The DECO-Zone

Inspired At County Fair For Decorating

Inspiration is everywhere. As an avid photographer from early on, I always carry my camera.

This past week we went to the Lorain County Fair. This is still a rural county fair. So many amazingly talented folks.

It was hard not to be inspired by everything we saw.

The colors are so vivid & fun.

Looking at these wagons filled with flowers had me thinking as a Stager. Given the right property, these wagons filled with flowers would be awesome Curb Appeal.

These colorful baskets are a great way to see color, scale & texture used in a unique yet creative decorating display.

Inspiration and creative ways to express ourselves is all around us.

Okay, where can i and my camera go today to find inspiration?

Till next Monday,

DesAnn Collins

DSA Trainer & Staging Director

www.DesignByDesAnn.com

Budget Decorating: Redesign For An Office

A client  needed a “space-lift” for his office. We needed new waiting room chairs, art and something to hold their office supplies. The budget was small. Actually I LOVE hearing that. A small budget equals large creativity possibilities.

The “hunt” was on. We scowered the Flea Markets, Consignment stores, big retailers and a few garage sales.

We found an old Radiator ($10) an Isaac Mizrahi placemat($1.37) and ordered great new leather chairs.

You, like me, have probably faced a radiator that needed a redesign. The challenge is to blend them into a space and to re-make their image into something beautiful rather than utilitarian.

We put the Isaac Mizrahi placemat into an old frame. We then hot glued that frame on top of a long wooden empty rectangel frame and hung it between two Ansel Adams prints for their conference room.

Do you like to hear “Tight budget” I do. We would love to hear about your amazing transformations of Trash To Treasure!

DesAnn Collins

DSA Staging Director & trainer

www.DesignByDesAnn.com

Largest Garage Sale for Interior Decorators

Need Purple glass bottles?

The Rt 127 corridor garage sale is perfect for Staging, Decorating and just pure fun.

My husbands worst nightmare would be me going next year, with a large truck. Actually a fantasy for me. Hundreds of miles of treasure to try and capture.

The sale starts in Michigan and follows I 127 all the way to Alabama! HGTV usually has a “special” every year on what two of their reporters journey is like and what treasures they find.

You can buy everything there, even “Cracklins” and Hot Dogs. Pure Americana. From Purple glass bottles to old metal signs.

Look, even Darth Vader is a collector!

Anyone else out there a Garage sale Junkie? Perhaps next year we could caravan together with our 18 wheeler behind us to carry our “treasures”!

treasures at The 127 Corridor Garage Sale

 I’m going to plan to go to this unique sale next year….sshhh..don’t tell my husband.

DesAnn Collins

DSA- Staging Director

Interior Decorating Journey

When you are shopping for a clients decorating project do you ever feel a little like Indiana Jones?

You search and search for just the right treasure. I’m certain the other shoppers around me think I’m a little off. Well they are half right. I am known to scream like a little girl when I find treasure.  So excited, and like a child it is hard for me not to run immediately to my clients homes to show them my treasures.

Perfect Shutter Treasure

The Dining room project, “El Fresco”, is truly a labor of love.

We are using these 100 yr old shutters instead of fabric for our window treatments. These shutters are perfect. remember to always measure, measure, measure. 

Not only are these terrific in color and wear but they fit perfectly.

Color check at the half way point

Here is a sneak peek of the Color washing, half-way through.

We are now looking for the perfect Slate tile for the floor.

Watch as our journey to “Fearless Design” land continues.

Next week we hope to reveal the new floor.

Be fearless,

DesAnn Collins

DSA-Staging Director & Trainer

www.DesignByDesAnn.com

Creating One-Of-A-Kind Spaces

Creating a one-of-a-kind space for clients is exhilarating! Interior Decorating a room from the top to bottom is always a joy. In Home Staging we are always looking to entice the buyers. It has to be all about “them”, our target market.

Creating an all out design of work to be truly good needs to function and be about the client.

We have been working on this project for a few months now. There were a few things the clients want. One, they LOVE their chandelier. Two, they want to display a few prints in the room. Three, the furniture needed to stay. Four, their window’s architectural features make it challenging to change.

One- Chandelier. Patti expressed her love for it and said, “You’re going to make me get rid of it right?”  Well after a little research we found almost an exact match to a Murano Italian Glass Chandelier. It stays.

Dining room beforeInspiration prints

 These prints are fantastic. They are Cool colors and we need to incorporate them into a Warm palette.

My GREAT painter, Rikk Mayr, is doing my Faux work.

Here is a “SNEEK-PEEK” of our ceiling. This is only at the half way point of the ceilings completion.

Creative way of bringing the Cool Blues into a Warm space

I must also say that if it weren’t for my confidence with Color this would be a scary project.  I am boldly moving forward with the design as I have my DSA Color With No Regrets education.

I found the most fabulous 100 yr old shutters. We will be using them as window treatments. They are rough, chipped paint and perfect for this application. I’ll post on them next week.

Fearless…No Regrets Design.

Happy Decorating,

DesAnn Collins

DSA- Staging Director & Trainer

Kitchen Makeover Made Easy

It is amazing how removing upper cabinets over an old counter top can open up those older Kitchens.

Design By DesAnn BEFORE Staging improvements

Whenever possible, and the budget allows, remove those upper cabinets to create a newer look of an open Kitchen.

Removing these cabinets does not usually involve any structural changes. Open the cabinet doors and look up. They are usually attached to the ceiling with screws.

When we are competing to sell and our competition is new construction with an open floor plan, we need to have our Kitchen looking updated. This is a budget friendly way of taking an old Kitchen and having it appear much larger.

You will notice that we added a new Granite counter top, new floors, lighting and hardware. We kept the rest of the cabinets but added a fresh coat of crisp White paint.

Design By DesAnn AFTER Staging Broida

The seller, Bob Broida, told me it was the best $10,000.00 investment he had ever made. The house sold in ONE DAY, to the first person who saw it. We replaced all the carpeting, put in new counter tops, Kitchen floor, added new lighting through out and we were also hired to Stage this vacant with leased furniture.

It is always enjoyable to hear “giddy” realtors or sellers calling me to say…”WOW, the house SOLD….thank you, thank you, thank you”.

I LOVE my profession!

Staging LeBron’s House

First let me say that living in the Cleveland area has been “interesting” lately. Myself, being a die-hard Browns fan, I really don’t care about basketball as much. I must say though that I did experience quite a STING of rejection with his announcement.

This all had me thinking….

Selling a home that has a negative emotional stigma is a challenge. Not impossible though. Not to mention it’s enormity. 35,000 Sq Ft is a LOT of house.

LeBron's 35,000 sq ft home under construction

It’s not everyday, especially here in Ohio, that a home is this large with so many personal amenities.

We at The DSA teach and believe that ”Price tells, but emotion sells”.

This home is absolutely sell-able. It will need to appeal to as many as possible. The front iron security gates look like basketballs. This is one of the first items I would ask to be changed. It would at least from the Curb Appeal, instantly take this to “a house for sale” not LeBron’s house for sale.

LeBron's Basketball inspired security gates

Who knows, I could get a call today. I have helped out for charity auction events for the LeBron James Family Foundation and got to know them fairly well. They do have my business card after all.

This would definitely be a challenge.

Did you know I LOVE CHALLENGES?

Bring it on….

DesAnn Collins

DSA Staging Director

www.DesignByDesAnn.com

Picture Perfect “Hello”

Do you create attention grabbing photographs when Home Staging or creating your portfolio? 

Home Staged By DesAnn Collins

One of the ways to make your work stand out in the crowded Internet world is to think editorially. On Project Runway the judges are always making the comment that “Boring” photos do not grab the readers attention. Nina Garcia, one of the judges, is quick to point out that her readers are looking for the spectacular, not boring.

Designed by DesAnn

One of the easiest ways is to be creative is to try close-ups, lay down on the ground, stand on a stool or even using a Tri-pod.

When we need the attention of  home buyers to look at our Staged home use an Editorial approach. A few Editorial shots used in the presentation will garner their attention and have your Staging standing out amongst the crowd.

Be creative, let your creative talents show through your photography.

Lawn Artists equal Great Curb Appeal

First impressions are the heart of Home Staging. Curb Appeal is a deciding factor if a prospective buyer wants to see the rest of the house. If the curb appeal is great, the potential buyer will draw a conclusion that the interior is as well maintained.  A large part of the appeal is based on the grooming of the lawn itself.

Staged Curb Appeal

My Dad was, is, right about having pride in one’s lawn. The lawn is a pre-dominate part of the exterior of a property.

• Does it look well-groomed?
• Does it look like someone cares?
• Are the lines precise and CRISP?

Keeping the lawn mowed and well groomed is critical but many are taking it to the next level by mowing patterns in their lawn.  This approach is called lawn striping, lawn artistry, and big league lawns.  Lawn mowing as an art form.

Amazing grass cutting patterns

I am obsessed with patterns and I can’t wait to try the “S” or “Z” patterns in my own lawn. The idea of being able to cut my grass, like a PRO ballfield, was a scary thought until I found these great patterns on-line.  Part of the staging process is creating a property that stands out.  Lawn mowing like this can make the property distinctive and memorable.

After all, the seller doesn’t need a “PRO” stadium look but they do need to send the message they care for the house.  Mowing with the eye of an artist will make a prospective buyer wonder what lies behind that front door and encourage them to schedule a walk-through.