Marybeth Barrett

This is a question I got asked and answered for my Down Home DIY April Column in Forsyth Family Magazine. I wanted to share these helpful staging tips for those getting ready to put their house on the market.

Dear Down Home DIY,
We are getting ready to sell our home this Spring. Do you have any tips on getting it ready?
Sincerely,
Joy, aka Spring Seller

This is a photo of the room before we got our client's S.O.S. call to help stage their house.

Dear Spring Seller,
I commend you on being so proactive. Many people wait until their home is vacant before they start thinking about staging, which can be a very costly mistake. Staging a home is a great return on your investment. According to Staging Report on Home Gain, you can get at 343% return on your investment (ROI). Do a Google search for "Home Staging Return on Investment" and you will consistently find a very high ROI.

Where to begin? The first step is to get in the right frame of mind. You need to start looking at your house as a product, not your prized possession. You need to market and showcase that product in the best way possible. You need an S.O.S. action plan; which is to Simplify, Organize and Spruce It Up. Here are some quick tips on how to get it sold.

This is a photo of the room after we rearranged and streamlined the furniture to create a warm and inviting vignette to help stage the home to sell.

Simplify

• Determine and showcase the house's assets and highlight these areas, whether it is a bonus room, golf course view, etc. On the flip side, downplay the negatives like a bad view or small spaces.


• Remove excess furniture--you want the space to feel as expansive as possible.


• Reduce clutter by half. Have a garage sale or rent a storage unit to help purge. Buyers are distracted if you have too much stuff and can't look past it and visualize themselves in the house.


• Kitchens and baths are big selling points, so showcase that counter space by removing all personal items, appliances, etc. Visit a model home and take note of how these rooms are decorated. Minimal and clean are key!


• Depersonalize. You are selling the building, not your belongings and beliefs. You should remove family photos and personalized items, as well as any political or religious artifacts.

Organize

• Organize your cupboards, food pantry, linen closets, refrigerator, etc. Purge anything outdated or not needed. Boxes should face the same directions and labels out on cans, products, etc. OCD tendencies work well here.


• Put non-seasonal clothes in storage. Closets should look neat and spacious. Hang clothes facing in the same direction, with like hangers. No wire ones, please. Recycle them at a local dry cleaner.


• On the Go Organizing Tip - If you get a last minute call for a showing, have a laundry basket and storage bin on hand to quickly stash and go. (A must for those with young children)


• Got kids? Keep a ready-made bag filled with snacks, drinks and activities to keep them entertained while you have to vacate the home for a showing or Open House.

Spruce It Up

• A home that is dirty or in need of repair sends a message that the house was not cared for properly. Avoid this by taking care of all maintenance projects like a leaky faucet, repairing any cracks in walls, floors, etc.


• Make floors, windows, walls, showers etc. shine. Hire a cleaning service or crank up your favorite tunes and clean like there is no tomorrow.


• Hire a professional carpet cleaner or replace worn and outdated carpets. It gives the impression of that new home feel.


• Eliminate any strong odors - pets, smoke, dirty shoes are big culprits. And, please don't cook fish inside; use the outdoor grill instead. You don't want your house smelling like an aquarium.
• Set out new, plush towels in the bathrooms for an Open House and individual showings.


• Let there be light! Make sure you have adequate lighting and working light bulbs. Open up all window treatments and blinds to let the sunshine in!


• Don't forget to spruce up the exterior too! Add seasonal flowers, fresh pine straw, etc. Get a new welcome mat to make a good first impression.

Hire a Professional Stager
Addressing Spaces can provide a professional analysis of your home and help you sell it for the most amount of money in the shortest period of time. Our pricing starts at just $75. Interesting fact: the cost to stage a home is typically a lot less than the first price reduction! We come in with an unbiased eye and can help you determine and prioritize what needs to be done. Addressing Spaces can implement and activate your S.O.S. plan to help you outshine your competition and get your house sold ASAP! Yes, I am totally biased, but we are good at what we do.

Happy Staging,

~Marybeth
www.addressingspaces.com
Bringing new life to your decor and more.

Color Trends

Did you know that the state of our economy not only influences our spending habits but also color trends? Who would have thunk it? But, according to color experts at Color Marketing Group the top choices were influenced by our hope and optimism about our future and our deep concern for the current economy. Hmmm, very interesting! Not only do we seek comfort foods, but we are drawn toward seeking comfort in colors too. We are all in a quest for happiness, which is reflected in our color choices. So, according to Color Marketing group we can look for these color trends in 2009:

(While researching this blog topic, I stumbled onto the coolest site called Colour Lovers. This is just one of the many cool color wheel images you will find on the site. After you finish reading my story please take the time to check it out!)

PURPLE- we saw purple as a hot fashion color last fall and as we have seen in the past, decorating often mimics fashion. We will see violets with a gray tint. We should expect plum colored hues, due to hints of red, in a lot of accents and accessories. Color Marketing Group claims "Purple is 2009's must have color". I remember there was a purple stripe throughout the entire carpet at the library of my Alma Mater (Go Providence College!) They said it was supposed to inspire thinking and intellect. I must not have been looking close enough because it didn't work for me. Anyway, check out Benjamin Moore's Summer Plum. Does it make you feel smart?

BLUE - Going "green" has been a big buzzword over the last few years and was represented by the actual color green, just as it is named. But we will now see a wide range of the color blue symbolizing the "Green Movement" It is the New Green. To me it is a natural progression because green and blue symbolizes the earth. It doesn't matter to me whether we use green or blue to symbolize this movement, just as long as we all do our part to save our planet! I love this room by Calico Corners.

BROWNS & GRAYS - We will see both of these, but in cooler tones by adding hints of gray. They will be used as neutrals, as seen below. Now this is speaking my language! I love, love, love the grayish browns partnered with the gray. This is from Shaw Floors and their "Savvy Spaces Collection". Bring it on!

YELLOW- what are we all looking for?...Some new energy to recharge and rebuild the economy. You bet! We will see a lot of bright yellow in 2009. Think yellow mustard! Very vibrant. It's the stand-out accent color for 2009, which concerns me a little. But, I will remain optimistic and keep telling myself that everything is OK in moderation, right? If it is a golden mustard, I am OK with it. But a little French's mustard???...a bit too much for my taste. I do like yellow as showcased in this photo from Bali Blinds.

Pantone, the "global authority on color," has selected Mimosa as the color of the year for 2009. "Mimosa, as in orange-hued yellow". As in Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round, Round and Round... Expect to see this color in home furnishings and accessories. It represents "hope and optimism" which are buzzwords for 2009 due to a year full of volatility in 2008. While I do like an occasional mimosa, I can't see waking up to it every morning. Yowza! "Bus driver, bus driver open the door...I think I'm gonna be sick!"

ORANGES, TURQUOISES/TEALS, REDS, and YELLOWS will provide us with plenty of exotic hues which are inspired by foreign countries such as India, China, and Turkey. Think vibrant thoughts!

WHITE is now a practical color and is showing up everywhere especially in the professional world. Thanks to modern technology, fabrics and textiles are "user friendly" so it is much more workable. It is no longer just for your mother's living room where you aren't allowed to sit in.

MAUVE- Eeek. Mauve is coming back! It will be used as a neutral and we will see it highlighted with all the exotic, bright accents as mentioned above (orange, turquoise, teal, red & yellow). OK, I am seeing a fast forward into the future just a few years down the road where I am staging homes and having to tell the owners to repaint over the mauve before they sell it! Please say it ain't so!

So, there you have it! The good, the bad and the ugly. No matter what the trend, I am all for a little energy and optimism.

If you are interested in learning more about how re:Design, LLC can help you create the perfect color palette for your home, please contact us at www.redesignsource.com or 336.406.7072.

re:Design, LLC

Certified in Interior Redesign, Home Staging and Color

Winston Salem, NC

Bringing new life to your decor and more.

Happy New Year!

I decided to start my new year off with a bang and really challenge myself. The challenge is to see if I can stay out of craft stores for 60 days. I am addicted to craft, thus I spend a lot of time and money in craft stores, much to my husband's dismay. So, I began looking around my workshop, which my husband affectionately calls "AC Moore". I have so many supplies and a number of unfinished projects. I decided that in honor of trying to incorporate as much eco-friendly decorating into my design as I can, that I would challenge myself to stay out of the craft store for at least 60 days. You may not think that is a long time, but it is an eternity for me. I challenge myself to use what I have to create for the next 60 days. That means no more glue, paper, supplies, etc. I can only use what I have. I will post some of my finished projects as I go along. I am actually curious to see what I come up with...I think it will be fun!

Care to join in the fun? Please join me in staying out of the stores and in your workshop. Post your progress along the way and follow my blog at http://redesignsource.com/pages/downhomediyblog.htm

All my best and happy crafting!

Now go create some Down Home DIY!
-Marybeth
re:Design, LLC
www.redesignsource.com

p.s. Dear Craft Stores, I apologize for my absensce, I promise me and my wallet will be back!

CONTACT:

Marybeth Barrett re:Design, LLC 336.406.7072 mb@reDesignSource.com

THE MAYOR'S VOTE IS IN!

LOCAL DESIGNER TAKES TOP AWARDS AT HABITAT EVENT

Marybeth Barrett given Judge's Choice and People's Choice Awards

Winston-Salem, North Carolina (November 4, 2008) - Marybeth Barrett with re:Design, LLC received the Judge's Choice and People's Choice Awards as part of the Third Annual ReStore Spaces Event. Judges for the event included Allen Joines, the Mayor of Winston-Salem, as well as J.R. Snider from WSJS, and Jennifer Shoffner and Ruby Schaefer with Liberty Hardware, one of the sponsors of the event.

The event, hosted by the Winston-Salem Regional Association of REALTORS®, promotes the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, a retail outlet offering consumers bargains on donated building supplies, furniture and appliances. All of the money raised at the event goes to help Habitat build more homes in the community. In total, more than $11,500 was raised to support Habitat for Humanity.

Ms. Barrett was one of eight designers from across the Triad selected to design rooms using donated items found at the Habitat ReStore. Her room, which was the living room, blended a number of styles and repurposed objects into a unique and inviting space.

"Working as a volunteer with the ReStore has taught me to look at everything as though it has potential. I believe that my space reflects that belief...an old vanity light becomes a candleholder on a mantelpiece or cabinet doors as decorative trays on a table," said Ms. Barrett. "I'm grateful that the judges and those attending enjoyed the space and appreciated my creativity."

Adds Ms.Barrett, "My work in interior redesign is not about helping people to spend a lot of money. It's about helping them to use what's on hand with a few new finds to make a room feel personal and inviting. I appreciate having the opportunity to share that as part of the ReStore Spaces Event."

ABOUT RE:DESIGN SOURCE

re:Design, LLC specializes in the art of using what you already have to transform your home without spending a fortune. Certified in Interior Redesign, Staging and Color, Marybeth Barrett and her partners at re:Design, LLC offer full service Interior Decorating, Redesign, Real Estate Staging and Color Consultations. For more information, please visit www.redesignsource.com or call 336.406.7072.

re:Design, LLC- Bringing new life to your décor and more. The eco-friendly way to decorate. We Reuse, Repurpose, Refine and Refresh.

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This was one of my favorite decorative elements for my recent room design for the Habitat For Humanity Restore Spaces event. It was so creative and added just the right amount of sparkle.

What did I do? I simply laid a vanity light flat on its back and added tea light candles. Voila! You have a beautfiul conversation piece!

The biggest compliment on the night of the event was seeing a couple go and purchase a vanity light so they could do the same treatment on their mantel. Awesome! That is exactly the reason that I do what I do...to inspire!

Here are two pix!