The Staging Post

When selling a house, it's wise to think about Staging it for buyers. Banish clutter, family photos, lurid art, vivid wall colors, too much furniture crammed into a room, dark corners, overstuffed cupboards and wardrobes, dated decor, old appliances and ratty furniture. Banish personality quirks. You have to neutralize a house to make a potential buyer think they could see themselves in it, see the potential, space and size of the rooms. Fix loose door handles, wall scuffs, chipped paint, cracked tiles. It takes a good eye to look objectively and spot any little thing that might be off putting to a stranger. 
This was the brief for the house I worked on last month - create an appealing canvas for the demographic that can afford 1.5 million, from a house that had hosted, pretty much, students and their friendly but messy horde of friends. A dark, dingy kitchen with stained wood counters and red, emerald and blue bedroom walls were the first to go, but indeed the whole interior needed freshening up with paint and it was a huge task.
When the garden makeover was completed, we started at the entrance; formerly a dark red and blue playstation hangout, it became a light and airy dining room, open plan to the kitchen. 

Art, table and chairs borrowed. Candelabra from auction. 

Double Buddha in the mirror - repeated on the right side of the bay. Flower canvas from the local dump, £2!

Then the kitchen was brightened by newly painted and waxed counter tops, removal of a bulky table and chairs, and all new and fresh items on the counters that dressed a kitchen, replacing old, red accessories. A rug was added to delineate the working space, and fresh plants to the window sill behind the sink. 

I did add a little quirkiness, but it wasn't people related! 

On the first floor, I converted the 4th bedroom into a formal lounge using borrowed furniture and pieces from around the house. Topiary was added to the balcony outside, and everything you see in the room was created, with the help of some glass, a rug, mirrors, china and framed prints at bargain price at local auction. Looking more like a Georgian townhouse. Books were borrowed! 

We created a master suite opposite, using an ivory theme and a borrowed bed and bedside tables, dressed with fresh linens. A local charity store was a great source for a Japanese silver and white tea set for just £10. New rugs, and curtains from another room finished the decor, along with the addition of crystal knobs on all fitted cupboards. The mirrors had been scattered around the house. We dressed the bedside table doors with the same fabric used on the bed.

Borrowed alabaster lamps, cushions from Home Depot, B&Q and Peter Jones. Tray from Habitat. Antique rose embroidered linen on tray £2, charity store.

A little running Buddha theme added serenity...

The top floor was given a freshen up to both bedrooms and bathroom, and two scruffy rooms very much the worse for wear became perfectly acceptable guest or family rooms:

Side tables Habitat, £19. This room was emerald green! Picture from auction, £20.