eNewsletter Archives

September 2007

Hello, this is Dana Smithers from Sun On My Back Redesigns,

Welcome to the Fall! Thank you for taking the time to read my newsletters. I appreciate your comments and the changes you are making to the way you live in your home. For those of you who are selling I know you are getting the message! This month we are looking at our Steps 6 & 7 in our 10 Step No-Fail Formula for Redesigning or Staging your home to create harmony and balance throughout.

If you are just receiving my newsletter for the first time go to my HOME PAGE on the left hand side under eNewsletter Archives and click on Read TIPS archives here. There you will find previous newsletter TIPS on Step 1. FUNCTION; Step 2. FOCAL POINTS; Step 3. CONVERSATION GROUPINGS, Step 4 CASEGOODS (furnishings other than sofas, beds, chairs) and Step 5 FLOORING.

Steps 6 & 7. ART & ACCESSORIES for Living

Art and accessories in home decorating are like the icing and decorations on the cake. You have all the main pieces in your home, now you get to add the final touches that really express who you are.

Art The most common mistakes people make when they are working with art are 1) they break up pairs and/or sets and 2) it is always TOO HIGH! When I take my 'walk about' in a new client's home I am always amazed and delighted at all the art people have in their home.

Art and accessories allow you to
express who you really are!

Following are some suggestions on how to make your art work for you.

1. Take your own 'walk about' in your home collect all the art that belongs together.
2. Group your art - find the common element that makes the art work together - it can be the frame, the theme, the medium, the colours, etc. find something that 'connects' it. 
3. Place your art on the floor - this is the method that works for me. I make the outline of a rectangle or square with the art. I place it on the floor and see what makes the best grouping.
4. Center your art - if you are putting it over a sofa or table try and keep it just 2/3 or the distance of the sofa or table and about 4 - 10" above it.  I keep about 1" between small art/photos and 2" between larger groupings. For an art gallery wall hang so that the middle of the piece is 56 - 60" high.

TIP: It is perfectly acceptable and fun to mix art and photos with other object as long as they work together.

An entranceway has a new and interesting look!

The music room works together at last!

Accessories The most common mistakes people make with their accessories and collections are 1) they break up pairs and/or sets and 2) they have TOO MANY! 
Following are some suggestions on how to make your art work for you.

1. Group your accessories & collections - showcase only the ones you really love - be discerning if you don't love it don't show it!
2. Group in odd numbers - we are back to our magic number '3' in decorating. Put your tallest object at the back, the next in the middle and the smallest in front. Be creative and have fun - mix it up and incorporate something that you wouldn't usually put together. For a traditional look group objects in pairs.

TIP: Rotate your accessories and collections seasonally - now with a change in weather it is a great time to switch your accessories and collections around. This way you get reacquainted with things that you love.

Memories of exotic travel live!

His collection is showcased!

Steps 6 & 7. ART & ACCESSORIES for Selling

My one piece of advice for your art and accessories/collections when you are selling is this:

Remember for SELLING, you want potential buyers to be looking at your home, not your art or collections!

A simple piece of art and a mirror help feature the fireplace

SPECIAL: TRAINING HOME offers for  REDESIGN & HOME STAGING 

SIGN UP FOR OCTOBER & NOVEMBER NOW!
$75 Consultation & $150 for our One Day Home Makeover!
Each month we are looking for the 'right' Training Homes that we can teach our students Redesign for living, and Redesign Staging for selling. All of our Training Programs involve some component of hands-on work in real client's home. Check out our website for more details under SERVICES.
To be eligible for our REDESIGN OR STAGING TRAINING HOME you need:

• enough furnishings for us to work with - rearrange, regroup, showcase
• 3 rooms we can make over such as living room, dining room, family room, etc.
• typically you will have 1200+ square feet in your home

A recent client testimonial:

" Thanks so much for all your efforts and thought into our redesign. Your solutions to our challenges were great. I love the space we have in the living room. Phil who was skeptical of the whole thing at first especially liked what you did with the piano room. Sarah our youngest thought the family room was spectacular and plans to move into it!  I was also impressed at how many of our things you were able to use....I had envisioned piles of leftovers in the mud room...you even made the curtains in the piano room work...amazing. We are looking forward to framing the art you hung for us."
Cindy, Phil & Family Vancouver BC

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5 DAY PROFESSIONAL CRDA REDESIGN & HOME STAGING COURSE

Last 2 Courses for 2007!

September is full.

Space available for October and November. Class size is limited to 6.

Receive your DESIGNATION & CERTIFICATION
 CRSS Certified Redesign & Staging Specialist 
Check out my new video clip that walks you through the course!

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Are you interested in finding out more about HOME STAGING AS A CAREER?  

HOME STAGING AS A CAREER - Thursday October 4th 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm  

Curious about what home staging is? Would you like to find out more about this new and exciting career? Come and join Dana J. Smithers for an informative session on what a Home Staging career is all about. This is not a course on 'how to stage your home' but a course for people wanting to step into a new career.

Location: King George High School 1755 Barclay Street (Denman) Vancouver BC
Cost: $49.00
Registration: Is required @ 604 713 4550 or on line registration at www.continuinged.ca

Warmest Regards,
Dana J. Smithers

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