Take a fun Color Poll

On my website there is a fun color poll. Right on the The Home Stylist's webpage you can mouse over the color names and change the paint color of the kitchen. It is a lot of fun. But the best part is voting on what you think is the best paint color for that room.

Please be sure to leave your comments on the color poll! We love reading about your opinion!

Check it out here:

The Home Stylist's Color Poll

Review of Home Staging Business book

Many people ask me if I would recommend Barb Schwarz's Building a Successful Home Staging Business book: Proven Startegies from the Creator of Home Staging.




Here is my review:

I want to start the review by disclosing that I am an Accredited Staging Professional trained by Barb Schwarz's company Staged Homes.

I can sum up the book by dividing it into three parts.

The book is about 1/3 self promotion about Barb Schwarz and taking her classes. Even though I have taken her class, I know other excellent home stagers that have taken other classes or some that have not taken training classes at all.

About 1/3 of the book is about starting a business. This is a critical part of success. I think other more indepth books on starting a business and marketing it would give you more detailed information.

The other 1/3 is helpful home staging industry specific tips. Most of them are common sense. If you do not know you need to form relationships with real estate agents - this is not a business for you. I think the sample documents in the back of the book are helpful for a new home stager.

So, Yes parts of this book are helpful but it is not the only resource you need.

Do you have an opinion about this book? I would love to hear about it.

30 pairs of eyes staring at you is not welcoming

I was recently at a home in which the lovely lady of the house wanted advice on decorating.

In the family room, right off the kitchen, was more appropriately called "the trophy room".

On the wall was over 30 creatures that have been mounted. Thus 60 eyeballs looking at anyone who came into the house.

This was not in a gentleman's den or even in a finished basement but one of the main public entertaining rooms on the main floor. This house is also not a lodge or hunting cabin but a regular suburban house in a regular average subdivision/development.

I just had to take photos because it is a classic example of inappropriate decorating. If you want neighbors, friends and family to feel welcomed in your home - do not display a collection such as this.

I am not against hunting - I am against having an uneasy, non-welcoming feeling for those who visit.

Here is what I mean: (and I didn't even photograph them all)

What is your opinion?

Welcome to the new and improved!

Hi Old and New friends,

I just recently switched to this new blogging platform. I have found "Blogger" to be easier to use and more designer friendly. I have just moved all the old posts from the old blog to this page. Most of the comments and posts came along but some got detoured and lost. Sorry!

Thank you for your patience during this transition.

I am looking forward to writing more tips, trends and stories about the interior decorating and staging world.

Julie

Active Rain - for the real estate industry

I recently stumbled on to a site called Active Rain.

It is about the real estate industry. It is a main blogging site and forum for real estate agents, mortgage people, inspectors, home stagers. etc.

If you are in this field, it offers great resources, marketing ideas and a cool way to meet like minded folks. (and it is free!)

If you are searching for an agent, broker, stager - check them out here. See what they are like in an informal setting.

www.activerain.com