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Pangaea Interior Design Home Stager - Redesign - Model Homes

Baby It's Cold Outside! Portland Interior Designer, "Pangaea's Picks" - Top Ten Fireplaces

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.

Suspended Fireplace by Harry LeendersSuspended Fireplace by Harry Leenders - close-up

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.

Ecosmart fireplace

3. This Eurofocus has nice clean lines and is angled to look great in a corner.

Eurofocus angled corner fireplace

4. Rais is just a simple and lovely, minimal design.

Rais basic fireplace

5. What top ten list would be complete without the modern classic Fireorb suspended fireplace?

Fireorb modern classic suspended fireplace

continue reading ...

Information & Entertainment: Home Stager & Interior Designer Uses Her Blog to Benefit Past Clients & Business Contacts

slapping my foreheadIt 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 Staging Success: Sold in One Day in THIS MARKET!! See How ...

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:

  • Counseled the seller regarding the importance of condition and presentation of the home.
  • Expertly assessed the right pricing for the property
  • Referred the seller to the Home Stager
  • Hired a professional photographer to take great photos for the listing

The Home Stager:

  • Started by asking the broker for any special concerns or negatives about the property - master bedroom not on the main floor was an issue.The bedroom on the main floor looked very crowded & wall color was dark.
  • Scheduled and performed a thorough "Walk & Talk" consultation for the seller with specifics about what needed to be done and why.
  • Empowered the seller to know that she couid accomplish everything by prioritizing and showing specific examples to take out any guesswork.
  • Provided additional furnishings / art / accessories and returned to do the final staging.

The Seller:

  • Trusted her professionals and committed to doing everything recommended by her broker and home stager.
  • Rolled up her sleeves and worked hard!

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

Portland living room before home staging

portland stairwell before stagingPortland living room before home staging

Portland living room after staging

portland dining area after staging

Portland living room after staging, second view

portland kitchen before painting and home staging

portland kitchen after painting and home staging

portland guest bedroom before staging as master bedroom

Portland guest bedroom staged as the master bedroom

Paint Color to Sell Your Home - It isn't White!! Portland Home Stager Shares Paint Color Tips

For decades, the conventional wisdom when getting ready to sell your house was to paint all the walls back to white. But that is SO yesterday! White .... the color of snow & ice ... does absolutely nothing to warm up a house. It doesn't highlight architectural features and it doesn't enhance the colors of your wood, granite or other finishes. To sell your property today, you need to use soft warm decorator colors that are current. That way they not only look beautiful in the home, but will go with the existing furnishings of your prospective buyers and remind them of the beautiful new furnishings and colors they have been eyeing at the stores in anticipation of their new home.

devine olive devine mocha devine reflection devine cocoa devine birch

A professional paint color consultation by an Accredited Staging Professional will help you paint out the colors that turn buyers off and select ones that appeal to them.

Accent Walls: Do you know which walls should be accented? Where should the accent color start and stop? An accent wall can create or enhance a focal point or it can highlight architectural interest. It might be the wall with the fireplace, built in shelving, or the wall that soars up two stories. Selecting the wrong wall for your accent can pull focus away from important features of your house or even make a room feel unbalanced, which most people sense as a vague feeling of discomfort in the room, even if they can't put their finger on why it feels that way.

Red Walls: I'm afraid that the news here is you need to paint those out! Although many people like to paint dining rooms red, and I see them all the time, red walls stop most buyers in their tracks. Any broker will tell you ... well, they'll tell you if they aren't afraid of losing your listing by offending you ... that they get negative feedback when showing properties that have bold red walls of any shade. Red is a tough sell. Why leave something in your home that has the potential to turn off so many people? A good stager can mitigate some of that impact through the use of art and accessories ... but doing both the painting and the staging will give you the most attractive results.
The same goes for any bright, bold or "too deep" colors. If the color names "sunny yellow" "hunter green" "peach" "federal blue" "maroon" or "burgundy" can be used to describe any of your rooms, then a paint color consultation is in your future.
Don't take it personally, and don't fool yourself, into thinking the colors can stay because guests in your home over the years "always say they love my: bright yellow kitchen, red dining room, hunter green family room, _________________ "(fill in the blank with your personal boldly colored room). The problem here is that when guests come over they aren't thinking of living in your house! And I too, would have to paint out my own accent walls if I put my house on the market. It has nothing to do with having good or bad taste. It's all about wide appeal.

The "Right" Colors:
If I could tell you here the exact colors to use, I would do it ... but it isn't that simple. When I choose paint colors for a property going on the market, I look at the wood tones in floors, doors & moldings, and also consider any finishes such as granite colors, fireplace stones, carpeting, tiles, amount of light and exterior house colors as well. The colors of the house should flow from the outside to the inside and the colors in all rooms should work well enough together (not change radically) so that as you walk through the property, you always feel you are in the same house.
Colors that are soft and a little "smoky" or "creamy" work better than very pure colors. Think of colors like toast - caramel - taupe - sage & muted water colors.

Finishes: The right finish - satin - eggshell - flat - will make a difference too. In general flat, or matte finishes are very forgiving if your walls are not in perfect condition. They also look the most "true" to color because they don't reflect a lot of light. Satin or eggshell finish paints have a little more of a sheen to them. They show imperfections in the walls so you need to prep your walls more carefully. They are very good for kitchen & baths where the walls may need to be cleaned more often. Use semi-gloss for moldings. High Gloss paint is generally best for painting cabinetry.

Sustainable: Remember to select paints that are "Green" --- no I don't mean the color! There's just no excuse not to use paints with zero or low VOC's. They are readily available and only run about $5 mor per gallon than the ones with the nasty chemicals. Your prospective buyers will be happy that they don't smell your new paint, and most of them will consider it a positive point about your property. Devine Color and Yolo Colorhouse are two locally produced, eco-friendly paint lines and I recommend them both! The paint color samples at the top of this post are from Devine Color. Both brands are sold at Powell Paint Center in Portland.

If you are in the Portland area and are getting ready to sell, call for your professional paint color consultation! Or, if you just want to freshen up your home, then a paint color consultation can help you select the right colors for your personal taste and style.

Call today at 503.816.4394

View our portfolio at Pangaea Interior Design.

Pangaea Interior Design is a full service design firm offering:

  • Paint Color Selection
  • Home Staging
  • Space Planning
  • Window Treatments
  • Re-Design
  • Durable Finishes Selection
  • Custom Furniture Design

Choosing Wood Flooring: Sustainable Options Underfoot

Portland Interior Designer, Pangaea, shares tips on choosing sustainable wood flooring for your home.

Whether you love the rich reds of mahogany and cherry, the pale brightness of maple, hickory and birch, or the deep and dark loveliness of walnut, there is a wood floor for you! Living in Oregon, I have a real appreciation for trees and the fabulous resource they are when managed well. Yesterday I attended the monthly meeting of the Interior Design Society, Portland chapter. We were hosted by Tualatin's Treadline Construction, specializing in hardwood flooring. I'd like to share just a few tips on choosing hardwood flooring and some very nice sustainable options.

Wood flooring in deep red mahogany stain. Pangaea Interior Design shows light wood flooring Deep ebony stained flooring shown by Pangaea Interior Designer, Pangaea
photos courtesy of US Floors

1. The color, grain, size of planks, and character of wood can set the tone for the look of your home just as effectively as your furnishings. So, choose a look that will work with the style of your home's architecture and furnishings. Wide planks of reclaimed wood with the patina of years of use fit beautifully in a casual style, traditional home. In a contemporary space, I love the look of narrow strips of palest birch or maple, or the deepest color of "ebonized" ash. Rich mahogany or cherry seem to evoke a feel of rich elegance.

Portland Interior Designer shows Contemporary Looking Hardwood floor Interior Designer shows example of casual rustic hardwood floor

Pecan wood floor shown by portland interior designer, pangaea Pangaea Interior Design shows walnut flooring.
photos courtesy of Stone River Hardwoods


2. Select wood not only by it's color and grain, but by the area and use for which it is intended. All trees are not created equal. Some are much harder than others. If you have a high traffic area, children or pets, you'll be better off with a wood which has a higher rating for "hardness". They will all scratch & scuff with enough abuse ... high heels and dog's claws are no friends of wood ... but the harder the wood, the better it will hold up. Brazilian Cherry is one of the hardest woods which is readily available in flooring. The experts at Treadline have a chart that compares all the types of wood and can give great advice on the most suitable wood for your application.

3. Wood is generally considered to be a "green" option because it is renewable. To be sustainable though, be sure the wood you are buying is certified as being sustainably harvested. There are a number of certifications out there, but at the moment, the only one that will get you LEED points (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification. Other sustainable practices include harvesting dead or dying trees, sunken logs, or using reclaimed or recycled wood from old buildings.

A couple of particularly notable options in sustainable wood flooring are:

Cork: Cork flooring is made by taking bark from trees without killing the tree. The bark grows back and can be harvested repeatedly ... a little bit like shearing a sheep for wool. Aside from being a wonderful sustainable option, cork is beautiful and is extra cushiony under your feet. It comes in quite an array of colors and with a range of looks from very fine grains to large inlaid pieces which are very striking.

Interior designer shows example of exotic cork flooring. portland interior designer shows example of heavily patterned cork flooring fine grain cork flooring. Interior designer, Pangaea shows example of very pale cork flooring.
photos courtesy of US Floors

Bamboo: If it has been awhile since you looked at Bamboo flooring, check it out again. There are several new looks on the market including very narrow strips which look quite contemporary and also an end-cut mosaic pattern of tiny rectangles. Bamboo is rapidly renewable, but some manufacturers use formaldehyde in the process, so look for bamboo flooring that is formaldehyde free.

end grain natural bamboo flooring New bamboo mosaic flooring bamboo flooring in deep midnight stain
photos courtesy of Allwood Flooring


Wood is a beautiful flooring option that feels great under your feet and adds value to your home. With proper care it will last a very long time. For help with choosing flooring or anything else for your home, please contact me at 503.816.4394, or email me at design@pangaea-id.com. You can see my portfolio online at Pangaea Interior Design.