To Stage or not to Stage?

Have you ever looked at an empty shell and wondered what it would look like furnished? 
That's the question buyers, realtors, builders, and stagers ask themselves all the time.  Beautiful houses with empty rooms and big price tags, often sit unsold because buyers sometimes can't see that potential.
In my previous life, I was a Real Estate Stager, I recently stepped back into that role when the phone rang and it was my friend and long time associate http://www.betsygraziano.com/Betsy Graziano of Coldwell Banker. Asking if I could add some WOW to this already WOW house.....On my first visit, I was blown away.  The details, the space, the light, the windows, the fixture, the hardware, the kitchen, the bathrooms.....every corner amazed me.
Between my love for  Betsy and the sense of what this house could be, I took on the project.  This house was already  beyond , but we took it to another level.  The architect, Patrick Ahearn's  style and talents are everywhere. The kitchen is my all time favorite; created by Brian Hamlin of Hamlin Cabinetshttp://www.hamlincabinets.com/ in Norfolk ,MA.  I felt like I was in Martha Stewart's Turkey Hill home in Connecticut. And last but certainly not least, Douglas Whitla of Whitla Brothers http://www.whitlabrothers.com/ pulled this all together and created a masterpiece( another one)....   This house is big, but never does it feel like that. 
Staging this space was easy, but it' s so important to remember that just like when designing your home , so much has to do with the finishing touches; the artwork, the flowers, the rugs, the eye candy....the things that  pull everything together. .
Prior to staging, this house was a beautiful shell and now it has the feel of a lived in and loved home.

Thank you Aunt Sadie

Have you ever fallen in love with something that you couldn’t have (please note I said something, not someone!). Well. about ten years ago I walked into  Aunt Sadie’s; a fabulous shop in the South End of Boston, and it was love at first sight. The way the tin was distressed, the flickering of the neon lights, the strong silence it projected as it hung on the wall ----- I was in love... Sadly, when I asked the clerk if it was for sale, I was told no. I left heartbroken, but visited the shop often to admire my love and dream of what might have been.

About a month ago, I was in  town at a prop shop for an upcoming photo shot and my mind wandered to Aunt Sadie’s, so I thought I’d stop in for a visit. There he was “GUESTS”, just looking down at me, longing for the day when he’d come home with me. Of course I asked again if it was for sale, but was told no. I left my number with the hopes of a change of heart. Much to my surprise, a few days later I received a call from Gary, one of the owners letting me know that if I wanted it, I could have it! Oh, my heart skipped a beat, finally!
Now , the problem was bringing my new love  home to my current loves---and asking them to help me hang it.
Yes, there were some snickers and rolling of the eyes, but eventually my wonderful husband Matt and fabulous son Casey spent a good chunk of their Saturday hanging this incredible sign( which weighs a ton and had to be grounded).
I love it...thank you
Matt, Casey and Aunt Sadie