More than a Home Stager... Why I call Myself an Interior Stylist

Fresh back from my speciality design training in Dallas, Texas (home staging training didn’t exist yet),  I landed my 1st client.  Recently moved into her new home, she was so excited to get it pulled together and make it hers. As we chatted about design ideas, she confided she partly hired me because she was hosting a baby shower and really want her home to look special.  Too, could I help her with ideas about the baby shower?  Instantly, part of this project was to advise which China to use, theme ideas and how to style the event.

The AHA Business Model Moment

That was my AHA business model moment. This new home design business I was launching was so much more than making a home pretty, my new job was to help a homeowner fully celebrate and embrace their home.

Not fitting into any box, I called myself 1st a Home Stylist, which was short lived being confused with a Hair Stylist that comes to a client's home!  A simple word swap of INTERIOR from HOME solved the identity problem and my business brand was born.

More than a Home Stager

Beyond a home stager's regular repertoire of just prepping a home for sale, I have for 17 years offered up a signature menu of interior stylist services that progressively celebrates their home. Once that house is SOLD,  there are a menu of design services to turn that NEW house into a home and celebrate the haven within.

•·        Color Consultation-  Already familiar with your things from your old home,  I am right by your side in expertly selecting and creating a new color palette.  From paint,  wallpaper to fabric selections,  gone are the old home owners hues, or those contractor white walls - in with color choices in-tune to your belongings and personal style.

•·        Interior Redesign-  I take what you have and make it all work within your new home.  In just a day or two,  your blank space becomes your space.  Interior Redesign is the art of arranging what you already have.  With specific steps and procedures, spaces become balanced, functional and unified. Best of all, you get instant gratification and validate your existing pieces.  This process then opens the door to new pieces and creative ideas to repurpose or refreshed what you have.  A very 21st century way of decorating a home.

•·     Shopping, Procurement & Traditional Design Services- If you'd like to refresh, add to your furniture & collections, we can help shop for those new pieces  Need more traditional design service such as custom window treatments, reupholstery services or help with choosing a new counter or embark in a remodeling project?  Our talents and resources can add those finishing touches and updates to your home.

•·     Lifestyle & Entertainment Services-  Your home is now ready to greet family and friends - from styling a home for a holiday or season, setting the stage for a party, or making a backyard patio a summer retreat.  - I help  my clients  celebrate the haven within.

Do Home Stagers Only Stage Vacant Homes?

You'd think so from all the HGTV shows and magazine spreads wouldn't you? A vacant home shows real drama when transformed from empty to full with furniture and accessories when on film or in print. Right?  The reality is though, that almost homes that are getting ready to go on market have people living inside of them. 

And that is where we come into play. At Reinventing Space we are happy to transform an occupied property into that awesome home desired by today's picky buyers.  Our secret weapon is that we are experts in re-styling what you own and stepping up your space with stylish and trend forward rental or purchased. It's a winning combination.  

Our process is simple, we'll setup a date to conduct our Home Staging Evaluation.  Notes and suggested enhancement procedures are made (which you'll need to complete before we sweep back to style your home). While you are working on your home, we're putting together a proposal to finalize the home staging process.  We select, coordinate and then style your home so it looks its very best.  Here's a recent example - Take a look:

So now you are informed - Home Staging isn't just for vacant homes.  Aren't you excited that you too can have your home staged and styled and move it to 1st in line when it goes on the market?  Shoot us an email, we'd be delighted to work with you.

Why Empty Homes Don't Sell

Every morning on my Chicago area social media feed, I see acres and acres of empty rooms posted by Realtors. So many empty dining rooms, breakfast rooms, kitchens, living and bedrooms.  Do I stop and click on the photo, intrigued to have a look at the room, the house, the property? No, I just scroll on by...  Do I read the eloquently written description?  Do I appreciate the professional photography?  No, I just scroll on by...  Why?  It's that they all look the same; devoid of any senses,  any flavor, any style. 

WHY?

#1. An empty home leaves an empty canvas to paint negative thoughts on – Prospective buyers will find imperfections and not interested or wanted features. An empty home amplifies negative thoughts. 

#2. Empty homes lack a vision of its layout (What is this room?)  A Staged homes explain how the home flows and how each space can be used.

#3.  An empty home is void of imagination and feeling.  People buy homes on emotion.  An empty property is just a HOUSE, a staged property becomes a HOME.  Home Staging creates the emotion that your prospective buyers envisioned.

#4. The National Association of REALTORS 2015 Profile on Home Staging found that 81% of buyers find it is easier to visualize a property as a future home when it's Staged. 

“A staged home may seem like it has furniture that’s fixed in place; but what is going on in the buyer’s mind is a very kinetic process. With a home that is staged, they see a family - celebrating home.”

— Julea Joseph

Staging Tips: Styling for the Photo Shoot

You have worked tirelessly preparing your home for sale. Don’t let all your hard work fall short with the often forgotten, most overlooked step in a great home staging – The Pre-Photo Shoot Styling.  Before those photos are taken, your home needs one last interior makeover before making its grand debut on the internet.  I often compare it to going to the hair salon before a big event, getting a great color, cut and style, only to go home and wash it.  Don’t stop short right before you publicly introduce your home to potential buyers by not making it perfectly groomed for its Internet close-up. 

Home Stagers are experts in styling homes for photo shoots. In a few hours, we can whip and flip a home into a stunner.  Your on-line photos are the #1 advertising element of your for sale home. 

Here are a few of our tips and techniques.

-Remove all scatter rugs from floors.  Have cleared counters and make the space extra inviting with a bowl, vase or pot of something fresh.

HOME STAGING TIP: Room look bigger and spacious in photos without rugs or counter clutter breaking up the room's lines or distracting the eye.

-Set a spectacular bed. Perfectly tucked, primped and pampered - the bed is the trophy of every bedroom.

HOME STAGING TIP: Create added interest on a bed with a colorful accent pillows and textural throws.

-Every bath needs fresh, clean, fluffy towels, a seat down, glistening surfaces, and not a personal product present.

HOME STAGING TIP: Nothing says fresh and super clean than a stack of fluffy white towels.

-Light it right. Showcase rooms and the home by making sure the space is lit well by turning on light, opening shades and pulling back drapes. 

HOME STAGING TIP: Photograph the home at the time of day that allows just the right light in.

Getting your house ready for the market? Squeeze the most equity out of it by utilizing our design to sell -Home Staging services. From pre-photo styling to giving sage update advice when just starting - we help capture a home’s equity that would otherwise be overlooked.