Today I had a “moment” I will always remember.

I started the day feeling a little depressed. The stock market has been insane and my retirement funds…well I basically just stopped looking.

My Bed and Breakfast got it’s first cancellation, and I expect many more to come. Not sure how my design business will fare.

People are freaked out and have cleaned out the stores of hand sanitizer, hand wipes, chlorox and toilet paper. What? I just don’t get the toilet paper thing. Then my 90 year old mom told me why. “When 1 person sneezes, 300 people crap in their pants”. Haha, apparently her pastor told her congregation this nugget of wisdom at church today. Now I get it:) Luckily, I have plenty of TP.

I decide I will have a positive day and get outside in the fresh air and not allow myself to dwell on fear,  negativity or the virus. I decide to go on a gray whale watching trip in Kenai Fjords National Park adjacent to Seward, Alaska where I live.

The boat is fairly empty, and people spread themselves out in the booths, trying to maintain 6′ apart. I find a booth where I sit alone, after wiping off the table with the Lysol wipes in my backpack. It is a gorgeous sunny, cold day. As we head out, we see some bald eagles and sea otters. Then some Dall’s porpoises came to play next to the boat. They are super cute and look like mini Orcas.

Soon we see a large group of Orca whales. Some had calves. The males have extra tall dorsal fins. I see a mom with 2 babies and the male swimming behind them. A picture of a happy family.

Then I luck out and an Orca (adult female I think) swims up close to the boat to model for me, and then swims under the boat!

The Orcas are everywhere and I enjoyed watching this male swimming alone in the beautiful light.

We weave in and out of harbors I had not been to, and around various islands. We see a magic cove that has caves that cormorants like to nest in.  We go by an area where a group of Harbor Seals have hauled out on a rock.

They feed us lunch, and later hot chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven. The scenery is beautiful, the air is fresh and clean and it is a bluebird day filled with amazing wildlife.

As we head in to port, once again there is cell phone coverage and an email pops in. I shouldn’t look, but I do. I get a message I find very upsetting. My eyes tear up a little as I read it. I decide to close it and save it for later, not wanting to ruin the day. After leaving the boat, while still on the dock, I see a cute sea otter, just hanging around and eating. Sounds like a good plan and I wonder if I have any chocolate at home:)

I head to my car, and as I reach it, it happened. My moment. A total stranger, a younger woman who had been on the boat in a nearby booth approaches me.

“Can I give you a hug? I saw you tear up on the boat and thought maybe you needed one”.  

I thank her, and tell her I am OK and we “elbow bump” instead.

When I got home, I could not stop thinking about this. That someone would notice a total stranger feeling a little upset and then even during these times of social distancing want to say something and offer a hug was moving. The kindness of strangers is a powerful thing.

While some are out there hoarding toilet paper and price gouging, others are taking the time to connect and come together, even at risk to themselves.

I felt the need to share the experience so put a blurb about it on my personal Facebook page. I received more likes and comments on this than anything in recent memory.  It also spurred a lot of concerned emails checking to make sure I was OK from good friends as well as acquaintances.

Kindness is apparently as contagious as the virus.

That really made my day, and I hope by sharing it with you,  it will make yours too. Let’s be kind and take care of each other in the difficult times ahead.

Mary Ann

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During these uncertain times, it is likely we are going to all be spending more time at home. Whether that is working from home or spending leisure time there rather than going out, it may be the best way to stay safe and healthy for now.

If you have not spent much time at home before, you may be looking around and thinking, wow, I wish my home looked or functioned better! I wish it was more comfortable, cozy, more of a sanctuary or an easy place to work from.

Think of it this way. Maybe it is the perfect time to do some updates or projects to create your perfect sanctuary. All those projects or ideas that you have meant to do but didn’t have time for. Why not now.

It could be painting an interior room, re-organizing, redecorating or refreshing a room or series of rooms. Maybe updating your office space so that it is more beautiful and works better for you.

Maybe it is a great time to set up a workout area to stay healthy and avoid the gym. Maybe set up a place to meditate and relax or listen to music. How about an entertainment area to watch movies or play games? A reading nook with a window seat? Update your kitchen or dining area and do more cooking and entertaining at home with your family.

How about a craft room to start working on those projects you have put off forever or to learn a new art form you always wanted to try? How about a great outdoor living space to relax, read, get fresh air or get more connected to nature. How about starting a garden or working on your landscaping? Why not update your décor so it is more healthy and eco-friendly?  Take an online course,  learn a new language, start a blog or research a future trip.

While social distancing is one way to stay healthy, we are still all connected online and can enjoy each other on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, through Skype or Zoom calls or Facetime.

This too shall pass; we just don’t know how long before that happens. So, why not make the most of the extra time we may have at home and do something productive or make our surroundings more beautiful and fun.

If that idea appeals to you, you might consider Edesign as an option to work online with a designer to come up with great ideas to refresh a room or your whole house.  Create the perfect sanctuary or a home office.  You can take the ideas from your designer and implement them yourself while ordering everything you need online. Check out my Edesign services and let me know if I can help.

In the meantime, I will be writing blog articles on things you can do at home yourself to create your perfect sanctuary, so stay tuned! Or sign up for my monthly design, color or home staging tips so you never miss a great idea.

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Northern Lights Home Staging and Design of Seward, Alaska

Awarded Best Of Houzz 2020

The Annual People’s Choice Award from the Houzz Community Highlights Home Remodeling and Design Professionals with Most Popular Designs and Top Ratings

Seward, Alaska, February 27, 2020 – Northern Lights Home Staging and Design of Seward, Alaska has won a “Best Of Houzz” award for Customer Service on Houzz®, the leading platform for home renovation and design. The 5-year old interior design, color consulting and home staging firm was chosen by the millions of homeowners that comprise the Houzz community from among more than 2.5 million active home building, remodeling and design industry professionals.

The Best Of Houzz badge is awarded annually, in three categories: Design, Customer Service and Photography. Design awards honor professionals whose work was the most popular among the Houzz community. Customer Service honors are based on several factors, including a pro’s overall rating on Houzz and client reviews submitted in 2019. Architecture and interior design photographers whose images were most popular are recognized with the Photography award.

A “Best Of Houzz 2020” badge will appear on winners’ profiles as a sign of their commitment to excellence. These badges help homeowners identify popular and top-rated home professionals in every metro area on Houzz.

“Thank you to all my customers for the privilege of working with you, your 5-star reviews on Houzz and for making it possible to receive this award for 5 years in a row”!

“This year’s Best Of Houzz awards go to an incredibly talented and service-oriented group of home remodeling and design professionals, and we’re proud to highlight the winners on the Houzz website and app,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of Industry Marketing for Houzz. “This award is particularly meaningful as it reflects the sentiment of the millions of homeowners in the Houzz community who are hiring home professionals for their projects across the U.S. and around the world.”

Follow Northern Lights Home Staging and Design on Houzz.

About Northern Lights Home Staging and Design

Northern Lights Home Staging and Design provides an award winning, versatile, and unique one-stop shop for Home Staging, Color Consulting, Interior Design, Edesign and Social Media Advertising for homes and vacation rental properties. They provide in person service in South Central Alaska, and online consultations and Edesign services nationwide.

Mary Ann Benoit is the only certified color strategist in Alaska as well as the leading home stager in south-central Alaska, trained as both a professional home stager and with a degree in Interior Design. Customers and colleagues describe her as “the best at what she does” and her work as “stellar,” “fantastic,” ”amazing,” “innovative,” “prompt and professional.”  She is known for giving “above and beyond service,” being a “delight to work with,” and “a great coach and mentor.”  Learn more.

About Houzz

Houzz is the leading platform for home remodeling and design, providing people with everything they need to improve their homes from start to finish – online or from a mobile device. From decorating a small room to building a custom home and everything in between, Houzz connects millions of homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home improvement professionals across the country and around the world. With the largest residential design database in the world and a vibrant community empowered by technology, Houzz is the easiest way for people to find inspiration, get advice, buy products and hire the professionals they need to help turn their ideas into reality. Headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif., Houzz also has international offices in London, Berlin, Sydney, Moscow, Tel Aviv and Tokyo. Houzz is a registered trademark of Houzz Inc. worldwide. For more information, visit houzz.com.

Getting claustrophobic in your small apartment? You don’t need to consider moving to a bigger space. If you’ve got some time on your hands, a little bit of renovation can make you feel like you’re in a totally new home for a fraction of the price. Some minor changes and adjustments here and there will grow your apartment significantly. At the same time, you can still enjoy the convenience of having a smaller place – everything is much easier to clean and organize.

Here are some design tips to make your apartment look bigger.

Choose only what sparks joy

Before you get started with your renovations, clear out everything unnecessary in your apartment. The KonMari method is a wise strategy as it involves separating everything you own into categories before decluttering them item by item. This maximizes efficiency, and should not be too difficult to accomplish in a smaller home. In the end, you’ll get to keep only the things that spark joy. You can then proceed to decorate from there – but at least you know that you have only the things that bring you happiness and will continue to only make thoughtful purchases.

Add some mirrors

Mirrors can give the impression of a sense of openness. As they reflect light or the view outside, you may be fooled into thinking that there’s more space than there actually is. Put up big framed or standing mirrors, or even group smaller ones and mount them on a wall for a hall of mirrors effect. Go and scour some flea markets for vintage dressers or cabinets with a mirrored finish. You can even keep the reflectiveness going by placing a mirror atop a coffee table for a unique effect.

Work around permanent pieces

Most rooms have a permanent feature that takes up a lot of vital space. A blog post by HomeServe notes how a lot of homes now make good use of wall space by installing radiator shelves, disguising a room essential and adding a bit more flare. If you want to repaint your walls, carefully take out the radiator before installing it back and painting it the same color. As painting radiators has become quite common, you’ll definitely be able to find special paint to keep it safe amidst high temperatures. Once you’ve got that done, you can think about working around other permanent pieces like building shelves around your headboard.

Get rid of thick curtains

Curtains could serve as a barrier to the view and absorb too much of the light outside. They may also make you feel that you’re shrouded in darkness or in a cave, weigh the space down, thus making the space seem much smaller than it already is. If you still want some form of privacy, consider a more lightweight option like shutters or linen blinds. This will also allow more natural light to enter and flow throughout the entire space.

Keep it monochrome

Home decorating expert Coral Nafie says that too many colors may break up the space. This segmentation could make it seem even smaller. When choosing a color palette, it’s best to keep it monochrome. Try to tone down your color scheme too – cool, or delicate warm colors will make the room seem more open. Coordinate bigger pieces of furniture with these colors to keep it streamlined, and then you can accessorize with smaller pillows, vases, and trinkets.

Multipurpose furniture

To make the most out of your space, think about storage options that will let you keep things out of sight in items of furniture on display. There are a number of multipurpose furniture options that will allow you to free up the space and get rid of unwanted clutter. Think futons that have drawers under, ottomans that have removable tops to store linens, or even trundle beds that have the option for storing goods. The smarter the function, the better.

For more smart and affordable decorating ideas, check out the ‘4 Ways to Create the Home Office of Your Dreams Without Putting a Dent on Your Budget’ for tips and inspiration.

Specially written for NorthernLightsStaging.com

By: Julia Riley

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Global Style Interior Design is all about telling the story of your life and adventures through your decor. Each piece has a story and becomes a conversation starter.  Treasures, old and new are displayed from various parts of the world and layered in a rich tapestry of color, texture, art and history. Here are 10 great reasons to love and try global style with some examples of decor items to get the look.  

One of the thing I love about global style Interior Design is the rich bold colors as in this Indian style bedroom Edesign I created. Colors of a particular country are usually based on their landscapes, plants, spices, symbols, national flags and more. They are rarely “neutral colors”. In this design of an Indian Style bedroom, the color scheme came from this beautiful handmade Indian rug and other decor elements based on the color of Tumeric, a common spice in India.

Global style is filled with interesting and unique art, reflecting the rich colors or cultural elements of various countries. This Bohemian style living room was based on my own fractal art to celebrate the rich colors and textures of Bohemian style.

I love that most global styles, are very connected in their colors and patterns to the natural environment. This Greek style living room I designed  or example, is a coastal style that is in tune with the colors of the sea, sky, rocks and native plants of Greece.

Global style loves mixing interesting textures and patterns. From soft silks,  to textured wools, carved wood, metals with intricate embossed or cut out patterns and beautiful cultural patterns on rugs, pillows and art. All these things can be artfully layered to create a rich and diverse design filled with interest wherever you look as in this design for a global style bedroom.

Global style is all about telling your story, whatever it is! Whether it is Bohemian or more streamlined, vintage or modern, colorful or neutral, tell your own story with global style elements that appeal to you as in this modern global style living room.

Global styles celebrates the culture and history of the countries they originate from. or it can combine elements from many countries. Try including decorative elements that are unique to a particular culture. An example is this design of a Turkish style living room. Turkey is known for their Kilim rugs and decorative coffee sets. Below are examples of a vintage Turkish Kilim rug, and a pillow made from a vintage rug from Kilim.com, as well as a traditional coffee set. Get 5% off anything from Kilim.com with code nls2019 at checkout.

I love the lighting in global style designs. Much of it is handmade with intricate cutouts in metal that create magical patterns of light in a room, such as in this Moroccan/Turkish living room. Beautiful lighting is also a hallmark of Turkey and Mexico. See these great examples of Moroccan lighting below.

Global style easily mixes new and modern materials with vintage decor or antiques as in this Vintage Boho Office. Often heirlooms like Moroccan rugs are passed down through generations. Mix historical or cultural artifacts and family heirlooms with modern elements to tell the story of your life and your family.

 I love the way Global Style Interior Design celebrates your adventures by displaying treasures you have found in your travels. An example is this Mexican style living room which highlights wooden masks, copper furniture and hand made lighting from Mexico.

Global style is very eco-friendly and primarily uses natural materials. There is an abundance of wool rugs, metal lighting and accents,  carved wooden furniture and wall art,  leather, rattan, natural stone and pottery. In this example of a Moroccan style living room, the focal point is a gorgeous traditional wool rug. Moroccan rugs are like a work of art for your floor. Learn more about the Magic of Moroccan Rugs in my blog article. Get 20% off these gorgeous, authentic Moroccan wool rugs below or any non-sale item at Atlas Weavers with code “northern lights” at check-out!

Learn more about Global style design in my article, Tell Your Story with Global Style Interior Design.  Curious about what Global Style might be right for you? Take the quiz below. Ready to try to get the look in your own home? Try one of my Edesign packages.

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Purchasing a home with the goal of renting it for extra income requires taking a hard look at the property. Appealing to renters is essential for your success — an investment property provides no return if it sits empty. Chances are, you face stiff competition for renters. If the supply outpaces the demand, you must devote time, energy, and money in order to secure a consistent return on the investment. A little paint and new bathroom fixtures can go a long way to show a renter that you care about the property.

Location, Location, Location

Purchasing an investment property and the odds of renting it greatly depend on the location. For example, a rental property near a college may attract students during fall and spring semesters, but it could remain empty during the summer. A vacation rental home located at a popular beach can sit unused during the winter.

There are several factors for consideration when it comes to the location of a rental property, including:

• The neighborhood
• Schools
• Nearby stores, parks, and attractions
• Crime statistics
• Property taxes

Whether you will ever use the space, like that of a vacation home, can help determine where you buy. If the investment is simply to obtain a financial return, then the location must offer the amenities renters demand.

Green Initiatives and Smart Home Technology

According to the National Multifamily Housing Council, a recent study shows that 78 percent of renters have an interest in recycling options. An additional 65 percent have an interest in sustainability and green initiatives.

Among the most compelling smart home technology for renters is:

• Video monitoring
• Door locks
• Thermostat
• Lighting
• Electrical outlets

Start-up costs for some smart home technologies may limit you to only those features you can afford. It is also important to keep in mind that not all renters will understand how smart home technologies work. Balancing the demands of renters against your budget is most definitely a challenge. It requires researching the best technologies and green initiatives for your specific property. Incorporating a few technologies and initiatives is better than none when it comes to competition for renters. You just might find that you like them enough to incorporate them into your own home!

Spruce, Stage, and Secure

It is important to get your property in great shape by painting, sprucing up curb appeal, and staging it for potential renters. Consider replacing carpet with laminate flooring for a more durable and stain-resistant floor. Replace faucets tarnished with mineral deposits with new, more modern looking ones. In the kitchen, upgrade cabinet knobs and toss any that show wear from years of use.

Once you’ve painted, planted new shrubbery, and staged the home with decorative items, take some photographs. High-quality photography of clean, clutter-free rooms can help you to market the property, while poor-quality photography may do just the opposite, and turn potential renters away.

It might also help to have a home security system installed to help tenants feel more at ease in a new neighborhood. This shows them that you care about your tenants’ safety and that you’ve taken an extra step to ensure they feel safe at home. Some vacation rental management companies will even install digital locks if you partner with them. A property manager may also add an extra layer of security by screening your tenants to prevent fraud and damage to your property.

Investing in the Future

Purchasing a home to convert into a rental property can provide you with a financial nest egg for your future. At the same time, a renovated or upgraded home can do wonders for a neighborhood and create a safe place for a family to call home.

From a complete remodel to simply upgrading fixtures, turning a vacant home into a place for creating memories is a great way to attract renters. By showing the house some love, renters will take note that you value their needs and care about the property. Both are important factors that can result in you soaring above any competition.

Written by guest blogger Suzie Wilson from Happier Home. Suzie is an Interior Designer and author.

Attract renters to your Investment Property

Home staging is key to creating an investment property that attracts renters, whether is is a vacation rental or other rental property. Stage the property to get great photos or try virtual staging to show the possibilities for properties that will be rented without furniture. Learn more about how home staging works and what it costs in this video.

Planning to make your new property a vacation rental or Bed and Breakfast? Try a Vacation Rental Staging Consultation. As a successful Bed and Breakfast owner over the last 18 years, I doubled my income and bookings and attract my ideal customer with home staging, Interior Design and website branding. Learn More.

Did you know the right paint colors can help you sell your home for more? Or less if you pick the wrong colors? 

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Great question. I’m glad you asked Usually, they are very different things. The key difference is who you are decorating or designing for.

Home staging is decorating for the buyer. The goal is to make an emotional connection with them, so they can envision themselves living there and want to make an offer. You are appealing to their vision of their ideal lifestyle. To learn more about home staging, see my article, Home Staging- How it Works and What it Costs.

Interior design is decorating for the homeowner. The goal is to also to make an emotional connection and create their vision of a home that works for their ideal lifestyle.

There are some definite differences in how you make this emotional connection. In home staging, you are decorating for the target market, or most likely buyer of the home, whether It’s a young family, retired professionals or whoever. Colors are generally more neutral to appeal to a greater number of people. The decorating should highlight the features of the home, rather than tell the story of the owners. Personal items are usually removed. About half of the items your normally live with are removed to make it feel more spacious and show off the features of the home itself. Home staging is often done with the seller’s belongings, or with rental furniture and décor which are often typical retail items that are lower to mid-range in price.

With Interior design, it is important to let the personal story of the homeowner shine. Colors can be as rich or colorful as you like. Personal items are highlighted and given a place of honor. How much is on display all depends on the style the owner prefers. Interior design may use a wide range of retail or unique or custom furniture and decor in a wide range of price points.

Virtual staging is digital home staging done to a photo of a vacant room. The virtual staging may be done with a software program that has specific items available for use in the program, or it may be done by a designer with access to any product available on the market, both retail and custom. Virtual staging by a designer may offer more options for design and home décor than staging software programs. To learn more about virtual staging, see my article, Virtual Home Staging and Design- the Pros and Cons.

Recently, I completed this virtual staging project, which was selected as an example of Edesign for an Interior Design magazine, “Vision”, for the article “5 Things You Need to Know About Edesign” by JoAnne Lenart- Weary. The article starts on page 50, and my design is on page 55. To learn more about Edesign, see my article, Edesign-How it Works.

In this case, the virtual staging was both home staging and Interior Design! I used Photoshop, rather than a virtual staging program to complete the design.

The target market for this staging project was a young family in a high-end neighborhood. I created a modern global style design I thought would appeal to young, professional buyers in their 30’s that were starting a new family. I used greens for the colors, as green appeals to most people, and would not seem either too feminine or masculine. The wall color of the home was already neutral. The design is casual, comfortable, modern and uncluttered to highlight the features of the home. The living room design was chosen for the magazine article.

Here is the living room from another angle.

Here are a few of the products I used in the living room design. Click on the pictures to learn more. Some are affiliate links, meaning they give me a small commission for sharing at no additional cost to you.

I love all this beautiful black and white art from Arhaus.

Here is close up of the dining area in this open concept space.

To show the possibilities for the large unfinished basement, I created a playroom area next to a comfortable family area where mom or dad could work while doing laundry and keeping an eye on the kids. There is also a crafting area and table. The rugs and kids’ furniture are all washable and pet friendly.

Here are a few of the products I used for this unfinished basement. These beautiful rugs from Ruggable can be removed from the pad and washed in a washing machine, and are kid and pet friendly, as are the washable covers on the bean bag furniture for kids from Pottery Barn Kids.

You may be wondering, is virtual staging helping this house sell? The house is still for sale. It has been on the market 4 months, and was virtually staged after being on the market a month vacant. In looking at the market data for similar homes today, it appears this home is initially overpriced by $30k-$40K (10%) and the current price is still over market value even with 4 price reductions. Staging can help you sell quicker and for more, but it is not a silver bullet, and requires a competitive price when first listing and good marketing for it to work. Virtual staging has generated more interest in the home, and is probably the best option in this case so the sellers do not incur monthly rental costs for furniture and accessories associated with traditional home staging, as they wait to get their asking price.

Need Help with your Home Staging Project?

Need help staging your home for a speedy and profitable home sale?  Check out my home staging services. I offer local in person home staging consultations, vacant and occupied staging. I also offer online home staging consultations, virtual staging and social media marketing for your home sale nationwide.

Sign up for my monthly design, color and staging tips and a get a free report on Top Paint Colors for a Speedy and Profitable Home Sale. Never miss a great idea!

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I hear you laughing through your computer. Yes, I know. You are thinking yeah, right! I can hardly wait to have my life interrupted with endless showings, lay awake at night wondering if I will be able to sell for a good price or will lose money, find a new house that I actually like and can afford, pack a million boxes, move a million boxes, unpack and not know where the heck anything is for months!  Yes!! I can hardly wait!

OK, well, let’s think about this in a new way. How about this?  I can hardly wait to sell my house fast and for more than I expect, move into the cool new house I found and make it my perfect dream home! It will be so much better than my last house and I will have some extra cash from the sale to fix it up just right! When I am done, there will be no place in the world I would rather be! Yes!! Bring it on!

Now, I can’t help you find your new home, but I can help you with all the rest! OK, HOW?

Sell Your House Fast and for More

The absolute best way to sell your house fast and for more is to hire a professional home stager to prepare you house for market. Get yourself a top realtor with great marketing skills and get professional photos of your beautifully staged home.

The price of staging should be fully paid for by the final asking price, and more. Bypass looking for the cheapest options, letting your realtor or friend do it, doing a partial staging job and all the rest. The best staging job will bring you the highest profit and fastest sale.

To learn more about home staging options and what it costs, see my blog article Home Staging-How it Works and What it Costs and my video.

Give me a call to discuss local in person home staging. Live outside my service area or want to do the staging yourself? Try my online home staging consultation. Traditional home staging not in the cards for you? Consider my Virtual Staging package but check out my article on the Pro’s and Cons of Virtual Staging first. Does your home need a lot of remodeling that you want to leave to the buyer, but you are worried they won’t be able to see the possibilities and it will take forever to sell? Try my Virtual Remodeling package.

Download a copy of my brochure with all my home staging services and give me a call to see what works best for you.

Make Your New Home Everything You Imagine

Well OK, if you are imagining a mansion and that is not in your budget, maybe not. But there are so many things you can do with your new home to get it set up to be perfect for you with the budget you have, even if you bought a “fixer upper”.

One of the first things most people need is a new paint job, and possibly some new flooring if you are ripping out carpeting from the previous owners. A color consultation can help pick great colors you love and that also work with the fixed finishes you will not be changing. Do you have some colors in mind already but just want to ask an expert if they will really work together before spending money on paint? Try my Will these colors Work Together package.

• You may need to remodel a kitchen or bath, which also requires picking out the right colors, countertops and more. An Interior Design/Color consultation can also help you with this. Need to visualize everything before you start spending money? Try my Virtual Remodeling package.

• Since you are moving all your belongings into a new space that has a different floor plan, you may be struggling with how to lay it all out. Try my Floor Planning package.
• Maybe you need to update the look of your new rooms and feel like most of your existing stuff will no longer work in the new house or you are ready for a change. Try my Full Service Edesign package. Learn more about Edesign- How it works in my blog article and in this video.

• You want to redecorate using mainly what you already have and could also use a little help with room layout? Try my Refresh Edesign package. Want to redecorate with what you already have and feel like you already have a good handle on the floorplan? Try my Interior Redesign package.

• You want to tackle all the redecorating yourself, but could use a little advice from a pro to get you off on the right track and help you develop a plan that you may need to take your time with? Try my Interior Design consultation. Or try my Designer on Call package and pick my brain for a couple hours.

• Planning to start a home-based business or Bed and Breakfast in your new home? I can help you get it set up for success to increase your income, bookings and attract your ideal customer with my Vacation Rental Staging package.

All of the options above can be done online.

Bottom line, you don’t have to tackle this all alone. And in all honesty, yes there will be a little pain involved because it all takes time and disrupts your life. But why not look at it as an opportunity to make some magic happen?

Download the brochure with clickable links to all the services mentioned above.

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Now that 2019 is in the rear-view mirror, I decided to look back and see what I did with all my time, what I accomplished and consider what’s ahead. Have you done the same? I hope the last year was all you hoped for!

What the Heck I did with my time

For me, 2019 this was especially meaningful as I retired last December 31^st from a 33-year career as a wildlife biologist. Although I started Northern Lights Home Staging and Design five years ago,  I had more time to work on my design business in 2019. A big change was the decision to offer Edesign, or online Interior Design, online color and home staging consultations and virtual staging. Living in small town Alaska, I have a limited market and thought this would be a great way to expand my ability to help more people. So 2019 was a year of learning  how to do Edesign and work with clients in a new way.

Colorful Projects

The year was filled with home staging, virtual staging, color consultations, local design projects and Edesign. When doing consultations or working with people taking their time to implement their design or staging, I don’t always get to see the “After” photos. Here is a video of my favorite projects where I did see the result. It was a very colorful year!

Cool Things

Some other exciting things that happened in 2019 were that:

I won  the “Best of Houzz” for Customer Service again for the 4^th year in a row.

I was awarded Best Interior Designs of 2018 and noted as an Interior Designer to Watch in 2019 in an article by Searchmetry.

I started creating Fractal Art for Interior Design in January and opened a store on Society 6 with art, pillows, bedding, furniture and more featuring my art.

One of my Edesigns was published in an international magazine! See the article, 5 Things You Need to Know About Edesign by JoAnne Lenart-Weary on page 50, and my design on page 55.The picture below is my design. More on how it came together in a future blog post. (shown below).

So Much Writing!

In 2019, I posted articles and tips on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest daily and wrote weekly blog posts compared to monthly in 2018. I did my best to provide information that you might find valuable on Interior Design, Color and Home Staging. I hope you will follow me and find some information helpful to you.

Here are some of my favorite blog articles which I think really tell the story of what I can do to help you.

Edesign, How it Works

Tell Your Story with Global Style Interior Design

Re-invent Yourself and Your Home in 2020

Home Staging- How it Works and What it Costs

Does Your Vacation Rental Stand out from the Crowd Online?

What Does it all Mean?

In discovering Edesign, I also discovered some things about myself.

• I LOVE color. Well, I already knew that, but Edesign gave me a chance to indulge my love of color, challenge myself and delve deeper into using the art and science of color I learned when I became a certified color strategist.
• I LOVE global style and the layering of textures, handmade and exotic art and decor, eco-friendly materials, the history and culture, magic of lighting, rich colors and so much more!!
• I LOVE eco-friendly, sustainable design. I realized how important it is to our health, well-being, and our planet and how easy it  is to create beautiful and unique designs with eco-friendly elements.
• I LOVE Edesign. It’s fast, affordable, unique and opens doors to working with anyone with a computer (is there anyone without one?).

What’s Next?

Now that I know more about the things that make my heart sing, and hopefully yours too, I plan to do more of the things I love! The current design trends are embracing color, global styles, eco-friendly design and new ways of doing things such as Edesign and I am ready to spread the love! Are you ready? Check out my blog article, Re-Invent Yourself and Your Home in 2020 to get inspired!

What’s Your Global Design Style?

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As the new year approaches, you will probably hear a lot about trends in design, color and the latest, greatest ideas in furniture and accessories. My mind is focused inward on a different way of transforming your home.

I think about 2019, what I accomplished and what my life and home felt like. I’m compelled to plan for 2020 to re-invent my life, health, business and home to be the ideal expression of myself. How about you?

I have been inspired lately listening to Jim Fortin’s podcast, “Transform your life from the inside out”,  and watching videos by Dr. Joe Dispenza. They both talk about how to re-program your brain to transform your life by working from the inside out. Jim Fortin talks about the idea of HAVE, DO, BE that most of us operate from. If I only “had” that, I could “do” this and “be” happy. He says it should be the other ways around. BE, DO, HAVE.  BE your ideal self so you can DO the things you want to and the “HAVE” will come as a result. Start on the inside and work your way out. Dr Joe Dispenza talks about how re-programming your brain through meditation can totally change your life, health and more. Change your thoughts, which change your emotions which change your physiology.  I know, a little Woo Woo perhaps, but you never know until you try. It’s a new year, what can it hurt!

As a designer, I can’t help but think about how all this translates to your home, and how transforming your home from the inside out can affect the way you feel and can help re-invent your life too.  Is it time for you to make a change? If so, how do you do it?

Color

The easiest way is by changing your colors, which have a profound effect on how you feel. There is lots of information online about the psychology of color and how different colors make you feel for inspiration. Color is easy to change! And so, it is easy not to change. How long have you had the same colors in your home? Change the paint color of a main room, change the color of your accessories, put up new and colorful art, change your pillow colors, get a new area rug.

Because color is easy to change, it’s easy to change again if you don’t like it. Be brave and go for it. Forget about grays, whites and neutrals. Try something bolder, or one of the new 2020 colors of the year. Or, if you prefer neutral colors on your walls, add pops of color in other ways. Maybe you have a bold color scheme going on now that you could change if you want a calmer and more serene environment.

Most people get stressed out about picking new colors. What colors go together? What if I hate it? Who has time to paint?  What if my friends don’t like it? The only thing that matters is if you like it and it makes you feel good.  Tell your own story. Of course, it is always great if the colors work well with your home and fixed finishes. A certified color strategist can help you with that.

Get Rid of the Monkey Chatter

What???  Yes, monkey chatter. Jim Fortin talks about how our brains are filled with monkey chatter, the endless thoughts of our past and current problems, and negative things we say to ourselves and others all day long. In other words, our heads are filled with X#$%@ most of the day. How can we re-invent ourselves with all that mental clutter?

This of course makes me think of our homes and all our clutter (me included). When we get rid of it, just like in our minds, doesn’t it feel so good? Remove the clutter, let the things you love have a place of honor with room to breathe so they shine, and you can enjoy them more. Maybe switch a few things out so something different (like art, accessories or a treasure) has a chance to take center stage.

Be Here Now

Yes, more Woo Woo:). Part of my re-invention involves learning to meditate. I’m finding this hard due to all the monkey chatter. They really are annoying?. The key is to tell the monkeys to be quiet, get centered, relaxed and calm.  I feel much more relaxed and calmer in a space that is clean, organized, and not overwhelmed with stuff. Part of my re-invention continues to include getting rid of more stuff!

Color can also create a calm environment. Benjamin Moore’s 2020 color of the year First Light (a soft blush pink) is a calm, relaxing color that is great for a bedroom. Sherwin William’s 2020 color of the year Naval (dark navy), is described as a “rich navy that creates a calm and grounding environment infused with quiet confidence”.  Sherwin Williams says that “Naval merges the desire for rich, inspiring color with our yearning for relaxation and retreat.”  Even Pantone’s color of the year, Classic Blue, is described as a shade that would “bring a sense of calm to our fast-paced, technology-filled world”. “Reminiscent of a twilight sky, the deep shade of blue evokes a tranquil feeling.”  Deep blue is considered one of the most soothing shades. PPG’s color of the year Chinese Porcelain, is also a deep blue, described as “a shade of blue that instills calmness, reduces anxiety, and encourages sleep”. “This soothing blue imparts slowness, encouraging consumers to practice mindfulness and be more present in their lives”. Sounds like these paint companies were thinking about getting rid of the monkey chatter too!

Get Connected

One benefit of meditation is to connect to something greater than yourself. The universal energy. Get comfortable with yourself and then connect with everything around you and the energy of other living things. This need for connection with other living things is called “biophilia”, which I will write more about in an upcoming blog article. In terms of home design, to me that means “bringing the outside in”. One way to do this besides having lots of windows with views of nature is again, with color. Behr’s 2020 color of the year Back to Nature is a nice green they describe as a “restorative and revitalizing green hue that engages the senses and pairs well with other colors both inside and outside your home”. Classic Blue, Pantone’s 2020 color of the year, described as the color of “twilight” can also work. Valspar came up with 20 colors of the year for 2020, in shades of pinks, greens and neutrals all based on nature.

If you decide to try one of the “colors of the year”, most vendors in the design industry are in tune with these colors so it is easy to find furnishings, accessories and art to work with them.

Here is an example of how you can pull together all the ideas that I mentioned.  I created this global style, eco-friendly design for a living room using Behr’s color of the year, Back to Nature. This design uses elements of Turkish style, with a beautiful handmade, authentic new kilim rug that has many of the traditional elements of true vintage Turkish Kilims. It is 10 x 13 and made of wool, so is eco-friendly. The Kilim pillow covers, (pillow 1, pillow 2, and pillow 3) are hand woven and made of 40-50 years old Turkish kilim fragments backed with cotton cloth. You can get 5% off the rug and pillows and anything you like at Kilim.com with code nls2019 at check out. I adore the soft look of the pink velvet sofa, which also comes in a beautiful shade very close to Back to Nature. The velvet lumbar pillows come in both coral and moss colors. The clean hour-glass shape of the black lamps go beautifully with the design of the Turkish rug. I also love the pink Moroccan pouf! The iron and marble side tables and coffee table add a modern, simple element and are eco-friendly.

I created fractal art for this design to work with both Turkish style and the color Back to Nature. I think these elements would also go beautifully with Benjamin Moore’s First Light. The three designs, called Connection, Connecting and Connect work together and are available at my store on Society6.  Learn more about my fractal art in my article Fractal Art for Interior Design.

As I write this article, I realize that even though I was not thinking about design “trends”, the colors of the year perfectly reflect the direction I want to go in 2020. I assume many others feel the same, as the colors of the year tend to reflect the direction our culture is moving.

I hope this article inspires you to be your best self in the coming year and gives you a few ideas to get there. Happy New Year!

Need Help with Your Colors?

If you are ready to make a change, I’m here to help. Why not start with a color consultation. Learn more.

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 info@northernlightsstaging.com

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