Behind the Design

Don’t you wish you were here? This design is perfect in accentuating the beautiful ocean scenery.   Let’s break this room apart and talk about all of the design elements that are in play here.

Tall ceilings:  Tall ceilings are great for many reasons. They create an open airy feeling. This compliments the atmosphere of the room. Tall ceilings draw your eye up, creating architectural interest without drawing away from the true focal point, in this case the ocean view.

Open windows:  Open windows allow light to fill the area and create a cheerfully, bright atmosphere.  

The Color Scheme: This subdued color scheme is taken directly from the surrounding environment. The cream walls and white bedspread maintain a clean crisp feel, while the accents of subdued blues and yellow bring in interest. These colors give a sense of relaxation.

Stay tuned next week for more BEHIND THE DESIGN!

What's Old is New

Furniture rehabilitation is popping up everywhere which is oh so fabulous and environmentally friendly. Nowadays one can take almost any piece of junk and turn it into a spectacularly trendy and functional piece. What’s cooler than converting an old dresser into a vanity for a sink, featuring unique drawer pulls and antique claw feet? The possibilities are endless!

Jewel Tones Galore!

What’s hot in the design world? Jewel tones are showing up on almost every surface – furniture, window treatments, floors, and even walls! Deep saturated tones of turquoise, amethyst, jade, and ruby red are beautiful and sophisticated accents great for the fall. Indulge yourself in a warm inviting atmosphere of the colors of this earth.

How to Sell your Home in Today's Market

How to Make Smaller Spaces Look Larger Than They Appear

There are always going to be times when rooms that we have, either in our homes, apartments, dorms, or wherever you live, are going to be much smaller than what you imagined. Sometimes you cannot afford a bigger space, so you have to work with what you have. Here are some tips on how to fix “small” problems:

1. Low ceilings.  How to fix this problem?

•  A white ceiling is standard and a good choice when a room is wrapped in bold colors. It has a tendency to change the space to make is seem grander.
• Don’t leave the ceiling a plain white color. Most ceilings are painted with a flat white color. To add a little extra height increasing features, choose a warmer color white, like eggshell. This also helps add more character to the room.

2. Dark rooms. Bring in more lighting? To make any room appear larger, it is key to brighten it. The appearance of natural light gives a comfortable feel to a space. How to fix this?

•  Add windows! If you can do this, do it. It will greatly change the feel of your space. Windows are an invitation of sunlight into a room. The room feels softer and bigger as well.
• If you cannot change the number of windows you have, change the window treatment. Windows don't need to be covered with rod to floor curtains. Try removing all window treatments. This will open up your room drastically, bringing in an abundance of natural light. 

3. Low square footage. What to do about it?

• Consider adding a large area rug. If the small space is a living room this will work great. It will make the eye think the space is actually much bigger than it really is.
• Less bulky furniture. The main problem people have with small spaces is trying to put in even bigger furniture. This will greatly decrease the size of your room. Try to go for lighter, smaller furniture. Try to use furniture that does the same job but can also be used in other ways. For example, Instead of having a coffee table in your already small living room, try using an ottoman that opens up into a small table. This increases the furniture’s use and minimizes the amount of space it takes up. 

These are a few tips for people that have the challenge of small spaces. They can be more fun to work with than you would have thought!

Onisha Walker

Seal the Deal – More Staging Tips for a Grand Finale

A professionally staged home is proven to sell much quicker and easier and will often get you an even higher offering price. Follow these final tips to lead to a beautifully staged home.


1. When dealing with small spaces, you can help to make the room feel larger by painting it the same color as its adjacencies. For example, if you are dealing with a particularly small kitchen, you can paint it the same color as the living room or hallway adjacent to it. This will make the two spaces feel more like one. You can also make a sunroom or porch feel larger by painting it green, tying it into the outdoors.

2. Neutral colors are the way to go for large spaces. Bold colors are actually said to decrease an offer. If colors are too bold or trendy, or too dated, buyers will think of how much work needed to update them. Neutrals aren’t limited to just whites and beiges; you can even venture as far as muted greens and oranges.

3. If you want to draw attention to a particular feature in a room, consider using an accent wall. In this case, it is okay to use a bolder color. This will draw the buyer's attention to whatever you may be trying show off.

4. Accessories are a finishing touch for any space. When creating a group of accessories, use an odd number, like three. Picture a triangle and place an accessory at each point. Use varying heights, shapes, sizes, and textures. Place largest items in the back, with the smaller ones up front.

5. Natural elements bring the outdoors in. However, you don’t always need buy an expensive arrangement of flowers. Consider raiding your own yard for plants and flowers, which will add color and a touch of comfort.

6. Unfinished projects are always unappealing to buyers. Finishing these projects will cost less than the amount you may lose in a lower offer. No buyer wants to look at an unfinished project that they will have to take on themselves.


Following these tips will make your home more attractive to your buyers. It’s also a good idea to consult a professional home stager to help you in creating the ideal home for the market.

Rosanna Scott

Staging Tips for a Successful Sale

Hiring a professional stager will save you money and stress and allow your house to sell much quicker. Expenses are minimal if you consider how much you are losing by letting your house sit on the market. Here are 6 helpful tips for a successfully staged home that are sure to get your home sold faster.

1. Get rid of clutter. This is the most important element in selling a home. Consider renting a storage unit to store personal items. This will de-personalize the space and allow the buyer to picture their own things in the home, not yours. A buyer likes to look in closets, drawer, and cabinets. Be sure to have these areas well organized and free of clutter.

2. Group your furniture in the center of the room. Contrary to popular belief, furniture pushed to the perimeters of a room will actually make the space appear smaller. If you group your furniture in a cozy cluster in the center of the room, your space will actually feel larger and more open. Also, position furniture so that the traffic flow in the room is obvious.

3. Don’t be afraid to move furniture and accessories from room to room. Just because you initially bought a piece for a certain room does not mean that it needs to stay there. Experiment with the placement of your furniture; you may come up with an arrangement you never would have thought of that actually works better.

4. Turn a junk room into a purposeful space. If you have a room that doesn’t have a purpose, consider giving it an obvious function. Turn an empty corner into a cozy reading nook by adding an armchair and lamp. An empty or junk-filled room will make a great guest bedroom if you add a bed and a few pieces of furniture.

5. Lighting in home staging is critical. Make sure you’ve got a sufficient amount of light in a space. This includes sufficient general lighting, task lighting, and accent lighting. A well-lit room will change the buyer’s perception of the space altogether.

6. A bathroom is easy to stage. Eliminate all clutter and pull out accessories, like freshly rolled towels or candles. It’s a cheap way to create a warm and inviting environment in your bathroom.

More tips to come..Stay tuned!

Rosanna Scott