Is your house a mess and you don’t know where to start when it comes to Interior Design or decorating? Do you wish your house felt like a sanctuary and the perfect place to relax? A place that is beautiful and feels so good there is no place you would rather be? Sometimes life gets so busy that it is hard to keep up with the clutter, the mess and before you know it, it has been so long since you redecorated that things look really outdated. You have a situation that feels overwhelming and you just Read more […]
Author: Mary Ann Benoit
President- Northern Lights Home Staging and Design
Owner- Arctic Paradise Bed and Breakfast
Artist- Stained Glass, Jewelry and Alcohol Ink Art
Wildlife Biologist
Director- Kaleido World Percussion and Dance Company
Director- Tavus Dance Company of Alaska
Lover of music, art, dance and animals.
How to Flip a House and Make a Profit
Have you dreamed how to flip a house and make a profit? The first step is buying a great property with good potential to make a return on your investment. Then it is important to invest wisely in your repairs and upgrades. Finally, prepare the home for sale by having it professionally staged, create great curb appeal, get professional photos and sell it fast and at the high end of the price range for similar homes before you have any price reductions. Invest Wisely We have all heard the Read more […]
What’s Your Global Interior Design Style? Take the Quiz
What’s Your Global Interior Design Style? Well, let’s find out, shall we? You might be wondering, what is a global design style?What is a Global Design Style?Global styles are all about your worldly adventures and telling your story! They are usually very colorful, rich in bold designs and natural textures, patterns, colors and arts and crafts of various cultures. Each piece has a story and becomes a conversation starter. Treasures are displayed without rules or grouping by the part of the world Read more […]
Get the Look- Mexican Style
What is Mexican Style? Mexican interiors are full of color, are welcoming, warm and there is often a sense of playfulness and whimsy. A mix of colorful, exotic Spanish and Indian handcrafted items and practical things add old world charm. The furniture is made from solid wood or leather with designs from the Spanish and Mayan cultures. Most are made from pine, walnut and cherry. Sofas, beds and tables often have a rustic look. Rugs are usually hand woven and brightly colored. Multicolored cushions Read more […]
How to Choose a Natural Stone for Kitchen Countertops
Countertops play two essentials roles in the kitchen: first, from a practical point of view, they make the kitchen space fully functional, and second, they serve an aesthetic purpose.Different people look for different things when choosing a kitchen countertop.Some place more importance on functionality, while others place the visual appeal of the material on the top of their list of priorities.Whatever group you belong in, natural stone offers the best of both worlds.Below, we will explore the pros Read more […]
Make a Mother Happy with the Gift of a Beautiful Home
Give her the gift of a beautiful home this year with a Mother’s Day gift certificate for an Interior Design or color consultation from Northern Lights Home Staging and Design. Happy Mother’s Day to all you beautiful Mothers out there! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWRde16iels Get $20 off on a gift certificate for one of my new Edesign or online services for Interior Design or Color. Purchase your discounted online Interior Design, Interior Redesign or Color Consultation now. For Read more […]
Dear Real Estate Agent, Don’t be Scared
When it comes to home staging, you may be scared it will cost too much, you will offend your client by recommending it and possibly lose the listing. You may be worried it will take too long and you want to get the home listed as soon as possible. You also may be scared to recommend it and that it may not work. OK, all kidding aside, you may not be “scared”, but maybe apprehensive or you are just not convinced it is the way to go. Please consider the following.According to Debra Gould, “The Staging Read more […]
Buying a Fixer-Upper: Tips for First-Time Homebuyers
When you’re considering buying your first home, the process can seem overwhelming. This is, after all, one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make, and it’s a lengthy and costly one that can lead to stress and anxiety even when you have a good plan. For first-time homebuyers who are looking for a fixer-upper, the success of the project hinges on whether you do your homework in the beginning — and there can be a lot of homework.Knowing what to look for and having some decisions already Read more […]
Selling Your Fixer-Upper: Tips to Sell Fast and For More
In a recent article, Buying a Fixer-Upper: Tips for First-Time Home buyers by guest blogger Ray Flynn of the DIYGuys, we learned how to manage the buying process for a “fixer upper”, where to buy, setting a budget, what repair or design projects to tackle first, and creating curb appeal. We considered whether to stay or sell once your house is all fixed up. Did you decide to sell? How can you sell your fixer upper fast and get the highest price for all your hard work and investment Do Your Read more […]
Best Interior Designs of 2018
Searchmetry wrote an article, “30 Interior Designers show off their best Interior Designs from 2018” which considers Interior Designers to follow in 2019 and the most important factors they focus on. They asked Interior Designers nationwide about their favorite design projects. Northern Lights Home Staging and Design was honored to be one of the designers selected and to receive their Best Interior Designs 2018 award. We were asked to submit our three favorite design project and discuss why Read more […]