Monday, February 28, 2011

Change the look and Feel of your Space

  Short on time and money but need to get your house on the market. I have a few solutions that can help stay on budget and get your house in tip top shape for selling.
One of the quickest fixes would be to swoop out your lamp shades; this will brighten your space. Don’t be afraid to try different patterns or finishes. If you’re like DIY you could dress up a plain lamp shade with a band of ribbon.
   Lighting plays a huge factor on the feel of your home. When you’re selling your home nothing turns buyers like dirty windows. Clean window let more light in and give you a more attractive view outside.
  Add a touch of color. Color is a great way to stay current with design trends. I am not saying paint your walls a bold color; try to keep your color for the accent pieces in the room. Keep in mind warm color will make the room feel warm and cozier, while cool colors recede and tend to make the space feel cols and small.
  Furniture fabric goes out of date just like fashion. A dated worn couch can be a big distraction to buyers touring your house. You don’t want you’re to be remembered as the house with the ugly stained couch. The solution slipcovers. Slipcovers are a great way to update your furniture to what’s in trend and also easy on the wallet.
  The biggest thing that will change the look and feel of your space is to clean up clutter. If you have not used it for a few months then pack it up. You’re moving anyways so start packing now it will save you from the stress of last minute packing.

If you need help preparing your home for sell check out my blog or give me a call 403.710.4229.

Elysse Bulloch

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Define Your Space with an Area Rug


An easy way to add color and texture to your space is with an area rug, here are a few tips to help you choose the perfect rug.

When you’re out shopping for your new rug, think about what colors you already have in the space and what color is dominate in your space. Choose a rug that has a couple of colors that are already in your home. For staging I tend to pick a natural solid color to keep the buyers eyes up and flowing through the space.

Patterned rugs are a great way to add visual interest, but avoid patterns if your furniture already has a pattern to it. The pattern in the rug should pick up the less dominate features in the space. Patterned rugs give off a more decorated look, if you selling you home stick to a solid color as it will appeal the widest range of buyers.

Picking the right size, an area rug is a great way to define the conversation area in your space. The size of the rug depends on the size of room. To define the space the rug should be big enough for the front legs of the sitting piece to rest on the edge of the rug. It always better to go bigger then smaller when in doubt.

Look at the cleaning label, its usually found on the back of the rug. Wool rugs can last years with proper maintenance. Shag rugs have a lifetime of 3-5 years with proper care under normal use. Shag rugs tend attracts static especially in dry environment like Calgary and if you have pets. Polypropylene rugs are a great choice for areas where spills can happen, as they can be cleaned with soap and water. Sea grass rugs are an environmentally friendly choice with a rustic look, but moisture will rot the fibers.


Elysse Bulloch

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Kate Spade New York Launches Home Line

The first time I was in New York I fell in love with Kate Spade handbags she become one of my favorite designers. Since fashion and home decor are so closely connected its no surprise Kate is starting a home line.



This spring Kate Spade will be launching her new bed and bath line which lives up to her name. The collection will be called KSNY home collection and will only be available in high end department stores. No word yet when it will be released in Canada ,but we will be able to find the collection at Bed bath and Beyond locations. The collection will include will include sheets, duvets, shams, bedding accessories, bath accessories, bath towels and rugs. The collection is identical to her brand including signature trims, clean colors, delightful patterns and classic fabrics.

 Gardner Street collection



I love white bedding, how about you? White bedding is great for staging so this new collection is right up my alley. What do you think of the New Kate Spade Bedding line?

Elysse Bulloch


Thursday, February 10, 2011

Create a New look with Redesign

It does not matter where you live over time you get bored with your surroundings. The same furniture and accessories become ordinary over time.  What can you do to freshen up your current space? A few small changes even on the smallest budget can breathe new life in to your space. These simple steps can be applied to any room in your house.

When I help a client with a redesign or staging, the first thing I address is clutter. We all have stuff and most of us have too much stuff. Overtime we don’t even realize that our stuff has accumulated. My rule is to remove any and all items that you have not used in the last few months. You will be surprised how much bigger and brighter your space will be when you edit your belongings.

Do your research; know which styles, textures and fabrics you like. When working with redesign clients I encourage them to go thought magazines and books to get an idea of what they like. I ask them to look for colors, pattern and textures they can see themselves living with.

 If you have not moved your furniture around in the last couple years, it’s probably because you don’t have any idea how else it could go or it won’t fit any other way. A good trick is to pull the furniture away from the wall by a foot or so. This allows the piece to breathe. You may also consider repurposing furniture and artwork from different areas of your home.

Take a good look at the color scheme in the room. I like to follow 60/30/10 for diving up color in the space. 60% being walls and ceiling, 30% is furniture and 10% being the accent color.By switching out the accent color which is 10 percent of the color in the room it will freshen up the look and feel of your room. This is also a great way to change your decour with the seaons and trends.

Elysse Bulloch
Simply Stylish Staging

Monday, February 7, 2011

What to do with an L-Shaped Room ?

L shaped room can be a challenge to work with; they usually are rooms that combined a living room –dining room.  When preparing you home for sale there are a few things you can do to your L-shaped space to ensure it shows the functions of both dining and living.

First off, its best if the room is painted all the same color, and the same flooring  is carried through the space. A change in flooring or paint color can make the space appear smaller; our eye is drawn to the break in color. A stager’s goal is to keep the eye flowing through the space.

When designing your layout think of the space as two different spaces like a wall is between them. Decide what will be going in the dining room and what will be part of the living room.  Try not to over lap the room, keep passage ways clear so the space reads as two separate spaces.  

Like any shape of room place your furniture around the focal point in the room which may be a fireplace, window or TV.  Angles work great in L-shaped room so don’t be afraid to try it. Start with the biggest piece of furniture then add the small pieces to fill the space.

Mirrors are a great accent to enhance L shaped room. Not only will a mirror brighten up the space it can also make the space seem more spacious. Reflected light from a strategically placed mirror can actually give the illusion of double the space.

Lighting is very important; adjust your lighting to the size of the room. Try to stay away from ornamental lighting as it tends to make the space appear smaller

Take these steps in consideration when staging your L-shaped room. Give Buyers an idea of what to do with an odd shaped space.

Elysse Bulloch