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Patti Stern, Principal, PJ & Company
Staging and Interior Decorating
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At this writing, the snow flurries are yet again beginning for another nasty Monday morning commute here in Connecticut and both friends and colleagues are ready for a change in season. Our interior decorating team -- myself, Katie Samuelson and Connie Klanica -- just completed a model home for a client with a Coastal Decor theme that was a front-page feature in the
Danbury News Times lifestyle section (click on link to see article). We were living at the "beach" for the past two months as we brainstormed, designed, selected, and shopped for sandy colored couches, navy and white accents, and coral colored pillows to engage prospective buyers. Maybe that is the trick to get through March as we wait desperately for spring to arrive. Consider taking on a project this month to update a room with these fresh and inspiring colors seen in the article below. It can be as simple as adding
a few coral and navy colored pillows, mercury lamps or fresh white bedding to your decor.
If you have been thinking about renovating your kitchen or bathroom, you're not alone. According to a recent survey, homeowners are investing big in bathroom and kitchen remodeling in 2015. We share some of our favorite trends in kitchen and bath design including some photographs of recent client renovations.
Lastly, if you are considering selling your home, take a look at the most recent study by the National Association of Realtor's, "How Staging Impacts Buyers" article featured below. Staging DOES make a positive impression on buyers and it has become more important than ever before as the baby boomers are downsizing and younger buyers want move-in condition homes. We explain to our clients that today's buyer does not want any "projects." That means they don't want to remove wallpaper, paint a bedroom or replace dated flooring, to name just a few. A recent staging client took all of these facts into consideration and we share the before & after photo of this staged Family Room below.
I am happy to report that we have been asked to stage more properties than ever before as well as assist clients in a variety of interior decorating projects -- from selecting paint colors to decorating a new home. It is an exciting time for our team since this gives us a little "spring" in our step.
Enjoy our
March Style Report and remember that spring is just around the corner!
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TOP HOME RENOVATIONS FOR 2015
Kitchen and Bath Remodeling Trends Boost A Home's Value
Remodeling spending across the country has remained strong over the last few years with many homeowners opting to stay versus sell, choosing to invest in improvements now that will make them fall in love with their home again as well as increase the value. In fact, according to an Angie's List survey of more than 1,000 highly rated remodeling professionals, "homeowners plan to go big in 2015 and bathrooms are poised to be the most popular project - though kitchens remain a focus too."
If your bathroom is the room you're thinking of remodeling this year, the following is a list of some of the latest trends to consider: natural, earthy materials such as stone or wood-like tile, frameless glass shower doors and larger sized showers, custom vanities, free standing tubs, radiant floor heating, rain shower heads, geometric and decorative glass tiles, and engaging lighting are some of our favorites.
Bathroom Remodel by PJ & Company Staging and Interior Decorating
This bathroom update features many of the latest trends such as modern, spa-like style with an earthy color scheme including a rich espresso vanity, glass tiles, a stone shower floor, frameless shower door, and jeweled light sconces affixed to the wall-to-wall mirror.
If you are considering a kitchen remodel this spring, we hope some of the following trends will spark your interest: oversized islands for extended seating and cooking, bold range hoods, creative storage, sleek stainless steel appliances (yes, they are still popular), flat-panel cabinet doors, quartz counter tops, furniture style islands, open and user-friendly shelving, industrial style pendant lighting, and natural textured stone tile are just some of the design trends we love and have incorporated into our work.
Kitchen Remodel by PJ & Company Staging and Interior Decorating
Our favorite features from this complete kitchen renovation include: industrial style pendant lighting, streamlined floating hood above the stove paired with a natural stone backsplash, contemporary faucet design, stainless steel appliances and stunning Quartz countertops.
By incorporating some of today's top trends with classic styling, we created a look that will last.
Click here to see Remodeling Magazine's Cost vs. Value Report which compares average costs of remodeling projects with future resale values.
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HOW STAGING A HOME FOR SALE IMPACTS
BUYERS' PERCEPTIONS
We've had a busy start to the year staging homes for sellers who know how important making the best first impression is to potential buyers. While our clients appreciate the benefits of staging in terms of getting their home sold quickly and boosting the selling price, its also important to understand how staging a home affects a buyer's perception of the property as well as the perceived value.
According to the National Association of Realtors ' 2015 Profile of Home Staging, realtors that represent both the buyer and seller agree on two major points - which rooms are most important to stage and the impact staging has on dollar value a buyer is willing to offer for a staged home. They ranked the living room and kitchen as the top two rooms followed by the master bedroom, dining room and the bathroom.
Realtors (37% of whom represent sellers and 32% of whom represent buyers), believe that a buyer's perceived value of a staged home increases from 1 to 5%. The rest of realtors surveyed felt the increase in value falls between 6 and 10%.
The following chart which depicts buyers' perceptions on staging was also included in the 2015 Profile. To summarize, the findings show that 81% of buyers find it easier to visualize the property as a future home, 46% are more willing to walk through a home viewed online, 45% think it will have a positive effect on home value when decorated to buyer tastes, 28% will overlook other property faults, 10% feel it will negatively impact home value if decorated against buyer tastes and 5% are more suspect of home features. To see more results, visit the 2015 Profile of Home Staging at Realtor.org.
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COASTAL STYLE DECOR TREND HOT FOR 2015
Our first interior decorating project of the year was a gorgeous, model home, featuring two large bedrooms, two bathrooms, a fabulous great room, covered balcony and more. The Toll Brothers Newtown Woods, CT "Dorwood" Model gave our design team the opportunity to create our own take on coastal living, incorporating soothing tones of navy, white and coral throughout the home along with beautiful rustic wood and metallic accents. The following photos are some additional examples we thought you'd enjoy.
Decorated by PJ & Company Staging and Interior Decorating
Coastal style accents include mercury vases and lamps paired with natural woven
baskets and rustic accessories that add to the relaxed ambience.
Decorated by PJ & Company Staging and Interior Decorating
Sherwin William's Color of the Year, Coral Reef was featured in pillows,
bath towels and wall art accents.
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GREEN IS IN THE AIR
Some Fresh Ideas For Welcoming The Spring
With Green
With St. Patrick's Day just ahead and the snow beginning to melt, we can only hope that the luck of the Irish will be on our side for some early signs of spring to start surfacing! As the grass starts to show and the buds start to grow, there's no time like the present to embrace the beauty of Benjamin Moore's Color of the Year, Guilford Green. We hope this refreshing collage of ideas will inspire you to incorporate some different tones of green into your home as you get ready for the new season.
Rooms shown feature Guilford Green wall color.
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