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September 2019

 

We have been very busy with stagings the last few weeks getting apartments to show their best .  The Pre and Post Labor Day season is the 2nd busiest time of the year for staging in addition to the Spring.  

We are pleased to report on one of our Staging Success Stories from the Spring - an apartment on Fifth Avenue with 11th floor views of Central Park that was "groomed" by updates and staging to take it beyond "estate condition" to a home buyers wanted to walk into and imagine themselves living there.

After multiple offers, it went into contract just two weeks after the listing date and sold for close to its asking price. See the before and after photos below

Warm Regards, 

Do nna M. Dazzo, President
Designed To Appeal
 
In This Issue
Testimonial of the Month
Staging Success Story: 1056 Fifth Avenue #11A "Sold" In Just Two Weeks at Close to Ask! Closing Price: $2.4M
Market Overview: New York, NY
Tips Tips and Tricks of the Trade: How to Make a Bathroom Show Better Without a Renovation By Donna Dazzo
Did You Know.....? The Latest Interior Design Trends In Paris By Agnes Carpentier from Houzz
Market Overview: The East End
FREE Closet Organization, Open House & Moving Checklists
 


" Donna and her team transformed this lump of coal into a diamond in less than a month.  She removed dark paneling and shutters that blocked the views in the bedrooms, ripped out the dark carpets, painted, and refinished the floors. The end result was a beautiful bright home. 

Although buyers knew the apartment needed a renovation, thanks to Donna, they could see the potential and focus on the stunning views of Central Park. More than 25 buyers came through in the first week resulting in multiple bids and a contract signed within 2 weeks at close to asking price. Without Donna's staging I would probably still be looking for a buyer for this apartment and would have had to reduce the price!  

I have worked with Donna numerous times and she always has an individual vision for each space. Her staging is customized so not every apartment looks the same. She works collaboratively and is the consummate professional."
                                                   
Lib Hyatt Goss, Associate Broker 
New York, NY
 
Staging Success Story:  
"Sold" In Just Two Weeks at Close to Ask!
2 BR/ 2 BA 
Closing Price:  $2.4M

This diamond-in-the-rough was a turn-off to potential buyers.  The walls were dark, floors were scuffed, church-like shutters with stained glass in the master bedroom hid amazing views of Central Park, and the 2nd bedroom had dark cabinetry, a dark red rug and fluorescent lighting.  

So we selected paint and floor colors and new light fixtures and brought in our contractor to rip out the shelving and carpeting, paint, refinish the floors and swap out the light fixtures.

The result was a light and bright apartment that showed buyers the promising potential of the apartment despite the renovations needed.   It went into contract just two weeks after listing and ultimately sold for 96% of the asking price!



Foyer Before Updates


Foyer Before Staging


Foyer After Staging


 Living Room Before Updates

 Living Room Before Staging
  
 
 Living Room After Staging


 Dining Room Before Updates


Dining Room Before Staging

   
Dining Room After Staging

Master Bedroom Before Updates


Master Bedroom Before Staging

Master Bedroom After Staging



Guest Bedroom Before Updates

Guest Bedroom Before Staging

Guest Bedroom After Staging


Enclosed Terrace Before Updates


Enclosed Terrace Before Staging


Enclosed Terrace After Staging
 
   Corcoran
To view the entire report from Corcoran click  here.
 
 Tips 
Tips and Tricks of the Trade: 
Are there inexpensive ways to make a bathroom show better when you are selling your home, without a renovation?  The answer is a resounding YES!

In fact, when someone is selling their apartment or house, I don't recommend a renovation as the buyers would more likely want to renovate for their own tastes and preferences.

So the objective becomes removing the "ick" factor.  What can we do to spruce up and update this space so that the condition and datedness don't turn off a buyer?  We want to get past the buyer turn-off and at least get the bathroom to a condition where the buyer can move in and live with the way it looks for a few months before they tackle the renovation.

First of all, bathrooms should be CLEAN.  I always tell my sellers to envision a hotel bathroom:  it should be sparkling clean and free of any personal toiletries, shampoos, children's bath toys, etc. when showing the home.



The biggest impact in updating a bathroom but at a reasonable cost is changing out outdated and/or poor condition:
  • Lighting fixtures
  • Faucets and, if possible, tub and shower fixtures
  • Cabinet door and drawer handles 
You don't have to shop at high-end specialty stores for these items.  Try a Home Depot or Lowe's.



Bathroom Before Updating


Bathroom After Updating

(tiles regrouted, tub recaulked, walls painted, new accessories added)

The next biggest impact is to  paint the walls .  Paint always freshens up any space.  But if the tiles are white, don't paint the wall white. Choose a color that will add some contrast but is neutral such as pale gray or warm beige. And it there is wallpaper, remove it.

And if you are going to paint the walls, consider removing those large, frameless mirrors that span the length of the vanity.  These are dated, and smaller framed mirrors are more in fashion these days.

And if you're not painting the walls and don't want to remove the mirror, it can be updated by placing trim around it to give the appearance of being framed.

Continue reading here on How to Make a Bathroom Show Better Without a Renovation

To learn more of my personal tips & tricks for home staging, visit my blog here.
 
Didyouknow    Did You Know.....? 
The Latest Interior Design Trends In Paris
  
Since 1995, the Maison & Objet trade fair, held twice a year in Paris, has been the international meeting point for professionals in the lifestyle, interiors and design fields. It brings together more than 3,000 exhibitors and nearly 90,000 visitors, half of whom come from outside France. Houzz France's editorial team was on the scene at the latest show (Sept. 6-10, 2019) to report on the highlights of the fair, the trends of tomorrow and talent on the rise.

See new furniture, materials, patterns and colors showcased at the September trade fair in Paris: 

Furniture

Straight lines are giving way to rounded shapes, and circles could be seen everywhere: in lamps, rugs, mirrors, furniture and more. Ovoid and oval shapes also are seen. The sofas and chairs of the year have curved lines, giving interiors a soft feeling.

Materials

Interiors continue to revolve around raw wood, usually light-colored oak or darker walnut. Thin furniture legs in powder-coated or galvanized black metal are continuing to have momentum.

Terrazzo and light-colored woven rattan are essentials, while sophisticated notes dot interiors in the form of brass details and marble finishes. Armchairs and sofas are upholstered in short-pile velvet or curly wool.
Glass
 
Glass is showing up in gridded, textured and iridescent forms.


Patterns

Geometric patterns - herringbone, stripes, small checks and circular patterns - are being paired with floral motifs. Speckled patterns are continuing to rise to the occasion. 

The turning point of the year for patterns lies in the evolution of florals into less exotic but equally refreshing patterns based on both large flower patterns and tiny prints. 

Patterns from the 1930s are continuing to be on-trend, inspired by the Art Deco movement. These include patterns featuring palms, cornices, hand fans, fringes, semicircles, rectangles and squares.

Color
 

The colors of the year are muted, earthy and close to nature, with green still in the spotlight. Fir green, the big color of 2019, is still present here and there, but the new green of the year ahead is tinged with yellow and tends toward warmer khaki or olive. 

A number of warm colors - powder pink, peach, coral, terra cotta, blood red, wine red, burnt orange, ocher, amber, sienna and nutmeg - will be enlivening interiors this year. Blue is in decline, though Klein blue and denim are still popular shades.

While interior palettes have tended toward safe monochrome in the last few years, harmonies and contrasts of several colors now are key; designers are playing with primary and secondary tones and balancing dark and light. Particularly noteworthy combinations at this fall edition of the fair were khaki, sienna and powder pink; yellow-green, denim and burnt orange; and peach, nutmeg and linden green.
     
To read more Emerging Interior Design Trends From Maison & Objet 2019, click  here!
 
East
Market Overview: The East End
         
Our next quarterly analysis will appear in the October issue. 
 
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