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A Clean Canvas: As an interior designer or home stager in Vancouver

Colour is the easiest form of expression.  When we initially move into a new home, changing the wall colour from white to something more interesting is often the first order of business.  As colour can positively affect our moods, we lean towards a palette that inspires us, makes us feel good and generally injects life into our homes and personal spaces.  As interior designers, we love colour more than most.  Whether it is paint on a wall, vibrant pieces of art or injections of pattern, we strive to bring life to rooms that have otherwise lacked excitement. 

However, preparing a home for re-sale is far different than decorating the space we live in.  As professional stagers, we choose a colour palette based on the pieces of furniture, artwork and accessories that we bring in rather than painting the walls and neutralizing from there.  When selling your property, the wall colour should provide a background that compliments the best features of your home rather than accentuating the space, making it feel much smaller.  A neutral wall colour provides a clean canvas to work with allowing potential buyers to see beyond the shell of your home and focus on future possibilities.  

Isabelle Guay, PRES, RESA

Flow Home Staging

778.835.0001

www.flowhomestaging.ca

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Flow-Home-Staging/129570213765954

 

 

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2012 Colour Trends from Benjamin Moore

Colour Trends 2012 – Check out Benjamin Moore’s 2012 Colour Trends and see what could work in your home…or if anything just get inspired! Enjoy.

http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-ca/for-your-home/colour-trends-2012;jsessionid=4vTyP2QhyCVTfJKFR1tRWDxVywfR3vcJyNQwgyy6Zn471VVsNNrF!-1794515443!NONE

Isabelle Guay, PRES, RESA

Flow Home Staging

778.835.0001

www.flowhomestaging.ca

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Flow-Home-Staging/129570213765954

 

 

NEW- Sandless hardwood floor refinishing process

Flow Home Staging Inc is happy to announce a new service available to all of our staging and design clients!  We recently met Hunter Culbert-Steele of Raincoast Floors, who informed us of a sandless, hardwood floor refinishing process.  A fantastic alternative to refinishing your floors prior to moving without having to fully sand your floors, Hunter gave us all the details on just how great this alternative can be.  Check out his blog to find out how the process works, we are definitely excited to start offering his services and working closely with Hunter in the future!

http://www.raincoastfloors.com/blog/sandless-hardwood-floor-refinishing/

Isabelle Guay, PRES, RESA

Flow Home Staging

778.835.0001

www.flowhomestaging.ca

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Flow-Home-Staging/129570213765954

 

 

Why Wait?

Why Wait?!?

When we begin to consider moving homes, our first thought is often where to go.  We peruse listings, drive through possible neighbourhoods in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland and walk through open houses looking for our next home.  However, when searching for the perfect place to move to, we often forget about the work that goes into selling our current spaces.  Beyond just packing our personal belongings, we also purge a number of pieces that we no longer find use for, thus creating more work for ourselves during the moving process than need be.  We suggest, rather than waiting until a new property has been purchased and your move initiated, that you begin purging now which is part of the home staging process.  An early spring cleaning will not only de-clutter your home but will also prepare you for an imminent sale.  The less stress involved in the preparation for a move, the smoother the eventual transition.  Why wait? Do it now!

Isabelle Guay, PRES, RESA

Flow Home Staging

778.835.0001

www.flowhomestaging.ca

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Flow-Home-Staging/129570213765954

 

 

Join us at the IBO Home Living Show this weekend!

Hello everyone,

Come and check out our booth at the IBO Home Living Show this Saturday April 14th at the Richmond Country Club. The show is a one-stop shop to connect home buyers, sellers and investors to the information, programs and experts in the home industry.

We’ll also be presenting a Quick Tip Seminar at 4:30pm on How to Make the Most Money for your Property with Home Staging. In this seminar, we’ll show stats, the emotional impact (the wow factor) and general impact of a staged home versus a non-staged one.

Please check out www.ibohomelivingshow.com for more details or contact me for your FREE ticket!

I hope to see you there,

Isabelle Guay, PRES, RESA

Flow Home Staging

778.835.0001

www.flowhomestaging.ca

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Flow-Home-Staging/129570213765954

 

 

Thanks to all of you!

The Flow team wanted to thank everyone for stopping by our booth at the BC Real Estate Convention earlier this week. We had fun chatting with all of you and hope you found our information valuable. Your feedback on our booth was so positive that it will keep us going for sure!

We will announce the 2 winners of our free design or home staging consultations on Monday. Stay tuned!

Isabelle Guay, PRES, RESA

Flow Home Staging

778.835.0001

www.flowhomestaging.ca

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Flow-Home-Staging/129570213765954

 

 

Your Home as a "Product" for sale

Your Home as a “Product”

Deciding to sell your family home is not always an easy decision as we invariably grow attached to our surroundings and the memories we have built in and around our primary residence.  However, when the decision is made and your current home is listed, it becomes a product; one of hundreds of properties offering a place to live and an opportunity for a new family to put down roots.

As professional stagers, our goal is to showcase the versatility of your space.  We do this by making suggestions for changes you, yourself, can make with your existing furniture and accessories as well as providing alternate possibilities that we can provide to you with our furniture and accessories.  The pieces we bring into your home will not only add to the overall appeal of your home but will also give potential buyers a sense of what their home could be.  The staging process, essentially, allows the buyer to perceive possibilities, as the way we stage a home is far different from the way we live in it.  Staging creates a product, a beautiful space that everybody can feel at home in!

Isabelle Guay, PRES, RESA

Flow Home Staging

778.835.0001

www.flowhomestaging.ca

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Flow-Home-Staging/129570213765954

 

 

Brillant Design Project and Testimonial

Art Emulating Life

Breanna, a design client with Flow Home Staging, has exquisite taste.  A young woman with an affinity for all things beautiful, she was a dream to work with, just ask Tina Presley, our lucky designer who had the pleasure of making Breanna’s vision come to life. 

Design is about knowing your client and Tina wasted no time determining the vibrancy within Breanna.  Beautiful pieces that were not only visually appealing but soft to the touch were sourced out, pieces that not only spoke to the client but told a story of her style, tastes and interests.  While the majority of the shopping was done at The Cross in Yaletown and Peridot Vancouver, a home décor boutique located in the South Granville shopping district, Tina and Breanna both searched to find that je ne sais quoi for the space.

Having chosen two beautifully finished blue velvet chairs for the living room, a favorite of Breanna’s, Tina set out trying to find a piece of art that incorporated the rich blue but that also fit the space without overwhelming it.  With a beautifully painted piece of art set on the mantel portraying soft peonies, designer and client wanted something different yet still elegant.  What they found was Kim Johnson, an artist represented by Peridot.  With an innate talent for creating intriguing and individualized paintings, Tina was able to have a custom piece created that incorporated Frenchie, Breanna’s lovable little dog!

The inspiration was a work of art displayed at Peridot of a Victorian living room and parlor.  Although this particular painting was not right for Breanna’s dining space, Kim was more than willing to work Frenchie into a similar painting that would be completely custom and extremely special.  It is in this space that we realize home is where the art is!  

Testimonial from Breanna:

"Working with Tina from Flow Home Staging was a wonderful experience. We truly did have so much fun with my design project from beginning to end. To start I was unsure of what direction I was looking to go in as there are just too many beautiful pieces out there. Tina was able to work with me and learn who I am and what styles and colours I am drawn to quiet quickly, After doing so she was able to nail the style of which was best for me, light, airy and 100% feminine! Tina found the most exquisite pieces ones which I will cherish forever, timeless beauty! I could not be happier with the style of my new home and will always be grateful that I had the opportunity to work with and get to know Tina. Many thanks again Tina for all your hard work!"

Regards,

Breanna Laubach

Isabelle Guay, PRES, RESA

Flow Home Staging

778.835.0001

www.flowhomestaging.ca

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Flow-Home-Staging/129570213765954

 

 

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Turn up the Heat!

During the winter months, we all like to save money wherever we can.  Slipping into cozy sweaters and curling up under a blanket is a nice way of staying warm without spending extra money on pesky heating bills.  Unfortunately, unless we offer up guests a parka and fur lined slippers, the lack of heat is painfully noticeable.  Preparing your home to sell during the winter months is much like inviting guests over for dinner.  A home should feel warm, comfortable and welcoming, inviting potential buyers to look further at what your property has to offer.  A cold home could pose questions where general heating is concerned and deter buyers from pursuing their future there.   This winter, prior to showing times, turn up your heat, put your fireplace on and welcome the world in as you showcase the beauty of your space. 

Isabelle Guay, PRES, RESA

Flow Home Staging

778.835.0001

www.flowhomestaging.ca

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Flow-Home-Staging/129570213765954

 

 

BRAVURA INTERIORS - Closing their Doors

Although it is a sad day for furniture lovers and designers alike, Bravura Interiors is closing their doors for good.  Located at 534 West Pender at Seymour Street in downtown Vancouver, Bravura Interiors has been offering a wide range of Italian made and inspired pieces to the public at competitive prices.  On now, as they prepare to close their doors for good, Bravura is offering up to 70% off all in stock furniture and accessories.  Quantities are limited and these pieces will not last long, so, get moving, as this is one close out sale you will not want to miss!

Check out their website at www.bravura-interiors.com for more information or plan a visit to the store this weekend.

Isabelle Guay, PRES, RESA

Flow Home Staging

778.835.0001

www.flowhomestaging.ca

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Flow-Home-Staging/129570213765954