It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...no, it's not Christmas it's Clearance as in Pier One Imports Winter Clearance Sale!
With visions of plum colored wine goblets and imported cane furniture dancing in my head it's time to head to Pier One for their winter clearance sale. If you're a Home Stager or Designer now is the time to find great bargains on those must have accessories.
Here is a collection of interesting artifacts from Pier One Imports for under $12.
This Coconut Bark Bowl makes one howl of a statement as a table centerpiece.
sale price $11.18
Orig.tag $15
Nothing Screams Tranquility like a Meditative Buddha in your choice of serene colors-
sale price $3.28 each
Orig.tag $13.50
Faux Water Hyacinths add tropic pizazz to your piazza, patio, or lanai. Or use them as tropical doilies.
sale price $4.98
Orig.tag $10
Foo Dogs, these ferocious fury friends add Asian charm & color to your console table.
sale price $4.98 each
Orig.tag $20
JDS Consulting- Staging Hawaii nei! Providing Real Estate Merchandising services including: Home Staging, Interior Decor, Turn Key, Landscaping, Remodeling, & Open House Hosting. Visit our Blog: Questions for Kimo: Decor Design & all things Hawaiian- www.RealEstateDesignOnLine.com tel.+1.808.344.1264 Kimo Stowell Copyright ©2009
ccesory Alchemy and the Magic of Staging. The power of accessories is in your hands.
Professional stagers carry many secrets in their stagers bag of magic tricks and nothing is quite as powerful as their inventory of accessories. To layman they are merely household items but in the hands of a talented stager they can transform the mundane into magic, transforming your property for sale into gold.
How is this magic done you ask? Well, it takes an eye for detail, color, composition and a few tons of fairy dust (just kidding on the latter). None the less, the 'artistic eye' or the ability to combine the functional with the aesthetic, is not easy to define. The slightest variation in colors, tones, light, shadow, patterns, shapes, object sizes, or viewpoints can lead to a drastic difference in the overall feel of a room or space. Understanding the interplay between these elements is where the magic or artistry of staging lies. Now you can learn the techniques through schooling or you can be born with an innate understanding of composition and color but regardless of your background it does take time to compose & create a well accessorized home that is attractive to potential buyers.
In Hawaii, tropical decor is very popular. Selecting appropriate accessories to convey the island lifestyle to potential buyers is a priority for Hawaiiana Style. Below is a selection of tropical accessories that I have used recently to help bring Hawaiiana or tropical charm to our clients property for sale.
This bamboo cutlery and caddy from Bealls can add 'Island' flare to your staged dinning vignette. Hand painted Hawaiian Plumeria goblets with ochre colored napkins from Pier One re-create the rich color casts found in the Hawaiian landscape.
The tropical Carambola Tree produces Five Fingered or Star Fruit which is a popular treat here in Hawaii. These faux versions look good enough to eat with a little Li Hi Mui Powder. Mmmm ono!
This faux tropical flower arrangement consists of Kalo or Taro leaves, green Ginger blossoms, pink Eucalyptus and matching Antherium. I purchased the various faux stems from FloraDec here in Honolulu.
This cute gardeners caddy with faux 2" succulents, from Pier One, adds out door charm to your casual indoor dinning vignette.
JDS Consulting- Staging Hawaii nei! Providing Real Estate Merchandising services including: Home Staging, Interior Decor, Turn Key, Landscaping, Remodeling, & Open House Hosting. Visit our Blog: Questions for Kimo: Decor Design & all things Hawaiian- www.RealEstateDesignOnLine.com tel.+1.808.344.1264 Kimo Stowell Copyright ©2009
Tropical Curb Appeal: Choose Colorful Crotons!
One of my favorite tropical plants that packs a serious color punch are Crotons. Adding these bright plants to your yard or interior space can create a dramatic eye catching effect that will turn buyers heads.
Crotons or Codiaeum variegatum are native to the Pacific Islands and are prodigiously grown through out Polynesia. Very popular in Kama'aina gardens here in Hawaii, Crotons have only recently (last 20 years or so) found their way into interior spaces as potted plants. Crotons grow to heights of 5' to 6' and are stocky colorful shrubs. The firm waxy leaves sprouting in tight pinwheel fashion, turn from a dark green to a kaleidoscope of colors; ranging from dark red to bright pink with, purples, oranges, and yellows. Croton leaves are sensitive to light intensity and show best in part shade environments as full sun fades the coloring.
What makes Crotons a stagers dream is that the leaves can be rooted and placed in an arrangement that lasts for 2 to 3 months. Such easy maintenance is ideal for home staging and the bright colors add a powerful pop to interior decor.
Draw backs : some varieties will ooze white sap, if the leaves are torn or punctured, and it can stain fabric. Also If you move an outdoor plant inside you may lose leaves if the lighting decreases so try to find a space in the home that shares similar light to it's former outdoor environment.
Croton Varietals : 'Banana', 'Gold Dust', 'Mammy', 'Norma', 'Petra', 'Sunny Star'. Petra is the varietal shown here.
Crotons can dress up those unsightly utility pipes and still allow plenty of room for access.
JDS Consulting- Staging Hawaii nei! Providing Real Estate Merchandising services including: Home Staging, Interior Decor, Turn Key, Landscaping, Remodeling, & Open House Hosting. Visit our Blog: Questions for Kimo: Decor Design & all things Hawaiian- www.RealEstateDesignOnLine.com tel.+1.808.344.1264 Kimo Stowell Copyright ©2009
Whoever can guess first what building this is wins a prize!
Have a great Day!
JDS Consulting- Staging Hawaii nei! Providing Real Estate Merchandising services including: Home Staging, Interior Decor, Turn Key, Landscaping, Remodeling, & Open House Hosting. Visit our Blog: Questions for Kimo: Decor Design & all things Hawaiian- www.RealEstateDesignOnLine.com tel.+1.808.344.1264 Kimo Stowell Copyright ©2009
Kung Hee Fat Choy! part III. China Town's Renaissance.
In the last installment of my 3 part Blog series celebrating Chinese New Year in Hawaii we observe the revitalization of China Town in recent times and the many interesting places to see and visit.
Pictured Above- The Wo Fat building, a former Hotel on Honolulu's infamous Hotel Street, has become the iconic symbol of China Town today - New Year revelers pack the streets in Honolulu's Historic China Town neighborhood.
It was not too long ago in recent history that China Town was in disrepair with an ugly and growing crime rate. Many of the buildings were dilapidated and falling down and many locals avoided it completely, furthering its decline.
Today, China Town is enjoying an unprecedented renaissance. Local merchants and immigrant entrepreneurs from around the Pacific and Southeast Asia are revitalizing the community with new businesses and active community based initiatives.
Pictured Above - Vendors ply their wares at the open markets. Exotic fruits such as fresh Water Chestnuts, Dragon Fruit, Fresh Arrow Root, and Lychee are just some of the many fruits and vegetables offered. Fresh fish is plentiful and inexpensive compared to grocery stores and supermarkets.
In the 1980s, the city of Honolulu began developing Maunakea Marketplace and Kekaulike Mall to help bring new commercial ventures back to the neighborhood. With the addition of O`ahu Marketplace, these shopping areas have invigorated the commerce and tourism in China Town offering clothing, household items, fresh produce, and seafood at very competitive prices.
Pictured Above - Two of my very favorite Dim Sum Eateries Happy Garden and Char Hung Sut (Take Out)
As a result of the bustling commercial ventures and the depressed property values the culture and arts scene in China Town is growing with leaps and bounds. Beginning with the Historic Hawaii Theater Renovation in the 1990's. Art galleries, hip boutiques and affordable eateries have opened, as well as, the notable fine dinning Indigo Restaurant, and a slew of trendy night clubs. The Honolulu community enjoys frequent entertainment at block parties, parades and the widely attended First Fridays Art Gallery Walk sponsored by The Arts at Mark's Garage.
The Downtown Chinatown Task Force Committee a community-based organization has been a leader in the China Town revitalization project, and the City & County of Honolulu has been a instrumental in providing new residential buildings and commercial venues for it's inhabitants.
In the last few years the residential population of Chinatown has also grown dramatically from its anemic days of decline. Quickly approaching 7,000, the population is a melting pot mixture of Chinese, Filipinos, Japanese, Vietnamese, Cambodians, and Laotians.
May the new year bring you luck and prosperity!
JDS Consulting- Staging Hawaii nei! Providing Real Estate Merchandising services including: Home Staging, Interior Decor, Turn Key, Landscaping, Remodeling, & Open House Hosting. Visit our Blog: Questions for Kimo: Decor Design & More- www.RealEstateDesignOnLine.com tel.+1.808.344.1264 Kimo Stowell Copyright ©2009
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Honolulu Real Estate Merchandising Services including: Home Staging & Interior Decorating. Specializing in Hawaiian & Pacific Rim landscaping, remodeling, turn key services, marketing & MLS photos
JDS CONSULTING:
We are a collective of independent contractors who maintain employment in the Real Estate industry as Realtors, Realtor Associates, Investors, as well as, Home Stagers, Professional Artists and Interior Decorators. Together we offer Real Estate merchandising services to those who lack the time and wherewith all to effectively merchandise their Real Estate.
Kimo Stowell is president of JDS Consulting and has experience in finance and design. Kimo serves on the Board of Directors for the Gold Coast Neighborhood Association and is a part time actor and vocalist. Kimo has appeared on Lost, Beyond the Break, National Geographic, and Dante's Cove and performs with the vocal ensemble Zamar at Unity Church in Diamond Head. Kimo is a Volunteer at the Unity Church Bread of Life Kitchen and the historic Hawaii Theater.
JDS Consulting: Provides Real Estate Merchandising services in the following: Home Staging, Virtual Staging, Interior Decorating, Redesign, Remodeling, Turn Key Services, Virtual Tours, Curb Appeal Makeovers, Open House Hosting, and MLS Photography.
DESIGN LAB:
Design Lab is a service of JDS Consulting offering our clients the opportunity to see before they buy. We use digital technology to produce visual renderings of our proposals so that design choices can be made quickly and with certainty.
Creating visuals for our clients takes away the guess work and time required to explain design ideas."Painting" walls and arranging furniture in digital renderings allows home owners the ability to see the concept before they commit to it; reducing client anxiety.
In the past clients would often toil over design choices, with the endless selection of swatches, paint chips, and material samples. Finding the right furniture meant many hours spent in furniture stores and design show rooms which inevitably slowed the process down. Changes to patterns or style choices often meant hours of additional work for everyone but when you have just moved into a new home, who wants to wait months for a sofa?
We provide all the information required to purchase direct from the supplier: Item number, price, color, name, size, etc. We also provide substitute suggestions should items become unavailable.
Design Lab can save you time, money, and the overwhelming feeling that comes with making the right design choices. Welcome to the 21st Century of design.
JDS Consulting can design interior and exterior spaces to suit your individual style and tastes. We can provide multiple looks to choose from varying colors, accessories, and design styles.
TESTIMONIALS:
"I would have never thought to arrange the furniture in this way, but it works great and John, uses the room everyday now"
Redesign Clients John & Linda S. Saratoga Springs NY
"They completely decorated our beach front three bedroom condo in 10 days, wow what a difference. It has such an elegant feeling, we went from lawn chairs in the living room to Hollywood almost overnight"
Interior Decorating Clients Red & Sylvia VH, Hudson FL
"I went away for the weekend and I came back to something absolutely fabulous, and they took care of my dog too"
Interior Decorating Client Anne M C, Ka'a'awa HI
"Wow, what a transformation"
Staging Client David G, Kailua HI
"My family and I thoroughly enjoyed your choices and layout plans for our apartment. Now I have a guide as I shop which should make furniture shopping more efficient and less daunting. Thank you for keeping yourself available to us. I'll be sure to keep you updated. You have been wonderful to work with and I wish you much continued success! E malama pono,"
Design Lab Client Stephanie A, Nu'uanu HI
He mea pau 'ole ke aloha
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