Inspiration

My tagline reads “Inspiration”.  Inspiration can come from so many things.  It could be a piece of artwork, a color swatch, or something you found on Pinterest.  So what was the inspiration for my blog design? I wanted something that represented me and my style. The quatrefoil which I used as my background, is a pattern I have loved since I first saw it in my Art History class.  It’s a traditional feminine shape, but has a modern twist in its color.  I also have a comforter that I use in some of the homes I stage with this pattern.

The photo in my header is from another of my staging projects.  The font is City Blueprint, which I have used in several design and architectural classes.  My son has taken the background and the photo I wanted, and designed my blog for me.  I take credit for his creative gene:)

So what inspires you???

New Year…

New year, new blog theme.  Now I just need to post some new projects! I can’t believe it has been almost a year since I posted!!!!

Inexpensive Artwork

In one of my recent home staging projects, I needed a very inexpensive option for some artwork to hang over a sofa.  I used things that I already had, but I only paid about $15 for the materials.

 

 

 

These are 3 canvas’s wrapped in fabric.  I had purchased the canvas with the intention of painting on it (ha ha), and the fabric I picked up at Kohl’s.  They had their shower curtain samples in the clearance section.  I only paid $6 for it!  I knew I would find a good use for it.  I just cut it up and hot glued it on. The sofa below is burgundy, and the walls were painted a soft gray.  My artwork tied them together perfectly!

Houseboat transformation

 

I am so excited about this project!!  This is a houseboat that I designed over the summer. It has come a long way!!

 

 

                   

The pictures are taken at different angles.  I took the before photos, and my client emailed me this after/in progress pics.  I will get back when it is complete and the snow from the Blizzard 2011 melts:) So thankful to her for sending them!  This first set is from the parlor to the kitchen.  As you can see it was an empty shell, except for the upper cabinets. 

 

 

              

 

 

This is the parlor.  I am loving the way the pillows turned out!!

 

I think this has been my most fun project yet!!

Great Furniture for Vacant Homes for Sale

I was in Vegas last week for the RESA Conference.  I am the West Michigan Chapter President for RESA (Real Estate Staging Association).  We were there for training, networking and learning about new products to use in our businesses.  The coolest thing I saw was cardboard furniture!!!!  This is a great product for staging all of the vacant homes we have in Michigan.  They are lightweight and simple to put together.  They have a few slipcover choices, or you can custom order, using your own fabric!  The company is Next Stage Furniture.  Below is a picture of their sofa.

 

www.NextStageFurniture .com

 

My studio….on a major budget!!

 

Okay, so the photos didn’t turnout as well as I had hoped, but here they are.  This room was done for only $336!!!  I used things I already had, shopped Craigslist and made a trip to IKEA.  There are a few finishing touches I need to add, such as a rug and some candles.

  

                                                                                                 

                

  

Here is where the room started.  Typical room. White walls and blue plush carpet. 

 

 

     

  

 Because this room was done on a tight budget, I scoured the garage for paint.  I found a partial gallon of a soft green from my last house.  Luckily it was still good and even luckier I had just enough to get the room done.  The carpet was probably about 15 years old,so it had to go.  I have always wanted white floors in my studio and I found some at a great price at IKEA.  I will itemize my purchases later.

   I already had the drafting table, and I knew I wanted to place it under the window, flanked with bookcases.  I made a shopping list for IKEA (because it is a 3 hour drive each way, you have to go with a plan!!).  I wanted white bookcases.  While on IKEA’s website I found the perfect ones for about $70 each.  I decided to click over to Craigslist…..just in case.  The very newest post in furniture were the exact bookcases I wanted for only $15 each!!!  They were black instead of white, but they were only a year old and in perfect condition.  I removed the backs to let the paint color show through.

The next thing on my list were magazine file boxes.  I wanted these in white as well.  Guess what?? Sold out!  So again I had to settle on black.  But that’s ok.  Each bookcase has 4 of these boxes.  I also have some pink ones that I had bought on a past trip.  I did buy a few other accessories.  I found some black and white metal tins, and pillows with a similar pattern.  Then I found a cute pink blanket.  It was only $4,so might as well!!n I also purchased the black and white striped boxes to hold computer cd’s.  The little black “table” in front of the loveseat, used to be a TV stand in my son’s room. Great example of repurposing furniture!!  The candlesticks on top were purchased at yard sales if I remember correctly.  And the black candlesticks placed on my drafting table were “stolen” from my sister at our Christmas Party.We do a white elephant exchange.

 

 

Here is a breakdown of my budget:

Paint                                                  Free

Sofa                                                    Free

Light Fixture                                     Free

Candle Holders                                  Free

Shelves                                             30.00

Floors                                              180.00

  Window Treatments                      80.00

Magazine Files                               16.00

Pillows                                               26.00

Pink Blanket                                     4.00

Total                                              =336.00

 

Before and afters of a staged home

 

I recently got some wonderful comments from a past home staging client…. 

 

It was a pleasure to work with Jamie! Our family had three weeks to get the house in order to move out-of-state for Dad’s new job. I called Jamie begging for help! She quickly rolled up her sleeves and got to work creating a “sellable” house. WOW! What a transformation! My ordinary home filled with all the artwork, toys, and clutter that accompanies four kids was now a beautifully staged house that would appeal to so many buyers. Jamie professionally created the WOW factor my house was missing! Staging with Bella Traverse Design was so good for me because Jamie had the ability to take on the stress of the house so I could focus on my family’s needs and saying my good-byes to loved ones!

Thanks Jamie for a job well done!

I strongly recommend hiring Jamie as your stager!
-Cathy C.

 

 

Here are a few photos from that home…

Foyer Before

 

The foyer is where the homebuyers’ get their first impression.  Your entry should be uncluttered and un-personalized, yet inviting.  We achieved this by removing the coat rack on the wall that housed jackets and backpacks.  Seeing such personal items can make the buyers feel as though they are invading someone elses home, instead of picturing themselves living there.  A piece of artwork was hung on the wall to warm up the blank canvas.  A rug was placed on the floor, to draw you toward the kitchen.  As you can see, the clutter was removed from the refrigerator, which also helped with the look and feel in the foyer.

 

Living Room Before 

   

 

The living room is right off the foyer.  Since the back wall was already a nice pumpkin spice color, we staged the rest of the room to coordinate.    This room wasn’t furnished so I had to fill the entire room, and without spending a lot of money.  Most of the furnishings were found in other rooms, so I was able to spend the whole budget on the sofa and rug. 

The chairs were originally in the family room, and were updated with slip covers.  The pillows came with the sofa, but I repurposed them because they had an orange and blue print fabric, which tied the chairs and the window treatments together. I found the end table in the bedroom.  The artwork behind the chairs were originally on the opposing wall, with family photos.  I replaced the photos with some ornate scrapbook paper.

The artwork above the sofa was already in the room, but on smaller wall.  Because of the scale of the piece, it was better suited over the sofa.  I found the pillows at a buy one get one free sale.

Busted

 

 

My intention today was to post some pics of my studio.  I am learning about taking better photos, so I have been playing with my camera settings all day.  Because of the blizzard outside, no matter what I tried, the windows were showing up way too bright.  So instead I took a picture of my puppy.  He is enjoying his snowday on my leather club chair and french country pillow!!

 

Organization….The paper trail

 

 

 

So on to our discussion about organizing.  I recently moved my studio from a large 15×18 space to an 11×12 space. This meant I had a lot of sorting and organizing to do in order to fit into the smaller room.  With any large space, where do you start????

One of my biggest challenges for any room in my home, are the papers.  Stacks and stacks of mail, magazines, kids artwork…….aahhhhhh.  So I decided to start with the magazines.  I recently made a trip to IKEA.  I was hoping to purchase several white magazine files.  Unfortunately they were all sold out, and I live almost 3 hours away from the store, so I decided to buy the black.

 

I actually have eight.  Four of them are on the side of the room.  I have not filled out the labels on them because I am trying to organize a bit further.  Now that the studio is done, and I have a little extra time, I am flipping  through the magazines and tearing out the actual articles I want to keep.  I have 3 large binders that I keep the tear outs in.

 

Another paper problem I have, are rolls of blueprints and renderings.  I did have them rolled up and stacked  on top of a drawer unit.  I needed to find a better solution.  A few years ago I purchased this white metal trash can.  I really didn’t need a can this large, so I emptied it and filled it with my drawings (after sorting of course:).

 

Hello world!

Happy New Year!!!  My New Year’s Resolution is to kick my design and home staging business into high gear!  I think starting a blog and joining Twitter are a good start for day one.

The new year usually means two things….weight loss and/or organizing.  I think we will talk organization!  Dive into that guest bedroom that has morphed itself into the storage room. Or better yet….the basement!!!  Sounds scary huh?  I recently moved three rooms around in my home, including my design studio.  I had years of magazines and unfinished projects, screaming to be sorted.  It didn’t happen overnight,  but it’s finally done.  I will posts pics and tips on how I did it and how you can get organized too.

Stay tuned for affordable projects you can do to bring style to your home whether you are selling or staying:)