Hello, this is Dana Smithers

THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE!

I would like to personally say 'THANK YOU' to all of you who have voted for me as one of the potential Top 20 Finalists for the WNetwork Experts Contest search. The WExperts contest ends on October 26th and the Top 20 Finalists will be announced by November 3rd. If you haven't voted for me you still have time! Click here to go to their site and check out all the wonderful talent for WNetwork.

Enough about me, let's get talking about YOU & YOUR HOME!

DECORATING 101

Selecting the right FURNITURE & LIGHTING for your home.

As you will have discovered by now in all of my newsletters there are 2 consistent keys to creating rhythm and flow in your home.

1. Always consider the Function in each room/area in your home
2. Always consider your Decorating Style - Traditional, country, contemporary or eclectic; formal or informal (casual) atmosphere and buy 'your style'.

Choosing FURNITURE & LIGHTING FIXTURES for LIVING:

• The trend for many home owners these days is to spend more money on bigger home decor items such as furniture; and less on trendy accessories as we can change the look of our homes fairly easily with smart accessory choices - good decision!
• The best long term investment is to purchase a sofa in a solid color, and 2 chairs (always by chairs in pairs) in a different coordinating color with a pattern. This offers you more flexibility with furniture arrangements in your home. If you choose all solid colors add interest with patterned cushions and a throw for texture.
• Buy your lighting fixtures in 'families' so they all work together. Scale and proportion are important when selecting your lighting fixtures. For maximum light in a room set your lighting up in a triangle shape or diagonal. Lamps can be painted and new trendy lampshades purchased to update the look especially if it is a good lamp!

FURNITURE PLACEMENT TIP: If your style is traditional you are more likely to find parallel seating arrangements work for you. If you are more casual then the 'L' or 'U' shape furniture placement will work best for you.

LIGHTING PLACEMENT TIP: Living room lamps make sure the bottom of the lampshade is eye level when you are sitting; for bedroom lamps the bottom of the shade should be at shoulder level; a chandelier above a table should be 32 - 36" above the tabletop; for chandelier size multiply the rooms' width X2 and that is how wide the lighting fixture should be e.g. 8' room requires 16" fixture and 1/3 the length of the table.

Choosing FURNITURE & LIGHTING FIXTURES for SELLING:

• Keep with our Golden Rule of 'Less is More' for your furniture in every room and area in your home when you are selling.
• Modern/contemporary furniture can work in any decorating style (except for the 'over- the-top' traditional home look).
• In living or family rooms define your focal point. For example if you have a fireplace then place the furniture in a parallel grouping so the fireplace is the first thing prospective buyers see.
• Updated lighting fixtures have a fabulous ROI (Return On Investment) so don't scrimp here - replace anything that is dated with the trendy brushed nickel or black wrought iron with opaque glass - big box hardware stores have the best selection and best prices.

FURNITURE PLACEMENT TIP: Keep your room set ups simple yet attractive i.e. for living or family room - sofa, chairs or loveseat, end table (s), coffee table (optional you want to create space), art, plant, accessories, lights and you are good to go; bedroom only needs a bed with hotel-look bedding, bedside table(s), lamp(s), dresser if there is enough room.

LIGHTING PLACEMENT TIP: Consider your Open House the Opening Night of a play - LIGHTS ON! This includes fireplace, curtains open to bring in more light, candles burning (faux candles for safety), lights on in every room including laundry!

LIMITED TIME 'FREE' TRAINING HOME OFFER
until November 5th, 2008

Does your home really need a little help? Want us to give your home a stunning new look with just using your existing furnishings and in just one day? Consider becoming one of our PRES Staging or Redesign Training Homes!

Special Offer: $FREE Consultation & $FREE PRES® One Day Home Makeover!

LAST AVAILABLE DATE FOR 2008: Wed, November 5th - VANCOUVER BC

Each month at the PRES® Staging Resource Centre we are training new home stagers and redesigners. As part of our commitment to offering the most comprehensive training program in Canada, we bring our students into homes just like yours for the hands-on component of the course. Check out our PRES® Staging Resource Centre website for more details under STAGING TRAINING and apply through the website.

Staging Training Home Client Testimonial:

"When my realtor suggested getting the house staged I didn't really know what to expect. She introduced me to Dana from Sun On My Back Redesigns. When we met her, my husband and I immediately felt comfortable and agreed to go ahead with having her students come in. Well, when I came home that night I was absolutely amazed. It really felt like being on tv - everything looked so good! I gushed over every room and the creative ideas they had are things I never would have thought to do. I love it so much now I hate to move!"

Precy
North Vancouver, BC

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1) 5 Top Tips to Prepare Your House for Selling

Be sure to attend the Abbotsford's 8th Tradex West Coast Women's Trade Show and join me for my talk on my 5 Top Tips to getting your house ready for selling.

Date:	Saturday October 25th 2008
Time:	10:30 am - 11:00 am
Location:	Abbotsford Tradex Exhibition Centre - Home & Interior Design Stage - www.westcoastwomen.net
Cost:	$10.00 Admission to Trade Show - Talk is 'Free'

2) Home Staging As a Career - So you want to become a Home Stager?

I left a very stable, secure, long-term corporate job of over 20 years to start my own interior decorating business. Many years have passed and I have never been happier nor more successful than I am now in the home staging world of business. I will share with you what it takes to become successful in this fast growing career field. We have recently launched PRES® Staging Resource Centre which offers home staging training and home staging services provided by our PRES® graduates. Come and join me. It may just be the career you have been waiting for!

Date:	Thursday November 13th 2008
Time:	6:45 - 9:45 pm
Location:	Burnaby Central High School 4939 Canada Way (near Burnaby City Hall)
Cost:	$29.00 (Check with school board)
Registration:	Is required @ 604 664-8888 or check out www.burnabyce.com

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LIMITED TIME ONLY OFFER

PRES® Staging & Redesign Course Offer
to December 2008

Want to be part of one of the fasting growing industries in Canada? Sign up now for our 5 Day PRES® Staging & Redesign Course. Earn your PRES® Professional Real Estate Stagers Designation & Certification! Your Future is Now – what are you waiting for!

November 3 - 7th - VANCOUVER BC

SAVE $200 - Sign up for any PRES® Staging & Redesign Course 2009 before December 31, 2008

Sign up for the next staging training course today

In Complete Gratitude,
Dana J. Smithers
Sun On My Back Redesigns Owner
PRES® Staging Resource Centre Creative Director & Founder