As many of you who follow The Decorologist on Facebook or Twitter may know, it was a big week for me! I was thrilled to be notified that I had received the 2013 Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) award for Best Staging of North America! I waited until my award arrived in the mail to write this post:
When I got the message at 11:00 p.m. one night, it was too late to call anyone, my kids were asleep and my husband was out of town on business. So I sat in my bed laughing and crying and watching HGTV until I finally fell asleep a few hours later. I knew I was in the top 10 finalists, but I really couldn’t dare to dream that I would actually win. I wish I had been able to attend the awards ceremony last weekend in San Francisco – I haven’t been there in over 17 years while on my honeymoon. However, this weekend I attended a local charity event and got dressed up, so I decided to get a photo holding the award in this fancy dress!
I’ve had several of you ask me which house helped me snag the win – you’ve seen bits of it in previous blogposts, but I thought I’d share the whole shebang here today. This home was “occupied,” meaning that the owners were still living there and we had to use the furniture that was on-site. I brought in staging props, such as lamps, bedding, art, and accessories – but no furniture. This is the majority of the kind of staging I do – the challenge is how to take what a homeowner already owns and make it look, well, BETTER. Just to be clear – staging is NOT decorating. It’s marketing a property to make it more sellable.
Color played a HUGE role in the transformation of this home – in fact, I’m sure that’s what really helped me cinch this win. The right colors can help neutralize bossy granite and tile, draw attention to architectural features, and create high-end effects. The interior was painted the colors I recommended, but no other upgrades were made. After the painting was complete, I came and spent about four hours with an assistant staging the property.
Ok, so here are some good ole “befores and afters:”
Before
Before
After
After
before
After
before
after
Before
After
Before
After
before
After
Before
after
before
after
So there you have it. If you want to learn more about how to use color to transform a space, stay tuned for my new Color Workshop video over the next week. If you are interested in learning my psychology of home staging, it won’t be much longer before I finish up my book and make it available to you! Sign up for my emails and new newsletter to stay on top of the latest in design and color.
Isn't it just magical what the right color and design can do for a home? Congratulations Kristie on all your hard work and I love the Emerald dress 🙂
Thank you, Donna! It’s the perfect color dress for 2013, don’t you think?
WOW!! LOVE IT!! The bits of color here and there really make it pop! And LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the painting ceilings!! I think my entry and living room is very similar so I'm going to show these photos to my husband and convince him we need to do that!
And CONGRATS again!! Well deserved!!
Kristie, I couldn't be happier for you! Such a well deserved award. Cute idea having your photo taken, with your award, when you were "staged". By the way, the shade of green of your dress, compliments your tones. I can't wait for your color workshop, it may be the only way that I ever have access to your expertise. Of course my secret wish is that some day we work together…but that's beside point. Again, Congratulations!
What an incredible transformation~ "paint is gold in a bucket"; however chosing the right professional who can work with the existing fixed elements like you have….wow! I love it all, especially the front hall and dining room, yup I would have bought this too! Great work Kristie and congratulations on your award!
Thank you so much, Ginny! And congratulations again on your award, as well 🙂 I love your phrase: “paint is gold in a bucket.”
Congratulations and Beautiful dress!!
Congratulations, Kristie. You are certainly deserving of the award. I admire your talents.
Well deserved Kristie ~ Too bad you were no there to celebrate with all your peers!
I too did not go to the RESA convention this year but hope to next year.. I missed seeing everyone up there on that stage!
Congratulations! That's really awesome, Kristie!
Congratulations Kristie and what a difference your staging made with that home. I must be really anxious for your video to come out because you were in a dream I had over the weekend 🙂 I was attending a color seminar at a local college and the room was FILLED with people and then people just started to leave and I couldn't understand why everyone was leaving because the color seminar was so informative. And you were also part of the presentation/webinar. Thought you'd get a kick out of that – it seemed so real too.
Congrats Kristie!! So well deserved. I can't wait to see your color workshop video! Exciting!
You are a true color expert Kristie! The paint transformation is amazing- so beautiful! The homeowner's must be so pleased with the job you did. Congratulations on your award- you deserve it!
Hi Kristie,
i've been following your website for over a year never missing a blog. The award could not have gone to a more Beautiful person inside and out. God has truly blessed you with many gifts and you so selflessly share them with all of us!!! Thank you so much and CONGRATULATIONS.
What a transformation. I can see this a complex gift that you possess. It was a complex project.
You deserve every accolade you get! Masterful! Proud of you, Kristie.
Can't wait to meet you one day at a class.
Blessings! Paula.
Congratulations, again, Kristie! Beautiful job. Bet the home owners wished they had hired you before they were moving!
CONGRATS, Kristie!!! Very well deserved. You are a true artist at your craft.
Congratulations Kristie! I did not get to attend RESA this year, but I did vote and looks like I wasnt the only one who voted for you. You represent our state well and a inspiration to all. Love your Emerald dress!
Thank you so much!!!
Congratulations!! Staging can make such a BIG difference when selling a home – I should know as the home we have now is our 9th!
I LOVE that you painted the stair railing! I showed the before and after pictures to my husband because I've always wanted to do that, but he doesn't want to paint that "great wood." Even he had to admit it looked better! Thanks for sharing!!
Congratulations Kristie, on the award and a job well done!
What you have done here is remarkable and it goes beyond the new paint colours. You managed to invoke an inspiring view of what life might look like for the potiential purchaser and this is what staging is and what most don't fully understand. Particularly when using existing furniture. I would encourage your readers to really look at these pictures to see what you have done to acheive this. It is not easy, it is a gift and you have it in spades.
The art is in the details something to think about.
I'm so happy for you. Congratulations! I love you website and everything you design is always first class.
Congrats again Kristie. I love your emerald green dress. It looks like you went to the Oscars. Thanks for showing the winning home. I can see why you got your award!
Congrats Kristie – what a very well deserved award. And a fantastic staging of the home!
congratulations! I love your painted ceilings :). Lynne
Congratulations! what a wonderful honor you received for all your hard work ! Makes the challenging days worth all the time spent!
Hey Kristie, I'm so glad you've been recognized for your amazing talent! WAHOO! Congratulations. And the befores/afters in this home are a great representation of your work.
Warmly, Michelle
Gorgeous Kristie! Although I do this for a living, I’m always amazed how paint done well can so beautifully transform a home!
Your talents are taking you to great places! Here’s to a very successful 2014!
Kristie, do you ever change out the baffles in can lights from black to white? Do you find that it is worth the effort to make the can lights “disappear”?
So great! Such a huge transformation, especially and obviously with choosing the right paint for that kitchen/family room combo. But my favorite is that black banister. My eyes just say, “Ah, yes!!” Looks great with the paint in the entry, too. Congratulations!
10th photo in “before and after” section should be AFTER 🙂 Great blog btw 😉
17th should be BEFORE. Don’t hesitate and delete these posts – they are just for your reference 🙂
Thank you for pointing that out, Tomasz! I fixed the errors and appreciate your help 🙂