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Patti Stern, Principal, PJ & Company
Staging and Interior Decorating
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FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE
- Get Ready To Sell In Winter
- Tips For Adding Holiday Sparkle
- PJ & Co Top Holiday Gift Picks
- 2016 Color Forecasts
Where has the time gone? For me, it is not only the thought that Thanksgiving and the holidays are around the corner, but that
PJ & Company is turning 10 this December! As we celebrate the season and our 10th Anniversary,
this Special Edition of the
Style Report
is a perfect time to say "
Thank You"
to so many people who have helped us along the way as we celebrate the season and our
10th Anniversay
.
The first
Thank You is to my sister Judy - the creative person in the family. People often ask, "What does PJ stand for?" It means Patti and Judy. We started the business before Judy was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer. She would have been so incredibly excited to see how far we have come.
Then of course it's all of our wonderful clients along the way - from Toll Brothers Luxury Builders, to all of the realtors that have supported and encouraged our staging services, to the many individual clients that have put their faith and trust in our expertise. We say
Thank You.
Whether loading furniture and accessories for a new job, creating social media campaigns, or anxiously waiting for us to return home during one of the worst blizzards in CT,
Thank You to our families who have supported us every step of the way.
Finally,
the
PJ & Company Team - Connie Klanica, Katie Samuelson, Pam Bingman and Chris Cipriano - what incredible talent, inspiration, and creativity you have brought to this company. A very big
Thank You!
We will also be celebrating the opening of two new decorated models at Pierpont Hills, North Haven, a Centerplan Community and one of our new clients. This new development will offer 149 single family attached and detached homes situated in a park-like setting. Our team has been working on the interior design for their Bradley and Dayton models since September which will include some of our favorite colors that are featured in the 2016 Color Forecast below. Look for news of the Grand Opening in December and visit their site
pierponthills.com for more information.
If you can't decide whether to put your home on the market this winter take a look at our article that includes statistics regarding how homes sell during the winter months along with information from our colleague Sally Bowman, Broker/Owner of Sally Bowman Real Estate.
And to help you celebrate the holidays in style we share some of our own decor secrets that will make your home sparkle inside and out. We have also collected some of our favorite gifts that we believe will add a bit of "cheer" to someone on your list.
We wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving surrounded by friends and family and all the best for the Holiday season.
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SELLING YOUR HOME DURING THE WINTER MONTHS
MAY PAY OFF
If you're waiting until spring to put your home on the market, you may want to reconsider. In general, lower housing inventory means less competition and prospective buyers who want to get into a home quickly are more anxious to purchase.
A study by online brokerage Redfin reports that on average, sellers net more above asking price during the months of December through March than they do from June through November. They also found that "those listed in winter have a 9 percentage point greater likelihood of selling, sell a week faster, and sell for 1.2 percentage points more relative to list price than homes listed in any other season."
According to Sally Bowman, Broker/Owner of Sally Bowman Real Estate, Cheshire, CT, "The contracts that are written in the winter months are from serious buyers. They may be moving for a change in their job, family situation or retirement." Bowman also believes, "Buyers that were on the fence during the summer will usually jump in the winter as they realize that mortgage rates will have to go up at some point." Her best advice for winter sellers is to make your home as inviting as possible by cleaning up the yard, winterizing your lawn, applying a fresh coat of driveway sealer, replacing outdoor bulbs and always keeping the house bright and appealing.
The following is a list of basic tips that sellers should keep in mind to make their property more attractive when listing their home during the winter:
- Constant Curb Appeal
Maintain a polished look by keeping gutters clean, garden tools put away and shrubs trimmed. Also be sure to remove any hazards by shoveling, sanding and removing any ice or snow from the driveway, walkways and sidewalks.
-
Let it Shine
With shorter days, let in as much natural light as possible by opening blinds and curtains. Make sure that all lights are working, light bulbs have been changed, and be sure that the property is well lit both inside and out for late afternoon showings.
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Make it Warm and Inviting
Evergreens in pots on the front porch, a wreath on the door and other simple, tasteful holiday decor throughout are all welcoming touches that will go a long way to engage buyers on a gloomy day.
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DECORATING WITH STYLE FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Home decorated for the holidays by PJ & Company Staging and Interior Decorating
Adding style and charm to your home décor during the holiday season is one of the many activities we look forward to all year long. But finding just the right accents to dress up your home can sometimes be overwhelming. If you're planning to decorate in the coming weeks (we know Thanksgiving is around the corner) we hope the following styling tips will add a little sparkle to your holidays.
1. Set the Mood With a Theme
- Try a specific color scheme such as using different shades of white with silver and metallic accents that complement most existing decor.
- Or we love the rustic luxe style of mixing warm woods and elements from nature such as feathers and woodland figurines layered with modern touches for styling vignettes.
- Another popular style is an updated vintage décor defined by traditional textures and patterns such as plaids and needlepoint, classic ornaments and touches of evergreen paired with a few clean, modern accents such as mercury glass.
2. Add a Mix of Color, Shine and Nature
- From mirrored frames and beaded pillows to glittering ornaments and votives, nothing adds a touch of elegance like shiny metallic accents.
- For a modern twist, create a luxe tablescape by filling glass bowls with red, silver and gold metallic ornaments or colorful decorative fruits paired with evergreen or magnolia garlands, pine cones and berries.
3. Simplify
- Try not to overdo - one moderately sized Christmas tree placed in a central location (as shown in photo of our decorated home above) adds just the right amount of holiday spirit as well as a woodsy aroma.
- Mini pine trees in ceramic pots or metallic painted cans are a nice finishing touch on kitchen counters or accent tables.
4. Create Ambience With Lighting
- To add just the right amount of warmth, illuminate the front porch with mini lights twined around potted evergreens surrounded by lanterns with flameless pillar candles in various sizes and heights.
- Soft white lights strung across the fireplace mantel paired with mirrored votives and mercury glass figurines relect the glow and add plenty of sparkle to the holiday festivities.
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STYLISH GIFTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Our Top Gift Picks Guaranteed To Please
Holiday shopping time is just around the corner! Whether you're searching for that perfect gift for the hostess, client, friend or family member on your list, we've got you covered. Here are some of our favorite holiday gift ideas this year. Enjoy and happy shopping!
1. Buffalo Check IPhone 6 Cases, Mark and Graham
2. Circular Outdoor Plaque, Mark and Graham
3.Faux Fur Throws, Pottery Barn
4. Mercury Glass Ornaments, Anthropologie
5. Metallic Print Glassware, West Elm
6. Plated Tray, Mark and Graham
7. Truedeau Graviti Electric Salt & Pepper Mills, William Sonoma
8. Assorted Holiday Pillows, Pottery Barn
9. Silver Bell Wreath & Ribbon, William Sonoma
10. Natural Bark Candles, Garnet Hill
11. Deer Candy Jar, Mark and Graham
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A SNEAK PEEK AT 2016 COLOR FORECASTS
The industry color experts Pantone, Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams have chosen the color palettes to look for in fashion and home decor for next spring. In general, the color schemes are characterized by calm and cool hues along with some unexpected pops of vivid brights. Pantone says "Colors
this season transport us to a happier, sunnier place where we feel free to express a wittier version of our real selves."
While Benjamin Moore's 2016 Color of the Year pick "Simply White," is a little surprising we think the bright palettes from all three experts contrast well when paired with white trim and accents. In fact, we'll be decorating with oranges, bright greens, blues and grey in our upcoming model home interior decorating project for Pierpont Hills, North Haven.
Our collage below includes a mix of our favorite 2016 trending colors which we hope will inspire and provide another reason to look toward the coming year with excitement and optimism!
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