Location, Location, Location

Posted on March 2, 2016 by Modmissy

I love birds.

Cardinal

And I have written many times about birds on this blog.

https://modmissy.com/2013/01/24/trying-to-keep-warm/

https://modmissy.com/2014/06/04/robins-egg-blue/

I am mesmerized by how birds fly.

My fascination with flying started about 25 years ago. This fascination ‘took flight’ while living in our first home where the bedroom was at the top of a long flight of stairs. Not realizing at the time the importance of furniture placement, the head of the bed was placed next to the bedroom door which was just a few feet away from the top of the stairs.

Bed at top of stairs

It seemed that every night just as I was falling asleep I imagined myself floating out the bedroom door and flying down those stairs. I was lulled instantly asleep. Bliss.

But not everyone would find this flying exercise relaxing. And having the bed in this position in their bedroom could be subliminal hell.

Hence the importance of furniture placement.

Recently while visiting a client she complained that she was not sleeping well in her new home. The bedroom was situated at the front of the house. The bed was placed on the window wall with the street just a few feet away.

To me it felt like sleeping on the road! Furniture placement.

We re-positioned the bed away from the windows (and the road), Furniture placement

The client announced she is now sleeping much better.

One of the main principles of staging a home for real estate sale is furniture placement. Too much furniture in a room and potential buyers feel crowded. Furniture placed incorrectly; potential buyers are tripping leaving a lasting impression of a small home.

I always tell my clients that furniture placement is key and location, location, location is the most determining factor in the price of a home!

Bedside Reading

Posted on April 16, 2015 by Modmissy

Years ago while being interviewed for a pharmaceutical sales job I was asked “what books was I currently reading”.

I paused, thought and then answered, “the dictionary and the thesaurus”.

I did not land that job.

(I wonder what book would have gotten me hired!?)

I was single at the time and the idea of sitting indoors by myself and reading a novel or a lengthy piece of non-fiction was just not on my (very social) agenda!

But the truth was I really was reading the dictionary. A great big lexicon was always open, sitting on an antique hutch in the apartment I shared with a girlfriend. Actually it was part of our humble décor.

Any interesting word we happened to stumble upon in that dictionary was written on a scrap of paper and taped to our brown fridge. Roomie and I then tried to incorporate these words into our vocabulary. (true story)

Fast forward to today; I am an avid reader.

And once again I was recently asked what books I had on my bedside table.

To be honest I don’t place books on my bedside table. Its clutter. For me.

And the few chosen books I do keep in my home often do dual duty. They must be a good read and look beautiful.

So right now I am reading, THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO COCO CHANNEL from my stack of beautiful black coffee table books.

I also just finished a John Grisham novel that someone passed on to me. It is a beautiful mint green and chocolate chip coloured hardcover book. Definitely a keeper to be used as a prop for my home staging business.

Along with Coco Channel I am reading OF MICE AND MEN by John Steinbeck. This is the first time I’m reading this 1937 classic novel; I realize there is no time limit on being current! This book also makes it as a beautiful staging prop due to the lovely lavender colour on the cover.

Of course I always have close at hand my cherished copy of MARILYN by Normal Mailer. It is a beautiful linen coloured hardcover book full of wonderful photos of Marilyn Monroe; although far too special to be used as a home staging prop.

So…..what are you reading? Or decorating with?

All Images by MODMISSY

Sold In A Day

Posted on November 13, 2014 by Modmissy

Recently I staged a home for Real Estate sale that sold in a day.

And it sold for well over asking!

I’m going to credit that very quick and prosperous sale in huge part due to my staging services.

(Hey, when the horn can be tooted, toot it!)

Yes, the home had great bones but was buried in the ‘stuff’ of hectic daily living!

Often when I arrive on the scene the home is in a state of disarray whereby I must then ‘turn a sow’s ear into a silk purse’.

Or…take an ogre and turn it into a princess!

Fortunately I love what I do so when I first walked into this home I was not daunted but rather excited. Actually excitement is what I put into the home. I try to create a space that has energy; positive energy. And a vibe that says, “I want to live here”.

Livingroom before