Recently, I was called in by one of my Realtor partners for a Home Staging Consultation and to create a customized Home Staging Action Report. The home sellers decided to implement my Home Staging Action Report on their own and called in some movers to help them move some of their heavy furniture out to their PODs container.
When you walk into the home's Entry Way, you are greeted by the Dining Room on the right side. The Dining Room was a great size, but as you can see from the "before" picture the entire room was being overpowered by extremely large furniture.
My suggestions were to removed the following items from this Dining Room:
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The large china cabinet
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The wine rack
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All the additional table leaves
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Two of the chairs without the arms
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The area rug
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All the items on the top of the side cabinet
Kate's Home Staging and Redesign further suggested the following changes:
- The side cabinet be relocated to the longest wall.
- A painting be hung over this cabinet (a painting was moved from another wall in this room).
- Wine bottles could be placed on one side of the cabinet as an accessory.
- A long thin accessory item should be placed under the picture (candles were taken from another room).
- The tall faux plant was already in this room and it was recommended that it remain.
- The red vase in this room could be used as a Dining Room table centerpiece with flowers.
Here are two "after" pictures, I think the home sellers really did a great job following through the suggestions...
The hard wood floors look amazing and this architectural detail was completely hidden before with all the furniture that was in the room. I also really like how much larger the room looks once the Dining Table additional leaves were removed. In my opinion, seating for 6 is plenty when you are showing your home. The home sellers did not do anything to their wood floors, the floors happen to be in perfect condition.
Kate
Kate's Home Staging and Redesignis an interior design and home staging company that serves the Rockland County and Orange County area of New York and Passaic County of New Jersey. We specialize in home decorating, color consultations, vacant home staging, home staging, Realtor educational seminars, interior redesign, and home decor discounts. Please contact Kate to schedule your design consultation at 845-538-3623 or visit www.kateshomestaging.com. Every Home Staging Consultation includes a complete Home Staging Action Report!
Less is sooooo much more! People too often think "staging" = "costs me money"
Kate, You really opened that space up....talk about heavy and crowded and 'weighed down' in the first picture, it's now got a wonderful flow and looks SO different. Isn't it wonderful when clients will take your suggestions (and then see how VALUABLE they really were? :)
Kate - your report was spot-on! I'm sure they're appreciative given how it now looks.
Kathy
Hi Kate -- Wow, what an amazing difference ... now you can breathe in this space! Your staging suggestions showed off the room's best features (hardwood floors, a spacious feeling, nice windows). Your clients must have been thrilled!
Less is sooooo much more!! The clients are selling square footage and now it shows!
Awesome job...the open space is so much more appealing.
Wow, Kate! What an incredible difference between the before and after! You succeeded to greatly lighten the room by eliminating a portion of the heavy, dark furniture in the room. Good idea to also eliminate the number of chairs around the table. Great Job -- the owners must be thrilled!
Kate, your suggestions were bang on. The dining room went from claustraphobic to spacious and inviting. Its feels as if you can breathe in this room now. So glad the homeowners followed your advice.
Ann ~ I always try to use what the home seller already owns, you would be amazed by the great items most people have in their homes.
Carole ~ I agree, the space just feels so much more open and the red vase as a centerpiece is my favorite.
Kathy ~ Thanks, I appreciate you kind words.
Maureen ~ Thank you, it is amazing how eliminating some dark furniture can really transform a room.
Kathy ~ Good point, the home sellers aren't selling their furniture so we really need to be able to show the space.
Mary Lou ~ Thank you, less furniture is usually the way to go when you are staging.
Nancy ~ Thank you for your kind words, the table was just too big for the room and having 8 chairs seemed excessive. I definitely like the smaller table with less chairs.
Sally ~ I agree, the room looks twice the size now and you can now see the floor. Thanks for stopping by.
Good for you Kate. I bet that they love their furniture but your professionalism let them know what they needed to do to sell and it's SO-O much better. Smart sellers to listen to you!
Kate,
The realtor and seller must be very pleased at what you showed them for such a minor cost. This is the type of thing I would recommend during a staging consultation & if the seller agreed, help them move things.
Staging does not have to be expensive people and not staging can cost more.
Great blog Kate.
Ginger ~ The Realtor seemed very pleased with the results. The home sellers have two babies under 18 months, so I was amazed at the amount of work they completed in one week's time.
Sharon ~ You're absolsolutely right, staging does not have to be expensive. The Realtor I work with only pays for my consultation and report, so far in this arrangement the home sellers are not willing to pay for my hands-on services. Thanks for stopping by.
Wow! The room looks great! Removing the rug really shows the awesome wood floors, a great asset to the home!
Thanks, Kim. I could not agree more.