For GREAT table top displays, Follow these guidelines

1. Compose your display so that one item dominates. Make sure items are appropriate in  size and scale for the surface. Avoid items that are too big or heavy, or so small they  get lost.

2. Odd numbers work better than even numbers 3 or 5 objects will work better than 2 or 4.

3. Unify a collection of small objects by placing them on a tray.

4. Place objects close enough together so that they are visually related. For example, Don’t spread 3 objects out on a cocktail table, group them together

Studies show that worker productivity goes up, job hopping goes down when work environments are comfortable ,attractive and more like home. So let ShoeString Home Staging & Interior ReDesigns recreate your lobby, offices, board rooms & staff rooms for a more attractive inviting work place.

Colour is a beautiful thing, and it’s an essential tool for anyone working in the  decorating or design industry. What are some of the trends that we are seeing today?  According to Style at Home magazine, Black is back, brights shine, grey’s the new neutral and nature reigns in 2009’s hottest paint colour palettes.

So now is the perfect time to revamp your home’s decor. Giving your walls a fresh paint colour is the most inexpensive surefire way to instantly make over your living space.

Here are some ideas that can help you add comfort and beauty to any space while maintaining your budget.

Paint Those Walls – Without a doubt, painting a room is one of your best and most versatile design tools. Warm colors (red, yellow, and orange) make a room cheery and energetic. Cool colors (blue, green, and violet) convey a cozy, more laid back feel.

Hang Prints Or Mirrors – Prints and other artwork add character to your home. Just viewing a piece that you enjoy can brighten your day. Mirrors are popular because they serve two purposes. First they come in many decorative frames to suit any decorating style. Second, they can make a room appear larger. When you hang a mirror, try to position it so that it reflects an attractive view, such a garden or a dramatic architectural element.

Decorate With Plants – The natural beauty of plants will enliven any room. Check with florists, nurseries, and lawn and garden shops. Also, check with nurseries, lawn and garden shops or stores that carry inexpensive and low maintenance silk plants.

Display Keepsakes In Groups – Perhaps you have collectibles or keepsakes that are similar perhaps in color, theme, or material (e.g., porcelain). If so, don’t sprinkle them around the room. Instead, display them in groups of three’s or five’s. This captivates the eye and adds drama to a room.

Lower The Lights – One of the biggest mistakes that people make is to only use one type of lighting in a room. In doing so the choice is usually “general” lighting which illuminates the whole room. It’s okay to have general lighting available, but only use it when necessary. The good news is that there are plenty of inexpensive lighting solutions.

Try The Unexpected – When you’re decorating on a budget, you have to stretch your creativity. Just about any object can be used for a purpose other than for which it was originally intended. For example, if your glass coffee table has became outdated. Instead of replacing it entirely, keep the glass top and placed two large, earthy pots beneath it. The effect is surprising, wonderful, and unique. Maybe that incomplete set of three colorful, rustic dinner plates you saw might have added texture and color to your walls if they were displayed together.

Send Out Cards is a wonderful new concept and service that is changing peoples lives one card at a time.

When was the last time you sent a “Thinking of You” card to someone you care about, or a simple Thank you or expression of appreciation?

Here is a wonderful way to send an unexpected card at an unexpected time!  Never forget special occasions! You can use this to motivate, uplift, encourage and truly make a differance!

Create a  client database for your business and send out your annual cards quickly and easily with no hassle or stress.

You can send a printed greeting card with your  own message in Less than 60 Seconds.

• Choose your card
• Write your message
• Click send

SendOutCards prints it, stuffs it and mails it, (with a real stamp on it)  all for less than a greeting card at the store.

You can even upload a picture from your own computer and place it in the card… It is a fun, easy and stress free way to put back the personal in sending a greeting card!

Test Drive before you buy!  Send one card for FREE!

Call 1-866-703-0809 and ask for my assistant Cathy to help you get started today

When you get ready to place a home on the market it becomes a product.  Similar to the items on the shelves of your local store, each product has features and benefits, pluses and minuses, as well as competition.

To compete in the marketplace, a product must be priced correctly and packaged better than competing products. Houses are no different.

As one of many properties for sale, your house must be packaged and presented to prospective buyers to highlight all the benefits – space, traffic flow, curb appeal and overall ambience.

Before                After

Professionally Staged Properties:
• Look better than others on the market
• Sell faster
• Typically sell for more money
• Look better in print and internet ads
• Receive more foot traffic
• End up on a buyer’s “must see” list
• Are viewed by buyers as “well maintained”
• Are viewed as “well maintained” by Appraisers
• Are often appraised at a higher values
Are “move in ready”

I need someone to help me to identify priorities and develop strategies that focused on developing my business and at the same time allowed me to reach my goals.

So I hired a “personal coach”.  I wasn’t exactly sure of the whole idea at first, but learned that a coach is someone that takes you step-by-step as you work on your business, personal life, management and leadership.

I signed up for 3 months with Coach Cathy of Coaching with Cathy.  The 3 months were most extraordinary!  It felt good to know that I had someone in my corner that you could bounce ideas off of, who was not judgmental or critical.  Someone who could get you back on track, even when things looked like they were overwhelming and uncertain.

I highly recommend hiring a “personal coach” to help you tap into your inner voice, and stay focused on your priorities.  In doing so you will be able to pursue your passion, whatever it may be.

“It was great fun coming home tonight to see our house. We felt like we were on one of those “Flip this House” TV shows without the camera recording our reactions. We think the house looks great! ”

]]> http://shoestringinteriorredesigns.com/blog/maximize-your-homes-potential/feed/ 0 http://shoestringinteriorredesigns.com/blog/home-staging-can-improve-the-value-of-your-house/ http://shoestringinteriorredesigns.com/blog/home-staging-can-improve-the-value-of-your-house/#comments Sun, 18 May 2008 04:38:07 +0000 Shoestring Interior Redesigns http://www.shoestringinteriorredesigns.com/blog/home-staging-can-improve-the-value-of-your-house/ As some first time buyers get priced out of the market and the housing market starts to slow a little, home owners may be reconsidering whether to sell or if already on the market may be thinking about reducing the price to encourage buyer interest.

Kym Tarr of ShoeString Interior ReDesigns says ‘If you prepare your property well before you put it on the market you will greatly improve the chances of achieving the asking price and your chances of selling quickly. If already on the market your home could benefit from a staging makeover which could turn the next viewing into a sale.’

ShoeString Home Staging offers a variety of services including consultations, detailed reports which suggest actions such as reducing or re-organizing some of the furniture & personal items. To on site staging where we utilize what you have or bring in our own inventory to accessorize rooms to create a more harmonious effect.

Home Staging before or after putting the house on the market?

Ideally a home should be professionally presented before being valued and marketed. This is common practice in the United States where Real Estate Agents have proved the increased value of property and speed of sales where properties are presented well. However in this country we are lagging behind a little, many home owners suffer from having to show around more viewers than necessary before they clinch the sale.

Buyers agree that when a house is not up to the standard they expect, they try to bargain price for the ‘work’ they perceive they will need to do. The solution is therefore to make the house as appealing as possible before the first buyer steps a foot over the threshold. Get the presentation right and the offers will follow.