This weekend I staged a New York City apartment that lacked interest and sophistication. Within 4 hours my talented crew and myself transformed this space making it inviting, chic and appealing wide range of home buyers. 

Living Room

Before:
The living room was dark and cluttered. It lacked visual interest and felt uninviting due to the random furnishings and poor flow.

After:
By bringing in a sofa that was in the bedroom, we created an inviting living space where potential buyers can notice the great outdoor space and great amount of natural light that floods the space. Modern furnishings and accessories makes the space feel fresh, sophisticated and elegant.

Bedroom

Before:
The bedroom also was filled with clutter and lacked interest. 

After:
By clearing out all the clutter and adding a bed and night stand, we created a bedroom that feels fresh, modern and relaxing. 

This dreamy bedroom came from my "Inspiration file" where I keep all rooms I love and want to re-create one day. I love this room so much, It's my inspiration for this week's Look for Less.

The Look For Less Breakdown:Celia Bed, Crate & Barrel $1298
Bedding, Target $109
Table Lamp, Z Gallerie $99
Painted bedside tables, Pier 1 $199.95
Wool Rug, Decora Rugs $749
Bench, Target $89.99
Linen Window Panels, West Elm $39 each
Organic Cotton Knit Pillows, West Elm $29
English Arm Chair, JC Penney $599
Loveseat, JC Penney $589


Wall Color: Benjamin Moore White Heaven 2068-70
Trim Color: White Dove

Do you have an inspiration for a room but don't know where to start? Send us your inspiration photo, decorating dilemma or questions. 


We'll help you get on the right track and give you the expert advice to  allow you to create the room of your dreams.

I had the honor of being featured on one of my favorite blogs, Decor 8 & Desire to inspire. Thanks Holly & KIm for the awesome right up! I'm so flattered!!

I came across this photo recently and was mesmerized. What a dreamy space, huh.
After drooling all over my keyboard, I took on the challenge to try to recreate it on a shoe string budget.

While I don't have any outdoor space, a girl can always dream.

Have a wonderful weekend!

My dream outdoor space

Greek Key Rug, Front Gate $175
Yellow Table Cloth, JC Penny $16.00
Dinner Plates, Walmart $29.97
Coaral Fan Place Mats, WS Home $42.00 for set of 4

I came across this article on The Nest which mentions several great tricks to make a small space feel grand (I actually preach a lot of these tips to my clients constantly).

Hope you find these tips useful and inspiring. And please disregard tip #8, futons are just plain awful and tray tables should have stayed in the 70's where they belong!

1. Paint with delicate hues. The lighter the color, the more open the space appears to be.

2. Use shades of the same color. Paint the walls, trim, and detailing in different shades of one color. "By using a monochromatic scheme," says Adam Janovic, former president of New York's Janovic Paints, "you'll make the room look more open."

3. Get perspective. Hanging pictures of expansive landscapes with vanishing perspective will trick the eye into thinking your pad’s got depth.

4. Think big. It’s better to have one well-designed prominent piece that makes a statement than to have smaller pieces of furniture that clutter.

5. Space things out. Furniture sometimes looks better when it’s placed at an angle or surrounded by space.

6. Make it clear. Use glass-topped tables -- the glass gives the appearance of more space and less clutter.

7. Add multifunctional pieces. Investing in furniture that serves multiple functions (say, an ottoman that doubles as a coffee table) is a great way to save space.

8. Fold it up. Make the most out of a combined living-dining area with futons and collapsible tables.

9. Reflect your space. Using mirrors well can open up your home. Display them together on one wall, leaving some space in between.

10. Give your ceiling texture. Metallic textures or painted beams on the ceiling create the illusion of height.

April showers bring May flowers. It will soon be time to get out and enjoy the sunshine!

I've put together some (wallet friendly) outdoor designs to inspire you to update your outdoor spaces and enjoy the delightful weather to come.

What's your style?

Modern Moroccan 

West Elm Tillary Outdoor Modular Seating
Jamali Garden Silver Lanterns
Granin Road Lattice Outdoor Rug
Z Gallerie Obi Side Table
West Elm Shower Garden Pillow
Crate & Barrel Ventura Pillow $39.95

Sophisticated Safari 

Target Wicker Cafe Conversation Collection 
Grandin Road Giraffe Outdoor Pillow
Grandin Road Faux Bois Outdoor Rug
Pier 1 Rustic Floor Hurricanes

Contemporary Cottage 

Grandin Road Savannah Porch Swing
Crate & Barrel Meridian Mirage Pillow 
Crate & Barrel Arbor Stripe Pillow 
Anthropologie Tea Bowl Lanterns
Sundance Adirondack Side Table
Grandin Road Au Pear Outdoor Rug

Laid-Back Bohemian 

Sundance Catalog Hammock

Whimsy Garden

Grandin Road Nest Down Outdoor Rug
Pier 1 Flower Garden Stool
Pier 1 Painted Wood Green Folding Table
Pier 1 Metal Curls Lattice Chair
Pier 1 Floral Flourish Bistro Chair Pad
Ikea Ramso Umbrella

more inspiration....

I'm an avid reader of an inspiring blog Copy Cat Chic. I love their creativity and resourcefulness in finding amazing pieces for half the price of designer pieces. In this tough economy, we really need to stretch our dollar, so I really applaud their efforts and creativity in creating gorgeous rooms that are affordable.


Since I love their blog so much, I was inspired and found a few chic copies of my own.....

Cellula Chandelier from DWR at $2600, OUCH!

Linear Strand Chandelier from ZGallerie at $349, Wow!!

Here's a shot of the Linear Strand Chandelier I recently used in a kitchen makeover I blogged about last month..... Doesn't it look chic?

Florence Knoll Two Seater Bench from DWR at $2165.....

Liberty Black Bench from Overstock at $249, Amazing!

Bertoia Diamond Lounge Chair from DWR at $929.

Rupert Chrome Steel Chair from Overstock at $199

Eames molded plastic chair from Room and Board at $249

Ronnie wire base chairs from Overstock at $164.99 for a Pair.

Comma Chair from Chiasso on sale for $498


Exact chair can be purchased on Overstock for $329

I've had so much fun doing this post, I'll be dedicating every friday to "The look for less." Please bookmark our blog and be sure to check in on fridays for more great steals.

After reading an article recently titled "NYC Home Values dip 23 percent," I thought, wow, the bubble did pop, and splattered everywhere. In response to this, I've put together a few tips for my Realtor friends and help them sell some properties.

Follow these simple steps to create a great first impression and get your properties sold-

*De-Clutter & De-personalize, by removing family photos and knick knacks so a buyer can envision themselves living in the home.

*Re-arrange furniture to create focal points and balance in a room. Removing furnishings can also make a room feel larger.

*Re-purpose rooms to create added value, i.e, turn an extra bed room into a home office.

*Let in natural light by removing heavy curtains, replace them with flowing sheer curtains.  

*Add floor or table lamps to dark areas, and bring in a chair to create a cozy nook.

*Introduce neutral colors on walls, accent pillows & curtains to make a space feel cohesive and fresh.

*Add accessories that appeal to the senses throughout the space, especially the entryway, like fragrant candles, bowl of fragrant fruit or freshly baked cookies, and don’t forget the fresh flowers.

We are offering Free Home Staging Services for a Limited time. Call or email us to set up an appointment.

This saturday I took a trip to Dumbo, Brooklyn to check out the Brooklyn Flea (http://brownstoner.com/brooklynflea/) which I truly enjoyed. 


These two artists caught my eye for their unconventional photographic style. I can't wait to incorporate their pieces in my designs,

www.shehitpausestudios.com

http://www.robertmalmberg.com/

I also fell in love with the modern ceramics made by Perch... Their designs are so clever and fun.

www.perchdesign.net

Oh, so cute, bird feeder. 

This modern chandelier comes in several colors. Would be so great over a kitchen island or an unexpected surprise in a hallway.

Bird light, how adorable!

A friend recently asked me for advice to inject color to her rental apartment. Since she is uncertain of the time she will be living there, she would love to inject personality and make the space feel like home without spending lots of cash.


Most rental apartments come freshly painted in either a boring white or worse, an off white that never quite feels right. To make matters worse, landlords usually requests that if you are going to change the color to suite your style, you paint it back to the boring white when you move. So, here are some cheap and quick solutions to personalize your rental space and keep your landlord happy.

Use fun and colorful wall decals

Wall decals have become popular in the last few years and are no longer only found in kids rooms. They are easy to apply, just like placing stickers on a wall, and even easier to remove.

They are usually less than $50 and come in styles that range from modern designs to traditional patterns.

Here are my favorite sites for decals-
http://www.etsy.com/search_results_tags.php?search_query=wall_decal

http://www.modernwallgraphics.com/

http://www.wallstickershop.com/

http://www.whatisblik.com/

Paint canvases with paint

You can find canvases in a large variety of sizes at any art supply store or craft store like Michael's or Pearl Paint.


If you feel really artsy, you can also purchase stencils and create your own work of art. I find that painting canvases is fool proof and the most economical since you can always reuse them by repainting them to suite your mood, decor or upcoming season.