SOLD!

My last post was a popular one and for good reason!  What a beautiful home!  I wasn't surprised to see it SOLD in one week!


I don't always feel that way.  In fact, I just staged  another house that I wasn't as confident in initially.  However, after some renovation, cleaning and staging AND most importantly, a Realtor who priced it right, it too sold in one week!  Here are a few before and afters of that one! Be sure to leave me a note and let me know what you think! Let's start with a before shot... and plastic flowers.

Exterior Front Porch - BEFORE

Exterior - AFTER

Living Room - BEFORE

Living Room - AFTER
I removed the curtains to let light in but the Realtor elected to leave the curtain rods for new owners.

Dining Room - BEFORE

Dining Room - AFTER

Kitchen - BEFORE (YIKES!)

Kitchen Breakfast area - BEFORE

Kitchen View into Family Room - AFTER

Kitchen - AFTER
Can I get an AMEN?
No Wallpaper, new oven, new floors, under counter lights.... aahhhhh....

Back Hall  - Before and After

Rec Room - BEFORE

Rec Room  - AFTER

Rec Room View 2 - BEFORE

Rec Room View 2 - AFTER

Downstairs Bedroom / Office - BEFORE

Downstairs Bedroom / Office  - AFTER
Like the painting?  It's one of mine called "Wandering Xander."  I painted it the night  my son and I picked up a stray dog that we named Xander.  

Downstairs Bathroom - BEFORE

Downstairs Bathroom - AFTER

Family Room - BEFORE

Family Room - AFTER

So... on to the next one!  If my activities are any indication, the real estate market is picking up!


Thanks for stopping by!

Lori

Picture perfect!

As a home stager, I get requests to look at properties on a regular basis.  I've learned to expect the unexpected. This week I got a call regarding a property that I knew was special as soon as I pulled in the driveway. It has some special spaces that I feel in love with. Perhaps you'll enjoy seeing them as well.

Charming Iron Gate entry 

Beautiful rock landscaping with waterfall into a koi pond.

Clear water and beautiful, healthy fish.  One is ESPECIALLY healthy!  :-)

Pull into the driveway and you see this fabulous stone barn at the end  of the drive.

Serene Master Bedroom

Lovely Girl's Room

View from Family room to the wonderful rock and slate patio.

What a charming home!  I'm blessed to get to see these properties.  A special thanks to Ann Buchanan for calling me to stage this property.  Click Here to see this home and other's that Ann has listed in the Hendersonville, Tennessee area.

I'm linking to Debbido's Blogging and Blabbing Newbie Party

Have a blessed day!

Lori

Cranberry Pecan Salad

Sometimes I rush through life and make the mistake of rushing through meals instead of stopping to enjoy them.  I just came across this photo and recipe on Tasty Kitchen.  Tomorrow I vow to make this salad and enjoy it.  Slowly. Savoring each and every bite!  Care to join me?

Ingredients:

• 4 cups Mixed Greens
• 2 cups Baby Spinach
• ½ cups Dried Cranberries
• ½ cups Blue Cheese
• ¼ cups Pecans
• High Quality Balsamic Vinegar Or Your Favorite Dressing, To Taste

Instructions: Toss all ingredients (except dressing) together in a large bowl. If desired, drizzle with your favorite high-quality balsamic vinegar in lieu of dressing.

Enjoy!

Lori

Tuesday at Goodwill

Hi friends!  It's been awhile since I shared my treasure hunting bounty with you. Truth is ... there hasn't been much treasure hunting time lately.  However...I did escape briefly this past Tuesday to make a stop or two.   

I couldn't resist picking up 4 of these little salad plates. They go beautifully with my blue and white plates.

10 handpainted goblets (I'm getting spring fever!) And notice the platter with the green gingham border.  It goes with my Johnson Brother's Heritage dishes that I've had forever. 

Bird's Eye view of one goblet.  I love taking shots like this because it allows you to see all the details to the piece.  And this is what you see when you turn up the glass to take a drink!



An addition to my pottery collection.   



After a little research I discovered that the potter is Clyde Gobble, a master potter from North Carolina.  His work is available in galleries and in the Bob Timberlake shop in Blowing Rock.  He has some beautiful pieces.  I'd love to find more. I'd say it would be hard to beat the price I paid for the plate... 80 cents!  The pieces I found on line are about $85.






Another addition to the cabbage collection!  Two little cabbage votive holders. They were $1 each.   They are not Bordallo Pinhiero but will still look great with my collection! 

 I found 4 Pewter Wine Goblets in great shape.

I checked the engraved information on the bottom of each and checked for them online.

And here it is!  $56.00 a piece.  I like the $3.20 that I paid MUCH better!

This was a great find.  I originally thought it was a vase.  Once I got it home I figured it out.  It's a candle holder.  A cut lead crystal candle holder. 

LOVE this duvet cover.  It appears to have been handmade.  It's currently at my Mom's having some button holes and buttons added and then It's going to be on our guest bed.  And the best part... Only $2! 

A cookbook for my son who speaks French and loves to cook. 

More pewter.  These two tankards will go with some others I have.  I found them online for $68 a piece.  I paid(drumroll...) 80 cents!



I've never been a pink rose bone china girly girl type. However... I keep coming across these dishes and now have a full service for four.  These two teacups were 20 cents each.



I didn't really need more pillows but I loved this one so it's added to the collection!

Well... that's the latest!  I'm gearing up for a day of staging a beautiful home tomorrow.  Maybe I'll share photos!  Come visit again soon!

Lori







The Foyer...After (at least for now!)

I posted a photo of the foyer of our new home that I took when we looked at the house.  If you want to see the earlier post with more windows, click here.  Here's a refresher of the BEFORE...

Here's the AFTER...

 

My original plan was to place a small chest of drawers there but it didn't go with the piece I used on the other wall so I went the this large round table for now.  A pineapple to say "welcome", a plant to add life, a light to add warmth and some framed pieces to represent family.



I love this lamp!  Don't you?  It has a dimmer switch so I can brighten up the area or use it almost like a night light in the hall. 

 

The baby is me... haven't changed a bit!  The next picture is my beautiful mother-in-law with my Michael as a young boy on the beach.  I love that picture!

 In an earlier post I showed some photos of foyers like mine with some ideas I liked.  One idea was a bench for the long wall.  HOWEVER... since I have no yet found the bench... I used a buffet.  What do you think?'


The painting is an original done by artist Debbie Richmond (Germantown, TN).  It's a painting of our family mountain home in Little Switzerland, NC.  I found the buffet at a neighbors garage sale.  It was missing the doors on each side and I found the baskets for those openings which adds a little casual twist.  We keep scarves and mittens in those.  Other than seeing my cords hanging down in the back... what do you think?  Not exactly what I wanted but it will work for now I suppose.

  Well, my Michael is off fly fishing this morning, my big boys are asleep, and I'm plotting my day.  Lots to do. Here's the list for the day:

•  A couple furniture store visits to check out furniture for a client (and dear friend),
• Check on a pending staging project (I can't stage until they pack and clean!),
• A few errands (perhaps a little treasure hunting too??)
• (and maybe) a little time to get lost in a painting or some other creative project. 

Oh yeah... 2010 tax preparation, clean my closet a bit and other mundane tasks.  Maybe later on those!  ;-)
Have a great day!

Lori

Empty house to cozy home in four hours!

I have lots of staging jobs right now so I haven't been posting as much.  However, with a few minutes to spare, I thought I'd share one I did this weekend.  It's a cute little house that was empty and lifeless. 

This is the smallest and least expensive home I've staged so we didn't spend much time or add too much.  Just enough to give it a little life and warmth.  

The Living Room

Bedroom/Office

Family Room / Dining Area

Family Room

Master Bedroom

Hall Bathroom

 I'll try to keep you posted on how long this one is on the market.  It had been listed with another Realtor and got very little attention.  I'm hoping the changes will help a buyer picture themselves in the cute little place!

I also have another house that is occupied and lots of issues.  

Want a peek at what I have ahead of me?

  Anyone looking for a house on 2 beautiful wooded acres with some GREAT features?  

The wallpaper is peeling and the carpet on the stairs has grease on it but you can overlook that - right?

Stay tuned... I'm not sure if I'll work this one start to finish but I'm going to do my best to give the homeowner tips on how to maximize any budget they have.  

Thanks for stopping by!

Lori

Linking to Metamorphosis Monday

A Daily Choice

I will LIVE life.

I will look to the future 
unafraid of failure; unafraid of falling.

I will view each day as an OPPORTUNITY
to fully experience life.  MY life.
 

I choose to be open to what God has planned for me, 
knowing that it may not be what I had envisioned 
but with the calm assurance
that it is His plan for my special journey.  

I will welcome and rejoice in trials 
because I know that past trials 
have made me a very strong, resilient, and wise woman. 

I will accept challenges and limitations
that sometimes seem hopeless
because though I may feel weak and broken,
I know the truth.  I am MORE than this pitiful vessel. 
I am as I SHOULD be at THIS moment in time.

I am blessed to be loved by my husband and sons 
for WHO I am... not HOW I am 
and I thank God for them and for unconditional love.

I will live with the understanding 
that my time here is short...tomorrow is not promised.
For that reason, I will cherish each moment 
and make it as beautiful as possible.  
I commit to living in the present and will let go of the past. 

I will invest in the lives of others,support 
and encourage them becuase I know that I am here
to make a difference in the lives of others. 

I choose to relinquish control of my life 
and the control of the lives of those I love 
for it only serves to fulfill MY will 
and I desire the Masters will.  It is perfect.


I know that there will be times 
when I am 
MAD,
SAD, 
and GLAD
but I will NOT be AFRAID
for I know who holds the future 
and there is no need to fear. 


I will LIVE life.