Do you need to be good at math to become an interior decorator?

Sometimes I get the opportunity to speak to high school students about becoming an interior decorator. One question that often comes up is "Do I need to be good at math to become an interior decorator?"

My answer: You will use math everyday!

This surprises most of the students. Now note I said you use it everyday - I didn't say you need to have an natural aptitude towards it.

To give you an example, I was recently helping my son who is in 5th grade with a math worksheet. These math examples came right from the math book:

Rashid can paint 2 square feet of fence in 10 minutes. How long will it take him to paint a fence that is 6 feet high by 25 feet long?

or

Regina wants to cover one wall of her room with wallpaper. The wall is 9 feet high and 15 feet wide. There is a doorway in the wall that is 3 feet wide by 7 feet tall. How many square feet of wallpaper will she need to buy?

See...you do use math in interior decorating.

Julie

House sold in 5 days

If you are a realtor and are planning your goals for next year (you do plan your goals, don't you?), I highly suggest you add professional staging to your plans.

I got this note the other day:

Julie,
Just thought you would like to know that the most recent house you did a consultation for SOLD in 5 DAYS!!!! You are a strong component of my sales success.
THANKS ,
Michael

Don't you want that kind of success too? Call me. I can help you sell houses.

Buffalo's Decorators' Show House

I am so excited to share with you that The Home Stylist has been selected to be one of the decorators in the next Junior League Show House.

It is a competitive process so I am happy to be part of the awesome group of decorators selected for this great project. I will be doing a teen girl's room on the third floor.

The Junior League of Buffalo had a hard time finding the ideal house to showcase this year so the 15th show house will be in a first ring suburb. It is an awesome house and will make a marvelous transformation.

Here is more details so you can mark your calender:

15th Decorators’ Show House 2009

E.B. Green's Wallace Estate

697 Lebrun Road, Eggertsville, NY

Sneak Peek Preview of the undecorated house:

Saturday, February 7, 2009 (10 AM to 4 PM)

or Sunday, February 8, 2009 (11 AM to 4 PM)

Decorators’ Show House

April 25 through May 17, 2009:

Tuesday – Friday 10 AM to 1 PM; 6 PM to 9 PM Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM Sunday, 11 AM to 5 PM

I'll keep you posted as I begin work on the room this early next year.

Holiday decorating tips while selling your home

The Realtor Magazine, the national magazine for real estate agents, recently published a great article on selling during the holidays.

The article, Holiday Decor That Brings Out the Best, by Barbara Ballinger highlights key points such as

• add tasteful, generic decorations,
• trade non-seasonal for seasonal decorations,
• keep up decorations for a limited time,
• use timely marketing materials.

It is a valuable article to share with those selling their house right now. It gives sellers and Realtors specific suggestions on how to balance enjoying the holidays without compromising being ready to sell.

I was honored to be the staging professional interviewed for this important national and timely article.

Hope you enjoy it,
Julie Dana, an Accredited Staging Professional, and lover of tasteful holiday decorations.

The "Know-it-All" client

OK - I normally don't diss clients but this one had me on a low boil for several days.

I was hire by the real estate agent as a extra service for her client. That is a smart move on the agents part and normally works really well.

But on this day....

The first words out of the homeowner "I watch HGTV all the time. I know what I need to do to stage my house"

My response: "Great! I love when homeowners are educated about the process"

Some of the issues regarding staging the house that I talked to her about included:

• Tons of family photos on the walls
• Extra large armoires in several rooms
• In the children's room, their names were spelled out in letters.
• A huge stair machine in a first floor room

Now if you really watch staging shows and you truly are interested in staging your home to sell it quickly and for top dollar - you know the issues.

• Removing family photos to depersonalize is staging rule number 1
• Having large armoires signals to buyers that there is not enough closets space
• For security reasons alone don't let strangers know your children's names
• A stair machine is not a good focal point of the room.

After coming up with a plan for these items, the seller refused to make the changes. She said "I know I should but I'm not going to"

To that I say "Urghh" (in the privacy of my vehicle) as I drive away. I can only image what the homeowner will be like for the real estate agent. Best of luck on that one!

We are here to help. Take the help. Staging works!

The Home Stylist featured in Business First article

In the Friday October 3 edition of Buffalo Business First is the article: Personal chefs, designers, pet-sitters still worth the cost. (page 34)

Here is a lovely quote from one of my clients interviewed for this article:

"I don't appreciate it when somebody comes in and tells me to get rid of my antiques and family heirlooms. The nice part of what Julie does is she's not coming in and considering it a blank slate"

http://buffalo.bizjournals.com/buffalo/stories/2008/10/06/focus4.html

If I can help you blend in your treasures while keeping a fresh look, give me a call. I would love to help you. (716) 912-1581

Curb Appeal in the Buffalo, NY area

On a recent home staging project, one of the major improvements was addressing the curb appeal.

What to you think? Improved?

As the saying goes "You can't sell it - if you can't see it"

If I can advise you on transforming your home for pleasure or profit, call me (716) 912-1581 or visit www.thehomestylist.com

Buffalo Spree's HOME magazine

I received a new magazine in yesterday's mail called HOME by Buffalo Spree.

I have heard rumblings that this new bi-annual magazine was going to be good. It exceeded my expectations. It is GREAT!

The "What is IN and What is OUT" was dead on:

Read more of what is IN at Buffalo Spree's HOME magazine

What do you think? Did you like the new magazine?

Julie

Decorators' Show house - homeless!

Every other year the Junior League of Buffalo and The Buffalo News present a spectacular Decorators' Show House. This year they just can't find a house.
Do you own a house? know of someone? anyone?....The Junior League is just about to start begging and knocking on YOUR door. Here is what they need:

WE NEED A HOME!
The Junior League of Buffalo is in search of the15th Decorators’ Show House 2009.This renowned community fundraiser is held every two years and is co-sponsored by our partner, The Buffalo News. A house with historical and architectural interest is chosen traditionally within the city of Buffalo and is transformed by selected decorators and designers into a stunning Show House. The house is typically 7-8,000 square feet, must have a front and back staircase for proper visitor flow, a carriage house or garage for a boutique and the potential to be restored to its grandeur. Tickets will be sold to the public and the house will be open for viewing
April 27th – May 17th 2009.

If you are even maybe thinking about your house...give them a call and check out their website: www.jlbuffalo.org