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Popular in the 80’s and 90’s, builders put shiny brass everywhere. Door knobs, light fixtures, bathrooms. It was in style and it was cheap. Now, brass just detracts from your home’s resale value.  If at all possible, replace as much of it as you can with brushed nickel or oil rubbed bronze before you place your home on the market. If you don’t have the time or money, at least replace the brass front door lockset and any big brass light fixtures on the inside of the home. The more you can remove, the better! If you are on a tight budget, light fixtures can even be spray painted in pewter, silver or black colors.

1. Start with a color you love.
2. Find lighter versions of that color and complimentary shades. Always combine cool & warm colors for a balanced look.
3. Choose an accent color that you can change out with the seasons, or as you get tired of it.

Your daughter needs a place where she can relax and be herself. A place for alone, personal time, and also an awesome hang out space when friends come over.

Just like any redesign or staging project, start by purging! Help her go through all her stuff and decide what stays and what can go. Special things she has outgrown but you want to keep, can be placed in “memory boxes” and put in the attic or basement. This goes for all the clothes in her closet too.

The junk she doesn’t want can be donated, recycled, or brought to the trash bin.

Have her decide on a color scheme or theme that is personal and means something to her.

Walls. Paint one wall or wallpaper with this favorite color. If it is bright,,keep the rest neutral with white, cream, grays and browns. Add art, shelving, a cork board, and a full length mirror.

Soft goods. Be sure to have soft bedding, lots of extra pillows, throws, and cloth window coverings to add to the cozy.

Seating. A spot for the friends: bean bag, moon chair, ottomans, or even a small loveseat.

Closet.  Use it to full capacity, but do it in an organized way with bins and shelving.

Create a spot to do homework with good lighting.

Get extra lighting. This can be done by stringing lights, adding an extra lamp for reading, etc.

“The living room should be a place where we feel totally at ease – temple of the soul.”

-Terence ConranI know this living room has an amazing view of the ocean, and that’s something very few people get to have. But your goal should still be to redesign your living room to create calm and peacefulness so it is a place you want to hang out in!

Bedroom sets are bulky, making a bedroom feel cramped and small. Also, it’s a dated concept, right up there with oak furnishings. Funny how those two things in the 80’s frequently went together! Individual pieces are much more interesting…only way I stage a bedroom.

Take the time to find small things that will be noticed and remembered in your home. Choose your objects carefully, and buy only what you love.

– Charlotte Moss, A Passion for Details

And I’ll tell you a secret…when I stage a home to sell, the details is what really makes a room come to life and creates that “wow” factor. Good furniture is important but just like a good outfit, you must accessorize!

Frequently kitchen back splashes compete with the movement in our ever popular granite counters. These won’t! These have just the right amount of texture to be interesting, but little color variation so they are not busy. I have been recommending this approach to my clients redesigning their kitchens, and it is a big improvement!

Don’t under estimate the importance of a welcoming front door and porch! Especially if you are selling your home. Take the time to make that great first impression!

With an open floor plan, it’s important to keep the color palette cohesive, because you see all the areas at a glance. And even with a more traditional layout, colors in adjacent rooms should be harmonious and complementary to one another. Someone strolling from room to room should not be startled by a crazy room color.  Using unrelated colors throughout can make the home feel like a disjointed series of spaces. The house should flow and rooms should all be considered part of the big picture when decorating. A neutral palette with just a pop of color makes this easy.   A signature bright color ties your floor plan together…put a touch of it in every room. And if you tire of it, just change that signature color (bulk of your furnishings & accessories stay the same), and you will get a whole new look!