Photos from Sandi Gerrard, CRSS
Brigadier - Toronto Police Horse, killed in the line of duty last year (credit Anne de Haas, photographer)Located in: Toronto, ON
Consumers should be cautious of products that claim to be GREEN but are actually not. The colour of the packaging is often very misleading. Some products simply haven't been around long enough to test the long term effects of them in the environment or in the body. This very informative article by Holly O'Dell (for Sherwin-Williams) is a real eye-opener.
http://www.swstir.com/use.do?method=article&id=761
They call it "greenwashing" and include a link to a site where you can report such misleading products -
http://www.greenwashingindex.com/
The land is cleared, the hole is dug and the builders throw the bricks and drywall together. Where trees once swayed in the breeze, now suddenly stands a HOUSE. The people come, some like what they see and buy the HOUSE. On moving day the trucks arrive, the boxes pile high, the furniture goes in and the HOUSE is then full. The lights go on, the meals are cooked and the family comes and goes.
They tell their friends "we bought a HOUSE" ... "come see our new HOUSE" ... "visit our HOUSE" !
The years go by, time passes and the family grows. They plant some trees that now sway in the breeze. But now the HOUSE needs some help ... it's no longer shiny and new. Repairs, upgrades and paint, more furniture and lots more stuff !
Time marches on again, the kids are grown, they leave the nest in the shade of the tree and the HOUSE feels empty. It's much too big for just mom and dad. Maybe we should sell the HOUSE, they muse ... So out comes the paint again, a few more repairs, some expert staging (of course) and the HOUSE is listed. The "For Sale" sign sits on the lawn in front of the HOUSE. Potential buyers look at the HOUSE and then suddenly the HOUSE is sold.
It's time to pack up and leave this HOUSE. Everyone seems so sad. Mom just can't bear to leave her old HOME now. But wait ... when did this HOUSE become a HOME?
It's not the bricks, the drywall or paint.
It's not the furniture, books and games.
It's not the laundry, dishes and clutter.
It is truly the memories and treasures of a lifetime of love, sharing and caring that made that old HOUSE a HOME. No wonder it's so difficult to leave behind ...
The following two items were found on the HGTV.ca website. Once again, they are a great source of information and fun tools for homeowners and home stagers alike.
Buying a Home? Take this QUIZ to see if you have good house-hunting etiquette.
Selling your Home? Take this QUIZ to see if you are a buyer's nightmare !
Has the cold weather got you stuck indoors? Tired of looking at those four walls. Is your room stuck in a rut?
Treat yourself to a room makeover - in an hour or in a day.
Got an hour to kill? Remove all accessories from your mantel, bookcase or table tops. Group similar items together - candles, books, plants. Try arranging them differently. Look for similar items in other rooms and create interesting vignettes with items that work well together. Are your accent cushions patterned on one side only? Try the solid colour instead. Change your lampshades. The possibilities are endless. And remember - when it comes to accessorizing, LESS is MORE. It's good to declutter a bit.
Got a whole day to spare? Remove everything from the room except your largest pieces of furniture. Yes EVERYTHING - including the artwork, lamps and end tables. Now go ahead and try a different spot for that sofa. Go on, don't be timid. Create a cosy conversation grouping, and slowly rebuild your room by adding in the other furnishings. Shop your home for other possibilities. Maybe a smaller coffee table works best, or different lamps. Switch rugs. Group your art by theme. You'll be able to hang more without it looking crowded.
Totally renewed and refreshed, and you didn't have to buy anything at all. Are you happy with the results?
BEFORE (above) and AFTER (below)
I say that often. Each and every time we complete a redesign, in fact. The client's reaction reinforces the feeling:
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I can't tell you enough how absolutely thrilled I am with my new space. I love the basement with my two leather pieces down there. I can actually see myself spending time down there, now that it's so inviting and comfortable.
It looks amazing! I can't believe what you and your team did with my living room and dining room. Throughout the past few years my best friend and I have rearranged my furniture on numerous occasions and we both take pride in our decorating savvy. I have to tell you, we would never have come up with the ideas you did for placement of my furniture, lights, pictures etc. It feels so much lighter and I actually feel like I've gained square footage. You've made my living space look larger, I never thought that could be accomplished!
Thank you again Sandi, it was great to meet you and I will definitely be recommending you to anyone I know that's thinking they'd like a redesign of their home.
Heather
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Interior ReDesign & Home Staging services in Brampton, Mississauga and surrounding areas * Professional Training Courses in ReDesign & Staging * Color Consultations
"let us turn the place you live ... into the place you love"
Are you always searching for that special place to unwind at the end of a busy day? We can create that space for you, in your own home, with your own things.
A professional redesign can give you MORE ... for LESS
Interior ReDesign specializes in one day room makeovers and home staging. With our experience and training, and the insight gained from our in-depth consultation with you, we will carefully assess your home and your needs. Your rooms will then be redesigned to give you a refreshing new look - a look that will showcase your favorite pieces and create a restful space that truly reflects your personality and lifestyle.
Sandi Gerrard is the owner and creative force behind "FEEL AT HOME".
She is a Certified ReDesign & Staging
Specialist (CRSS)
, President of the Canadian ReDesigners Association (CRDA), a CRDA Approved Instructor, and Mentor for the Ontario Region.
Sandi is a member of Roaring Women, Company of Women and Women Can Do Anything. She has been a workshop instructor for The Learning Annex, and her articles are regularly featured in the Brampton Guardian newspaper, and she has also been published in the Burlington Post's ON Site magazine and on Toronto.com.
Sandi and one of her CRDA colleagues were recently quoted in an article in the Globe and Mail Real Estate Section, entitled "Tricks to make small spaces seem bigger", on August 22, 2008.
Sandi was nominated as "Community Star of the Week" for her efforts on behalf of Ovarian Cancer Canada (formerly known as the National Ovarian Cancer Association), in The Brampton News, October 12, 2006.
Sandi appeared on Rogers Cable 10 "Daytime" with Daru Dhillon on December 6, 2006 to promote the "Havens for Healing" project.
Sandi is a frequent contributor to the Brampton Guardian Showcase section, featuring home decor and real estate staging articles.
Sandi's article on "ReDesign saves time & money" appeared on TheBramptonNews.com "Home Sense" section on November 7, 2006.
Sandi's article on "Downsizing for Seniors" was featured in the Brampton Guardian Showcase section on May 10, 2006.
Sandi was the "Featured Professional" on the international website InteriorRedesignDirectory.com for the month of May, 2006.
Click HERE to read my profile on Roaring Women.
Click HERE to read my other BLOG
Interior ReDesign can give you a fresh new look in just one day. You already have what it takes to instill a sense of pride in your home. Let us help you show it off in a beautiful and functional way. The art of redesign is guided by the elements of space planning, colour, balance and harmony to create interior spaces that truly invite you home.
Home Staging can give you that much needed competitive edge in a tough market. Let us stage your home for sale. We'll clear the clutter, and focus on the architectural selling features. A professional home stager can help you increase the value of your home and sell quickly for top dollar.
Moving is always a stressful time. Let us help - we'll visit your new home to determine furniture placement. We'll accessorize and hang your art in an effort to help ease the confusion. You will feel settled in just one day. We can make it fit or fill the void.
5 DAY PROFESSIONAL TRAINING COURSE
This intensive hands-on program in Interior ReDesign and Home Staging will provide you with the information and skills needed to start your own business. You will experience 3 days of actual redesign work in real client's homes, giving you the chance to apply what you learn as you go. We will cover, step by step, the entire redesign process including consultation and follow up. One full day will be dedicated to redesign theory and home staging principles. Another full day of practical advice on business start-up, sales & marketing, networking and self promotion will give you the confidence to go forward.
Upon successful completion you will become a Certified ReDesign & Staging Specialist (CRSS) and a member of the Canadian ReDesigners Association (CRDA).
You will also receive a complete reference manual which includes all of the course content and sample business forms.
Mentoring and Regional Meetings for continued learning and support after completion of the course.
Class size is limited to 6 participants. An early registration discount is offered.
"When I came home on Friday, opened the front door and saw the transformation of our living room/dining room, I said WOW!!!!And then I just stood there taking it all in. Not only did it look great, it exuded calmness and my husband said "Now I can breathe!" I was amazed at how well our furniture worked with the pieces I brought back from Sweden after my mother's passing. I am now eager to entertain again!"
"I can't tell you enough how absolutely thrilled I am with my new space. I love the basement with my two leather pieces down there. I can actually see myself spending time down there, now that it's so inviting and comfortable. It looks amazing! I can't believe what you and your team did with my living room and dining room. Throughout the past few years my best friend and I have rearranged my furniture on numerous occasions and we both take pride in our decorating savvy. I have to tell you, we would never have come up with the ideas you did for placement of my furniture, lights, pictures etc. It feels so much lighter and I actually feel like I've gained square footage. You've made my living space look larger, I never thought that could be accomplished!"
"Thank you so much for the beautiful transformation on my living room / dining room. I can't believe the difference. It was so overbearing and crowded and you managed to open up the space and make it inviting. I wouldn't even sit in my living room because it felt so closed in. Now we are all enjoying the new set up. Thank you again. Great job - every detail!"
"I am LOVING my newly redesigned home! That is exactly what it feels like now - HOME!"
"Words cannot explain the feeling we had when we saw our home. We were absolutely amazed by the work that was done. Our house was transformed into a warm and welcoming HOME! We want to thank you for the excellent work you did. You really touched on all the aspects that were important to us as a new couple and put pieces of our individual lives together so that they made sense. We now love our HOME! Thank you."
"Thank you for the great work you did preparing my listing for the market. What a difference a few hours can make. I was truly impressed!"
"My listing sold within 24 hours, thanks to Sandi's consultation and suggestions - which the home owner followed to the letter."
"Sandi worked with us to reduce the clutter and redefine the rooms prior to listing our home for sale. Implementing the suggested changes brought a sophisticated look to some dated décor. Our house sold in just 3 days !"
"What a pleasure it was working with you. Your professional touches and recommendations for the re-placement of furniture and de-cluttering make a significant impact in the rooms, which makes them more attractive to the buyers."
"Thank you so much for all your terrific suggestions to prepare our home for sale. What a difference these changes have made. We will highly recommend you to anyone that is planning on selling."
"Sandi's redesign service and helpful suggestions gave my living room the finishing touch that it lacked."
"When we recently sold our family home and moved into a smaller space, Sandi Gerrard not only did an inspired job of staging our house for sale, but she also gave us invaluable design advice for our new place, including which furniture to take, how to arrange it and tips on colour and soft furnishings. In addition, she and Andraya found the perfect places to hang our favourite art work. As a result of all their help, our new place looks fabulous and already feels like home!"
"I can't believe the changes you made. My house looks so beautiful - I wish I didn't have to sell at all."
"I can't tell you how grateful I am for the redesign you did on our family room. You managed to take a room that I literally was too embarrassed about to walk through (let alone sit in) and make it welcoming and spacious. All this while using what I already had in the room and elsewhere in my home. Fantastic work!"
"It was a welcome surprise coming home to see what Sandi had done in our family room. We had struggled with the layout of that room for many years, and in 2 hours with her keen sense of style she created a more open and inviting space."
"What a nice change. My room looks more spacious. I just can't believe it."
"We were so pleased with the results of the redesign. Our living room was much more inviting - ready for entertaining; and our dining room seemed brighter and more spacious. Even the children noticed the difference!"
"Sandi and her creative team made my dining room and living room much more inviting and attractive. Before they transformed both rooms, I had planned to buy some new furniture, but now the rooms 'work' with older pieces that were either rearranged or 'rediscovered' in
other parts of the house. They found hidden gems within my home and brought a fresh, artistic perspective to the space."
"I just knew something needed to be done to the brick fireplace in our family room. It looked very dated and the dull brown brick made the room seem dark and uninviting. Sandi painted all brickwork a cream colour to match the walls and then Andraya set to work giving the cement hearth and mantel a warm faux marble finish. This fireplace is now the focal point of our room, as it was meant to be. My friends and neighbours were awed by the dramatic results."
"All I can say is WOW. I was very impressed with what you did. I loved the arrangement of the sitting room. When I finally was able to relax a bit, I noticed that the room felt very comfortable."
"I was overwhelmed with excitement and emotion. The second I walked into my house it felt like HOME for the first time. You worked some magic in my place. Thank you all very much for the special care you took in transforming my house into my functional and flowing home."
"The mural looks wonderful !! Meggy loves her tree. She plays knock-knock on the little door and has imaginary picnics with her bears on the 'grass'."
Thank you so much for the beautiful transformation on my living room / dining room. I can't believe the difference. It was so overbearing and crowded and you managed to open up the space and make it inviting. I wouldn't even sit in my living room because it felt so closed in. Now we are all enjoying the new set up. Thank you again. Great job - every detail!
"I can't tell you enough how absolutely thrilled I am with my new space. I love the basement with my two leather pieces down there. I can actually see myself spending time down there, now that it's so inviting and comfortable."
"It looks amazing! I can't believe what you and your team did with my living room and dining room. Throughout the past few years my best friend and I have rearranged my furniture on numerous occasions and we both take pride in our decorating savvy. I have to tell you, we would never have come up with the ideas you did for placement of my furniture, lights, pictures etc. It feels so much lighter and I actually feel like I've gained square footage. You've made my living space look larger, I never thought that could be accomplished! Thank you again Sandi, it was great to meet you and I will definitely be recommending you to anyone I know that's thinking they'd like a redesign of their home."
...ladybug ladybug fly away HOME
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