Live Large in Small Spaces

 

                                      High Ceilings  &  A Wall of Windows gives Energy to the Room

One of my most favorite places to explore, shop, dream is Ikea.  My very first visit to their store in Charlotte found me hanging outside the display of their 600-800 square foot spaces that would offer you everything you would need to exist in a tiny apartment anywhere.  I could have moved right in this sweet cocoon of a space. Can you spot the kitty cat?

 



Bet Your Dreams will be Sweet Here .  

 

Tiny little bathroom has nice storage.  Love Baskets for all the Extras!

 

 

 

 

 A Small Kitchen with Style & Living Large!

 

 

 

 

 

In small spaces furniture will serve multiple purposes.  A Daybed serves as seating by day and sleeping space by night.  Perhaps a farm table will be your desk, then become

your dining table in the evening.

Whatever, the space, whatever your style.  Little spaces can be Welcoming, Light & Airy
and a beautiful nest to come home to.

Let's Get Staging & Get It SOLD!

XOXO

Happy Day!

Sharon





 

Let Freedom Ring!

 

 

 

Wishing You a Very Happy

4th of July, 2013 

Let's Talk White Rooms!

 

I have always been in love with "white rooms".  There is something about

entering an all white room that speaks to me instantly about freshness, crispness,

and a sense of peacefulness.

 

If upon an  indebt look at an "all white" room you will soon realize,

it is anything but.

 

 

 

An easy task . . . purchase everything white, and place it in your room.  It takes

a little more thought than that.  Let's explore the steps in getting that fresh

"white" room.

 

 

 

 

Decide where you "will not" use white. Perhaps you have natural hardwood floors or a sisal rug, furniture with exposed wood.  Then decide where the white "will be".  More than likely it will be in the upholstery, pillows, drapery, bedding or accessories.

 

 

Secret Ingredient:  . . . add a few "non-white" colors to mix.  In bedroom picture, note

the beautiful softs hues of gray and blue.

 

In each of the rooms featured, you will still feel as if you have just entered a fresh

white room.

 

One last room  . . .

 

 

 

The Kitchen. . . Can't you picture yourself having breakfast or lunch or

even entertaining in this lovely space?

 

 I have had an  "almost" all white room and raised our three children at the same time.  I had two sofas slip-covered in a white damask fabric. At the end of the summer season, the slip covers would come off and into the washer they would go and back on the sofas. We then down-sized and the sofas went off to two of my children's homes for more years of service, still looking fresh as ever.  If you have ever dreamed of having a white room, but a little scared, go ahead and give it a try!   I did, and to this day -  never regretted it.  In fact, as I sit here

writing this post, I'm just about ready to do it again! . . . . . .

 

 

Let's Get Staging and Get It SOLD!

XOXO

 

Sharon

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Friday & Happy 44th Anniversary!

 

I would like to wish my loving husband of 44 years a

 

Very Happy Anniversary!

 

We have a weekend of celebrations planned so. . .

 

LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!

 

Happy Weekend!

 

 

 

xoxoxo

 

Sharon

Thursday's Travels!

Take Me Home Country Roads to the Place I Belong - West Virginia

                                                   

It's Summer and I have been reflecting on our beautiful State and all that it has to offer. Fayetteville in particular.

 My husband and I were blessed several years ago, we had the opportunity to purchase back his boyhood home in Fayetteville, West Virginia where we both were raised. The house was built by the Montgomery's as a cottage in 1865. Nestled on two acres of property in downtown , all of its previous owners have lovingly kept the original windows and the original wood siding.

Over the past 25 or so years, the flavor of our small town has changed as we knew it growing up,.
Gone are the days of the sleepy little hometown where the kids hung out on the street corners. You walk downtown today and you find mountain bikes, kayaks, rafts, strapped to the roofs of cars- ready to take full advantage of the great outdoors.

Fayetteville has become a melting pot of young professional people that love the outdoors bringing with them diverse backgrounds, talents, and a beautiful energy to this place I call home. 

 

New River Gorge Bridge

The longest steel-arched bridge in the Western Hemisphere. Every third weekend in October parachutists from all over the world come to take their jump off the bridge.  The weekend will recognize over 100,000 visitors.

 

 

 

 

 

 Feel Like Getting A Little Wet Today?

We've Got It!

 

 

 

 

Maybe Rock Climbing is the Ticket!

 

 

 

 

 

 Whether Biking or Hiking - you will find beautiful trails to discover!

 

 

 

 

 

How About a 30 minute drive to Babcock State Park

for an afternoon picnic?

 

 

You will find an outdoor experience waiting for you in Fayetteville.

Come for the Weekend - and there's a good chance  you might not want to leave.

 

 

 

We Promise to Make You Kindly Welcome!

 

 

 

Let's Get Staging & Get It SOLD!

XOXO

 

Sharon

 

P. S.  When in the Fayetteville area, if you would like to look at property for sale, please

give us a call!

 

(304) 444-3831 (direct)

Is It All About the View?

   Welcome to our new listing at 299 Flat Top Lake in Ghent, West Virginia

View at the Lake is stunning. The expansive decks and lower grassy area gives you an Open Invitation to Enjoy! The house is situated on 3.3 acres and the asking price is $475,000. We were called in to stage and list the property for sale.

See what you think!

 

 

        Kitchen Before/After

 

 

 

The white appliances were changed out to stainless that compliment the wormy chestnut cabinetry and updates the whole appearance of the kitchen. Add a lamp with an oversized bowl of green apples and you are good to go!

Make certain to keep your countertops clean and uncluttered.
 

 Upper Level Deck Area

Why not make a statement with a red umbrella and Make It Fun!

 

 

Lower Level Family Room

 

 

The best use of the family room on the lower level was not being utilized for comfort. We added chairs, a side chest with lamp, books for reading and grounded the room with a great print above the fireplace.

 

 

                                                         Master Bedroom Before/After

 

 The master was given a lighter and more serene appearance. With a neutral cover, we replaced the lamps with beautiful glass ones that gleamed. Freshened the room with new pillows. Again, notice the difference in wall color. Warmer and more Welcoming!

 

 So is All About the View?

 

The View is very important when marketing property and particularly when it comes to water, nature, mountains , desert or just a beautiful piece of property. However, if the interior of the home does not reflect the same value of beauty, there is a void and unsettling of the human spirit.

 

 

For more information on this property, please visit mountaineerrealestate.com and refer to listing mls. #63131

Let's Get Staging & Get It SOLD!

  xoxo Sharon

Feng Shui for the Home!

First, let me say that I am not in any fashion certified in Feng Shui, I just love the peaceful and calm

feeling I get when reading about and looking at the photographs.  Now. . . that said  I'll continue.

I found my copy of The Feng Shui Home sitting on my shelf in my office.  I haven't looked at it for quite

some time but what caught my attention upon opening it, I found a little "post-it" note that I had scribbled -

                                                Feng Shui  tip  for Speeding Up a House Sale

                                       If you are having problems, take a red envelope and place in it:

                                                    A piece of metal from the kitchen
                                                     Some earth from the garden
                                                     Some wood from a skirting board

                                            Seal the envelope and throw it into a fast-moving river.


Hey, you say "Whatever it Takes".  I have to say that I do believe in the principals of Feng Shui, however,with staging your home for sale, I believe we can dismiss getting a piece of metal from the kitchen, dirt from garden, and won't damage your baseboards for a little wood. Take a look at these rooms and judge for yourself, the peaceful, neutral colors with a little of the unexpected for interest. You will agree the principals of staging and the art of Feng Shui have some common threads.

Accented with elements of fire and earth

Clutter represents stagnant energy and isn't just made up of unstored belongings. Magazines and newspapers also constitute clutter.  Most of us hold on to clothes "in case" we might need them.  It is far better to

live for today and create space for something new which can be worn now.  For staging, closets should

be two-thirds full to allow the space to appear larger.
Clutter Easts Equity

                       "Let's Get Staging and Get It SOLD!"

                                               Sharon

Let's Talk Neutrals!

Did I say Neutrals? 

What about this room - getting closer?

Pretty - don't you agree?

I hope I have you thinking?

Neutrals are one of my favorite things in life. They go with EVERYTHING! If you look closely at the rooms I have brought to you today and study them, neutrals are anything but boring. For instance, take the first picture. How many colors of neutral can you find, how about designs, and textures? That's the great thing about using a soft easy color palate, most anything goes with it. A room painted in neutral shades will appeal to most buyers who can in-vision themselves moving into the space and they might not even realize what is so appealing about it. It gives the room - a feeling of space - and we all like that feeling. Take a look at your room colors today.

                                                            HAPPY MONDAY!


       

"LET'S GET STAGING AND GET IT SOLD!"

P. S.  Enjoyed our weekend in our tiny apartment in Charleston.  Had dinners in, caught up on reading and           waited for  Sunday evening for the finale of Downton Abbey.  Wasn't ready for that . . .what a cliffhanger.

.      

P.P.S.  Duke, our golden retriever, is patiently waiting for us to travel to our home in Fayetteville, later this week, so he can again get back to his daily run in the field across from our home.  He loves to run and I love

to watch him.           

                                                   

Isn't that a face to Love?

Staging Props - I Know You Have Them!

As an Accredited Stager, it is not uncommon to bring in or re-purpose some items that are already in your house. We may find something in the basement sitting on the shelf covered in dust and find a perfect spot that we can use to enhance a specific focal point in your house.

The wire basket filled with rich green moss balls can be used in so many areas. Fireplace, table by the window. On a bedside table. The cost is minimal but the impact is BIG! If you will notice the beautiful detailing on the wall behind the fireplace in this room. Become aware of how the mirror, the little greenery and the fireplace draws your eye to that space. If you will stand in the doorway of each room of your home, study it, and find the focal point of that room and that's where the emphasis needs to be. Play up the strong points of each space.

Pillows. .Pillows. . .Pillows. When was the last time you freshened your room with new ones? I have found in years of staging houses, the best sofa, is a timeless sofa, and it will be solid color, or slip-covered in a beautiful solid fabric. The punch comes with pillows. Up-to-date colors and patterns on a solid color sofa will always be a great buy.

Case in point. . . can I say more?

The Power of Three. When accessorizing a space . . .three is the MAGIC number. Take time this week to walk through your house and look at it through the eyes of a Buyer. What can you live without and start to de-clutter. Keep your Staging Props to a minimum and focus on the focal points in a room. LET'S GET STAGING & GET IT SOLD!