I just wanted to share a before and after of a client's home to show how much just two changes - a fresh coat of paint and a new door - can make. Although this client is fixing up their home to live in - not sell - the point is still the same. They took a house which looked outdated and a little tired and made an enormous improvement just changing those two things.
They really had their heart set on gray, but wanted me to help them choose the right one. I thought you would enjoy seeing how helpful some of the free online color choosing software is. This happens to be Personal Color Viewer from Benjamin Moore, but there are many of them out there by different paint companies. Here is the before photo of the house with three of the many shades of gray they were considering. We opted for a pale shade and selected one that was very warm in tone. You can also see that they tried out the door being painted the same cream color as the trim or being painted in a darker iron gray.
So here are the final Before and after photos of the house and also the close ups of the front door.
The front door makes a huge difference giving the house an immediate lift to an upscale and more substantial feel. I hope you enjoyed seeing the difference that just two changes made!
Pangaea is a Portland, Oregon based Interior Designer and Professional Home Stager. If you would like help determining what changes you can make for the biggest impact, give here a call at 503.816.4394, or visit her website at Pangaea Interior Design.
If you enjoyed this idea for improving the look of your home, sign up for my FREE MONTHLY DESIGN IDEAS.
Actually I am talking about two sensational surfaces here. One is the store: Surface, located at 1235 SE Grand Ave., Portland, OR 97214. The other is Kerlite Porcelain Tile. I'm always on the lookout for cool looking, new and innovative materials to inspire great design ideas for interiors, so I was delighted to be invited to a new product party held at Surface last week. They have some amazing new products for flooring, backsplashes, countertops & walls, and also an intriguing material that can be used in place of glass in cabinet doors, interior sliding doors as well as other unique applications. Rather than cram all this great stuff into one long post, I'm splitting it up, so keep your eye open for "part 2" and so on.
First I'd like to tell you a little about my experience with the store. Surface is a truly unique finish materials boutique. I recently worked with them to help one of my clients select flooring, countertop and backsplash materials. My sales person was David Horn. His professionalism, helpfulness with my client and expert product knowledge was all first rate. The staff members are all very respectful of the designer/client relationship and will help you as much or as little as you want. The showroom has a warm and comfortable ambiance with nice big work tables to lay out and compare all your possible choices. Enormous windows give you great natural light so you can really see the colors and textures. If you like a little privacy, they also have a separate conference room where designer and client can really brainstorm uninterrupted.
For my last client, I went in alone to preview their selections, then when I knew I was coming in with my client, I phoned ahead and David had all the selections pulled out and arranged on a work table for us when we arrived. Their vast selection is encased in big rolling carts so not everything is on view at once. Initially, I thought this would make it harder to view products, but after being in there with a client, I really appreciated that this display system kept us from going into overwhelm or being distracted with too many choices.
Kerlite:
This product is an ultra-thin - just 3 mm - super strong, porcelain tile that comes in seven sizes, including huge sheets. You can use it on floors or walls, but here is the very cool thing --- you can put it right over existing materials including old tile or even linoleum without having to take out the old material. This is true even going over textured floor tiles.
Available in 26 colors and 3 finishes, my favorite is the tone-on-tone floral pattern. The photos of the bathrooms and living room are from the manufacturer's website and they show the use of the huge sheet sizes to minimize grout lines. It's also perfect for great kitchen design applications such as backsplash walls. Kerlite is even frost proof so it can be installed outdoors. I'm told that this product has even been installed as siding on a home exterior. I'd love to see that.
In keeping with my desire to find sustainably made options for my clients, according to Coto d'Este, Kerlite ceramic tiling material is “obtained from natural and carefully selected raw materials, such as light clays and pure feldspars,” and “firing is carried out in electric kilns without any release of polluting fumes.” With seemingly endless uses in both interior decor and exterior design applications, it is a product worth checking out. As porcelain tile goes, this is rather high-end, retailing around $12 per square foot. But for the amazing flexibility and lack of demo work, it could be a great idea for your next design project.
Pangaea is an Interior Designer serving the Portland, Oregon greater metropolitan area. She specializes in modern interiors with an eye toward sustainable design.
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email: design@pangaea-id.com
As the rain has started to come down in sheets and the nights have turned COLD, my fireplace has been put into use in a big way. Many years ago, urban living in lofts, condos and apartments meant living without a fireplace. But technology has changed all of that. One client who recently contacted me said his one concession in buying a condo in the John Ross Condomiums in the South Waterfront district was to forego a fireplace - but we have a solution for him. Another client in The Wyatt high rise apartments in the Pearl District had a fireplace listed as one of her first items to add to her decor. I was also in the 937 Condominiums in the Pearl District last week and felt sad that for almost half a million dollars, you end up with no fireplace! So, this post is for you!
Whether you have a condo in the Pearl or South Waterfront, or a house where there is no built-in fireplace, with today's technology, there is now a fireplace for everyone, every room, and just about every budget! Read on to see several modern fireplaces that would be at home in any contemporary home where no built-in fireplace exists. There are free-standing models, wood burning models, environmentally friendly models, suspended ones and wall hung types. Links on where to shop for these are at the end of the article. So, make yourself a nice cup of cocoa and imagine sitting next to one of these!
Pangaea's Picks: Top Ten Modern Fireplaces
1. Harry Leenders - Hands down, my fave for a suspended, rotating fireplace. Love the sleek lines.
2. EcoSmart's Denatured Ethanol burning fireplaces can be set into a built in display or they have many free-standing styles. Environmentally friendly and renewable fuel is a plus.
3. This Eurofocus has nice clean lines and is angled to look great in a corner.
4. Rais is just a simple and lovely, minimal design.
5. What top ten list would be complete without the modern classic Fireorb suspended fireplace?
It took me a long time to get started blogging. I kept thinking I didn't have anything to say! But my mentors kept telling me I needed to get started, so I asked my husband what I should talk about. He said "what do your clients want to know? Okay, so I'm slapping my forehead. It all seems so simple now! Can't imagine why it took me over a year to figure that out!
My blog posts cement my connection with existing clients, prospects, business contacts, friends and family in two ways:
Information: What people want to know. By writing informative blog posts on topics my clients and prospects have asked me about, I continue to be a source of information to past clients and I demonstrate to prospects that I know my stuff and can help them with their needs.
Entertainment: What we have in common and enjoy. People like to do business with people they know and with whom they have things in common. It makes for a more enjoyable experience when you and your clients can talk about things that are of interest to both of you. By writing posts that are entertaining and about fun and cool things we both like, my clients and prospects get to know me better, and from their feedback and comments, I get to know them better too.
Below, please follow the links to see specific posts that have been informational or entertaining to my clients and prospects.
I'm an Interior Designer and Home Stager. My clients want to know how to make their places look great, to live in or to sell. They love color, but are terrified to try it out and don't know what colors to put together. If they are getting ready to sell, they want to know "is white the color they should paint their walls?" I specialize in contemporary design, and my clients want to be sure their home feels warm and looks cool! They want to know how to decorate their house when they have soaring ceilings, or when they have a loft or open floor plan.
My clients are interested in sustainability ... so I share cool products I find that are environmentally friendly. Because many of my clients love animals, I even post about things for their PETS that are sustainable & cool!
I am totally passionate about art and most of my clients are too! So with my blog, I show how art improves their decor. Sometimes I just post art finds that will entertain them! If you didn't click on any of the other links ... you really should click on that last one ... you won't believe your eyes!!! Waaaay Cool!!
My methods of Delivery:
I post on ActiveRain, my own website, Pangaea Interior Design Blog Page, the Interior Design Society, to name a few blogs. I Tweet, I'm LinkedIn, and I'm on Facebook ... so I make it easy for people to find my information and to find out more about me.
I incorporate two articles per month into an e-newsletter that goes to all my past clients, past business connections, family & friends. It reminds my former clients that I am a source of information for them because the questions are ones they have asked. Because it is information my clients want, they even feel good about forwarding it to their friends when they see an article about something they want to pass on. That gives clients and business contacts the opportunity to be a source of information to their own contacts.
My e-newsletter is pretty short. I think that shows I respect people's time. There are just 4 parts every month.
1. Feature Article: This is my design tip of the month. The ideas come directly from interior design or home staging challenges my clients have had. I also include informtion about local resources and vendors I use. If the article is more than a couple paragraphs, I post a short version that has about half of the tips, then link back to the full post on my website. This keeps them from having to scroll too far to see the rest of the newsletter. The ones who are interested in that specific topic can see the rest with a single click.
2. Color of the Month: I choose a color and talk about where it looks good in the home, how that color affects energy or mood, and what other colors look good with it.
3. A short paragraph about ME & my photo! That's in there, so that if they forward it to someone else, the new recipient has a little introduction to who I am.
4. I include a coupon each month for some aspect of my design or staging services. This helps my clients save money on services they want.
What you won't find in my e-newsletter is any big sales pitch.
Thanks for asking how I use my blog to cement and enhance my relationships with current, past and prospective clients and contacts.
Pangaea
Portland Home Stager, Pangaea, shares how the broker, the seller, and the home stager teamed up to get this Portland, Oregon Home SOLD in ONE DAY to the first person who saw it!
I would just love to take all of the credit for this, but as I have said before, it takes a team to successfully sell a home. With properties languishing on the market for months and months at a time, it seems like a miracle that a home could sell so fast. So, here is what each person did.
The Broker:
The Home Stager:
The Seller:
Now here's the success story that shows that all three pieces are what sold this home ---
Two weeks prior to going on the market, the broker put out a "pre-listing" notice so people would know it was coming up. She connected with another broker who had a buyer ready to buy! They went to see the house, contract in hand ready to write an offer, before the painting and staging work had been done. As soon as the buyer saw that the "master" bedroom was downstairs, they changed their mind and passed on the house.
So, to prepare the home, I had the seller remove clutter & older, unattractive furniture. Also had her paint the kitchen in a warm sand color and paint the cabinets white, plus update the hardware. The main floor bedroom had a futon in it. Because of the arms on the futon, when it was folded down to be a bed, the arms protruded into the space enough to make it very tight and to "scream" that it was a guest room. Although I had recommeded painting a lighter color in the bedroom, time & money made us decide to go with the existing color. The seller's white bedding made the dark walls seem even darker. So I used darker bedding more befitting of a "master" bedroom, and added art & throw pillows that tied in with the green but in lighter shades.
So, after the property was staged, professional photos were taken that day and put online asap! An open house was held the next day. According to the broker, the very first person who walked in bought the home. Happy Ending!!
Here are before & after photos for you to enjoy. "After Photos" courtesy of Rachel Weinstein rachelweinstein@comcast.net
Portland based, Pangaea Interior Design, offers home staging, interior design, and redesign services in the greater metropolitan area. If you value professionalism, a collaborative approach and results, then please call or email for an appointment to get your listing ready for the market! 503.816.4394 design@pangaea-id.com Pangaea Interior Design
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Portland Oregon Interior Designer & Home Stager, Pangaea, stages your home to sell with style and flair that will wow your buyers! Call 503-816-4394
Visit us at www.pangaea-id.com for a full staging and interior design portfolio
Pangaea Interior Design offers a wide range of services in HOME STAGING and INTERIOR DESIGN. Both of these areas require a great eye for style, color and proportion. But they do differ in their focus. If you are a seller or broker interested in preparing a home for sale, check out the section on HOME STAGING. If you want help with the decor of a home for you to live in then skip on down to the section on INTERIOR DESIGN.
HOME STAGING
In the current market with so many properties for buyers to choose from, it is more important than ever to make your property be a stand out! We believe in working as a team with sellers and brokers to identify and provide what your specific property needs to show it to it's best advantage.
VACANT PROPERTIES
If you have a vacant property for sale, just take a look at what staging can do! Because "one picture is worth a thousand words" these before and after photos will give you an idea of the transformation that occurs when starting with even the nicest empty room.
OUR MISSION
We want to give you the best competitive edge that staging can provide to sell your home fast and for the best price possible.
If you’ve already bought your new home, or simply decided to stay put, we want to help you create a serene haven that makes you feel happy to be at home. Read on for details on our home staging, interior design, model home and redesign services.
STAGING VACANT PROPERTIES
With buyers having so many properties to choose from in the current market, you’ll want to be sure to do everything you can to make your property stand out from the competition. Each property is unique and Pangaea Interior Design works with sellers and brokers to identify and enhance the best features of your home while minimizing challenging areas. Specializing in a serene and contemporary aesthetic, we have a beautiful inventory of furnishings featuring clean lines and including designer pieces and original art that will enhance virtually any home. Check out our vacant home staging portfolio.
STAGING OCCUPIED PROPERTIES
At Pangaea Interior Design, we know this can be a stressful time for sellers, and that each person's needs are unique. We have a full range of services to give you the level of service that's right for you.
Consultation and Written Staging Plan:
A perfect solution for FSBO sellers and do-it-yourself enthusiasts. This fully customized, step-by-step, room-by-room plan guides you through staging each room in your house as well as the exterior areas. Written for your specific house, this plan includes photos, sketches and diagrams to make it a breeze for you to do a professional staging job. And, optionally, our team of professional stagers are available to come handle the finishing touches when you're ready.
Occupied House Full Staging Service:
Our team of trained staging professionals stage your entire home working with your own belongings. With an objective eye, they edit and rearrange your own furnishings and accessories to create a spacious and inviting feel that will appeal to buyers. You'll be amazed at the transformation! Furniture and accessories from our own inventory are also available for lease to supplement as needed. Take a look at our occupied home staging portfolio to see what a difference staging makes!
MODEL HOME STAGING & DESIGN A great model home is the key to providing the WOW factor that moves a person from "just looking" to BUYING!! It's important to have a savvy designer who understands how to pull together a spectacular look that fires the imagination and dreams of your prospective buyers while highlighting the architecture and great design features of the home. Pangaea Interior Design draws on our marketing and merchandising background as well as Interior Design know-how and staging training to create a model home that really sells those properties. For a view of a few of our models, take a look at our model home portfolio.
REDESIGN
What is it? Simply put, redesign is the art of editing and rearranging the belongings you already have to give a fresh new look to your existing rooms. Who would benefit from redesign? Lots of people! Maybe you like your furniture and accessories, but somehow your rooms just 'don't feel right' to you. Or, possibly you've just moved to a new home and are having to try to figure out how to use the belongings from your former home in this new space. It can be a challenge. Maybe you'd like to move ... but for now that just isn't possible ... so a redesign can make your home feel like a new one. You'll be surprised just how different your home can be! Hiring a pro to do your redesign makes sense. Most of us grow used to seeing and thinking of our rooms and belongings in a certain way. A professional redesigner has the objectivity to look at your home and belongings in a new and fresh way. We are also experts at furniture arrangement for difficult or awkward rooms. Our sense of scale and proportion also help us improve the feel and balance of a room. Ultimately, your rooms will feel less cluttered ... more serene! Call for our redesign rates at 503-816-4394
INTERIOR DESIGN SERVICES
Environment + Vision + Lifestyle
Pangaea --- The condo looks fabulous! What an amazing work of art! I can't tell you how dazzled we were by your work ... simply fantastic. So far we've had many, many calls regarding the property this morning: that's what we wanted! Thanks again, --- Mindy Haidle, Meadows Group Realtors, Inc. Portland, OR
Pangaea --- Once again, fabulous! Just as we envisioned, the studio looks great and utilizes the space perfectly. Your professionalism and attention to detail is just what I was looking for. I had an opportunity to share our "open house" experience with the sellers this morning and they cannot wait to see the "after" results. I am so pleased that Kei referred us ... it's going to be a wonderful partnership. Thanks again. --- Peggy Scott, Coldwell Banker Barbara Sue Seal Properties
Wanted to send you the good news that we received and accepted an offer on the condo you staged in the Bridgeport: Yeah! ... The woman who wrote the offer had seen the condo before it was staged and literally didn't recognize it. She didn't believe us that it was the same, exact unit. Needless to say, it made an enormous difference, all thanks to you. ... Again, thank you so much for the fabulous service and aesthetic vision: we feel immensely indebted to your good taste and stock of lovely furniture. Be sure to pass along this anecdotal marketing story for future clients to see the difference staging can make for bland listings. Warmly, --- Mindy Haidle Meadows Group Realtors, Inc. Portland, OR
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
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