For the love of Barn Wood...

Are you loving the new barn wood trend as much as we are? From walls to doors to furniture, the possibilities are endless.  Barn Wood can get mighty expensive so thank goodness we can cheat a little ;-)

Have a look at our favourite, affordable "cheats"

Get the barn wood planks here

This model here

Loving It!

Modern AND Affordable!

Artwork

Design Terms - The Breakdown

I think that regardless of what you do for a living, you probably have your own lingo.  While I always try to speak in terms that people will understand, it's inevitable that sometimes, I slip.  It usually results in long pauses from the client or a perplexed look, couple with a tip of the head.  As in, "I'm sorry, what?!".

So for anyone I may have confused or may confuse in the future, here are some clarifications for you.

Accessories: Accessories encompasses many different articles but here's the gist of it!

• Artwork: Paintings, prints, metal, photography, frames, mirrors...basically anything we put on the walls
• Books, magazines
• Vessels: Vases, bowls, baskets, trays...



InsideOut

• Candles, candle holders, lanterns, fountains, sculptures...

Window Treatments:

• Curtains
• Blinds
• Roman Shades
• Sheers
• Shutters
• Valances
  

Flooring:

• Hardwood
• Bamboo
• Laminate
• Hard Suface Tile: ceramic. porcelain, marble, granite...
• Vinyl
• Linoleum

Lighting:*

• Lamps
• Pendants
• Recessed
• Track
• Chandeliers
• Sconces
• Neons
  

*Lighting is one of the most important facets of decorating and often the one most overlooked.  Lighting can change a room entirely and is an important mood setter, regardless of the room you are in.

Soft Goods:

Soft goods pretty much encompasses anything you have made from fabric (with the exception of furniture, of course.)

• Linens
• Throw pillows
• Blankets/Throws
• Towels

Casegoods (aka furniture):

Yes, furniture by another name!

• Tables
• Chairs
• Credenzas
• Armoires
• Sideboards
• Desks
• Bookcases...
• Upholstered furniture: Sofas, Loveseats, Ottomans, Accent Chairs, Club Chairs, Recliners...

See? Not so hard but yes, I suppose it can become confusing to those who aren't at all familiar with the terms or how to decorate.  Hoping we have been able to clear it up for you!

Interior Decorating versus Home Staging - What's the difference?

Interior Decorating involves designing the space using a mix of what the owner has (in most, but not all cases) and blending it with new. The key difference is that Interior Decorating is done with the clients approval and in line with their personal taste. The client has input in the decision making process and provides valuable information related to their likes and dislikes.  It is then that I capture the essence of what they are looking for and move full speed ahead. Their space, their choices.

Home Staging has nothing to do with the home owner's taste. It is done to reflect the tastes of the widest range of buyers. I start by trying to use what's already in place but as the project moves along, accessories, bedding, window treatments are often provided as part of our rental agreement. It is my task to appeal to the widest range of buyers with or without the seller's taste entering the mix.

At Phancy Design we do not believe in simply "fluffing" up someone's home.  We want to make an impact.  Dramatic transformations happen often with us.  Our goal is always "model home", knock your competition out of the park, and give you ideas for your future home, all at the same time!  We do of course have to work within the budget of the home owner or realtor, so that can be a challenge!

Whether you are staying in or leaving your home, Phancy Design can assist you.  Please contact us to reserve your consultation.

BEFORE & AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

Colour and You...

Colour is a powerful communication tool and can tell people a lot about you.The temperature of the environment might play a role in your colour preference. People who are warm tend to list cool colours as their favourites, while people who are cold prefer warmer colours.

When it comes to my home, I now prefer (and I say now because I have gone through MANY phases) the cool, icy blues (my living room) with greys, whites and blacks thrown in for good measure. I am a grey FANATIC.  It's the world's most perfect colour (but I digress).

So what do your favourite colours say about you?

Black: Absorbs all light in the colour spectrum. Indicates power.  Could also indicate mourning or unhappiness.  I LOVE black. Even on the walls.  Oh yes.  But particularly on my doors.  Painting your doors black gives you depth, and drama.  It will make your rooms look bigger and bolder.  I love black.

Liven up a landing

Add depth with black doors

White: Purity, cleanliness, sterile, cold, bright, innocent.  Finding the perfect white can be a daunting task.  I am a fan of the bright, blinding whites and tend to avoid those muddied up versions.  White, for me, should be pure and bright.  Ceilings, trim or a white on white room can truly be a show-stopper.

YasminWhite

Blue: Glorious blue, the colour MOST preferred by men!  Aloofness, calm, serenity. peaceful, tranquil...the list goes on...Blue is a top design choice for many interiors, ranging from the navies to the icy blues.  It will calm you immediately however it is the # 1 choice for the Home Office as it helps increase productivity.  Calm mind = clear head = productivity, I always say. My living room is currently painted in Behr's Cumberland Fog, which to me is the perfect blend of a silvery grey and an icy blue.  It does indeed encourage deep breathing when I need it most.

Red: Intense, exciting, bold. I would not recommend red as a wall colour (accent walls behind them are okay) for children as it CAN cause excitement and feelings of aggression.  Trust me on this, I've seen it.  It's a GREAT accent colour so, as noted above,if you want to paint an accent wall, make sure it's on a wall they are not looking at during bedtime.  Alternately, you can pepper their room room with red accents, instead (bedding, lamps, curtains, etc,,,).

It is however a great colour for dining rooms or again, accented in a living room.  It promotes lively conversation and the appetite!  Word of caution: Red is a hard to colour to paint.  Even with primer.  Be prepared for 3-4 good coats of paint on each wall.

Green: Glorious green - you either love or hate it.  True story.  People have some really strong feelings about green.  It's calming, it promotes good health & vitality.  What's not to like?  Much, apparently. It may be a question of finding the right green.  I have had green in my house and it was lovely, but none now.  Not even as an accent colour.  Although I do have an orchid in my kitchen.  Does that count? Greens can be vibrant or muddy.  I am sure there is a green out there for everyone.  It's simply choosing the right one.

Maddeco

YELLOW- I hate this colour.  With a passion. Yellow can raise feelings of frustration and anger.  No kidding!  When I moved into this house, the kitchen and living rooms were yellow. Bright yellow.  And I kid you not, three of us were ready to tear each other apart.  It became really urgent for us to get yellow out of the house, lol. I just can't live with it.

Others (not me) find it cheery and warm. Because of the amount of light that it reflects, it can be hard on the eyes.  Men, in general, do not like it because it can be a libido killer (not a joke).  Try yellow as an accent colour instead.  Pair it with whites, greys or blacks.

My house BEFORE.  There are simply no words for this,

BROWN: Oh brown, salt of the earth. Nature, warmth, security. Brown has been a decorating staple (disguised as sand, chocolate, taupe and the like...) forever.  I've had chocolate brown walls and I loved it.  It was like walking into a warm hug.  I teamed it with raspberry coloured furniture and it was outstanding.  You don't have to take brown straight up.  Its variations can keep you decorated for life.  It's a solid foundation that can be played up with virtually any colour.

Multiple uses of brown - Candice Olsen photo because, well, I love her.  Yeah. I really do.

So, thoughts...Does your interior reveal something about you? 

Phancy Design
www.phancydesign.ca

Plus qu'un rêve - More Than Just A Dream

C'est plus qu'un rêve. C'est notre avenir. Notre passion nous amènerons à travers le Canada. Vos maisons à vendre, notre meilleur travail.  Des forfaits abordables parce que vous voulez vendre rapidement, avec moins de négociations et passer à votre prochain client.

It's more than a dream.  It's our future.  Our passion will take us across Canada.  Your homes for sale, our best work.  Affordable packages because you want to sell quickly, with little negotiation and move onto your next listing.

Phancy Design

514.605.1799

www.phancydesign.ca

Tracy's Top 5 List of Do's and Don'ts

Home Staging season is in full swing!  Whether you are hiring a professional Home Stager (recommended!) or attempting it on your own, here's our top 5 list of FAUT and "FAUX pas"!

DO....

1) A thorough cleaning
Your home should shine during photos, visits and open houses.  This is not the time to go on a house cleaning strike.  The home is still yours (although you should now be looking at it as a "product" you are selling) and you must maintain it.

2) De-Clutter
This is the perfect time to dispose of anything you aren't using any more.  Prepare donation bags for those clothes that no longer fit, throw out any broken toys or small appliances, get your home office in order.

3) Air it out
It's been a long winter.  Really long.  Take advantage of any rises in temperature to open those windows and bring in the fresh air.  It's good for you, it's good for your home and it's good for visitors. A few times a day, if only for 5 minutes, will do a world of good!

4) Evaluate your floorplan
Are you really showing your home at its best? Or have you moved the furniture around to accommodate babies and pets? Your home needs to flow properly. Remove any roadblocks and play with your furniture.  Resist pushing all your furniture against the walls (this does NOT make your rooms look bigger) and create airy spaces that your visitors can circle, walk through freely and envision their own furnishings.

5) Repairs
That to-do list you have been sitting on?  There's no time like the present to get it done! In fact, it's critical.  You know the staircase to the basement requires a handrail. Do it!  The building inspector is going to tell you anyways.  Get it done now and that's one less thing on his report! House needs paint touch ups? Do it now!  As unimportant as that seems, it's one less reason for your potential buyers to turn around and walk away or bog you down in negotiations.  Think TURN-KEY, finished home with nothing to do.  Think model home.

Home Staging is not just about making it pretty (although that is also a HUGE "DO" on the to-do list). It's about creating functional, welcoming, clean spaces.  About showing your home at its best. About creating that turn-key vision for your buyer. Not sure? Contact us for a consultation and let us help you get your listing on track.

FAUX PAS

1. Pets

You love them. I love them (have 3 pups of my own) but your buyer may not.  Even the animal loving buyer does not want your dogs jumping on them, following them around or just getting in the way.

The non-animal lover or allergy sufferer could walk right out.

Down boy!

Please do not show pets, their bowls/toys in your listing photos. You'll alienate a big portion of your potential buyers.  And DO keep your pets outside during visits or better yet, take them off the property completely. Allow your buyers to take the time they need to view your property and not have them feel rushed because your animals are over-excited.

2. Lighting

BEFORE

AFTER

Do not neglect the power of lighting. Artificial or natural. Let the sunshine in and show your best light (s).  People are looking for bright and airy spaces. Heavy, dark curtains that block the light may be fabulous for energy conservation but not so great when we want to let the light in.  Consider light weight, light filtering, FLOOR LENGTH (I cannot stress this enough!) curtains to add light, drama and a breezy feel to the room.

Fixtures.  How old are yours? Is great grandma's Tiffany lamp hanging over the dining room table? Is it suitable for this room and its existing decor? Consider changing fixtures in the kitchen and dining room to something more modern and current. A small investment for a BIG return.

3. Setting The Table

Hands down my BIGGEST pet peeve and a HUGE faux pas! HUGE. Just.Don't.Do.It.

Why?

Believe it or not there is a psychology to Home Staging.  As a matter of fact, it's largely psychological with a big dash of magic.

a) How many times in your life have you set the table, then left the home? Once? Twice? NEVER, perhaps? So why do it now? That is not the way you live and we want to show buyers they can live as you have.

b) It's an outdated practice from the 90's.  When Home Staging first became popular, this was one of the 1st tasks accomplished.  If you have been advised to do this. STOP.RIGHT.NOW.  Because here's the psychology around it....

So your table is set...

Scenario 1: You have a 4-seater table and it's set and ready to go...Your buyer tours and oooops (!)...this room can only host four people!! But, we're six! And all those dinner parties we love to host? There's no room! It only holds four!

The buyer does not see all the EXTRA space around your table.  YOU know your dining room can easily accommodate a table of 8.  They cannot as they are too focused on the fact that your table only holds four people.  Suivant, next!

Scenario 2: You have an 8-seater table and it's set and ready to go...Your buyer tours and oooops (!)...this room can host eight people!! But, we only have a 4-seat table! We can't afford a table for 8 right now! Our table is too small! This room is too big!  Suivant, next!

A simple centerpiece is all you need!  

THIS is how we do it.

So, I repeat...

a) How many times in your life have you set the table, then left the home? Once? Twice? NEVER.

b) It's an outdated practice from the 90's.  STOP.RIGHT.NOW.



4. Collections

So you're a collector...Comic books, owls (guilty!), porcelain dolls...this is the time to put them away. First of all, they are probably worth a fortune.  Both monetary and from an emotional standpoint.  We don't want them broken or stolen during visits, so do put them in a safe place.  More importantly...non collectors will have no appreciation for your treasures. To them, it's just clutter.  And focusing on clutter, takes our attention away from your home.  Let you buyers focus on your fabulous home, not your bobble-heads ;-)

5. The Empty Home

While I always encourage you to de-clutter (see item 2 of the DO's) there can be too much! And listing your home without furniture, all together, may also work against you.  Buyers need to see how you live.  They need to visualise the space.  The majority of buyers really struggle with putting a room together.  They need your help.  It doesn't matter if your furniture is not the same as theirs.  If your sectional fits in the living room then they can rest assured that their sofa and loveseat will as well.

Your buyer may be upgrading to a larger home, which means they may not understand your floorplan.  They need guidance. It's their first dining room.  They've only eaten in a small kitchen. They want to see the possibilities.  YOU know it's a dining room, they only see an empty space. What will they do with it? What is this room? They may not know. And that can be scary.  With Home Staging, we can show them, guide them, Think MODEL HOME.

Still unsure? Well, that's Phancy Design's speciality. We have had the privilege of staging homes for over 10 years and it's my passion, my life. Let's chat at 450.458.7001 and get your home ready and SOLD!

Before

After