Although it's not my primary line of work, I recently staged a home for a client who was planning to put her home on the market. The plan was long-term; there was no need for an immediate move, and the client had plenty of time for renovations.

 

In this particular case, the staging and preparation for showing her home included two bathroom renovations, a complete interior paint job, an evaluation and placement of the client’s existing furnishings and accessories, and selection of new furniture pieces and accessories to create an appealing look that would not come across as either too fussy or too crowded.

 

The house was open and contemporary, with a kitchen that needed only some minor carpentry work and repairs, but with a master bathroom and guest bathroom that were very dark and dated. The client was amenable to gutting the bathrooms, and I selected tile, granite, vanities and plumbing fixtures that created a neutral, light and airy feeling in each bath. I also redesigned the master bathroom to allow for a good size walk-in closet off the master bedroom, which I felt would excite prospective home buyers.

 

For paint specs, we went with warm neutrals that would appeal to just about any potential buyer, providing some color while not overwhelming with color. Working within the client’s budget, I selected furniture, area rugs, lamps, bedding and accessories to pull everything together. We were able to use most of the client’s furniture but removed some older, darker pieces and numerous extras that were hanging around such as baskets, old lamps, old rugs, and the like.

 

The result is well organized and nicely contemporary, but with plenty of warm colors and welcoming touches. The client and realtor were each very pleased with the renovations and staging.

 

With the few clients that I've worked with to prepare their homes for sale, my experience has been that homeowners can accomplish quite a lot with a small investment in design consulting services, paint, and accessorizing.

 

I’d love to hear from other designers who may have branched into staging, or who even focus primarily on staging, and what their typical staging jobs entail.

 

With the renewed focus on "small is good"
in residential construction and renovation, galley kitchens come to mind.

 

In condos, apartments and homes with smaller footprints, galley kitchens can serve as wonderful spaces to incorporate first rate design elements without breaking the bank. Designs can range from urban sophistication to simple Shaker style, and can really highlight the materials used for basic elements:

 

Floors - Natural stone or ceramic/porcelain tile, hardwood, bamboo, cork. Hardwood or tile patterns can accent and define the space to play up the geometry and individuality of a small area. Conversely, if desired, material can flow from adjacent rooms to make small spaces seem less confined and to create a connection.

 

Countertops - Natural stone, man-made surfaces, concrete, recycled glass products, butcher block. In small quantities, countertop materials can seem really special and are fun to light up with accent lighting.

 

Backsplashes - Ceramic/porcelain, natural stone tile, metal, glass, mirror. A great place for creative and specialized designs. The fairly small area of backsplash in a galley kitchen is a terrific opportunity to give a "wow" factor.

 

Cabinets - Light to dark, simple to ornate. Tall upper cabinets, often in simple styles, make the most of galley space and unify the kitchen.

 

Ceilings - Decorative paint colors or treatments. Imagine the possibilities of murals or faux treatments on the ceiling.

 

Walls - Subdued or dramatic, paint or wallpaper. The wall color will wrap up and define the overall results.

 

Lighting - Ceiling fixtures, rail lighting systems, and pendant lighting. Selections will accent the overall look, whether it's retro, contemporary, country, or something else. Remember undercabinet lighting for tasks at countertop.

 

Galley kitchens may or may not include windows - advantages, of course, being the natural light provided and the openness and connection to the outdoors, and cons being that you lose cabinet or storage space.

 

Powder Room and small bathroom design similarly offers great outlets for creativity and focus upon materials and finishes. Depending upon materials, colors and finishes, powder rooms can be dressy and dramatic, whimsical, tailored - you name it.

 

The key to small kitchen and bath design is attention to detail - let each element matter, and coordinate the elements and materials to work together to produce cohesive, beautiful results.

 

One of the most important aspects of kitchen and bath design or renovation projects is lighting. All of the other elements of a great kitchen or bath - cabinetry, plumbing fixtures, countertops, tile, paint or wallpaper - will not live up to their potential without good lighting. Kitchen tasks are much easier with good lighting, and bathroom lighting is especially important at the vanity/mirror area. Consideration for optimal lighting at different times of day is important as well.

 

Layered lighting for either kitchen or bath is an optimal solution. General, or ambient lighting can be provided by recessed and/or surface-mounted ceiling fixtures. It's important to avoid shadows at main task areas in the kitchen, so the placement of recessed lighting in relation to cabinets, countertops, and islands is crucial. General lighting is enhanced with task lighting for key areas.

 

For example, at the kitchen sink or at island/bar areas, pendant lighting or rail lighting can add just the right amount of additional illumination. The many varied options available for pendant or rail lighting present a wonderful opportunity to add interest or fun to the overall decor.

 

Undercabinet lighting is very useful for food prep, clean-up and other tasks at countertop areas, and can be virtually invisible in LED, line voltage or low voltage options.

 

To avoid shadows and dark zones in the bathroom, vanity lighting or wall sconces in addition to basic ceiling lighting are important, and offer great design options. The selections for vanity lights and wall sconces are almost endless, from simple, super low budget options to high end choices with wonderful metal and glass finishes. The coordination of plumbing fixtures, light fixtures and cabinet hardware will take the bath design to a professional, finished look.

 

One of the most useful articles I've read on bathrooom lighting is from "This Old House" and I refer to it occasionally when working on bath design projects since it addresses not only types of vanity and shower/bath lighting, but bulb types, dimmers, and safety as well. It's a great summary of the key aspects of lighting.

 

Most of my clients, both commercial and residential, ask me to specify paint colors, but I frequently encourage my clients to incorporate wallpaper, especially in powder rooms (not bathrooms where moisture can be an issue), dining rooms, and bedrooms. Wallpaper in powder rooms can create many different wonderful effects: drama and sophistication, whimsey, an outdoor/garden feeling, a cabana effect, an architecturally detailed/moulded effect, and more. Powder room ceilings are often papered to complete the look.

 

Dining rooms are part of the home where a bit of formality can prevail, and wallpaper can add formality much better than paint is able to. Crisp stripes, subtle damasks and beautiful florals are time tested and relevant wallpaper styles that allow significant room for creativity and provide a formal backdrop for dining room furniture, area rugs and window treatments. For more casual dining areas, wallpaper can still provide a lot of charm through color and pattern.

 

Bedrooms can be wonderful spaces to personalize with wall coverings. Without getting locked in to something too cute, kids' rooms allow for many different fun and colorful patterns. I generally encourage clients to choose something that seems a bit grown up - kids seem to really love it, and the selection then lasts many years. Master bedrooms, often viewed as private oases, allow for favorite colors in wallpaper or paint. Wallpaper contributes to a specific look or feeling, be it garden-like, tailored, or posh and elegant.

 

For commercial use, wallpaper can contribute in a big way to a customized, finished look. I've used wallpaper on numerous office projects in bathrooms, hallways, waiting rooms, and lounge areas. It adds a layer of visual interest and keeps things from being too bland. There are many commercial grade wallcovers available in terrific colors and patterns.

 

Although many clients are somehow under the impression that wallpaper is "out" - not sure where that comes from - I encourage using it in many projects! Here are some of my favorite vendors:

 

Brunschwig & Fils

 

Maya Romanoff

 

Osborne & Little

 

Thibaut Wallpaper & Fabrics

 

And here are a couple photos from the Thibaut website:

 

 

 

I came across the Genuine Stone website recently, a very nicely done website indeed - one that's owned by the Natural Stone Council, a collaboration between various business and trade associations that wish to promote natural stone for commercial and residential design and construction.

 

On its website, the council bills natural stone as an earth-friendly alternative to competing materials. But as with most everything when it comes to environmental sustainability, there are pros and cons to using natural stone products.

 

Let me first say that I absolutely LOVE granite and other natural stone surfaces!

 

While I marvel at the wonderful variety of options offered by all of the different types of natural stone and am amazed and inspired by the beauty of travertines and limestone, river bed granites, fossilized stone, and other natural stone products, I'm also greatly concerned about the environmental and local impact of granite mining around the world.

 

Once stone is in place, it's durability and permanent beauty is very evident. Just think of all of the enduring monuments and buildings throughout the world that are made of stone. With regard to permanence, stone is very sustainable. However, while the mining industry has made improvements in recent years, the mining and transportation of stone is generally not very environmentally friendly at all.

 

Issues include heavy water consumption, what happens to the mining site once the natural resources have been extracted from it, radon and other gaseous byproducts, and the use of heavy equipment for mining, processing and transportation.

 

One way to minimize the impact upon the environment when using natural stone is to use locally mined products. Not only does doing so minimize the impacts associated with transportation of the materials, but it also helps the local economy.

 

Another is to purchase products that come from mines where environmentally friendly practices are used. For example, refer to this Green Building Matters blog page for an interesting and thoughtful discussion regarding the Cold Spring Granite mine in Minnesota and some of things Cold Spring is doing to minimize the impact upon our planet.

 

This product has been available for a couple of years, but just recently caught my eye when I was researching fixtures for a bathroom renovation project that required a contemporary direction.

 

The Kohler "WaterTile" shower head and body spray line features a vertical wall installation that ties in quite nicely with tile, and also features a fully adjustable, pivoting spray face.

 

The "WaterTile" is available in a wide range of Kohler finishes, and works well with many of their fixtures, especially the more chunky or angular fixtures such as the Memoirs, Pinstripe or Margaux lines, thereby offering a terrific way to introduce a contemporary element to a bathroom project, whether in an entirely contemporary setting or a more traditional one.

 

The "WaterTile" line also features a round body spray option, which is installed virtually flush to the wall, is adjustable up and down to alter the spray angle, and coordinates well with some of the Kohler round fittings such as the Forte or Coralais lines.

 

I love how the WaterTile shower head and body sprays can be so easily integrated into shower wall tile, the clean lines of the products' designs, and the wide range of finish options that are available, making it a great solution for many bath renovation or new construction projects.

 

Many construction and renovation projects include fireplace surrounds, hearths and mantels. There are a tremendous number of wonderful options out there to dress up and finish the fireplace, including stone, tile, glass, concrete, and wood. During numerous home renovation projects, I've proposed revamping the fireplace area, and when I've done so, clients who thought that their current set-up was fixed or permanent usually get pretty excited about making a change or improvement.

 

Some great options for surrounds and hearths include marble, granite, limestone, slate, soapstone, brick, tile, concrete, and recycled glass. One of my current favorites is a stacked stone surround with a coordinating slate hearth, especially in casual settings. The stacked stone is reminiscent of exterior stone walls and provides a nice connection to the outdoors. It also relates well to earth tone color palettes. Stacked stone color options tie in with slate tile or slab options for hearths:

 

 

Glass or recycled glass used as a surround is heat resistant and creates a softly colored, translucent look that works well in seaside homes or contemporary settings where stone might look a bit heavy. Glass surrounds can be combined with tile or stone hearths, or glass can be used on the hearth as well. Studio G3 features glass as fireplace surrounds in several applications:

 

Mantels run from traditional to rustic to minimalist/modern and can be purchased pre-fabricated or custom-built to fit a specific application if desired. Wood mantels are generally traditional but can also be contemporary.

 

 

Limestone, marble, or cast stone mantels can create an old world, classic look, or can be streamlined for a more contemporary appearance.

 

 

Shelves above a fireplace and surround fit the bill if there is limited width and if a minimalistic or rustic look is desired. Custom cabinetry around a fireplace can also finish the look.

 

When working with clients to select art that is unique to their homes, I frequently suggest groupings of family photos. The beauty of this approach is that it can be built upon over the years and can create a very personal timeline and story reflecting memorable moments, growth, and change. It's truly personalized art that can be edited and adapted as much or as little as clients like.

 

I often recommend that clients organize photos into public and private groupings. Public groupings include photos that one wishes to share with everyone (extended family, visitors, and guests), and might be hung in an entry way, kitchen, stairway, or family room, and often remind visitors of fun holiday get togethers and special occasions such as birthdays or graduation celebrations. Historic family photos are often included in these arrangements, making great conversation pieces as well as nice remembrances of days gone by.

 

Private photo groupings feature cherished photos that remind one of a very special and personal family moment, possibly as part of the decor of a master bedroom, upstairs hallway, or home office. These often include wedding photos, baby photos, and vacation photos.

 

When it comes to color vs. black and white, both can result in very nice arrangements. I generally keep the grouping consistent, by using all color photos or all black and white photos in a single grouping. Frames can be varied to avoid giving the impression that the photos were all framed at the same time or that the frames came from the same place. Antiqued frames can be successfully mixed with more contemporary frames to keep the look a bit eclectic. In fact, collecting antique or vintage frames can become a fun and inexpensive hobby.

 

Another fun way to create personalized art is to frame kids' school projects - from preschool on up through high school. It's amazing how great a framed art project or craft can look, and it's a great way to create a permanent keepsake. Framing recent "works of art" or going back through old school projects can be a fun way to compliment kids' creativity and originality, and to encourage new works as well!

A couple of my recent smaller projects have called for paint specs, window treatments, and accessorizing. And when it comes to accessorizing, "natural" seems to be the recurring theme.

 

Artwork has typically revolved around organic themes such as water, sand and seashells, leaves and botanicals, or beautiful landscapes. Accessories have featured natural grasses, curly willow and reeds placed in ceramic urns or planters. Many clients are requesting real, living plants rather than silk plants lately, even if they require more care. They feel that real plants add life to their homes, and I agree.

 

Even fabrics and rugs on many projects have featured earth tones or organic tones that relate to nature. Perhaps the whole "green" movement has resulted in a conscious or subconscious embrace of earth tones. A few clients have been attracted to "Costa Esmeralda" granite lately because of its ocean- or beach-like connotations. I've based a couple of master bathroom designs and specs around "Costa Esmerelda" with soft, calming paint colors, brushed finishes on faucets and accessories, and biscuit colored sinks and toilets.

 

I've also been specifying quite a bit of natural slate for flooring in kitchens and baths. In the words of one client, "It's as real as it gets, and it feels good to use something real." Slate provides a low key, beautifully textured flooring surface with many different color options running from grey to green to purple to bronze. The results can range from rustic to very sophisticated, depending upon the overall setting and other design elements such as cabinetry, millwork, and interior colors.

 

A trend I've seen with many clients is a greater focus upon family time and family rooms. Perhaps its because of the down economy and the fact that homeowners are travelling less these days and eating in more, but no matter the reason, clients are looking for fantastic family rooms that provide plenty of comfortable seating and gathering and which allow a variety of activities such as TV viewing, reading, enjoying the fireplace, playing games, entertaining, and the like. An area for desktop computing is often a requirement as well.

 

If room permits, I'll typically work with clients to define different seating groups or activity areas within the family room space.

 

Depending on the stage that a family is at, we'll prioritize needs such as toy and game storage, homework and computer areas, video game areas, even areas for music rehearsal if needed.

 

A nice development over the past several years is the flat panel TV, for a couple of reasons. Even a large flat panel TV takes up less spacw than the huge, bulky big sceen TVs of the past. Those sets could really dominate and dwarf a nice family room. If there isn't room for separate fireplace and TV areas, with some planning and hidden wiring it's possible to mount a flat panel TV immediately above the fireplace. Doing so makes it possible to use a sectional sofa with a focal point that includes both the fireplace and the TV. There is then often secondary space that can be used for a reading nook, a desk area, or a game table area.

 

When possible, I encourage the use of hardwood floors rather than wall-to-wall carpeting for family rooms. Hardwood offers a tailored and classic appearance, whether the decor is traditional or contemporary. It also allows the use of area rugs that can really enhance the personality of a family room. From oriental to contemporary to modular tiles, area rugs play a lead role in a room's finished appearance, and can define the different areas within the room.