Every home remodeling project starts with a vision of the perfect home. But dive into that dream without a plan and, before you know it, you’ll be knee-deep in debt with a half-finished remodel and a home that’s worth less than when you started.

If you want to avoid a home improvement disaster, you need to put as much effort into planning your remodel as you put into picking fixtures and finishes for your dream home. Before you grab the sledgehammer, complete this remodel planning checklist.

6 Steps to Plan Your Home Remodel

Determine Your Budget

The best time to set a budget for your remodel is before you start planning it. Otherwise, it’s too easy to be tempted by premium materials and overspend. Assess your household finances to determine how much cash you can commit to a remodeling project. If financing your remodel, use a loan calculator to see what you can afford based on your desired monthly payment and payoff date.

Prioritize Your Wishlist and Your Home’s Value

Now that you know what you can afford to spend, it’s time to take a hard look at that wishlist you’ve been dreaming up. Cross off any projects that exceed your budget or match it — you’ll want a 20% buffer to cover any unforeseen problems that crop up.

Budget isn’t the only consideration when deciding what to remodel. If you plan to sell someday, prioritize the renovations most likely to increase your home’s appraisal value. According to a guide from Redfin, the right interior upgrades like appliances and flooring are a safe bet. Curb appeal projects such as repainting the front door and adding flower boxes will also help. If you’re wondering whether your project will boost your home’s value, look through the guide to find out.

Avoid Over-Improving

Renovations can improve your home’s value, but only to a limit. If you overimprove your home — that is, push your home’s value beyond your neighborhood’s price range — you’ll have trouble recouping the costs when you sell. Aim to keep your home’s value at or close to the neighborhood average.

Check Zoning and HOA Rules

Depending on where you live, there are restrictions to what you can do with your home. Every city enforces building code requirements, of course, but you may also have to adhere to rules set by your city’s zoning ordinances or your HOA. These mostly apply to changes to the exterior or occupancy status of your home, like installing new siding or converting a garage into an accessory dwelling unit.

Know Which Permits You Need

In general, contractors will tell you when a building permit is required for a remodel, and many procure permits on the homeowner’s behalf. However, there are unscrupulous contractors out there who will skirt legal requirements to save money, so it’s always smart to research permit requirements yourself. Expect to need a building permit for any renovations that involve structural changes but not for strictly cosmetic projects.

Decide Where to Live During Construction

Depending on the extent of the project, it may be possible to live in your home during construction — but don’t expect it to be pleasant. To make living on-site bearable, seal off a construction-free zone with plastic sheeting and turn off your HVAC system to keep dust out. If you won’t have access to the kitchen, equip your living quarters with a microwave, hotplate, and cookware so you’re not stuck dining out for every meal. If living on-site isn’t possible or practical, look into an extended-stay hotel or vacation rental, or bunk up with friends and family.

With these planning steps complete, you’re ready to start interviewing contractors for your home remodel. You’ll be working with your contractors for a while, so choose a company with an outstanding reputation and an understanding of your vision. With a great plan and an even better team by your side, your home remodel will be a great experience.

Written by guest blogger Ray Flynn of the DiyGuys.net. When he’s not working as a civil engineer, Ray Flynn spends his time dreaming up new DIY projects that promote green living. He created his own website, where you can visit him at diyguys.net.

Need Help with Your Remodeling Project

Whether it is helping you pick paint colors or finishes, select one of my online services to meet your needs.

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It is about looking great, feeling great and supporting you to BE great.

The common perception of Interior Design is that it’s purely about enhancing the aesthetic appeal of your home. Indeed, most Interior Designers will transform your house into a stunning space that is not only visually pleasing but also tailored to suit your lifestyle, ensuring that you feel content and proud when others experience it.

But great Interior Design is about so much more than looks, form, and function. It is about looking great, feeling great, and supporting you to be great.

When your space is better, you are better.
When you are better, the world is better. 

Sound Familiar?

Aligned Design

My philosophy of great Interior Design, which I call Aligned Design, considers three key factors; art, science and energy. The intersection of the three is where the magic happens.

“Art” encapsulates the essence of “Interior Design”. It seamlessly blends furniture, decor, lighting, finishes, color, and architecture to craft spaces that aren’t just visually appealing but also resonate with our way of living.

“Science” elevates this art. It employs the intricacies of color science to accentuate your design’s impact. Beyond aesthetics, colors influence our emotions and ambience. Through color science, we transition your space from appealing to breathtaking. Furthermore, science nudges us towards sustainable and eco-friendly choices, ensuring both personal wellness and planetary care.

“Energy” is the soulful connection weaving through each design element. It’s about introspection – connecting with oneself, one’s history, ambitions, and molding a space that nurtures growth and aspirations. It also involves harmonizing with the inherent energy of your surroundings (akin to Feng Shui) and cherishing nature’s touch (biophilia). This deep-rooted connection, further amplified by tailored energy art, offers an ineffable comfort and tranquility in the design.

Why You Need Art, Science and Energy Together

When you prioritize only two of the three crucial elements, you risk compromising the holistic harmony of your space. Think of it as enjoying a meal but missing a key ingredient; it’s satisfying but not quite complete.

• If you focus on “Art” and “Science” (including color dynamics), your space might look stunning and function efficiently, but it might lack the soulful, personal touch and deeper connection that “Energy” can infuse.   Overlooking the “energy” aspect could affect your sleep, productivity, and connection to nature. By integrating biophilic elements, you not only connect deeper with nature but also align with your true self, fostering improved well-being, relationships, and positive global impact.
• Emphasizing “Art” and “Energy” can create a visually pleasing environment that resonates personally, but without the “Science” of functional design and the proper use of color, it may fall short in practicality and sustainability.  Without the scientific understanding of color, a design might miss its full potential. Color, when applied with expertise, elevates a space from appealing to mesmerizing.
• Merging “Science” (with its color considerations) and “Energy” can lead to a functional and emotionally connected space, yet it could miss the aesthetic flair and sophistication that “Art” offers. An eco-friendly home with vibrant colors contributes to well-being, but aesthetics and functionality are crucial too. An inspiring and beautiful environment uplifts your mood daily, while a space tailored to your lifestyle enhances comfort and enjoyment.

Simply put, sidelining one component can throw off the balance of your environment. For a truly harmonious and balanced living space, it’s essential to weave together the beauty of “Art”, the practicality and color science of “Science”, and the personal resonance of “Energy”.

Look Great, Feel Great, Be Great

Why Does it Matter?

Crafting a space that immerses you in beauty and color, and tuning the energy to promote prosperity, health, love, and authentic self-expression aligns you with the universe. This harmony enables you to live your best life, thereby making a positive contribution to the world.

When we inhabit spaces that uplift and support us, we contribute to elevating our collective consciousness.

When we all live in supporting and positive spaces, we can raise the collective consciousness.

Create Your Aligned Design

Are you prepared to elevate your home to a space that not only looks fantastic but also feels wonderful and encourages your greatest potential? Reach out today, and together, let’s turn this vision into reality.

Curious about your Interior Design style? Take the quiz and find out.

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Unlocking the Truth About Choosing Paint Colors

Choosing paint colors can be a daunting task, causing stress and potential costly mistakes. Why is it so challenging? The truth is, much of the advice out there on selecting harmonious paint colors is misleading. Making the wrong choice can either drain your wallet or haunt you daily in your living space. Let’s set the record straight.”

Seeking Answers in All the Wrong Places

Perhaps you’ve scoured blogs by renowned color experts or relied on the advice of your local paint store. Maybe you’ve taken to online forums like Houzz, seeking the perfect color for your space, only to receive a multitude of well-intentioned yet ultimately inconclusive responses. It’s possible you trust your own color intuition implicitly, thinking you’ve got it all figured out. But how’s that working for you?

I embarked on a personal journey to comprehend the intricacies of color, and I’ve come to a profound realization. I now understand more than ever why people grapple with paint color choices and why costly mistakes are nearly inevitable. I’ve been down that road myself!”

I’ve always had a deep love for color and a keen sense of what shades complemented each other. My exceptional memory for colors served me well when shopping for items that needed to match a particular hue. I relied on my innate ‘color sense’ for years.

When I started my home staging and design business, I quickly realized the significance of selecting the right paint colors to help homeowners sell their properties.

While I grasped the importance of neutral tones to appeal to a broader spectrum of buyers, the process of picking specific colors often boiled down to following guidelines created by others. These guidelines were often based on personal, subjective opinions and their own ‘color sense.’ Unfortunately, the rationale behind these color choices was rarely explained in detail.

Desiring a deeper understanding and grappling with the challenge of identifying ‘undertones,’ I decided to undergo color training to become a certified color expert. The training provided insights into identifying ‘warm and cool’ color schemes and recognizing ‘undertones.’ However, these insights were based on the trainer’s visual perception, leaving me without clear instructions on how to determine ‘undertones’ independently. Essentially, I was instructed to assess colors against a ‘white’ background and rely on my own visual perception.

My quest for knowledge led me to explore various blogs and podcasts by numerous ‘color experts,’ each of whom had developed their unique methods for explaining color relationships and their perceptions of what worked harmoniously together. The conflicting information left me feeling increasingly bewildered.

At one point, I even considered the possibility that paint companies held the secret to understanding undertones. I reached out to them, seeking answers about whether certain colors would complement one another. I spent hours examining color fan decks, convinced that hidden secrets lay in the arrangement of colors on those sheets. I couldn’t have been more wrong!”

My understanding of how color worked seemed to improve over time. I had accumulated a wealth of ‘rules of thumb,’ advice, and lists of harmonious color combinations from well-intentioned color experts. Yet, a sense of mystery persisted, and I felt like I hadn’t truly grasped the essence of color theory, especially given the divergent approaches of these experts.

The Turning Point: The Science of Color

My quest for answers eventually led me to the world of color science—a turning point in my journey. Here, I discovered how color truly operates, from the principles governing its behavior to the rules of color order, and how to solve intricate color puzzles.

I learned that the term ‘undertone,’ often used by those who lack an understanding of color science, is an inaccurate description. It merely represents a subjective opinion of color based on individual visual perception. Remarkably, we all perceive color in our unique ways.

My breakthrough came when I enrolled in ‘The Four Pillars of Color,’ a course taught by Lori Sawaya through Camp Chroma. This course introduced me to the Munsell Color System, a century-old foundation for comprehending color. It provides the framework for how colors are organized, how paint shades are determined, and how color remains consistent in various products. It specifies colors based on three properties of color: hue (basic color), chroma (color intensity), and value (lightness).

Each color can be likened to having its own ‘DNA,’ consisting of four distinct aspects that render it unique. While it may sound intricate, this system offers an orderly and logical approach to understanding color.”

I discovered that the fan decks from paint companies lack logical ordering, and the concept of ‘undertones,’ as most color experts use it, doesn’t hold water. Surprisingly, a significant portion of the color information available is simply incorrect.

While some artists and designers may dismiss the use of science as a fun spoiler, I challenge them to consider whether they’ve ever made color mistakes and wished they had a clear understanding of why. Are they aware that each person perceives color slightly differently? How can they be certain that their perception aligns with that of their clients? Relying solely on ‘color sense’ is a highly subjective approach. Even those who believe they’ve found a magic formula through color-measuring tools and apps can benefit immensely from comprehending the underlying data and its practical applications.

The True Magic Lies in Blending Art and Color Science

In truth, selecting appealing color combinations still hinges on your personal preferences and those of your clients. There exists a beautiful synergy between the art and science of color selection. A proficient color strategist possesses the ability to merge these elements seamlessly, offering not only a keen eye for color but also the scientific knowledge to refine selections. With the right expertise, the perfect colors become an achievable reality.

Get Your Colors Right the First Time

Now that you understand more about color, why not let me help you get your colors right with a science based color consultation?

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When I first saw Sherwin William’s “Urbane Bronze”, I was unsure how I felt about it. Browns can be nice to work with, rather serene and a color of nature so nice to “bring the outside in”.

According to the color data Urbane Bronze is actually a yellow hue (really, it’s true) that looks brown because of it’s low chroma and lightness.

Sherwin Williams describes Urbane Bronze as as a color to

“Tap into nature with a hue whose warmth and comfort breathe down-to-earth tranquility”.

“As we’re looking to create the ultimate retreat for reflection and renewal, we’re turning to a hue whose natural simplicity and nature-inspired energy cultivate a sense of calm from the ground up.”

“The trend for biophilia continues to shape our spaces, proving that nature is never far away. Urbane Bronze might be a color rooted in nature, but it also has a unique ability to ground a room through organic appeal.”

OK, so it is supposed to help us feel rooted to nature. I thought about where I may have seen this color in nature. Maybe along mudflats at the beach, possibly in rocks and some types of earth. It does remind me a bit of the color of sea otter fur.

Master Bedroom Design

I used Urbane Bronze as the wall color with primarily dark and light greens,  browns and white to create a color palette from nature.

Urbane Bronze is actually a Yellow hue, so this works because it is creating an analogous color scheme with yellow, yellow-green and green that are next to each other on the color wheel.

See my blog article on how to use analogous color schemes,  Create a Harmonious Color Scheme- Go Analogous. 

The mixture of soft fabrics with different metals, wood and pottery add natural elements and a variety of textures.

What are the Pros and Cons of Choosing a Bronze Paint Color?

Pros of Working with a Bronze Colored Paint:

1. Warm and Inviting: Bronze paint adds warmth to a room and can create a cozy and welcoming ambiance.
2. Versatile: Suits both modern and traditional interiors, complementing a wide range of décor styles.
3. Sophisticated: The metallic sheen can lend an air of sophistication and luxury.
4. Pairs Well: It complements a variety of other colors, especially earth tones, deep blues, and greens.
5. Accentuates Features: Great for highlighting architectural details, moldings, or feature walls.
6. Durability: Metallic bronze paints can often be more durable and resistant to damage than flat finishes.
7. Light Reflectivity: Its slight sheen can reflect light, making spaces feel more vibrant and sometimes larger.

Cons of Working with a Bronze Colored Paint:

1. Application Difficulty: Metallic and bronze paints can show brush strokes or roller marks more easily than flat paints.
2. Prep Work: Imperfections on walls, like dents or scratches, can be accentuated, requiring more prep work.
3. Trend Sensitivity: While classic, certain shades of bronze may go in and out of trend, potentially dating the décor.
4. Overwhelming: In small spaces or spaces without a lot of natural light, bronze can feel a bit overwhelming or dark.
5. Cost: Quality metallic paints, including bronze, can sometimes be more expensive than standard paints.
6. Maintenance: Fingerprints, smudges, or dirt can be more noticeable, requiring more frequent cleaning.
7. Limited Availability: Not all paint brands offer a wide variety of bronze shades, limiting choices.

Remember, the success of using bronze paint largely depends on the specific shade of bronze, the room’s lighting, its size, and the accompanying decor. Always test a sample on the wall before committing to a full paint job.

Are You Inspired?

Get your colors right the first time with an expert science based color consultation.

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It should be. You may already recognize that for many of us, our office, whether at home or work, often becomes a source of stress. How often do we associate work with enjoyment and relaxation?

If you are like most people, you may have been working at home lately and your experience may not have been fun or relaxing. There are many things you can do to create your perfect office space at home.

An office is more than just its physical components like desks and supplies; it’s about harmonizing art, science, and energy to create the ideal environment. This space should empower you to do what you love, deliver valuable services, enhance lives, and be generously rewarded for your efforts.

Begin by reflecting: Are you pursuing your true calling? Is your work something you’d passionately engage in even without compensation? Does your profession uplift and enrich others? If so, your office should be a sanctuary of joy. If not, perhaps it’s time to design a workspace that nudges you towards that ideal while ensuring your current tasks are handled with ease and efficiency.

I learned alot about the path I was meant to be on as part of the Transformational Coaching Program with Jim Fortin (TCP) I am taking. It helped me determine how to take what I was already doing, Interior Design, and transform the work into something that supported me better. 

How is your workspace arranged? Reflect on the room’s energy dynamics. Feng Shui principles, which often align with intuitive design, suggest avoiding a desk position where your back faces the door. Such a setup might leave you feeling uneasy, as if someone could approach unnoticed. Instead, position your desk to have a clear view of the door, but not directly in its path, preventing you from feeling overwhelmed by the room’s incoming energy flow.

Do you have a great view? Consider how you can “bring the outside in” to your office design. Make a connection to nature with your view, art, accessories or plants to feel more relaxed, happy, and connected.

Think about the hues gracing your space. Opt for colors you’re drawn to, with calming tones like blues and greens or neutrals for a tranquil work environment. For a more invigorating feel, pivot to bolder shades like reds, oranges, or yellows. Harnessing color science ensures a seamless blend with fixed finishes, furnishings, art, and external views. Without this precision, colors might appear pleasant but slightly misaligned, leaving an indefinable sense of discord.

Consider the art of what makes a good office space. Is your furniture beautiful, comfortable and arranged in a way it is easy to move in your space and access your tools and storage? Do you have storage that can hide away most of your work products so your space feels organized and clutter free? That contributes to feeling relaxed and happy, compared to feeling cramped and not knowing where things are or seeing papers everywhere.

Is the art on your walls meaningful to you? Does it make you smile to see it? Do you even have art?  What you see everyday affects your mood. Look for art, a mural or other décor that you love.

A Relaxed and Happy Office EDesign

This Edesign perfectly encompasses the principles discussed earlier, tailored for someone who hosts frequent client meetings.

The desk strategically faces the door but is thoughtfully offset for easy transitions between the desk and client seating. Ample storage solutions grace one wall and are discreetly concealed behind mirror doors, maintaining a clutter-free atmosphere. These mirrored surfaces also double as light reflectors, enhancing the room’s ambiance and showcasing the stunning view beyond.

The decor harmonizes a soothing mural in tranquil shades of green, blue, and purple, seamlessly integrated with custom-designed fractal art that complements the mural’s aesthetics. Natural elements, like the outdoor scenery, potted plants, clay pottery, and bird sculptures, further infuse the space with organic energy.

The room exudes a serene and inviting ambiance through its calming, joyful color palette, with vibrant hues balanced by neutral white and gold furniture, achieving a harmonious and peaceful atmosphere.

This space is an example of a design I created using my Aligned Design process, aligning art, science and energy together to create a perfect office space to support the client to BE their best selves, to do what they love, while helping others and getting paid well for it!

Creating Your Perfect Office Space that makes you relaxed and happy.

Creating that perfect space for you includes developing a plan to aligns art, science and energy in your space and then thoughtfully implementing it. As you consider the benefits of having the perfect office space for you, I would like to show you how you can get that with a Aligned Design consultation today.  

Imagine what it would be like to work in your perfect space. 

When your space is better, you are better. When you are better, the world is better.

Curious about your Interior Design style? Take the quiz and find out.

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I Bet you. Why? Because most people do. Why? Because this bad advice is all over the internet. Why? Because people continue to repeat this bad information on blogs and in forums, so most people think it is true.

Mistake #1-Testing paint colors against a white background

People often think white is a perfect neutral background to see the true characteristics of the color they are testing.  Looking at your color against the old paint color can affect your perception of the new color. White seems like a great solution. Some believe that painting colors on a white background can magically make those mystical undertones appear.

The only thing that is true about the information above is that your perception of color can be influenced by adjacent colors. Whites are hues just like any other color, they just have so little chroma that it is hard to tell what hue family they came from. There are lots of shades of white, so of course a white can still influences how your color looks in comparison. In addition, there is no such thing as an “undertone” the way most people describe it. That is just a term people use when they are subjectively expressing their opinion of what hue family that white or gray came from. It is just an opinion that is often wrong and can easily be measured and determined scientifically in about 5 seconds without having to paint anything.

The biggest reason however not to test your color against a white background is that the “white” will make all colors look washed out. The intensity of the white can cause you to misread both the lightness and chroma or saturation of the color you are testing. The color will appear darker, duller or grayer, and less colorful than it is. So, it is deceiving and when you paint your room or house, it will appear much lighter, brighter and more colorful than you expected. See the example below in which I put  Sherwin Williams “Moscow Midnight” on a white background.

What if you put your color against a black background? It has the opposite effect, but still has the effect of distorting how your color may look in your room. Black makes your color look lighter, brighter and more colorful than it is, so when you paint your room you may be surprised with how much darker and duller the color appears than you expected. In the picture above, see how Moscow Midnight looks on a black background compared to on the white background.

So, what can you do then? Paint on a gray background! Gray is the most neutral and will have the least effect in changing how the color appears. Look at the example of Moscow Midnight on the gray background to see what I mean.

Of course, you can use this effect of the contrast between two colors in your designs if you choose as in the example above where the walls are painted Moscow Midnight and the ceiling and trim are painted a shade of white. It is just something to be aware of when you are determining your colors to start with.

Mistake #2-Testing several paint colors next to each other

People often take their white background and then paint a variety of colors next to each other in a line to compare and see what they like best. This is a totally ineffective way to compare color because each color is affecting the way you see the adjacent color.

This happens because of what is called “simultaneous contrast”.  This could happen when one color is laid on top of the other such as in the examples in “Mistake #1”, where for example you put Moscow Midnight on a white background and the white makes it look darker and grayer.

Or it can happen when you paint a bunch of test samples next to each other as in the picture below. If you place color compliments next to each other (colors opposite each other on a color wheel) like red and green, they each make the other look more colorful and brighter. So, in the picture below, the green next to the red is making the red look redder, and the red is making the green look greener.

If the two colors are not complimentary like the red and orange next to each other, each color tends to influence the other by add a touch of its own compliment color to the adjacent one. For example, the compliment of red is green, so the red is adding a slightly greenish tint to the way the orange looks. The compliment of the orange is blue, so it is adding a slightly bluish tint to the way the red looks.

I realize right now you are thinking, What the Heck is she Talking About??  Yes, I know. It sounds weird but it’s true. One of those cool things about color science you never knew!!

In any case, if you are trying to evaluate a color, do not paint a wall full of samples right next to each other. You are just making things harder on yourself!! Look at each color by its little lonesome self.

Mistake #3- Painting several test colors on your wall

Why is this a mistake? Well, for one, as I mentioned above, you probably confused yourself. But also, after you have chosen your new color and you paint over your test swatches, you may have raised streaks under the new paint job that are now visible.  Yes, it happens a lot.  The only way to get rid of these is to sand down the raised edges before painting or continue to put more coats on until they are not visible which is time consuming and expensive.

You can avoid this mistake by purchasing removable stick on swatches of the color you want to test rather that painting on the wall. Try Swatch Rite samples . Not only are they removable, but the shape (round) is easier on the eyes in terms of evaluating colors.

Is that Cussing I Hear?

Now that I have told you the three common mistakes I bet you have made, I can hear some of you cussing me through the computer because you may have made them all at the same time last time you painted.   You are not alone.

And you may be thinking, well, why should I listen to you since it was another “color expert” that told me to make these mistakes in the first place?

Bottom line, science is science. It is what it is. Most people do not know the science of color and many don’t want to know. They want to just use their “eyes” and the art of color, because it may appear to be more fun. I prefer to use both. It makes life a lot easier and quicker when trying to come up with great paint colors!

Sorry, There’s More

As a certified color strategist that uses the art and science of color, I regret to inform you that there is lots of bad color information out there on the internet besides what I have told you above. Yup, it’s true. But guess what?  The science of color can cut through all the BS and help you get your colors right the first time, saving you time, money and stress!   Are you ready to try a new approach? And, even though there is some science involved, it is still fun!!

Set up a color consultation today. I can work with you locally or online nationwide. To work together online, I will have you purchase a Color Muse and teach you how to use it to send me the data. Easy, collaborative and fun!

Get Your Free Report

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Learn More About the Art and Science of Color

I am proud to say I am a certified color strategist! And, the only one in Alaska! As a design professional, I was truly impressed with the color training I received from Lori Sawaya​ of Camp Chroma. Finally, a training program that uses the scientific method of explaining how color works based on an established color system that skips all the subjective talk about undertones that leaves everyone feeling confused. Color is complex and this training explained color data so we can make informed decisions based on the science, rather than on subjective opinion or color sense.Click on the picture to find out more about the best training class on color available, the Four Pillars of Color!.

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In a previous article, I discussed the importance of assembling a dedicated home selling team to ensure a successful sale. Key players include a professional home stager and a dedicated realtor who truly prioritizes your interests. Today, we’ll delve into identifying another pivotal player: a skilled real estate photographer.

Securing top-tier real estate photos can significantly enhance your listing and give you a competitive edge. If your realtor reaches for their phone to snap listing photos, it’s time to advocate for a professional touch.

Here are insights from one of Anchorage’s premier real estate photographers, Dave M. Davis of DMD Real Estate Photography, to guide your selection process.

4 Tips for Finding the Right Real Estate Photographer- Dave Davis

Why are high-quality real estate photos so important? They are the first part of a listing that a potential buyer sees and also the part of the listing that people spend the most time on – 60% on average.

But the most important reason may be that you have about two seconds to capture a home buyer’s attention. A great photo is much better at accomplishing this than a simple written description.

With that in mind, here are 4 tips for finding a real estate photographer:

Choose a photographer who has real estate experience.

There are many professional photographers out there, but you want someone who has specific real estate experience. Photographing a home requires a different set of skills than photographing a person or a landscape, for instance.

A good real estate photographer knows how to highlight the most appealing parts of your home: recent renovations, a cozy atmosphere, and so on. Look for photographers who highlight their real estate experience or actually use the title of “Real Estate Photographer.”

Ask for a photographer’s portfolio.

Reviewing a photographer’s past work and clients is the best way to see if they are a good fit for the job. A photographer’s portfolio will give insights into the types of homes they specialize in, what aspects they like to highlight, and the quality of the photos they take. Do you like the images? How do they make you feel about the home they showcase?

Call the photographer’s references.

References will give insight into the photographer’s process and can give your personal thoughts on what it was like to work with them. Was the photographer reliable? Was he or she able to turn around the images quickly?

Look for a photographer who can showcase a home with more than just photos.

Huh? Isn’t shooting photos what a real estate photographer does? Of course. But some of them do a whole lot more.

As technology improves, new kinds of media give potential home buyers exciting ways to explore your home. Ask potential photographers to see a full range of their services, and look for someone who also shoots videos, provides floor plans, creates virtual tours, and more. Even if you do not use all of these services, having them available shows that a photographer is innovative and always looking to improve their craft.

So what can you do with all those great photos?

The possibilities are endless! Here are a few great ideas.

1. Put them on the MLS on your real estate listing.
2. Create a website for your home sale.
2. Use them for social media marketing by creating a Facebook page for your home sale.
4. Create a virtual tour or video highlighting key elements of your home.
5. Create great flyers.

Make Your House Stand Out from the Crowd Online

On one project where I served as the home stager, I had the pleasure of collaborating with Dave Davis, our chosen photographer for the property.

1. Once the home staging was finalized, Dave captured the essence of the property through professional photos, which were then featured on the MLS listing.

2. DMD Real Estate Photography further enhanced our marketing strategy by developing a dedicated website and a captivating virtual tour for potential buyers.

3. To maximize our online presence, I crafted a Facebook page for the property. This page showcased engaging photos, detailed descriptions, and integrated links to DMD’s photo gallery, property website, and virtual tour. Targeted Facebook ads were also deployed to reach the right audience.

4. To elevate the property’s appeal, I produced a video highlighting the home’s exterior and its picturesque gardens. This was shared on both the Facebook page and YouTube, generating buzz and intrigue amongst potential buyers.

5. The realtor further amplified our efforts by developing a dedicated website for the home sale and crafting eye-catching flyers, both of which were seamlessly integrated with our Facebook promotions.

6. This cohesive marketing approach not only spread the word but also piqued buyers’ interest. Central to this success was the power of quality photography, enticing potential buyers to experience the property firsthand.

Get Started with an Online Home Staging Consultation

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Expansion is the thing that we all want. Expansion is a better life than we have now. It is something more, something bigger, something better. We are always striving for expansion.

When people buy something, it is because it provides expansion in some way in their life.

One of the reasons Interior Design is important is it creates expansion. It is worth investing in.

Creating a perfect space for you gives you something more, a better life than you have now.

If you have a business, creating the perfect space that attracts customers is key.  They come because they believe what you are offering is giving them expansion. It may be a better meal, a more luxurious room, an easier life or a more attractive look.

If you are selling a house, home staging, which is like Interior Design for home buyers, creates an atmosphere that the new house offers expansion, or a better life than the buyer has now.

Has the last year made you rethink how you are living your life and what is important? Maybe it is time for some expansion in your own life.

Have you noticed while spending more time at home that many things may not be serving you to create a better life?

Does your home serve you as your workplace, sanctuary, gym, school, or whatever you need it to be?

Imagine a home that looks great, feels great, and supports you so that you can be great:).

Creating a perfect space is important. Why wait?

How Aligned Design Creates Expansion

Interior design, especially when integrated with the principles of aligned design, plays a pivotal role in shaping our experiences, influencing our emotions, and improving the overall quality of our lives. Here’s how:

1. Space Optimization: Efficiently designed spaces can make a room feel larger, airier, and more open. This spatial expansion can have a psychological effect, making inhabitants feel less confined or restricted.
2. Harmonious Flow: Aligned design often emphasizes creating a harmonious flow within a space. When items and furnishings are positioned in a way that complements natural human movement and activities, it reduces obstacles and enhances functionality.
3. Emotional Impact: Colors, textures, and patterns can all influence our emotions. For example, calming colors like soft blues or greens can reduce anxiety, while brighter shades might energize a space.
4. Improved Productivity and Focus: A well-designed home office or study area can boost productivity by minimizing distractions and providing an organized environment.
5. Health and Well-being: Incorporating natural light, plants, and elements of nature can improve air quality and bring about a sense of well-being. This connection to nature is often referred to as biophilic design.
6. Personal Reflection: When our homes or workspaces reflect our personalities, values, and passions, we feel more connected to them. This personal connection can improve mood and create a sense of belonging.
7. Safety and Comfort: Good design ensures that spaces are not only aesthetically pleasing but also safe and comfortable. Ergonomic furniture can prevent body strain, while proper lighting can prevent eye fatigue.
8. Social Cohesion: Open-concept designs or communal areas can encourage social interaction and strengthen familial or communal ties.
9. Flexibility for Life Changes: A design aligned with the inhabitant’s life can adapt to changes, whether it’s making space for a new family member or adjusting to a work-from-home routine.
10. Enhanced Aesthetics: Beauty has an intrinsic value. Being in a space that is visually pleasing can elevate mood and enrich daily life.
11. Sustainability and Longevity: Sustainable design choices ensure that the space is not only good for the inhabitants but also for the planet. These choices often lead to longer-lasting, durable design solutions that don’t need frequent updating or replacing.
12. Power of Energy Art: Integrating energy art into interior design can be transformative. Energy art, often imbued with intention or inspired by certain frequencies, can act as a focal point that resonates with inhabitants, evoking emotions, memories, or aspirations. Such pieces can serve as daily reminders of one’s purpose, dreams, or spiritual journey, amplifying the energy in a room and facilitating personal and spatial expansion. When art is more than just decorative, but carries a deeper energetic resonance, it can catalyze introspection, motivation, and a profound sense of connection to the broader universe.

In summary, interior design, particularly when it’s aligned with the specific needs and lifestyles of its inhabitants, can create a profound impact on daily life. It goes beyond mere aesthetics, deeply influencing our emotional, physical, and psychological well-being. Combined with other elements of aligned design, energy art can amplify the holistic benefits of a space, making it not just aesthetically pleasing but also spiritually enriching.

Get the Look

This Edesign I created of this beautiful bedroom is an example of expansion. This bedroom is relaxing, yet happy and inspiring. It brings the outside in. It is eco-friendly. It provides a  calm and relaxing retreat or sanctuary to spend time in front of the fire with your special someone. This design could be for a homeowner, or for a business if you had a hotel or Bed and Breakfast. It is also a beautiful example of how a bedroom could be staged if you were selling the home. In each case, it shows an example of a better life and appeals to people’s emotions.

Aligned Design

My philosophy of great Interior Design, which I call Aligned Design, considers three key factors. These are art, science and energy. The intersection of the three is where the magic happens.

Interior design is not just about arranging beautiful furnishings or picking attractive colors; it’s a blend of art, science, and energy.

• Art: This is the creative aspect we often associate with interior design. It includes selecting furniture, decor, lighting, and architectural details to create a cohesive and appealing space tailored to one’s lifestyle.
• Science: This brings a higher dimension to design, especially when considering color. Instead of just relying on personal preference, using color science ensures that the hues in a space not only look good but also evoke the desired emotions. Furthermore, understanding eco-friendly and sustainable design options means creating spaces that are both beautiful and responsible.
• Energy: This is about making deeper connections. It’s tying the design to personal stories, aspirations, and the surrounding environment, including elements of Feng Shui and biophilia. When a space resonates on this level, it elevates the overall experience from just being in a room to feeling truly connected to it.

In essence, a truly transformative space considers all these pillars holistically, aligning them perfectly to create magic in design.

Are You Ready to Create Expansion in Your Life?

Are you ready for your house to look great, feel great and support you to be great? Let’s get started with an Aligned Design consultation today.

Curious about your Interior Design style? Take the quiz and find out.

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I want to tell you  about four courses that changed my life for the better. Maybe one of them might help you change your life as well.

The Staging Diva Home Staging Training Course

The first course is the Staging Diva Home Staging Training Program. Many years ago I got my BA in Interior Design but later took a different path for a while as a wildlife biologist.   I decided later in life that I wanted a more creative career and decided to revisit being an Interior Designer. I wasn’t sure how to get back into this field after so many years had gone by.

I thought learning how to be a home stager might be a great way to get my feet wet and get back into the design world.

It is a fantastic training that teaches you how to start and run a home staging business.  It doesn’t focus on how to decorate rooms and assumes either you have that skill or you don’t. This program is more about how to set up the business, how to deal with clients, finances,  marketing, technology and a variety of other things.

This training helped me get my business for Home Staging and Interior Design off to a great start. Over time, I have seen a lot of home stagers that have taken other courses that seem to always be struggling with how to successfully run their business and make money at it. While other programs focus more on how to stage rooms or style bookshelves, it seems they don’t tell people how to run the business.

Deborah Gould is a marketing ninja and everything that she teaches I have seen proven true over time. Her courses are great and  you can listen to them numerous times and always learn something new.

I still enjoy ongoing support from Deborah and an amazing group of her graduates. I continue to be involved in Staging Diva calls every two months which I always learn something new and is part of her membership which provides a listing in her home staging directory.

Deborah is very supportive, knowledgeable, a wonderful mentor and coach with great sense of humor. I highly recommend her course over any other staging program out there and I researched all of them.  Great for anyone wanting to start a home staging business. Check out her course by clicking below.

Camp Chroma- The Four Pillars of Color

Maybe you read blogs by color experts looking for answers or just rely on what the paint store says about what colors go together.  Maybe you post questions on Houzz or other forums to ask “What is the best color for my house or room” and get a list of different, but well meaning answers which are meaningless because your house, finishes and lighting are unique and what worked for others may not work for you.  Maybe you think you have a great color sense and don’t need help. How has that been working for you?

I had a long journey learning about color, and I finally “get it”.  I understand why people struggle with picking paint colors and why it is inevitable that most people will “mess up” and make expensive mistakes that will need to be re-painted. I’ve been there!

Finally, I found the answers I had been looking for….the science of color.  I learned how color works, how color is ordered, what colors can work together and how to solve those tricky color problems. I learned that the elusive “undertone” is an incorrect term that those that do not understand color science use to describe their well meaning but subjective opinion of color by what they see. But guess what, we all physically see color differently.

I took a course, The Four Pillars of Color, with Lori Sawaya through Camp Chroma, and learned the Munsell Color System which has been around for over 100 years.  It is the basis for how color is ordered, how paint colors are determined, how color looks and is made consistent in our products. Every color has a “DNA” so to speak with 4 distinct aspects that makes each color unique. Yes, it is a little complex but at the same time orderly and makes perfect sense.

This course changed my understanding and how I approach everything I do related to design! If you love color and truly want to understand it better for your own enjoyment or your business, you can’t go wrong with this course!

Edesign Tribe

As I continued my Home Staging and Interior design journey, I started hearing about Edesign or online Interior Design. Living in small town Alaska, I was interested in learning how I could work with more clients from around the world rather than just those within a reasonable driving distance.   Because Edesign is a new way of doing business, it was hard to find very much information on how to do this. I took some classes and learned some things, but once I took Jenna Gaidusek’s Edesign courses, it totally opened the doors on how to really do Interior Design online.  She teaches you how to do social media advertising, marketing, work with clients, set up a self-hosted website, create beautiful renderings and make money off affiliates.  Jenna is a fantastic mentor and leader and has built a beautiful, supportive tribe of designers worldwide as well as a working ecosystem of designers that can help each other. So, if you have any interest in becoming an Edesigner, or if you’re already an Interior designer  that wants to add additional services. I highly recommend this!

As of 2023, The Edesign Tribe was sold to MyDoma, but Jenna now trains people in a variety of Edesign skills at MyDoma.

TCP

I can not recommend this program enough if you are looking for ways to transform yourself from the inside out or transform your business to serve your clients better and make more money. Best training course I have ever taken, hands down. Check out my recent blog article, Lose Weight, Quit Smoking, Get Healthy and Peaceful Without Pain for all the details on my personal transformation and experience with this program.

https://northernlightsstaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/maryann_benoit_tcp_testimonial.mp4

Get on the Waitlist for the next TCP Program. This is the best training I have ever invested in. It made a huge difference for me which is why I am sharing. I hope it can make a difference for you too.

Check out Jim Fortin’s Podcast. This is how I started and it’s free.

Listen to this podcast episode- Why Your Bad Habits are So Hard To Break. This one really helped me to change some of my eating habits and lose weight, even before joining the program.

This is a great episode too. How the Law of Attraction Repels Money and Abundance you Want.

Listen to the Master Thought Formula, which is amazing!

Check out my Online Services

Now you know some of the things that have inspired me and shaped what I do. To get the benefit of that and to create some magic and beauty in your home, check out my online design and color services, particularly my signature Aligned Design consultation.

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A flat lay is a bird’s eye view of a lot of magic possibilities about to unfold before you.

At its simplest, it is a picture of objects arranged on a flat surface being viewed from above. But it is so much more!

When used in Interior Design, a flat lay creates endless possibilities for creating a perfect space.

As an example, here is a flat lay I created that was inspired by the beauty of Pintail duck and eagle feathers. Being a wildlife biologist in a past career, I think birds provide endless inspiration for creating beautiful designs!

I started with art of feather details. Then I selected samples of flooring, tile, carpeting, fabrics and more that I thought looked nice with the art and arranged them.

What room will this become? Who knows, the possibilities are endless.

Will the room have all these exact tiles, fabrics, woods, etc.? Probably not. It is just an idea to build on.

Other Bird Feather Inspired Flat Lays

I created two additional flat lays that were also inspired by bird feathers. The first seems like a cross between Hollywood Glam and Bohemian waiting to happen.

The second seems like more of a Modern Global/Bohemian Style.

What rooms do you envision these flat lays inspiring?

See my next article, Birds of a Feather- What Birds Can Teach Us About Designing the Perfect Room and see the designs that came from these flat lays.

Are You Ready to Create Your Perfect Space?

Are you ready to create your perfect space? I assume you are since you are reading my blog post. Let’s tell your unique story and find the alignment of art, science, and energy that makes you happy.  Let me help you take that trip to your perfect space in a Ferrari instead of a stagecoach. Try my Aligned Design consultation and let’s get started.

Aligned Design©– All Rights Reserved.

Terms of Service  |  Privacy Policy  |  Disclaimer |  Brochure

Prices are subject to change without notice.

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