Design Matters @ Home Blog

Visit to Kitchens by Wedgewood in the Louisville Tech Center

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Lynch) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:11:00 +0000

The Design Matters Home team recently had the opportunity to visit Kitchens by Wedgewood here in Louisville. Linda Reinhardt, a Wedgewood kitchen designer, shared with us the latest trends in kitchen design and tips for making a functional and stunning kitchen. Linda also shared with us Wedgewoods cutting edge techniques for producing kitchens that are as eco-friendly as they are beautiful.

Helly and Linda, standing next to a wood reclaimed from Oregon--all this wood was blown down by high winds and then collected for use by Kitchens by Wedgewood.

Jim Ames, President of Kitchens by Wedgewood, then took the Design Matters Home Team on a tour of the company's manufacturing facility. The Wedgewood team can build and finish cabinets of any kind--your imagination is the limit! They offer stock, semi-custom and custom options made with a range of woods and finishes.

Jim explains the process of adding detail to a

cabinet door.

Some of the highlights of our tour include a suite of cabinets made with zebra wood, the organic

beauty of doors made with beetle-kill pine and the newest green material appearing on cabinet

doors, sunflower seeds.

The Design Matters Home Team in the Kitchen by Wedgewood shop:

From left to right: Amanda, Helly, Jan, Sarah and Jami

Thank you to Linda, Jim and everyone at Kitchen by Wedgewood! We had a great tour! If you are interested in re-thinking your kitchen this year, please consider joining us for a series

one-of-a-kind kitchen workshops hosted by Helly Duncan, Allied ASID, ASP of Design Matters

Home and Barbara Barton, Certified Master Kitchen and Bath Designer of Mountain High

Appliance and other expert guests every Tuesday in February. We hope to see you there!

2010 Design Trends Workshop

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Lynch) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:22:00 +0000

Recently, Helly and the team at Design Matters Home presented their vision for the hottest trends in interior design and fashion at the state-of-the-art showroom at Mountain High Appliance in Louisville.

From the pouring of the drinks featuring the newest flavor of vodka, Bubble Gum, to the fabulous clothes provided by the Vie Vie Luxe Boutique, the night was a sparkling success.

Sarah showing off some color boards and clothes from Vie Vie Luxe

Some of the attendees enjoying the Bubble Gum vodka!

Here are some of the trends we featured:

Gray, purple and turquoise are important colors for the coming year. Gray is the choice neutral and a color that can be paired with either bold brights or soft pastels.
Color themes focus on tribal color combinations that are rich and earthy, and aged or mellowed colors that evoke the past.
Artisanal interiors that are timeless, personal and purposeful. Look for a movement away from cloned, mass design.
Keeping it real by using materials with a natural patina, an imperfect finish or an aged texture.
In the middle of timeless and artisanal design, add small doses of luxury or bits of embellishments, such as buttons, gilding, inlay or mosaic work. These add interest and a sense of luxury without high cost.
Look for wallpaper in an unexpected place: the ceiling. (The wallpapered dumpsters were also a big hit!)
Furniture is modular and multi-purpose. Curved lines add softness and comfort.
Organic and curved shapes are also important in the kitchen, off-setting hard lines and angles.

In addition, the newest retail furniture store in the Boulder area, ARHaus, provided samples of their recycled glass containers and organic and recycled fabrics that helped us highlight one of the most important trends of recent years: green and sustainable design.

Some of the great food we have at our workshops

Jan, Helly, and Sarah from Team Design Matters Home

Thank you to all who attended! And thank you to Mountain High Appliance, Vie Vie Luxe Boutique and ARHaus for helping to make the evening such a success.

If you missed out on this seminar and would like to learn more about the 2010 trends contact us. Also, we hold monthly Design Inspirations Workshops. In February we have a one-of-a-kind Kitchen Design Series with 4 topics presented every Tuesday. In March our workshop will cover the psychology of color. For more information on those as well as future workshops check out our Workshops page. We hope to see you at the workshops. They really are informative and fun!

Tartans in 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Team Design Matters) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:18:00 +0000

As Anita Sarsidi states in the December 2009 Elle Decor magazine article on Tartans - "Suddenly the world is going mad for plaid. This Scottish classic is stealing the spotlight from runway to tabletop."

The web slideshow version of the article shows example plaid patterns in clothes, blankets, desk accessories, chairs, dishes, and more.

We have to say that we excited, yet cautionary, about this trend. I am quite used to tartans as my husband is of Scottish decent. As the picture shows he was dressed in his traditional Duncan plaid kilt for our wedding. He does not wear his kilt very often so it is now a wonderful accent piece on the wall of the stairway in our home.

Using tartans in clothes is one thing, using them in your home's décor, is another. It is easy to go overboard with tartan in your home so use them in small doses to bring a color and texture focal point to a room. While tartans are traditional you can get creative in your selections and parings to even bring them into modern decor. Look for unusual colors and patterns to avoid seasonality. I like the use of tartans in belts, buttons, accessories, welting, and pillows. The dishes can be kind of cool as well but again don't go overboard.

Learn more about Tartans and other trends in interior design, clothing, color and more at our free* 2010 Design Trends Workshop on January 14th from 5:30pm - 7:00pm at Mountain High Appliance in Louisville, Colorado. Stylish food and drink will be served.

Register Here

Call Barb Barton (Special Events Coordinator at Mountain High Appliance, at 303-665-6850 x 229) for more information. *We are asking for a optional $5 donation at the door to support the wonderful efforts of the Boulder Homeless Shelter.

Eatertainment Encore

noreply@blogger.com (Team Design Matters) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:53:00 +0000

The weather was kind of crummy on Tuesday night but that did not stop us from having another fun and educational evening at Mountain High Appliance for the Eatertainment Encore with Mountain High Appliance Executive Chef, Keith Jones. As Chef Keith explained during the workshop Eatertainment is all about having fun while cooking. Judging by the many laughing moments and smiles on the faces in the audience the encore presentation of this workshop did not disappoint! Here are some pictures from the evening.

Chef Keith "Eatertaining" his audience!

Chef Keith and his assistant, Julie Xiong (student at the Art Institute, Culinary Program) showing off the super cool fryer that is part of the Miele modular system. The "Design your Own Cooktop" phenomenon allows for specialty cooking pieces to adapt to a cook's dream....Fryer, Superburner Wok, Ceramic Electric, Gas, Induction, Tepan Yaki and more....

Chef Keith provided lots of tips and tricks to the audience.

Chef Keith demonstrating the one of a kind hood from Miele that lowers or raises to the convenience of the user. It is especially helpful in island applications, especially with the wonderful views from our kitchens in Colorado!

Chef Keith demonstrating the cooking of his Moussaka Tart one of the nine recipes highlighted during the workshop.

A happy member of the audience!

Chef Keith putting his magic touch on some Triple Chocolate Cinnamon Cookies.

Miele was a co-sponsor of both Eatertainment events. Barbara Barton and Missy West from Mountain High Appliance are drawing names for some door prizes generously provided by Miele.

Another happy audience member receiving a door prize from Barbara.

A winning team! Chef Keith, Brad Barnett (owner of Mountain High Appliance), Helly Duncan (owner of Design Matters Home).

Brad is talking to some of the attendees after the demonstration about the components in the Miele kitchen in the Mountain High Appliance showroom.

The Eatertainment workshops are part of our ongoing Design Inspirations Workshop series that picks up again on January 14th with 2010 Design Trends. Visit our Workshops page to get more information. Also, Mountain High Appliance hosts many other cooking related events and they open up their live kitchens for private events. Contact Barbra Barton at 303-665-6850 x210 to learn more.

Louisville Holiday Home Tour Décor 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Team Design Matters) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:48:00 +0000

We were so inspired and thrilled to help out with the holiday décor of the homes featured on the 2009 Louisville Holiday Home Tour. It was exciting to meet all of the wonderful homeowners and to see and hear about Louisville family holiday traditions. We wanted to share our holiday decorating journey by showing some of the holiday decorating ideas that were incorporated this year into the homes. Many of these ideas are very simple and affordable, and we hope that you take away as much inspiration as we have to create wonderful holiday décor in your home.

Here are some ideas you can take home from the tour:

Incorporate the architectural details of your home into your holiday decorating:

The homeowners have used light fixtures, bolts, ceiling beams and other fixed elements as the backdrop and inspiration for their holiday decorating. This makes decorating less time consuming and draws attention to what is already beautiful about your home, instead of masking it.

Ornaments are strung from the bolts in the beams and from a light fixture.

Decorate without using floor space:

For many people, the holidays mean guests, entertaining and having a crowd in your house. Many of the homeowners have incorporated their decorations into their homes without taking up floor space. If you don’t have room for a tree, hang ornaments elsewhere, like is shown above. Consider using a tabletop tree on a side table or an over-sized mantle, or use wreaths and garlands to add greenery to the top of upper cabinets, armoires, or other large pieces of furniture instead of a large tree.

Bring out your favorite collections:

Display some of your collections together to add personality to your décor. Your favorite holiday-themed mugs in open-shelving in the kitchen or, as seen on the table below, an eclectic collection of dishes and hotel silver add sparkle and interest to a holiday table.

Work with a simple color palette:

Holiday decorations come in a wide variety of colors, but to keep your home from feeling overwhelming during the holidays, pick one or two strong colors for your decorations. To bring in variety, you can add metallic accents and different textures. This table uses red in multiple textures, but feels cohesive due to the unity of colors:

Shop the supermarket and discount stores:

You can shop for beautiful holiday accents at the same time you are buying your groceries and household items. Cranberries, candy canes and greens can transform simple white dishes.

Mix authentic greens with synthetic versions you can buy at a discount store to add color and texture without spending a lot of money (and time vacuuming needles!). Simple red tinsel and white lights add sparkle and interest when repeated throughout.

Edit your decorations:

Don’t feel as if you have to take every item out of your boxes of holiday décor. One homeowner chooses a theme each year for the ornaments on their tree and hangs only those ornaments that fit the theme. This year’s theme is “all sparkle,” so the tree really shines!

We hope you found inspiration and holiday cheer as you enjoyed this year’s Louisville Holiday Home Tour! - The Design Matters Home Team

Slipcovers

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Lynch) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:48:00 +0000

Small changes that make a big difference:

The holiday season brings joy and festivity to the winter months, but also brings visual over-stimulation from the bright lights and vibrant colors of most holiday décor. To create a center of calm during the most hectic season of the year, consider slip-covering your couch in a crisp white or soft cream. A white or cream sofa will offer a fresh touch to your living area and neutralize the riot of color and lights that can rob your space of some of the peace of the season.

Another advantage to a slipcover is easy cleaning: you can serve the red wine and chocolate you and your guests love without fearing any permanent damage to your couch. Most slipcovers can be machine-washed, so the day after the party you can simply was away any stains.

Putting a slipcover on your couch is a small change, but it can make a big difference in your living space this holiday season.

Anthony Grant Studio Gallery

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Lynch) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:43:00 +0000

There is a wonderful new addition to the local arts scene in Louisville: the Anthony Grant Studio Gallery, which opened earlier this month. Grant, who is also an architect, has a colorful and vibrant style of painting, and visiting his gallery is a real treat for the eyes and the soul. His bright and modern studio is located in the lower level of the Art Underground building at 917 Front Street in Historic Downtown Louisville.

Be sure to stop by the studio for the Louisville’s art walk on Friday, December 4^th from 5 to 8pm. The Anthony Grant Studio is also open daily from 10 to 5 or you can call 303.408.5533 for a personal appointment. Tony also teaches both private and group lessons, so if you are inspired by his work, consider learning to create some of your own!

Holiday Decorating Workshop Recap

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Lynch) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:41:00 +0000

The Design Matters Home Team hosted a fun, festive and informative workshop on Holiday Decorating at the Mountain High Appliance showroom this past week. This workshop was the second out of three holiday oriented workshops to get you inspired for the holidays.

Led by Helly, the Team shared many valuable tips for bringing sophistication, sparkle, creativity and a little humor to your home this holiday season. Guests were treated to delicious treats from the Mountain High kitchen and beautiful examples of the Design Matters’ vision for making your holiday décor unique and affordable.

A celebration of the rich colors and bountiful foods of autumn is the cornerstone of a beautiful Thanksgiving table and the centerpiece of Helly’s tips for decorating this fall. To give this traditional look a twist, incorporate metallics by spray painting pumpkins and gourds in silver, copper or gold (the fake versions take paint beautifully and last year-to-year). Add flowers in deep colors, like chrysanthemums, for contrast. Amber glass is also a beautiful compliment to the fall colors and brings in a retro touch—an important trend this season.

When thinking about the winter holidays, resist the urge to over-do it. Less is more: you can have a festive home that is still a peaceful retreat for you and your family by editing your holiday décor. Pick a single theme and use it throughout your home; it can be a color (again, metallics are a fun trend), shape (think round Christmas balls) or item (repeating a winter icon, like the snowy tree).

By being selective with the items you display, you can keep your holiday collections fresh by packing some accessories away for a few seasons and revisiting them when you are ready for a change. Also, when you pick a theme it is easier to shop the overwhelming holiday displays at your favorite stores. You will know just the color, shape or item you want and being decisive will save time and money.

Below are the five themes we highlighted in the workshop. All will remain on display in the Mountain High Appliance showroom in Louisville Colorado through the holidays. Stop by and check them out!

Casual autumn decorations with a metallic shimmer:

Bringing the outdoors in, but with a bold pop of color:

Decorating with candy for the young and young at heart:

Highlighting blue and silver for an elegant and modern table:

Ringing in the New Year with a luxurious and playful setting:

Here are a few of the hot holiday trends you’ll be seeing this year:

Vibrant colors, including pink, ice blue and any shade of green.

Nostalgia: old is new!

Metallics.

Decorating with Boxwood.

We so enjoyed sharing our holiday vision with our guests at Mountain High Appliance! If you feel inspired by our choices, please call us at (303) 249-4661 for an appointment for our Holiday Styling Services. We would love to bring some holiday shimmer to your home!

Also, we will be hosting an encore presentation of the Holiday Eatertaining live cooking workshop that we held on October 27th. The second date will be on December 8th, 5:30pm - 7:00pm at Mountain High Appliance in Louisville. Seating is limited and they filled up quick for the first workshop so call (303)249-4661 today to reserve your spot!

Recap of Hiding Technology Seminar

noreply@blogger.com (Team Design Matters) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:13:00 +0000

We attended a very informative seminar last week in Boulder on Hiding Technology put on by Tyler Lantzy of Saavihome - the only national network of professional home electronic integrators in North America according to their website. Tyler presented what appeared to be a presentation from CEDIA (Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association). Topics included the value gained in working with an ESC (Electronics Systems Contractor), an overview of the different types of residential systems, the importance of including your home electronics wants/needs early in the home planning process, and some of the methods and strategies for hiding technology.

A key to hiding technology, especially for new homes, is to integrate technology with the design and décor rather than treating it as an afterthought. To achieve the goal of integrated technology it is recommended to engage the ESC in the planning process 2-3 months prior to the completion of the construction drawings.

Today's home entertainment systems are seeing more rooms with multiple televisions along with televisions in rooms that traditionally did not have them like kitchens and bathrooms. Done poorly, the increasing presence of technology in the home can detract from the décor. Done properly though technology will not even be noticed, that is being noticed in a bad way.

Subsystems in homes include home theater, distributed audio, distributed video, lighting control, climate control, custom motorization, security and fire, video surveillance, and voice/data networking. Many homes already include all of these subsystems but they are not integrated. Integrating them together is a good way to enhance the experience of the homeowners while significantly reducing the adverse visible impact to the homes décor.

While there are definitely high end options for integrating all these systems, options are becoming more available for middle class homes as well.

Tyler showed examples of the following methods of hiding technology - conceal, camouflage, consolidate, remotely locate, and eliminate. Since video and audio are designed to be seen and heard respectively it can be challenging to hide them but it can be done without compromising their functionality and quality. Examples of ways to hide video displays include: recess in wall, behind doors, behind two way mirrors, behind art, motorized lifts, and drop screens.

For sound, technology today is allowing concealment through total blend-in with sheet rock, faux painting, behind grills/heat registers, disguising with artwork and tapestries, and integration into light fixtures.

Another key part of hiding technology that was covered is the consolidation of controls. Instead of having multiple switches and remotes for your lights, sound, video, heat, etc. you can now integrate all the controls into single units that are more functional and do not deter from the décor.

When you integrate all the technologies of your home you can have enhanced experiences, reduced clutter, and possibly even more efficient power usage through smart homes. One concern I had was that with stand alone technology units the technology is not tied to the home and it is typically not a part of the selling process. When it is integrated though it becomes a part of the selling process and can most definitely enhance the value of the home but it can also detract if the technology has not been kept up to date. Remember all the homes that have antiquated intercoms that no longer work and are now eyesores? The key is making sure that the foundation is solid and the wiring is there. New technologies are able to run through more consolidated wiring so that even if the technologies change well designed solutions should still last a long time by allowing you to plug and play the respective end delivery technology (i.e. speakers, TV) without having to dig into your home's walls every time tech changes.

So if you are building a new home or retrofitting an existing home it makes sense to consult with an Electronic Systems Contractor before getting to far along in the project. Even if you don't think you can afford all these integrated systems talk to them first. Just like with Interior Designers their subjective and expert viewpoint will make sure you are getting the most for your budget and will be most satisfied with the end result.

Eatertainment Recap

noreply@blogger.com (Team Design Matters) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:24:00 +0000

A full house, full bellies, full on fun! We had an amazing night at the kick-off of our new Design Inspiration Series this past Tuesday night (before the snow!) at Mountain High Appliance in Louisville.

Guests of Eatertainment were ushered in for beverages, including a yummy non-alcoholic Cranberry Sparkler, and featured appetizers before Mountain High Executive Chef, Keith Jones took the stage to show how to create his delectable, simple holiday treats.

Chef Keith gave us a lesson on wrapping Chinese Vegetable Egg Rolls and tips for easy, delicious egg roll fillings like broccoli slaw for example. A Moussaka Tart was next on the demonstration list with Keith sharing great tips on how to tackle challenging Phyllo dough. To finish off the night, Chef Keith baked Triple Chocolate Cinnamon Cookies, and pulled Pumpkin Walnut Pudding with Ginger Sabayon Cream out of a warming drawer! Total decadence!

The night was a smash hit thanks to Chef Keith, great food, and a great crowd. Thank you again to everyone who attended! Also, thank you to everyone who donated generously to the Flatirons Habitat for Humanity vase.

Now that you have your holiday food inspiration, it is time to focus on your holiday decorating inspiration! Join us next Tuesday, November 3rd, for our next workshop where we will be taking highlighting fresh schemes and themes that will give your home a cohesive, sophisticated, and unique style for the holidays. Visit our Workshops page to learn more and to RSVP.

If you missed the Eatertainment workshop on the 27th, don’t worry there will be an encore presentation on December 8th 2009, 5:30pm, at Mountain High Appliance. Seating is limited so call (303)249-4661 today to reserve your spot!

Holidays Decorating Ideas - Bar Carts

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Lynch) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 04:04:00 +0000

A new “twist” on holiday decorating:

The new on-line design magazine, Lonny, features a number of eclectic and inspiring house tours (check it out at http://www.lonnymag.com/). If you look closely, you’ll see that most of the houses feature one common element in the living or dining space: a dedicated bar cart. What better time of year to think about setting aside space in your living area to set up a bar (either alcoholic or non-alcoholic) than the upcoming holiday season?

To build your bar, pick a few favorite liquors and mixers and place on a side table (or even a folding table covered with a holiday tablecloth) along with some glasses, swizzle sticks and cocktail napkins. To find inexpensive holiday-themed glassware and accessories, check out the holiday décor sections of your favorite discount store. For a non-alcoholic bar, consider stocking a range of gourmet sodas in unusual flavors as well as sparkling water and ciders. A mix of cranberry juice and lemon-line soda is also a great non-alcoholic treat to have on hand during the holidays.

To add a unique twist to your bar, consider making citrus fruit the decorative element that makes your bar area come alive with color. If the palette of your holiday decorations is mainly metallic colors such as silver or gold, consider going crazy with lemons and oranges to add color. Take glass vases and fill with fruit and place in the center of your bar. If you decorate in traditional red and green colors, find a simple bowl and load it with limes and pomegranate to add a fruity and abundant touch to your bar.

Setting up a citrus-y bar cart brings together festive sophistication with the bright sunshine colors of a Colorado winter. Happy Holidays, indeed!

Get more ideas and a jump-start on your Holiday preparations by attending our Holiday Workshops on October 27th and November 3rd. To get more information and to RSVP (required) go to our Workshops page.

Small Changes that Make a Big Difference: Microwaves

noreply@blogger.com (Team Design Matters) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:07:00 +0000

We are kicking off a series of posts about small changes you can make in your home that have a big impact on how your home works and looks.

A recent article in a Better Homes and Gardens publication, Kitchen and Bath Ideas, got us thinking about one of the kitchen appliances we all tend to use everyday: the microwave oven. This is not an appliance we choose for its aesthetic value, but for its function.

But, did you know that your microwave could be working against the value of your kitchen? According to our reading and in our experience, a microwave oven placed on the kitchen countertop “lowers the perceived value of the entire room.” Notice the stand-alone microwave in the below kitchen. This is a nice, new kitchen but the standalone microwave does detract visually and functionally by reducing usable countertop space.

Instead, consider placing your microwave above or below the counter in an open-face wall cabinet. It is ideal to place the microwave above the counter if you use it frequently.

For many, this may mean using an over-the-oven model that doubles as a vent hood. Though it may be necessary in a small space to place the microwave over the oven, if you use your cooktop often and at high heat, you may not find the vent powerful enough.

If you use your microwave less frequently, put it out of sight in a lower cabinet. The one shown here in the "red" kitchen is a stand-alone microwave with a trim kit to make it fit into the open cabinet space.

Another option, if you are short on cabinet space, is one of the new microwave drawers offered by Sharp or Dacor. If you are in the Louisville Colorado area check out Mountain High Appliance as they carry both these brands/items.

Giving the microwave a permanent home off the counter will give your kitchen a custom look without a high cost. It’s a small change that makes a big difference.

Universal Design for the Home

noreply@blogger.com (Team Design Matters) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 03:15:00 +0000

I was browsing the shelves at the Louisville Library the other day while my children were in the kids section and Wendy A. Jordan's book "Universal Design for the Home" caught my attention. Here is a quick review.

Wendy mentions in the introduction that she wrote this book to bridge a divide on the information gap around Universal Design. Wendy definitely accomplished this goal. I found this book to be a great resource to help show people the power of universal design concepts in designing their living spaces. Wendy put it best -

"At first, much of the focus in universal design was on public places. Some of the universal design options for homes seemed institutional, too 'different.' Many were ugly, off-putting. If homeowners had a choice, they steered clear of these early designs. Now the picture is far different. Public interest in universal design has caught fire, igniting an energetic effort by designers and manufacturers to provide fresh, attractive designs for residential use. They have had great success. Today, universal design features blend seamlessly into home designs, drawing little attention to themselves, yet making the designs much better. The importance of universal design is clear, and its value in home design is as fundamental as the ABCs. Well-planned universal design homes are accessible, or barrier-free. They're beautiful, and they are comfortable for all."

The book has great pictures, sample layouts, tips, and stories highlighting the various concepts around Universal Design and how they have been applied in kitchens, bathrooms, indoor/outdoor living, and whole house designs.

If you are looking to update the appliances in your home this book will show you examples of how appliance technology has improved considerably in the last few years to make everyday cooking, bathing, and living activities easier for everyone without compromising the aesthetic appeal that we all seek.

The following 7 objectives, established for Universal Design in the 1990s from experts at the Center for Universal Design, are highlighted in the book. When you look at them, and keep them in the back of your mind as you read through the pages, it is hard not to see the value of using these objectives in interior design for everyone.

1. Equitable Use (The design works for everyone equally, preferably without separate features for certain users. Nobody should be stigmatized, and all should have equal provisions for safety, security, and privacy.)

2. Flexibility in Use (The design suits a wide range of abilities and preferences, including a choice in methods of use. Flexible designs anticipate the needs of people who are right handed or left handed, for example, and people who may need more time to complete a task.)

3. Simple and Intuitive Use (The design is easy for all to understand. It should make sense and be easy to use, even for someone without experience, reading ability, or language skill.)

4. Perceptible Information (Information needed to distinguish or use a design or product is communicated clearly to all. That means good color contrast and multiple, easy-to-use ways of communicating, such as images, words, and textures.

5. Tolerance for Error (The design anticipates accidents and minimizes hazards, by shielding dangerous elements, providing warnings, and incorporating foolproof features.)

6. Low Physical Effort (The design can be used efficiently, comfortably, and with minimal effort. In other words, people should be able to use the design without a lot of bending, straining, exertion, or repetitive action.)

7. Size and Space for Approach and Use (The design incorporates the size and space needed for every user to function well, regardless of size, posture, or mobility. Tall or short, standing or seated, alone or with an assistant, everyone should be able to see, reach, and comfortably use the features in a design area.)

I recommend checking out Wendy's book. I found some design inspiration in a couple of the bathroom pictures for remodel work we are thinking about for our own master bathroom.

If you are in the Boulder, Broomfield, or Longmont Colorado area and want to implement Universal Design concepts in your home give us a call at (303)249-4661. We are experienced in implementing Universal Design concepts and would be more than happy to bring our expertise to your design matters so you get the results you want!

Re-cap of the Benjamin Moore Color Pulse 2011 webinar

noreply@blogger.com (Team Design Matters) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:23:00 +0000

Members of the Design Matters Home team recently had the opportunity to view a webinar offered by the creative team at Benjamin Moore Paints, which forecasted the color trends for 2011. The theme for the 2011 Color Pulse forecast is Balance. According to Benjamin Moore -

"BALANCE is an attribute that we all strive to live. Sorting the Real from the Surreal defines priorities that drive the direction for 2011, as it gives us a chance to dream of the future. From the rural influences to urban application, BALANCE is supported by 4 themes for COLOR PULSE 2011: The Farm, Order, Escape, and Tribe."

Surprisingly for a trend forecast, the Benjamin Moore presentation offered a color palette that was primarily based in nostalgia for times past: natural and organic colors inspired by the landscape of the farm; classic, modern Puritanism based in geometrics and bold colors; feminine and soft cosmetic colors influenced by women’s fashion from the 1950’s (think Mad Men!) and vibrant patterns and indigenous colors inspired by tribal culture. Over the course of the presentation, the themes of simplicity, cocooning and nostalgia were woven through the many color palettes featured.

What does this mean for the designer and consumer? Many of these forecasts are starting to appear as accents and accessories in the home: the return of farm accents in the kitchen, bold colored seating for the dining table, soft pearlized and feminine home accessories, and richly patterned textiles offered with unusual animal prints like zebra and leopard. As these trends continue to develop, choices in wall covering and furnishings will, according to Benjamin Moore, reflect a desire to return to simpler times and color palettes that consumers intuitively understand from past experience and exposure. It was a forecast that offered us a chance to look back.

Check out the Benjamin Moore website to learn more about more Color Pulse 2011 webinars.

Give us a call at (303)249-4661 or send us an email at info@designmattershome.com with any questions you have on how this forecast or any other trend forecast can be applied to your home.

Holiday Decorating Ideas Inspired From a Recent Home Stage

noreply@blogger.com (Team Design Matters) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 03:08:00 +0000

Home staging makes a house feel warm, welcoming and appealing to its visitors. These are the same feelings we wish our home to evoke during the holidays, when we invite friends and family to celebrate with us at home. So, it makes sense that some of the ideas we use to stage a home for sale can also add a special touch to any holiday décor.

Here are three ideas from a recent Design Matters Home staging project that can be adapted for the holidays:

A grouping of frames: Gather some of your favorite holiday cards from the past or shop for beautiful holiday cards currently available at stores. Frame the cards in inexpensive matching gallery frames and hang on the wall in a grouping for an unusual twist on holiday decorations.

Make a statement with branches and flowers: Pull out the largest vase in your collection and fill with branches with berries and greenery. The bigger, the better. Place the vase in the center of your dining or kitchen table or an unexpected spot in your home. If you have the space, this arrangement would be great on the counter of a guest bathroom. A large scale, but simple arrangement, is an inexpensive way to make a strong impact.

Set up a game table in your home: Designate a table in your family room just for games. Cover the table in a festive tablecloth and stack a few of the family’s favorite games on top. Having games easily accessible encourages guests to interact and makes any gathering livelier. A game table is a great addition to casual holiday entertaining.

Sarah Lynch

Get more ideas and a jump-start on your Holiday preparations by attending our Holiday Workshops on October 27th and November 3rd. To get more information and to RSVP (required) go to our Wokshops page.

Easy Steps To Improve Your Yard For A Spring Sell

noreply@blogger.com (Team Design Matters) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:26:00 +0000

Fall is a great time to do a little extra work on landscaping in order to have a great product to show for the spring home selling season. Many people think fall is not a good time to plant, aerate, and transplant, but fall is a great time to get a jump on the spring gardening season.

In the fall many trees, shrubs and perennials are at greatly reduced prices. Although some of the inventory may not be like it is in the spring, 50% off plants is often too hard to pass up. The trick is to plant before Oct 15 - depending on the weather. Plants need to be in the ground before the first hard freeze, so keep an eye on the weather. Once planted, they will work on root growth all winter and come out of dormancy in the spring strong and healthy. Blooming sometimes in the first year. This is desirable especially if you want to try to put your home on the market in the spring.

Another area of the yard to do some fall prep is the lawn. Have a company come out and aerate the lawn. The core cultivation should be 1-3” deep and 2” apart in all directions for best results. Ask the contractor what their machines are set for. After the aeration, broadcast (with a broadcast spreader rather than a drop spreader) natural amendments to ensure a good boost to the soil under the turf. Many stores have varieties that are all in one, I prefer the organic, soil boosting types, which include nitrogen, beneficial microorganisms, and some acidify source to work on our alkaline soils. Harlequin Gardens in Boulder is a great source for all natural products that I have seen produce fantastic results. Go the natural way if you can, I have seen over the years better results with natural products.

Bulbs, if you want to put your house on the market in spring, plant bulbs in the fall. Planting bulbs is easy, cheap and produce a great show, and in the spring a treat to see if you remember where and what you planted the fall previous. In addition, bulbs blooming in the spring are mostly what is blooming in early spring. Add tulips in hot colors to perk up an entrance. Add crocus along a walkway. Dark purple, orange and white tulips make for an interesting color combination. If you feel a little shy, you can always buy prearranged packs as well. Always plant in clumps of odd numbers or naturalize the bulbs in a larger area. To naturalize, just sprinkle the bulbs around and plant them where they fall. Try not to plant in a systematic row, or line, or pattern. It may look to contrived. Many online bulb companies sell bulbs at cheaper prices as well as sometimes more variety. Nurseries also have blubs this time of year.

Spring blooming shrubs and perennials are also a great addition to the landscape. Fall is a great time to remove that half dead shrub near the garage and replace it with something that will be showing off spring blooms right about the time of your first open house. Contact me for a yard review and we can talk about what should be done now to spruce up your landscaping for spring.

This was a guest post by one of our partners Kristin Wachtel of Integrated Landscape Design. Check out her website or give her a call at 303-478-4248.

Home Staging and the First Time Home Buyer

noreply@blogger.com (Team Design Matters) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:12:00 +0000

I came across a recent article on Realtor.org called "How to Woo First-Time Buyers." Some lines in particular caught my attention from a home staging perspective:

* "First-time home buyers can be tough to catch because they are wary of overpaying and skeptical about buying homes in need of improvement."

* "A survey for Coldwell Banker last year found that 81 percent of first-time buyers said move-in conditions were very important. Only 7 percent were willing to consider fixer-uppers that they could buy cheaply."

* "New paint, decluttering, and removing odors are very important, but don’t urge too many expensive modifications." was listed as one of the suggestions on how to lure a first-time buyer.

Current Government incentives hopefully have placed more first-time buyers in the market, which may help your odds of selling your home. Don't rest on increased numbers of buyers, though, when you devise your selling strategy. As the article above points out, first-time buyers have unique perspectives that must be accounted for otherwise you may lose them as prospects. Obviously we are biased about staging as a key piece of the home sale process for any type of buyer but here is our reasoning for why working with a professional home staging company such as Design Matters Home is essential to creating a positive experience for a first-time buyer.

First-time home buyers have an even harder time visualizing themselves in an empty house as they have not yet gone through the purchasing experience before. Your home needs to tell its story even better to first-time buyers than buyers who have been through the home buying process before. In particular you need to demonstrate furniture placement in the rooms of the house. Many first-time buyers may be replacing collegiate furniture or buying furniture for the first time. Chances are good that they may not have had to work with an open floor plan before in an apt. or smaller condo. If you have an open floor plan, help the prospective first-time buyers see how large rooms can be divided by furniture groupings or how they can "float" furnishings off the walls. Also, remember that vacant rooms tend to show smaller and can be confusing for buyers because they offer no perspective on how furniture sizes would relate to the space.

Updating in properties that are attractive to first-time home buyers is really important. As the Realtor.org article says this type of home buyer probably is not going to buy a property that needs a lot of work. With that being said, as the article also states, don't go overboard on too many expensive modifications that will take your home out of the feasible price range of the first-time buyer or cause you to lose money on the sale. Here are a couple easy and inexpensive suggestions that would be appropriate:

- Replace cabinet hardware, light fixtures, etc. w/current finishes (e.g., brushed nickel)
- Remove wallpaper &/or any dated color schemes

These properties must look current and on trend. Stage with more contemporary artwork, furniture lines, and accessories (e.g., no tablecloths on tables, but do use a faux "flat-screen plasma" TV hung on the wall (if feasible) in the living room). In houses with smaller bedrooms, we typically stage one as a nursery (with a cradle, which looks sweet & makes the room look big) when the property is in a family-oriented neighborhood. Showing a home office space is also helpful. Play up the master bathroom (especially if there's a soaking tub), making the space look as luxurious & spa-like as possible, as this is an amenity that can really appeal to many first-time home buying women.

Design Matters Home has successfully staged many homes in the Boulder, Broomfield, and Longmont areas that provided first-time buyers with a positive experience rather than a confusing one. Our full inventory allows us to stage rooms in the manner described above and more. Call us at (303) 249-4661 to talk more about your situation and how we can help make sure your home is as attractive as possible to first-time buyers as well as any type of buyer.

Design for Less Workshop Recap

noreply@blogger.com (Team Design Matters) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:32:00 +0000

We had another great workshop this past Tuesday, June 23, 2009. The dance studio of The Art Underground provided a nice setting for about 22 attendees to learn more about low cost design.

Helly kicked off the evening with some updates at Design Matters Home including the introduction of two new offerings called Settle-in Design (benefitting new home owners), and Redesign Parties (benefitting existing home owners). Pages with more information on these will be up soon on the site. In the meantime, call (303)249-4661 for more information on them.

The workshop was broken into three areas. Click on the links below to see more details on each.

Favorite Interior Design Low Cost Tips and Tricks

Savvy Home Shopping Strategies

How to Craft Your Own Custom Creations

A vignette was set up at the front of the room that included carpet, a wicker chair, a piano bench, a plant, a decoy duck and more. Helly kicked off the interaction with the audience by asking which pieces were high end and which were flea market. Also in the front of the room were displays of kids framed art and calendar pages to show the variety of things we all have round our homes that can be made into art.

Highlights of the evening were around the discussion of the best times of the year for shopping, dumpster diving, and online purchasing through E-bay and Craigslist. A few members of the audience admitted that they have found great items in dumpsters. A particular good resource is around the University of Colorado here in the Boulder area. Helly has not really done much purchasing from E-bay so she did not have advice on them but did suggest that with Craigslist being local it makes more sense for home interior items. One audience member shared a recent purchase of a really nice dresser on Craigslist for only $50!

A question from the audience came up about being tired of framing family photos. Suggestions of hanging clips from yarn, wire, ribbon, etc were shared.

As advertised we had great refreshments and we gave away great prizes including a tea pack from Celestial Seasonings, two bottles of wine from Boulder Creek Winery, a copy of the "Use What You Have Decorating" book by Lauri Ward, a $25 gift certificate to Lafayette Flea Market, and a catered redesign party for 10 by the Design Matters Home team. Thank you much to all the companies that provided prizes. We also want to again thank The Art Underground for the room, chairs, and tables and thank you, Keith Bobo for taking pictures.

Our next workshop is on Outdoor Kitchens and it will not be one to miss. We are still working out the final plans so check back on our website for updated information.

How to Craft Your Own Custom Creations

noreply@blogger.com (Team Design Matters) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:23:00 +0000

Furniture:

Tables:

Remnant slab granite for a table top with sale bar stools for legs or on top of an old beat up table or an inexpensive table
Buy inexpensive glass table tops (AFW, Glass and Mirror Craft); place on top of any creative bases you can come up with (decorative pillars, 2 small side tables, bar stools, benches)
Buy precut wood "rounds" at hardware store, throw on top of any base (even a folding card table), cover w/a pretty tablecloth, and you have an instant breakfast table, bedside table, foyer table, etc

Bookcases

Alternative to expensive built-ins, buy inexpensive bookcases from the unpainted furniture store to fill the space, then tie together with paint-grade base & crown moldings. Paint (w/a sprayer) the whole thing one color and get an expensive custom look
Paint the backs of your bookcases or cabinets an accent color, wallpaper remnants, or craft paper for a quick & easy custom look

Art

Blank stretched canvas can be stretched with fabric and changed out, fabric circles traced from bowls can be glued on and sealed with Modge Podge - decoupage.
Fabric abstracts with fabric scraps - framed
Vintage wine labels, ticket stubs, foreign money put into a frame at angles, overlapping as a collage
Collection of letters in different sizes and finishes to hang on the wall in a grouping
Frame wall paper, wrapping paper and fabric samples
Frame calendar pages or old coffee table books that you can tear pages from (e.g., a series of botanicals).

Accessories:

Area Rugs: Carpet remnants & bind edge for an inexpensive alternative to area rug or wall-to-wall carpeting. Inexpensive sisal rug & paint a border stripe in your wall color to customize for your room

General:

Add paint grade wood (e.g., when adding moldings) less expensive than staining higher grade wood for crown & chair rail moldings; molding kits that come with pre-made corner pieces so you don’t need to hire carpenter to match corner cuts
Spray paint is your friend.
Stove paint can cover dated brass on fireplace inserts and shower surrounds.
White or black spray paint to transform inexpensive picture frames and decorative items at flea markets, garage sales, etc. for a unified, clean, contemporary look when displayed together.
Spray paint an antique (or just old & ugly!) chandelier or light fixture white, black, or even a fun, dramatic color & add small shades, for a cool "custom" fixture.

Savvy Home Shopping Strategies

noreply@blogger.com (Team Design Matters) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:18:00 +0000

Best time to buy:

Furniture: Jan. and July
Large Appliances: Oct. and Jan.
Computers: Aug. and Dec.
Electronics: April, May, Black Friday, Cyber Monday
Gas Grills: Oct.
Linens and Bedding: Jan.
Matressess and Box Springs: May
Office Furniture: Jan and End of April
Patio Furniture: Sept.
Small Appliances: Dec.
TVs: April and Dec.
Vacuum Cleaners: April and May
Wine : Early Fall

Where to Shop:

Lafayette Flea Market, Lafayette
Home Goods, Westminster
Big Lots, Louisville
Consignment Shops
The Amazing Garage Sale
Feather Thy Nest
No Place Like Home
Hotel furniture liquidator for bargains on large furnishings & framed art
CB2 (Crate and Barrel Modern) and EQ3 - modern affordable furniture

Floor samples - find out when displays will be changed and make an offer on the display – don’t pay full price!

Our Favorite Low Cost Interior Design Tips And Tricks

noreply@blogger.com (Team Design Matters) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:31:00 +0000

Furniture:

Think about what you have and how it can better serve you in a different capacity or room. Flip pieces between rooms (e.g., mix up LR & family room pieces). Split up matched sets, i.e. sofa/loveseat, chair & ottoman, that look too "matchy-matchy" anyhow.

Empty the room and see it w/fresh eyes and moving things out of the places where "they’ve always been," can enliven a space

Switch outdated hardware on furniture (new drawer pulls on a DR hutch or dresser) for an instant update - Great Indoors has a wonderful selection! (Also switch out door handles & hinges throughout the house to modernize inexpensively.

Repurpose furniture:

A coffee table can become a TV console or a bench in a foyer w/some pillows added to top

An old-fashioned secretary can become a funky little wine/martini bar

A bureau can become a buffet in a DR

An upholstered ottoman can serve as a coffee table w/a tray on top

A bookcase can become a room divider

An outgrown wooden toy box can become seating - add some foam cut to size and add a simple slipcover

An antique wardrobe can become a media cabinet

Remember to consider the actual shapes of pieces rather than their "titles" when considering where/how they can be used.

Buy neutral large furnishings for flexibility - allows you to change look often as you like with color of candles, throws, pillows, art:
* Seasonally
* Style - modern or traditional or eclectic

Hold a furniture swap meet with your neighbors

Color:

Go bold with paint; an inexpensive way to get a bang for your buck.

Kitchens and bathrooms:

Add a frame around builder’ stock mirrors over bathroom vanities w/decorative moldings (if you bring dimensions, many hardware stores will cut the moldings to size for you).

Add hardware to plain cabinets - it’s like adding jewelry after you’ve dressed for a special evening - the finishing touch, bit of sparkle that makes all the difference

Buy small quantities of expensive materials
* Italian glass tile as accents mixed with less expensive materials 12 x 12s of less expensive travertine
* Luxury fabric pillows mixed w/less expensive store

Accessorizing:

Pair expensive items with less expensive items to blend; less expensive items will blend in. Do not put an expensive vase next to an inexpensive vase or the same exact thing - one expensive, one less expensive.

Buy a vase, bowl, pillar, etc. that you love, place it prominently, & occasionally switch out its contents (silk spring blooms, twigs or gourds in the fall, glass Xmas tree balls, etc.)

Decorate with nature - a simple bowl of artichokes, 3 perfect pears on candlestick holders centered on a table.

Don’t hide your good china, bring out it out! Display pieces mingled in bookcases/on shelves, hang a grouping of the plates on dining room wall, etc.

General:

Make it personal
* Create shadow boxes of mementos - foreign money
* Display your childhood/family items
* Apothecary jar of shells or stones you’ve collected
* Lovely bottle filled with sand from your favorite beach
* Frame & hang your children’s artwork - even the most humble watercolor can look significant if matted & framed (pre-made frames are fine & easy to switch artwork periodically).

New Tools for House Hunters

noreply@blogger.com (Team Design Matters) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:08:00 +0000

I caught this good summary of new tools for house hunters in the June 16th 2009 issue of Realtor.org Daily Real Estate News.

New technology continues to make it easier for shoppers to identify homes to buy. Here are some of the latest and greatest.

*There’s an iPhone app for that: Zillow.com released a free iPhone app that allows consumers to check out homes for sale. The GPS-powered app allows shoppers to drive by a home for sale and see price and other details like number of bedrooms and baths.

*Search for ROI: Web sites like Investorloft.com rank homes by the profits they produce and identify properties with big differences between listing price and estimated value. The site has listings in 20 states and will be in all 50 by early 2010.

*Search for falling prices: Trulia.com will let you look for price reductions. Enter a zip code and reduced listings will come up.

*Guided tours on YouTube: Coldwell Banker has partnered with YouTube to launch a homes-for-sale video channel.

*Project value for $9.95: Cyberhomes is offering a market report for slightly less than $10 that provides neighborhood price projections and 12- to 24-month price-change forecasts. It also identifies the number of distressed, foreclosed, and REO properties nearby.

Source: CNNMoney.com, Les Christie (06/15/2009)

I would also add a couple more.

Look for active and data oriented real estate agent blogs in your area. These can be excellent resources for micro level data to help you get an even better understanding of the market you are most interested in. There are a few in the Boulder Colorado area but two great examples are:

The Silver Fern

Zachary Epps

Also, if you are not yet using Twitter, you need to be especially if you are looking for a house. Savvy real estate agents are tweeting super current information and thoughts that can help you again learn more about the micro market you are interested in and get a jump start on others.

If you are selling a house it is critical that you and your agent take all these technology and online resources seriously. Buyers are doing a very large amount of research online before they set foot in your home. They are weeding out the houses that do not grab their attention so make sure your house is in all the right places online and that it is shining in its online description and more importantly in its pictures. Design Matters Home can help you make sure your house is looking its best online through our home staging services. Call us today at (303)249-4661, use our contact form, or stop by our office at 820 Main Street, Suite 109, Louisville, Colorado 80027

Summertime in Louisville Colorado

noreply@blogger.com (Team Design Matters) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:04:00 +0000

With one of our favorite local summer events, the Friday Night Street Faire , starting up for 2009 tomorrow night I thought I would share some of the things we particularly love about summertime in Louisville.

We just celebrated our 8th year of living in Louisville. As with the previous seven we could not ask for anything more in the perfect place to live, raise our family, and host our business. Louisville has everything we need and like from a great local family and business community to the always great Colorado weather.

Money Magazine is evaluating Louisville for its "Best Places" list again this year. No surprise to us. Louisville was #3 in 2007 and has been a regular top 5 for the last few years. For more info check out a recent Boulder Daily Camera article on the topic.

One of the greatest aspects of Louisville and especially Old Town Louisville is that you can get to pretty much anything without needing your car. We do a lot of family walks around Old Town Louisville. We also do a lot of family bike rides on the extensive trail/path system. While we do these activities year round our frequency definitely increases in the summer. We especially love walking downtown for food, ice cream, and coffee.

Every Friday night is the Street Faire that has great bands, food/drink, and booths. We walk down to the Street Faire and see a lot of neighbors and friends. It is a great place to catch up with them and to meet new people as well.

Every Saturday is the Louisville Farmers Market where we again see our neighbors and friends and pick up wonderful local produce and products.

Other places/events we love in Louisville during the summer --

- Memory square pool (a true treasure to have an outdoor pool right in the middle of old town houses. You don't see too many of these anymore. While it is not as glamorous as the newer pools and rec centers its benefits to the community are unique and timeless.)

-Various other festivals including Taste of Louisville, 4th of July celebration, Touch a Truck, the Summer Concert and Film series and more

-The plentiful playgrounds. We have a couple near us that we visit frequently with young kids. They also love going on adventures to the many other playground throughout the town

These are just some of the many things we like. There are many other aspects of the town that appeal to other's lifestyles as well including a golf course, baseball/softball fields, and more.

Share what you like in the comments!

Here are some resources to find more information about what is happening in Louisville --

City of Louisville
Louisville Chamber
Louisville Downtown Business Association
Transition Louisville
Shop Louisville
MyTownColorado Louisville Page

Matt

Take Back Your Living Room!

noreply@blogger.com (Helly) — Tue, 05 May 2009 16:21:00 +0000

To all the moms out there - Are you losing, or have already lost, the adult rooms in your house to the annexation of your kid’s rooms? I know this is a tough battle to wage. I two young children and go through this myself. You don't have to give up every room though! It is important and actually healthy to maintain a solid balance of adult living space and children living space in your home. Here is a quick story on how we helped one of our client's take back their living room.

The client's home has a nice living room space right off their foyer. As you can see in this before picture you could hardly tell it was a living room though. I can imagine what the SuperNanny would say about this scenario!

There were other spaces in the house for a kid's play room but over time the living room became yet another play area for children leaving the adults without a room of their own. The mom had enough though and called us in to help take it back.

One of her requests was to use these two pictures as inspiration for the colors of the room. They are family paintings of the area where she is from and she loves the colors.

Having something of value to you to share with an interior designer is a very important step to take early in the design process. This will ensure the designer brings ideas that mean the most to you and fit your styles.

With the inspiration of the pictures, an understanding of the desired feel for the room that we got from conversations with the clients, and some parameters of existing furniture, we created a variety of space plans to start looking at the options for the room before anything was purchased. Here are three examples.

The client liked the layout of the third design so with that we had a basis for what new pieces to add and how to use the existing pieces to achieve their desired goals.

Here are the after pictures of the room. The sofa and paint colors brought out the desired colors of the picture.

Notice the kid’s area is now on the raised part of their family room which is where the client wanted it, out of the way of the initial impression of visitors entering their home.

We also had a custom rot iron railing installed to replace the old wood one giving an updated and unique feel to the separation of the rooms.

Now visitors see a comfortable and appealing living room right as they walk in the house. The new living room is a place for the parents to entertain adult friends and to find time on their own as they read and talk without having to wade through lots of toys.

Re-cap of the Home Sale Strategy and Marketing Workshop

noreply@blogger.com (Helly) — Mon, 04 May 2009 04:46:00 +0000

The home marketing and re-design seminar we held last Wednesday was a great night with a lot of information shared and great questions from the attendees. Everyone walked out with more knowledge about the Boulder housing market which I am happy to report is not as grim as you may think.

Price points at $400k and below are the hot properties in the Boulder area. Houses between $600k and $1 million are a harder sale although Carrie Nash with WR Starkey said she has seen more jumbo loans come through in the past week. This is a good sign. Caryn Geiger of Coldwell Banker Residential says she has seen some investors re-entering the market at the lower priced properties. This is also a good sign.

With low inventory, the real estate market is like a beauty contest. The properties that are listed are pristine. Trying to compete against them without taking steps to make your house as equally beautiful and better yet more beautiful is a big mistake.

Home staging is a smart step to increase the chances of selling your home. There are great local companies in the Boulder area offering professional home staging services that will make your home shine. Most home staging companies like ours offer a range of staging services from guiding you on how to arrange your own furniture, to supplementing your furniture with outside inventory to fill in gaps and update styles, to completely staging vacant homes. Design Matters Home also offers other services that will give you peace of mind that your house remains in top condition if you have to move away from it while it is on the market.

If you choose not to hire a professional, CLEAN and DE-CLUTTER. These two things give the property a larger ROI (return on investment) than anything else. You would think this these two steps would be no-brainers to people selling their home. Unfortunately we and real estate agents we work with continually see people not taking the marketing of their home seriously. This is an expensive mistake. In addition to cleaning and de-cluttering your home do what you can to repair and update as much as possible. I know it is not always practical to update and repair everything so work with your real estate agent to determine the best focus areas for your home.

PLEASE don’t reduce the price, especially if it is what is known as a chicken price reduction (a gratuitous price reduction that is basically meaningless), before a t least talking with a staging professional. ROI on staging is over 100%. Your first price reduction will most certainly cost you a higher amount than the costs of staging. Once you take the step to reduce the price there is no ROI as you will not get that money back.

This workshop was part of our monthly workshop series. We are working on a workshop about outdoor kitchens next. Check back on our website for updates. Re-caps of our past workshops along with other articles written by us, including another recent article on home staging and more of our thoughts on home marketing, can be found in the Design MattersHome Blog. You can also always send any questions to me at helly@designmattershome.com. If you are into Twitter you can follow me, and ask me questions there as well – http://www.twitter.com/askhelly.