About Hardin County, KY

Join Sheila O'Mara, of Staged SO Right, and Ginny Whitt, of Whitt's End Home and Garden, for a

Staging Demonstration:

"Spice Up Your Sofa"

October 26th at 6:30 pm

Whitt's End Home and Garden,

Cool Springs Center, Ring Road

Elizabethtown

Are you trying to update your decor for holiday entertaining? Check out this FREE class and discover some fabulous, low cost ways to achieve several "looks" with what you already own. One sofa = several looks with just the addition and subtraction of a few decorative items.

Enjoy wonderful refreshments!

(Those drinks and snack items can also be purchased at Whitt's End - get more great ideas for your holiday entertaining.)

Door prizes will be given and fabulous fall discounts on staging services booked that evening!

Don't miss the fun! Make sure to bring a friend!

Call Ginny at 270-735-1445 or Sheila at 270-300-6045 with any questions or directions!

Can't wait to see you there!

The Holidays are coming! The Holidays are coming! Are you in panic mode? Last year about this time, you may have discussed making changes to your décor for the holidays, but decided to wait until after they were over. You weren't doing any heavy entertaining so it could wait.

This year is a whole new ball game. You are hosting Thanksgiving this year and you still haven't made those updates you talked about last year. Don't fret, there is still time to update without breaking the bank.

First of all don't start any major renovations until after the New Year. Big renovations can often take unexpected twists and turns and in the end cost more then you budget for. With that in mind, start out with a few smaller, achievable goals.

As you have heard many times in this column, paint is the cheapest way to get major impact for minor money. Think your furniture looks worn out? Change the backdrop and the furniture will look different too. You don't even have to paint the entire room - maybe just paint an accent wall and BAM! The room instantly changes. Are your tables or painted furnishings looking worn? Update and unify them with a coat of paint.

You may want to purchase new furniture. If you do, purchase as neutral as your taste will allow with upholstered furnishings. This will enable you to achieve many different looks with wall color, flooring, window treatments, art and accessories. I am redecorating my living room and I am so grateful that the chocolate brown leather coordinates with blue and gold and green ... get the picture? I purchased a great base and can change out the look of that room for very little money.

If new furnishings are in your future, keep them in scale with the size of the room. Furnishings always look smaller in the showroom then they will in your house. If you feel you must have that 90 inch sofa that is 45 inches deep, try not to buy the matching chair or loveseat. Find some smaller occasional chairs to complete the grouping.

If you aren't purchasing new furniture, slipcovers can be your friend. I am amazed at the different styles there are currently. You can also make them yourself or have them made by one of the many talented seamstresses in town. The investment in slipcovers is significantly less than purchasing new furniture and you can change them out seasonally!

Speaking of seasonal décor, changing out accessories will give a room a whole new mood and look. Add fall leaves to picture frames or scented pinecones to the vase that was filled with your beach treasures from the summer. Pull out your warmer bedding, window treatments, area rugs and pillows and you won't recognize your house.

Once those changes are made, pull all of the accessories that you haven't changed out and put them in one room. See what you can pull together and put it in a new place. You will be amazed at the treasurers you discover right in your own home. If you have a bunch of mismatched items, unify them with paint! Repurposing what you already have will work wonders when you want to achieve an updated look for little expense.

If this advice seems a little overwhelming, stop by Whitt's End Home and Garden on Monday, October 26 at 6:30pm. I will be offering a FREE class, called Spice Up your Sofa. See how I take one sofa and by changing out area rugs, pillows, and accessories, change the whole look.

I will also be offering another FREE class at Whitt's End on November 17^th, at 10:30am, called Stage Your Table. Discover some fabulous low cost ways to decorate your holiday table!

I am looking forward to showing you some great Seasonal Staging!

As seen in The News Enterprise, October 23, authored by Sheila O'Mara of Staged SO Right

Fall officially arrived last Tuesday. There are several signs that the season is here, but having a shorter day was very noticeable when I went for an evening walk last week.

All summer if I struck out about 8 pm, the sky was still blazing with the sun. The other night, it was dark and afforded me a glimpse at the neighborhood during twilight hours. A whole new world opened up. I now realize why "twilight" pictures are so effective when trying to sell a house. Lights blazing from the inside and highlighted landscaping made an awesome statement.

Aside from the importance of twilight pictures for home selling, there were a few other staging items I noticed while walking in the dark.

First item was the importance of outdoor lighting in your landscaping. The homes that had solar or electric lights strategically placed throughout their landscaping were far more appealing than those that did not. Now is a great time to add those to your current landscaping by taking advantage of after season clearance sales. Adding curb appeal is rarely a negative thing.

Secondly I noticed much more about a home's interior during twilight. Having a house lit from the inside allowed for a real glimpse into how people are living everyday. I felt almost like a peeping tom, but could hardly help it when there were no window coverings for privacy on windows. Many homeowners have fantastic windows that allow for plenty of light and fabulous views and do not want to cover them with blinds or sheers. I am all for that because as a permanent architectural feature, I want the windows to be showcased ... BUT please consider that the spectacular view that you are enjoying out, someone may also enjoy looking in. That does not mean windows need to be closed up tight like Fort Knox each evening, but be aware of what people are able to see while you are at home with lights on at night.

The third observation and perhaps the most alarming was how much CLUTTER people live with in their daily lives. I saw piles of paperwork on the countertops or stacks of books and magazines on coffee tables. Some kitchens were piled high with dishes and culinary tools that covered most flat surfaces. Let's not forget the entryways that had backpacks and jackets piled high with various shoes dotting the floor.

As a whole people need to declutter and not just people selling their homes. Think about how much smoother the daily grind would be if everything needed was in its place. There are so many ways to conquer the clutter bugs in your home. Start with the three piles I have talked about before. Keep - Sell - Trash! Remember if you don't use it or haven't needed it in more than a year, get it out circulation. This at least gives you a starting point. There are several professionals out there that can help you sort and you can always ask a friend! Sometimes people are too emotionally attached to their "stuff" and need unbiased assistance.

If you don't think your home is cluttered, it may not be. A good test is to stand outside your home with windows uncovered and lights blazing and observe. If it is a well ordered home and decorated to suit your style and needs then AMEN! If you see some problem areas, or feel stress building at just the thought of completing this exercise, then take note and take action!

Ushering in the Fall season is a great time to take a fresh look at how you are living, how your home feels and looks and how your living environment lends to your personal success and achievement each day. Try the twilight exercise and take action to allow the clutter "fall" away from your daily living. The season may be much more enjoyable if you do.

As seen in The News Enterprise, October 3, 2009, authored by Sheila O'Mara owner of Staged SO Right

Take advantage of this fabulous opportunity to discover the latest and greatest Fall decor for your home. If you are looking to update your home's decor, renew your home with seasonal decor for MLS pictures or just want to indulge in an evening of browsing (and shopping) through Elizabethtown's premier home accessories shop, you need to attend Stage It For Fall.

Sheila O'Mara, the owner of Staged SO Right, will be on hand to deliver great ways to insert Fall into your home. Using inventory on hand at Whitt's End, Sheila will create vignettes and various others ways to give old decor new life. You won't want to miss the loads of FREE tips she will share.

Join Sheila and Ginny Whitt, owner of Whitt's End Home and Garden, on

September 15th

6:30 pm

Whitt's End Home and Garden in Cool Springs Plaza in E-town

Refreshments will be served (What is served can also be purchased that night for your Fall and holiday gatherings!)

Get a discount on one item purchased that evening and a discount off staging services that are scheduled that night. You can't lose - get great staging tips, browse through the amazing inventory (even take a sneak peak at some awesome Christmas merchandise) enjoy delicious refreshments, and get a discount for purchases and staging services. What a deal!!!

Looking forward to seeing you and please feel free to bring a friend. If you have any questions, please feel free to call Sheila at 270-300-6045 or Ginny at 270-735-1445.

See you Tuesday night!!!

It is said that approximately 85% of homes are actually being sold online. Not that the actual purchasing occurs on the internet, but that most buyers today are searching the internet for homes before they actually agree to see a home. If a picture of a home does not appeal to them, they keep right on looking. There are some people who feel that if there is not a picture, then it isn't worth going to see.

That is great news if you have a house that is market ready, looking fantastic and have great pictures posted online. If your pictures are less than stellar or the rooms they depict are less than stunning, then you may have more of a problem.

You may think that your home is stylish, clutter free and clean. Take a picture and see if that is reflected in the photo. Just like when you see a picture of yourself and think "Oh, I have gained more weight than I thought." or, "My hair is so gray - when did that happen?" style, cleanliness and clutter have a way of getting lost after a certain period of time. If you are not satisfied when you look at the pictures of your home, chances are, a potential buyer will not be either. Take a photo and then take action.

When you live in your home, you tend to ignore things that need attention. You become immune to new possibilities because it seems fine the way it is. Sometimes things need to be done like changing the color on the walls or replacing flooring. That old sofa that Aunt Polly gave you sure has been a great staple in your home for the past ten years but you may not have realized how thread-bare it appears. All of those kitchen appliances you have stored on the counter, but only use every once in a while, really equate to clutter in a picture. The things you live with everyday out of necessity could be holding you back from the sale of your home. I can't tell you how often I show a homeowner the "before" pictures, have them complete work, and then show them "after" pictures and they find the difference amazing. That is the effect you are looking for.

So snap a few pictures of each room before you decide to list your home. Make an honest assessment of what may need to be done. Oops - the crown molding you installed last year doesn't even show up in the pictures because the color of the wall is so light that there is no distinguishable contrast. Fixing that with a quick coat of paint in a darker tone will make all of the difference. Once you have made those changes, take another round of photos. Any better? Complete any additional work and then call your real estate agent or virtual tour professional and have them take the phenomenal pictures that will get your house sold. Just like when you are having a professional photo taken of yourself, you would look your best, taking pictures of your home for the internet is the same concept. Put your home's best foot forward.

Staging can help you achieve an updated look for pictures. Having your home reflect the current season is really important. If your home looks like it is decorated in the current season, then it appears that is hasn't been on the market for very long. If you still have Christmas decorations up in June, then that signals buyers that the house has been on the market for quite a while.

If you want some new ideas to update your look for fall, stop by for a free staging workshop on September 15 at 6:30 pm at Whitt's End, Home and Garden in Cool Springs Plaza. Get some great new ideas that will exude warmth and inviting décor for your new fall pictures, sending a strong signal to those potential buyers that your house is ready to be seen.

As seen in The News Enterprise, authored by Sheila O'Mara August 28, 2009