Our One Day Redesign!

A recent redesign using a lot of what the home owner already had. We had a few new pillows and two chair slipcover made, and pulled items from around the house to make the room cozy and inviting. The two slipper chairs were dull and dated and by having them slipped and placed side by side with the illusion of a single skirt, we created a loveseat.

Later, if the homeowner decides to make a change, she can use them together or apart. Green design in its purest form!

Redesign Made Simple

Often, the thought of hiring an interior designer can be intimidating. How much will it cost? How does it work? I don't know what my style is! Stageworks' no nonsense approach to designing home interiors begins with basic good design elements. We then build upon those basics to create a specific style that expresses the soul of a house and it's inhabitants.

We start with a brief questionnaire to discover your style sensibilities. Then craft a plan to create a room you will love for as little cost as possible. We often can use much of what you already have with a bit of updating using fresh paint or fabric.

The Stageworks team, Nancy & Lauri, will redesign as many or few rooms as you wish. Just need a living room redo? No problem. We can do it in a day or two depending on the scope of the job. Shopping services are offered for a hourly fee. And we'll bring our tools for moving furniture, hanging pictures and we even may take on a small furniture refurbishing project....on site!

Redesigning your home's interior should be fun not stressful. Having two redesign experts at once makes the project move along quickly. And with very affordable fees, you won't find a more cost effective way to redesign your home.

Call us for an in-home analysis today. In Jacksonville call 904-309-1433, and Gainesville 352-384-3950

**Ask about our July Special **

Offer Accepted in 8 Days!

The owner of the lovely Gainesville Duck Pond house informed us that an offer was made within the first week on the market, but not by just one buyer, but three.

"I wanted to let you know that as of yesterday we are under contract.

Thanks so much, I know your work had everything to do with it! Everyone who saw the house thought it showed beautifully. Our realtor kept hearing that the property showed much better than competing properties on the market. I knew staging would help but I never thought anything would bring that kind of interest in this market. We will definitely recommend your services to anyone looking to sell in the area."

Very nice news indeed!

Vintage Duck Pond Bungalow

This 1930's vintage Duckpond home in Gainesville, Florida was a pleasure to stage. Not only were the owners great to work with, the home's charm made our job even more enjoyable.. It is located on a corner lot with a 2 car detached garage. The Craftsman style is accentuated with Cypress paneling, beams and mantel as well as a built in hutch and a bright, cracked tile, Florida Room. The three bedrooms are generously sized with one cedar closet and a built in desk. Home has been continuously updated and meticulously maintained by the loving owners over the years.

If you haven't had a chance to view it in person, make sure to go by and check it out. And view the virtual tour here.

Kitchen/Adjacent Dining and Den

Spacious Living Room

Master Bedroom

Bright and Cheery Sunroom

Bedroom

Amy Catledge & Rick Fowler
ERA Trend Realty
4141 NW 37th Place
Gainesville, FL 32606
(352) 359-0327 Amy Cell
(352) 262-0597 Rick Cell
(352) 378-2470 Fax
Email: acatledge@eratrend.com

An Evening With Candice Olson

Lauri, Candice Olson, Nancy and Betsy

The Stageworks team recently attended the High Point Market, the largest wholesale furniture show in the world. We had the opportunity to spend a little time with Candice Olson of Divine Design, who has designed a stunning line of furniture for Revco International.

Watch the Video With Candice at the Revco Showroom.

Aside from Revco International, the designers outdid themselves with cutting edge showroom designs. While the list of our favorites is long, two special awards honored the most creative and innovative exhibitors.


Best of Market Award
Four Hands

Known for providing an eclectic mix of products collected from a variety of different countries, expressing the aesthetic ideals of numerous cultures, Four Hands has established itself as trend-setting leader in the home furnishings industry. Judged as the very best at the Fall 2009 High Point Market, this showroom–designed by Stephen Cannato, Justin Hatch and Fran Weil–makes exceptional use of color, lighting and textures to create a visually rich and emotionally engaging experience.

People's Choice Award (New)
Global Views

Launched this year to honor the voice of market attendees, the High Point Market People’s Choice Award takes showroom competition to a whole, new level. Not only does the winning exhibitor have to present a spectacular display, they have to develop and implement a strategy to get their guests to vote.

Global Views, winner of the High Point Market’s 2009 People’s Choice Award, excelled in both aspects of the competition. Their showroom design was so creative and compelling that it earned Second Runner Up status in our juried Best of Market. On top of that fine performance, the Global Views team also did an exceptional job of promoting their display.

We're Full of It

Municipal waste, that is.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, furniture and furnishings make up 5.5% of the more than 169 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) that was discarded in 2007.*

Stageworks doesn't want to continue adding to this "disposable economy" mindset by buying furniture that lasts about as long as the football season.

So, along with new purchases, our warehouse is full of furnishings that we have purchased from estate sales, private owners, Craigslist, etc. With a discriminating eye, we buy only fine pieces of classic design that span many different styles and tastes.

From antiques to mid-century modern to contemporary, we try to keep as much fine furniture in circulation as possible. This means that when we stage your house, it won't look like the typical model home. Adding pieces with character makes a house feel more livable. It makes a house feel more like a home. And buyers will be more likely to fall in love with a home that feels good than one that has an expected, cookie cutter look.

So maybe you should rethink that new dining table or buffet. Using a piece with history can infuse your home with that little something different. It shows that you have a creative streak and that you care about the environment to boot.

*Source: 2007 MSW Characterization Report

An Offer in 7 Days!

Before we could get the photos together to post on our website, the Realtor informed us that the homeowners of our last staged home received an offer. We are crossing our fingers that an agreement will be met soon. Could it be the beautiful and stylish interiors helped them visualize their family making it a happy home?

This could be a record for us....7 Days!

Before & After

You can view more photos and the full profile of the home here.

$1,275,000 Home - Contract in 51 Days!

One of our recent staging projects has just received an offer and if all goes as expected, will close in a few weeks.

Look for our upcoming ad in the San Marco Magazine's September Issue


The owners were savvy enough to know that competing with the two homes directly adjacent to theirs would take some smart marketing. So they staged it BEFORE it was listed. Stageworks made the home a standout with simple furnishings, stylish updates and infused it with a sense of balance.

And the cost of staging was far less than what a monthly mortgage payment is for a house in this price range. By selling quickly, they saved thousands in carrying costs and now can move forward with their life. This is why we put that extra effort into all of the details. Happy sellers, happy buyers and money in the Realtor's pocket.

51 DAYS, that's worth celebrating!

I Don't Understand Why More Agents Don't Suggest Staging

Don Tepper of Fairfax, Va. recently answered that question on Trulia.

"I'm an agent in Virginia (and a real estate investor), and my wife is a home stager. So here's a double perspective, at least from the East Coast.

A couple of years ago, agents didn't see the need for stagers because the houses would sell without staging. Sure, the argument was that they'd sell for more, or (except during the peak, when anything would sell instantly) that they'd sell more quickly. But someone who'd bought at, say, $250,000 didn't much care whether that home'd sell for $600,000 or $625,000, or that it'd sell in 15 days rather than 30 days. So, some agents who began their careers then don't have the perspective to understand the benefits of staging.

But today is different. And the agent's mantra is "Price is everything" and "If it's not selling, lower the price." Well, sure, nearly anything will sell at some price. But not all agents (and homeowners) understand that it may be far more economical to stage a home for, say $5,000 than to cut the price by $15,000. That's especially true if the house doesn't show particularly well. It doesn't have to be a dump...and that's what agents don't understand.

In addition, not all agents are willing to be honest with their clients about their homes. You have someone who has lived in a home for 25 years and it's their pride and joy. There are the pictures of their three children on the walls...many of the walls. Plus hubby's diplomas and certificates of achievement. There's the artwork they bought in Peru, and the Chinese wall hangings they acquired over there. They're religious, so there are plenty of framed prayers and pictures on the wall. The last of their kids is at college now, but the kids' rooms were the way they left them--little Sally liked pink, so everything in the one bedroom is pink. Billy was a bit of a rebel and liked black. He wasn't really a goth, but that's the style of his room. The whole house is full of memories. It takes a good agent to talk reality to the owners. Many of them don't have the courage to do so.

I don't disagree with Phil that many clients don't want to pay for the service. Partially, it's because they don't understand the benefits, and their agents haven't informed them of the benefits. ("Well...we could stage it. It'll cost you some money up front and there's no guarantee it'll sell your house. You can do it if you want, but most of my other clients haven't. And, really, price is what's going to sell your house. Now, let's talk about a price readjustment. I can get that into the MLS this evening."

The agents out here who've tried it seem to see the value in it. And I've seen some agents who've taken the courses themselves and actually do a pretty good job themselves. It's not "real" staging, but it does declutter, organize, and better present the house. And I know some investors (rehabbers) who really see the value in staging. They're willing to spend some money to sell a house quickly for top dollar."

We agree, Don!

Recent Staging Project - Virtual Tour

2105 SALT MYRTLE LN, ORANGE PARK, FL

We posted some photos of the Pace Island Residence a few days back, and now the listing is active and the virtual tour of the house is up and running.

This prestigious Pace Island Estate is located in Northeast Florida on the St. Johns River. It has the most spectacular views. In fact, when taking our breaks during staging, we took advantage of the vista once or twice by strolling out onto the private dock. What gorgeous sunsets we have in Florida!


To view the entire house, visit Linda Hurlbert's (Watson Realty Corporation) listing here.

And if you know anyone who is looking for a wonderful Florida home on the water, that is convenient to downtown Jacksonville, the beaches and lots of great schools, museums and shopping, be sure send them a link to the listing.