging the house themselves, using their furnishings but may be open to purchasing a few items.

Thanks for any ideas you have!!

Sunday Musings: "Decide" Post Fat Winter 2014

What did you think of  this winter?  I could relabel The winter of 2014 as FAT WINTER.

We've experienced a record setting cold, wet winter.  It was sooooo super easy to huddle inside.  My layered clothes hid the pounds. Who wants a salad when we are under a Winter Storm Warning?  Bring on the comfort food!  Picking up my laptop exercise was my main exercise.

I've been trying to find motivation since the beginning of the year to make changes. For almost 3 months now,  I have tried to 'lean into' healthy eating and exercising.  Hasn't happened...

Last week we had a few glorious days of warm temperatures and sunshine.  Off came the layers.  Reality reared its ugly head.  It weren't purdy.

The first thing I did was call my BFF.  She, too, had suffered from FAT WINTER. After we rehashed the hash I knew it was time for change. I'm a researcher by nature,  I scoured the Internet for insight and answers from trainers, celebrities, doctors and shrinks. (Kate Hudson lost 75 lbs by exercising 6 hours a day after her baby #2.  Good for Kate! Not an option for me.)

Here is the nugget of wisdom that resonated with me:

DECIDE

Decide is a verb that makes you take action.  It's not to 'make a decision'.  Nope, to make a decision is to postpone taking action.

I took "DECIDE" to heart.  I went to the grocery store and bought fruits and veggies -- oh yea -- lots of chicken breasts.  I weighed for the first time in months. I dusted off my yoga mat and got on the floor.  I clipped on my pedometer and walked 12,000 steps.

I pray tomorrow, and every day to follow, I decide to work off Fat Winter 2014.

Poppin' Some Shine in the Kitchen

Color it SOLD!  Kitchens are the hub and heart of the home. It's no secret that kitchens are THE primary room buyers consider when purchasing a home.  This family has a great kitchen --  it just needed a wee bit of staging to make it close the sale.

Look at all the countertop space!  Shazam!  

AFTER - Stager Linda

However, before I put the big lanterns on the bar top, it read too cold and angular.  The counter tops were cleared of all but a few staging items.  The plaque on the wall was moved to the playroom.  A print of sunflowers replaced it along with two bamboo barstools.  Notice I kept the 3 'wall' flowers--wasn't quite sure how the were attached to the wall and didn't want to patch and paint!

BEFORE - Stager Linda

The kitchen table and chair weren't all that.  With a little 'tablescaping' and a new rug, it shows much better.  Also, removing the center leaves and changing the direction of the table makes the eat-in space appear larger.

AFTER - Stager Linda

I brought blue into the kitchen (picture, vase, and rugs) to help tie the kitchen with the blue wall color in the family room.  Open concept homes need some thread of cohesiveness.
 

AFTER - Stager Linda

BEFORE - Stager Linda

The table and chairs are straight across from the front door.  We always need to consider the first impression of a buyer walking in.

A Teaspoon of Staging for a Family Room

The hub of this family's life is the family room.  I had to take that into consideration for staging.  My attempt was to make it appeal to the buyer and function of this young family.

After - Family Room

The fireplace is the primary architectural feature of the room.  I geared the staging to emphasize the windows and fireplace. Below you will notice they had no art, lamps, or coffee table. I'm not a big fan of throws.  However, I did place a throw over the sofa arm to disguise the handle for the recliner.

Before - Family Room

After - Family Room

 Here is the opposite end of the family room. 

After - Family Room

and before...

Before - Family Room

The owners were very pleased with the transformation and it photographed well for MLS.