San Rafael, CA

As a passionate modern architecture fan, this recent staging project represents the kind of properties that I enjoy working with the most. The home was originally designed and built by an architect who was one of the Bauhaus founders. Years later a local architect purchased the house and remodeled it to suit his young and growing family. This summer, while the architect's family was in the final stages of building their own dream home, their Realtor contacted me to request a staging consultation, and for a follow-up consultation on the day of MLS photography. I was delighted.

The design was wonderful -- but the place was absolutely submerged with kids' toys, baby paraphernalia, and mis-matched inherited furniture. Several rooms lacked a distinct purpose to clue-in prospective buyers. Architects are like the rest of us -- "real life" can interfere with great design, and sometimes we need another pair of eyes to provide perspective and advice for successfully selling a home.

The photos below show the home after a weekend of major streamlining and professional staging by Leslie Olson Interiors, proudly welcoming its prospective new owners:

For more of Leslie's blogs regarding Modern and Mid-Century Modern Staging, check out:

Staging an Eichler-Designed Home in Marin - Before and After Photos - Part 1

Staging an Eichler-Designed Home in Marin - Bedroom Before and After Photos - Part 2

Mill Valley Film Festival - Smith Rafael Film Center - Before and After Photos

Marin Home Staging - What a Difference a Door Makes...

Leslie Olson, ASID, RESA

Leslie Olson Interiors Marin County, CA www.leslieolsoninteriors.com leslie@leslieolsoninteriors.com 415.233.2633

As of November 6, 2008 24% of available listings in San Rafael are in escrow.

For the month of October 2008 an encouraging 44 homes sold in San Rafael for an average final selling price of $786,300.

The average original asking price of these homes was $863,089.

The range of final selling prices was from a low of $158,500 to a high of $786,300.

Of the 44 homes that sold, 3 sold at their original asking price and 4 sold over-17 of the 44 were distress sales.

It took these 44 homes an average of 104 days to sell.

For more information about this area visit my website or contact me directly.

I just spent two fabulous fun and informative days volunteering at the Bioneers conference in San Rafael, California. What an exciting event! This was a gathering of truly caring and innovative visionaries working together to restore our planet and raise our awareness of conservancy and learning how we can make a difference. Bioneers members are creating and realizing a wealth of imaginative approaches to restoring and protecting the health of our planet and the well-being of our communities.

I volunteered to manned the EECOM booth. EECOM provides leadership by educating people about pressing critical issues and reduce global warming though our Pledge to Reduce Your Energy Use Campaign. There were many inspiring speakers and Green entrepreneurs inspiring a shift to live on Earth in ways that honor the web of life, each other and the future generation.

Being certified as an eco-Broker®, made me aware of many opportunities we have to improve our lives and also help our clients utilize green opportunities when buying and selling. There are growing number of resources and solutions offered out there. Visit Greennest, which helps create healthy home and greenlivingideas and lowimpactliving, which offers great green remodel ideas.

Live well! Live Green! Awaken your green curiosity and discover how you can help your clients raise their green awareness and you might make green yourself!

For any green ideas, contact Victoria Wells, eco-broker certified, vawells@comcast.net

Http://www.GoinGreenMarin.com

As of October 6, 2008 25% of available listings in San Rafael are in escrow.

For the month of September 2008 37 homes sold in San Rafael for an average final selling price of $733,823.

The average original asking price of these homes was $798,668.

The range of final selling prices was from a low of $148,000 to a high of $3,700,000.

It took these homes an average of 113 days to sell.

Of the 37 homes that sold 3 sold at their original asking price and 5 sold over. All others sold for less.

Of those same 37 homes, 10 were distress sales.

For more information about this area visit my website or feel free to contact me directly.

To see all the homes that are currently available search our MLS.

The San Francisco Bay area eagerly awaits celebrating the 31st annual Mill Valley Film Festival October 2-12, 2008, featuring the best in independent and world cinema.

Filmmakers and film lovers alike will immerse themselves in a festival surrounded by the beauty of Marin County, California. The festival schedule is filled with documentary and independent films, shorts, as well as international features and childrens' films. Trubute events will highlight the works of Alfre Woodard, Harriet Andersson, Paul Schrader and Eric Roth.

Festival-goers will also enjoy an abundance of social activities, from the Opening Night Gala, to live music and a cafe located at Mill Valley's historic Outdoor Art Club. Later in the week, an Ingmar Bergman multimedia exhibit will be held at the restored Art-Deco style Smith Rafael Film Center.

For further information on the Film Festival, please visit http://mvff.com, or the California Film Institute, at http://cafilm.org.

Leslie Olson Interiors is providing Staging and Interior Design services for the upcoming Mill Valley Film Festival.

Design projects include providing furniture and accessories for the Hospitality Suites at the San Rafael Film Center and Mill Valley's Outdoor Art Club. In addition, our Marin County design firm is providing the interior designs for the Film Festival Opening Night Gala.

For Before and After photos of the Mill Valley Film Festival Hospitality Suites, please visit:

Mill Valley Film Festival - Outdoor Art Club - Before and After Photos

Mill Valley Film Festival - Smith Rafael Film Center - Before and After Photos

Leslie Olson, ASID, RESA

Leslie Olson Interiors Marin County, CA www.leslieolsoninteriors.com 415.233.2633 leslie@leslieolsoninteriors.com