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!

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 other design services, see all my packages.

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Why not try using black and white as your main colors in your Interior Design? It will make the rest of your colors really pop! Forget the gray; go for high contrast and drama! Whether your room is light and airy with white walls or dark and moody with dark charcoal walls, you will create a dramatic room sure to make a statement.

Using black and white is a timeless classic, gives a modern look and can satisfy your love of color or your desire to have little color while creating a beautiful space.

Why does it work? Because of the high contrast! Alone, black and white bring the ultimate contrast with each other. Any color you bring in against either the black or white creates high contrast. For the boldest design, use saturated bold colors such as jewel tones as accents. Bring in pops of color in your accessories, art or a colorful accent chair. These are also easy to switch out over time to give lots of variety in your design when you are ready for a change.

Create a beautiful focal point with an amazing rug or wall art and build the rest of your room design around your focal point. Take a cue from the style of the rug or art to build the rest of the room. For example, a Moroccan rug is a great start to build a bohemian style or global style room. Find a rug or art that has some black and white in it, to help pull everything else together.

For example, in the mood board below, I used the Moroccan rug as a the focal point to create a global or Bohemian style Interior Design with a modern twist. I used some the ethnic pillows, the chandelier and the lamps to add to the global/Bohemian vibe. I selected a modern abstract painting with lots of color to add that pop of vibrant color I wanted to contrast with the black and white. From the colors in the art, I selected two modern comfortable chairs in the red color from the art, and the accent bowl for the table to pull out the beautiful the blue in the art. I selected simple modern coffee and end tables with black finishes and marble tops in black and white. I loved the black and white abstract art, so simple and clean to use on the adjacent wall and coordinate with the modern touch both pieces of art bring to the room. And finally, when I saw the dancer within the black circles, I thought it would be the perfect accessory piece. Being a dancer myself, I am partial to dancer art! In any case, it expresses joy, which I hope is what you feel when you see this room!

If you like some of the pieces in this design, you can click on the picture to go to a pin I created on Pinterest which links to most of the products I used. Click on the picture or here to find out more about the items. While you are on Pinterest, feel free to check out other great ideas and additional products for your black and white design in my Interior Design and Home Staging Products I Love board. Follow me on Pinterest to get great ideas each month.

If you would like help pulling together a dramatic room, globally inspired or Bohemian style Interior Design in your home, feel free to contact me and we can work together in person or online using Edesign to create the perfect space for you!

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Wondering what your Global Design Style is? Take the quiz and find out!

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Click on the picture to find out more about the best training class on color available, the Four Pillars of Color!.

Greek Interior Design Style Elements

Greek Interior Design is simple and elegant, inspired by nature, and looks light, bright, airy and clean. If you like lots of white with beautiful vivid blue, green, fuchsia and gold accents, and a clean, de-cluttered, rustic look, Greek Interior design might be perfect for you! Designs tend to be simple, symmetrical, classical, and relaxing. Less is more.

• Color- Lots of white with beautiful vivid blue, green, fuchsia and gold accents.
• Design elements- whitewashed or exposed stone walls, blue shutters, Greek key pattern, columns (Ionic, Corinthian or Doric designs) incorporated into architecture, furniture or accessories. Moldings with classical details.
• Accessories– Antique oil jars, glazed pottery, colorful glass. Greek columns holding sculptures or statues, plants or framing architectural elements.
• Fabrics– Lightweight, sheer and white or neutral colors. Hang sheer white curtains on the windows or use sheer white fabric as a canopy over a bed. Varying shades of blue, often incorporating the Greek key pattern or stripes.
• Architectural elements– exposed  wooden beams, stone walls, columns, and arches.
• Flooring- stone, marble or limestone, ceramic tile, stained concrete. Area rugs with stripes, flowers or the Greek key patters are common.
• Furniture-wooden furniture with carvings and soft simple lines. Modern furniture often incorporates the Greek key pattern.

Greek Interior Design Style Elements to Try

To get the look, you could go all out and incorporate all the elements of Greek Interior Design, or you can add some key elements to your existing decor. Try  lamps, pillows or rugs incorporating varying shades of blue reflecting the colors of the sea and the sky typically used in this style. Incorporate art using shades of blue that have natural elements related to plants or the sea. Try furniture, accessories or rugs with the Greek key pattern.   Here are some products you might like. Click on any of the pictures learn more.   Some contain affiliate links, which means if you purchase, they give me a small commission but it does not change your price. This allows me to take time to curate these products for you for free.

Are You Inspired?

These are just a few ideas of how to capture this beautiful style in your home. For help in putting it all together, other options to create this beautiful style, or help with your Interior Design or color needs, call 907-362-0065 today for a design consultation. Find out more about my services.

Wondering what your Global Design Style is? Take the quiz and find out!

It’s a new year. Why not make a resolution to make your house beautiful! But how! Here are ten ways to make your house beautiful in 2018.

Make a Plan

You are much more likely to get the end result you want if you start with a plan. Many people just start buying things they like, hoping that it will all work together in the end. This usually does not work. A designer can help you come up with a great and affordable plan. It starts with understanding your own style, what you want and how your design will enhance how you live in your space.

Tell Your Own Story

It is easy to see pictures in a magazine or online of a room and think, “I want that”.  To have a beautiful house you love and will be unique, you need to tell your own story! Those pictures may serve as inspiration, but the items may not fit well in your space, fit your lifestyle, or work with things you own. Find things you love and are meaningful to you, give them a place of honor and build the design around them.

Buy what you Love

It is better to buy what you love, even if it is more expensive and it takes longer to get all the pieces you want than to rush to finish your design project with cheaper items. The things you love will make you happy over the long term. Try to find classic items that will stand the test of time, rather than something trendy. Trends fade quickly as will your interest in it.

Be Brave with Color

Color makes magic happen, affects the way you feel and is easy to change. Painting is an inexpensive way to make a dramatic difference. Get help from a color consultant or Interior Designer to determine the perfect colors for you that work with your finishes and furniture.

Let there be light

Add magic to a space with layers of light. Find beautiful fixtures that add overhead lighting, mixed with lamps at mid-level and task lighting. Accent lighting on art and under cabinets look great.

Edit

We often collect so many things that nothing has a chance to shine. Get rid of the things you do not love.  Give the things you love a place of honor and enough uncluttered space around them so the eye is drawn to them and you can appreciate it. You can always put the other things away and change out the items you want to highlight for variety.

Be Patient

A great interior design perfectly suited to you happens in layers and takes time. Be patient.

Create a sanctuary for yourself

Your space should not only look good but feel good, give you a place to re-charge and feel like your favorite place in the world.

Change it up

Using more neutral colors for the walls and furnishings allows you to change the other colors in the room such as accent pillows, art and accessories as often as you like for variety.

Break the rules

If it looks good, feels good and you love it, do it!

Ready to make your home more beautiful? Call 907-362-0065 today.

Call 907-362-0065 today

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Ever wondered what life as a home stager is like?

How I Became a Home Stager

Many years ago I got a degree in Interior Design, and although I used it on some jobs and always loved it, my life took a different path and I became a wildlife biologist. Three years ago, I decided I wanted to start some type of creative business. Working for the government as a scientist was not exactly feeding my creative spirit!  One day when taking one of those fun quizzes on Facebook, called “What is your true profession”, the answer I received was “designer”.  I started playing the “what if” game in my head, wondering what my life would have been like if I had stuck with Interior Design as a career. And then I thought, why not now?  I decided it would be the focus of my new business, Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.

While researching how to start a design business, I came across information on home staging. I really knew nothing about it and the whole concept of decorating a house to sell sounded fascinating. I thought it would be a great aspect of a design business.

Home Staging Training

After researching various home staging courses, I decided to take Debra Gould’s Staging Diva course because it seemed to be the most focused on how to successfully run a home staging business, rather than just teaching how to decorate. And I am so glad I did!

The course was fantastic and I continue to stay connected with Debra and other stagers from the class through coaching and conference calls. Part of the journey I love is the wonderful generosity, community and friendships I developed with this group of amazing creative people. Some have taken me under their wing and served as mentors when I was just getting started, and others I continue to collaborate with, developing products, articles and brainstorming ideas to make our businesses better.

Life as a Home Stager

After starting Northern Lights Home Staging and Design, I found my life as a home stager is fun and rewarding, and it feeds my creative soul with the great benefit of helping others. I love walking through a house during a home staging consultation, and on the fly determining all the things that can transform the house, make it look beautiful, connect emotionally with buyers, and help my clients. It is like an improvisational home staging dance. I also love staging vacant homes, where I have a blank slate and can do whatever I want! I love working with occupied homes, where I can see the story of the home owner, and bring out the beauty that is there by bringing a fresh eye, highlighting the important things the house wants to show. When you listen, the house speaks to you and tells you what makes it special. I love it when I am done with the staging and the home seller says “Wow, I wish we had been living like this all along…maybe we shouldn’t sell”!

Unexpected Benefits of Becoming a Home Stager

And there were some totally unexpected benefits as well. I have another business, a bed and breakfast which I started in 2002.  Once I started learning how home staging is an amazing a marketing tool that connects with buyers, I wondered if I could apply the same concepts to my bed and breakfast. I did some experimenting and found that it at least doubled my bookings and income and helped me attract my ideal customers. It transformed my business. And, doing this added a specialty niche for my staging business to help others with vacation rental properties with home staging.

From my home staging course, I learned or was inspired to learn all kinds of new things including designing my own word press websites, creating video for advertising, how to write a blog and create a newsletter, how to publish articles for magazines and do radio interviews. I also was inspired to continue my education and become a color expert and strategist, and add color consulting to my list of services. The home staging training opened so many doors to learning that helped me in numerous aspects of my life. And I think it is just the beginning!

It all gives me joy. And like any business, while there are times when business can be slow or clients can be difficult, it is all worth it and I am so happy this is what I am doing. If you are someone that has wondered about being a home stager, I say, GO FOR IT!

Call 907-362-0065 today

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We hope you enjoy this article and podcast on Anchorage Advice Givers about Mary Ann Benoit and Northern Lights Home Staging and Design. Learn about what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur and to start your own home staging and design business.

Mary Ann, the foremost home stager in south-central Alaska, provides an award winning, versatile, and unique one-stop shop for home staging, Interior Design, Edesign and color consulting for homes and vacation rental properties.

Learn more about Mary Ann  on her About Me page or see her full biography here.

View the full video interview with Mary Ann  here.

Meet Mary Ann Benoit, Owner of Northern Lights Home Staging and Design, and Arctic Paradise B&B. Mary Ann was/is an artist and a scientist before she became an entrepreneur. She has been an artist since childhood and today she designs and sells one of a kind jewelry and stained glass. Mary Ann is also a performing artist in both music and dance. As a scientist, she pursued a career as a wildlife biologist for the last 30+ years based on her love for animals.

Mary Ann became an entrepreneur in 2001 in addition to her work as a biologist and artist.  Her first business was Arctic Paradise Bed & Breakfast, Jewelry and Stained Glass in Seward, Alaska, The business continues to run smoothly and is very successful. Her second and current business is the Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.

What does Northern Lights Home Staging and Design offer?

In simple terms, home staging is decorating and preparing a home to sell. Staging helps buyers to get connected with home emotionally so they see themselves living there, which helps the home sell faster and for more money.

Challenging factor:

Some homeowners and realtors worry about spending money on staging because they think of it as a cost, rather than an investment which will help them sell their home faster (saving them money) and for more money.  Staging increases the value of the house generally 1-20% and usually only requires 0.5% to1% of the home’s value to complete the staging process. Cutting costs through partial staging or not having it done by a professional affects the end result and hurts the home seller.

Love for the business:

She loves to see “the magic happen” when she transforms the house so beautifully during staging.  This gives her a lot of personal satisfaction and appeals to her creative spirit.  Some home owners don’t want to move after seeing their beautifully staged home! Mary Ann loves it when homeowners and buyers love the way the house looks.

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Mary Ann Benoit of Northern Lights Home Staging and Design was honored to be interviewed by Kris Bohman of Anchorage Advice Givers on her experiences as an entrepreneur, and as a home stager, starting and running Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.

The interview gives insight on why she is passionate about home staging and design. It also provides some great advice if you are interested in starting your own business, whatever that may be. See the interview below.

If you would like to listen to the audio recording, check out the podcast.

Mary Ann Benoit is the leading home stager in south-central Alaska and is the only home stager in south-central Alaska trained as a professional home stager and with a degree in Interior Design. She is also a Certified Color Expert. 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.”  “Hiring Mary Ann is more than worth every dollar and led us to success, and a new future.” To find our more about Mary Ann Benoit, check out the About Me page.

How much money are you leaving on the table? Your Bed and Breakfast table in particular. Probably a lot more than you think!

In a previous article, I talked about how Home Staging Boosts Demand for Rental Properties. Whether you have a vacation rental like a Bed and Breakfast, or a longer term rental such as an apartment or home, home staging can help you get a higher rental price, increase your business, attract a higher quality renter and generate great photos for online advertising,  How much money are you leaving on the table without doing it? Why not up your game at your vacation rental for more money and better customers.

Are You Attracting Your Ideal Customers Now?

Let’s say you have a Bed and Breakfast. Your potential customers first stop is your website.  Do you have high quality photos that highlight why your Bed and Breakfast is unique, wonderful and the perfect place to stay? Does each room look inviting, comfortable and vacation worthy? Does it draw in your ideal customer and make an emotional connection? If not, you have lost them within a few seconds!

I did a little market research on how my customers selected my Bed and Breakfast. My research (I asked them) showed that most picked my place based on the lower price. My target market was couples that were interested in wildlife viewing, and wanted a little luxury and were willing to pay more for a  mid-high end Bed and Breakfast. My ideal customers were not the bargain hunters.  I decided I needed to make a change!

My goal was to make my place unique and beautiful, raise my prices, increase my bookings and attract guests with interests similar to mine so I could provide them with great customer service.

I knew home staging worked to sell houses fast and for more and to attract a particular target market  by using decorating to make an emotional connection with those buyers.

So, I transformed my Bed and Breakfast inside and out!

What do your Ideal Customers Want?

Ultimately, they are paying for you. Your establishment is a reflection of you and your unique and amazing self:) Yup, it is really not about your bedding and art and your price. But your decor reflects “you”, and having a beautiful establishment brings higher prices.

What did I have to offer that made me unique? I had been working as a wildlife biologist specializing in birds for many years, so my expertise was in wildlife viewing. Also, I was an artist, musician and dance instructor so could offer unique art in the room as well as private  lessons. And as a designer, I wanted my decor to reflect all this and be colorful, happy and artistic. I decorated the room using lots of color so that it was happy but relaxing, wildlife art, my personal art and interesting accents with a wildlife theme.

Decorating for Your Ideal Customer

I decorated the room using lots of color, wildlife art, my art and interesting accents with a wildlife theme. I replaced the bedding, pillows, art, table and chairs, slighting and painted the dresser. I also added an electric fireplace for ambience and heat.

I used colorful pottery, my own stained glassware and wildlife accents such as this woodpecker door knocker and bear drawer handles.

In the bathroom, I selected had this beautiful shower curtain made based on a famous painting about hummingbirds as my inspiration piece. I then remodeled the bathroom to harmonize with it.  I removed the wallpaper, put in vinyl laminate flooring, new baseboard molding, replaced the outdated vanity, installed a new light and faucet, painted the walls a beautiful green.

I had the exterior painted a cheery color that harmonized with the coastal landscape, and continued the bird theme by adding outdoor bird metal art at the eaves.

How Much Money was I leaving on the Table?

So was I able to increase my Bed and Breakfast income with home staging?  Yes I was!

I took great photos and updated my website. I raised my prices by $40 per night, my bookings increased by 200% and I was fully booked the entire season. The increased prices paid for all my costs for the Interior updates the first season, and my increases the second year paid for the exterior paint job. The home staging and design work increased my income by about $10,000 per year for the one room that I rent. For an establishment with more rooms, you could increase your profit.

Just as Important as Money

Just as important, I was able to attract the types of guests that I want.  I used the new photos to promote my website using social media advertising on Facebook and bookings are increasing every year!  Having guests that I enjoy in my home that enjoy me and what I offer make a huge difference in the experience.

Stop Leaving Money on Your Table

Are you ready to update your vacation rental for increased profits and to attract the guests you want?  Contact me for a home staging or color consultation today. I can also assist you with social media advertising or a website review after it is looking great!

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Press Release-Best of Houzz 2016 Customer Service Award

Northern Lights Home Staging and Design of Seward Alaska

Awarded Best of Houzz 2016

Over 35 Million Monthly Unique Users Nominated Best Home Building,

Remodeling and Design Professionals in North America and Around the World

Seward, Alaska, January 13, 2016 – Northern Lights Home Staging and Design of Seward, Alaska has won “Best Of Customer Service” on Houzz®, the leading platform for home remodeling and design. Northern Lights Home Staging and Design provides home staging, Interior Design and Social Media Marketing services for Anchorage, Seward and the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska. Northern Lights Home Staging and Design was chosen by the more than 35 million monthly unique users that comprise the Houzz community from among more than one million active home building, remodeling and design industry professionals.

The Best Of Houzz is awarded annually in three categories: Design, Customer Service and Photography. Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the more than 35 million monthly users on Houzz. Customer Service honors are based on several factors, including the number and quality of client reviews a professional received in 2015. Architecture and interior design photographers whose images were most popular are recognized with the Photography award. A “Best Of Houzz 2016” 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.

“We all deserve to live in a home that is beautiful, functional and reflects our unique style. Our goal is to help you “make magic happen” in your home” says Mary Ann Benoit, President of Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.

                   
“Anyone building, remodeling or decorating looks to Houzz for the most talented and service-oriented professionals” said Liza Hausman, vice president of Industry Marketing for Houzz. “We’re so pleased to recognize Northern Lights Home Staging and Design, voted one of our “Best of Houzz” professionals by our enormous community of homeowners and design enthusiasts actively remodeling and decorating their homes.”

Follow Northern Lights Home Staging and Design on Houzz at http://www.houzz.com/pro/northernlightsstagingalaska

About Northern Lights Home Staging and Design

Northern Lights Home staging and Design provides home staging services for both vacant and occupied homes to help home sellers highlight the best features of their home for sale and sell quickly and for top dollar. Once staged, they provide social media and video marketing on Facebook to enhance marketing of your for sale home. They also provide Interior Design, Decorating and Redesign services.   

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, CA, Houzz also has international offices in London, Berlin, Sydney, Moscow and Tokyo. Houzz and the Houzz logo are registered trademarks of Houzz Inc. worldwide. For more information, visit houzz.com.

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