"That's Not Centered!"

Here is a dining room staging to show you.You know how I'm always saying staging is not decorating?

My first step in staging is to stand at the front door and look at the space through "buyer's eyes".  I do a quick scan of the of everything in my immediate vision.  I concentrate on the area that would be around 10 o'clock, if you were looking at a clock face.  This quick look is what your potential buyer sees when they step into your house.

What does the buyer see when they walk in?  In this case, it is the back wall of the dining room. dining room back wall. The wall was previously void of decor. 

Also, it is important to remember we are selling the architecture. We are selling that fabulous chandelier, trey ceiling, inset lights, and transom door.  So, to play up the architecture I used tall, chunky red pillar candlesticks and candles.  This is to draw the eye up towards the features.

Picture is only to illustrate my point.

You will notice that the picture on the back wall facing the front door is not in the middle.  For staging, it was cheated a bit to the right to look best from the front door.  The ficus tree was pulled away from the wall. (Hard to tell from the picture but it is a bit left of center--for the same reason.)
I moved the dining room table a wee bit to the right of center to create space between the chairs and the buffet. Here's the before picture.

The buffet has mirrored shelves.  I selected accessories that wouldn't 'get lost'.  The majority of accessories are shiny gold or brass objects.  I did not put anything on the bottom shelf.  It gives a less cluttered look and can't be seen above the backs of the chairs.

By the way, when the owner came in for the reveal, she unconsciously pushed the chairs as far under the table as possible as we chatted.  When she finished I laughed and said, "I guess you didn't know I had a reason for leaving the chairs out a bit?  It allows breathing space and makes the room look less crowded."

Oooooooooh! replied the seller.
It's those little things....

Keep cool.  We are in a record heat wave.

Hot Fun in the Summer Time

Hi lovelies.  Yeah, I know I've been on hiatus for quite awhile.  We are taking month long beach vacation. Before vaa-k I was quite busy with work. The first three weeks at the beach were fun.  Friends and family came down and frolicked on the beach with us. Grandson Jack, 4, thought it was pretty funny to see incoming waves toss his Mimi like a rag doll! We've over eaten until all we could do was moan and put our feet up. Icy-cold adult beverages flowed abundantly.  I've coined my fav "Loose Goose" (Diet) Cran Pom and Grey Goose.  I have laughed so long my voice is hoarse. When Virginia visited, she made me howl so loudly a lady on the beach asked 'are you OK?' (I have a really annoying laugh complete with snorts and shrieks.) Oh! and, my poor feet! They are barking because I have walked at least 150 miles barefooted in the wet sand. It's "good-pain". The kind you only get from walking on the beach.

Monday started Week 4 of Beach Month.  Cowboy has returned to work.  Everyone has cleared out.  Izzie and I are alone.  I have 5 days of glorious 'alone' time.  Just me, Iz, and the beach. This is my week for uninterrupted wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin'.

Cowboy took the car when he left. Leaving me to hoof it for food. The Veggie Wagon is only a few blocks away. The Veggie Wagon is a petite-boutique grocery full of locally grown, organic good-for-you-food. As I stroll the aisles, I sip a freshly made Organic Strawberry Smoothie. I even had the guy add a shot of Whey Protein hoping to make up for past indiscretions. For dinner, I bought crab cakes from just-down-the-road-captured crab and a big fat, ugly Heritage tomato to go on my neighborhood-grown lettuce. 

Oddly, I didn't sleep last night. Insomnia is an acquaintance but rarely an all night guest. At 2:30 AM I decided to play my 'Spiritual Stuff'. As I lay awake in the dark, rubbing Izzie's belly, I listened to some great teachings.  Many of the lessons that are so easy to forget.  .

These mentors were vital in teaching me that what you believe is what you can have.  Thoughts become reality. If you believe something isn't possible, then it won't be.  Years ago, I thought I couldn't afford an oceanfront beach house--much less a place that allowed pets and was big enough to entertain friends and family.  I believed if I took an entire month off my clients would drop me and my business would be over.  My spiritual teachers taught me to think that everything is possible. If you want it, and believe it, it can happen. So happy I stumbled onto 'Spiritual Stuff' 25 years ago...

At first light, as the sun peaked over the horizon, I decided to take Izzie out for a walk. I took her off-leash since we were the only ones stirring. She was in heaven.  So much to sniff.  So many places to mark.  So much fun to run, and run, and run.

I am one grateful girl for my coffer overflowing with beachy happiness!