Today I was asked “How have you changed since the pandemic began? Are you more self-aware? Have you shed your cocoon and blossomed into the person and business owner that you never knew existed within you?”

Interesting question. Why yes, I have. How about you?

We are all in the same storm but it in different boats.

From my perspective, this pandemic has separated people into two groups. Those that have figured out ways to thrive or at least remain positive, and those who have not.                   

I am in the first boat. I could have easily been in the second boat though if I had made a few different choices.

One big choice is the set of your sail.

We have all been affected in different ways. Some of us have been sick or lost loved ones. Some have lost our jobs, or businesses or wonder if we will in the future. Many of us have taken a big financial hit. Some have kids and struggle with what is happening with schools, how work with kids at home and making sure they are still getting an education, or how to keep them safe. The scenarios are endless.

There is not much we can control, except the most important thing.

OUR THOUGHTS

We can choose those and how we will respond to all that is happening around us. The thoughts affect how we feel. We can live in endless fear and worry, which changes nothing but how we feel.

 Or not.

One thing that has helped me through this is a the Transformational Coaching Program called TCP that I took in March. It is a three month program that had an amazing impact on my life, which I described in Four Courses that Changed my Life and Lose Weight, Quit Smoking, Get Healthy and Peaceful Without Pain.

In those articles I focused on some of the most obvious physical changes that others could see such as weight loss and quitting smoking. But the biggest transformation was the way it affected my thinking, and how I  deal with adversity. I learned to control my thoughts, and thus my emotions and habits and other ways of BEING. It gave me an amazing sense of peace and well being in the middle of this storm.

I tell you about it because the program opens twice a year, and it opens up September 14.

Here is a testimonial I created when I took the program.

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

My testimonial of the TCP program.  The internal changes in the way I think are more important than the outward, visible changes that resulted.

TCP was so great, I went on to take the TCP business program and will be doing TCP again.   I hear from many people that retake the program, each time is a new experience for growth, because you are a different person each time.

The TCP program is open now for 3 days only!.

Sign up here. 

There is also a BE DO HAVE Free Training going on right now that is amazing. It has started already but replays are available here.

I think 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.

Also, check out Jim Fortin’s Podcast. This is how I started and it’s free,

Ways to Work With Me

I specialize in helping you create a colorful and happy home that tells your story. I can work with you in person or online and assist you with design and color consultations so you can do the work yourself, or I can help you implement it all. My most popular package is a design/color consultation. Check out all my Edesign packages here.

What’s Your Global Design Style?

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How are you feeling about yourself?

• Do you like the way you look?
• Are you healthy and happy?
• Do you feel peaceful, abundant and grateful for all you have?
• Do you love the way you start each day?

Why do so many of us go on for years without changing our lives for the better? I know for me it has always been the struggle between the short-term pain versus the long-term gain.

Imagine yourself thinner, healthier, happier and more peaceful. What if you could transform yourself? I mean lose weight, quit smoking, improve your health and well-being, reduce your stress and do it all without all the “pain” we usually imagine coming along for the ride?

The Same Old Struggle

Like many people, I struggle with all of those things. Every year I had the same resolutions, goals etc. Lose weight, work out, eat better, quit smoking. EVERY YEAR for at least 20 years. I had some successes in some things some of the time, but never in all of the things.

THEN IT CHANGED

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

For me it was the same old struggle. Mary Ann Benoit- President of Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.

I heard about Jim Fortin and TCP (Transformational Coaching Program) from a friend who was taking the program. I listened to his free podcast and was so hooked on it I was excited to learn about the program which opens up 2 times a year. Just from listening to his podcast about controlling your thoughts and habits among other things, I was inspired to change my diet and started losing weight. I thought the program could also help me not only with health but with business. Learn more about Jim Fortin in this Inc Magazine article.

Invest money in personal development during a pandemic? Are you smoking crack?

I was scared to invest in a program like this at the beginning of COVID. The program was just under $3000.  I knew business would be slow or suspended for both my Bed and Breakfast and my Home Staging and Design businesses.  I had never invested in any type of “personal development” course before. I decided it was the best time to do it because I had time and it would be better to remain positive during this time of uncertainty and to make lemonade out of lemons. I also figured investing in myself and my business would hopefully pay for itself later.

I soon realize that Jim and his coaches are truly amazing. I join their Facebook private group with about 500 others, and receive weekly content such as workbooks, videos and audios with homework followed by weekly Facebook lives with Jim and the coaches on a wide variety of topics from health to business. We worked on things like clarity, vision, sub-conscious values, habits, self-integrity, responsibility, commitment, choices, relationships You could also ask for coaching on any topic in the FB group or do a “hot seat” on one of the live calls. The community of people in the group from all over the world was extremely positive and supportive. Participants also did regular videos talking about their struggles and wins so everyone got to know each other.

We were each asked to do a 90 planner and track our goals and activities, with a focus on either health/wellness or business. I picked business.

So, what happened to me?

TCP Improved my Health

I joined TCP to increase my income for my Interior Design/Home Staging business.

Although my focus was business, the program instead provided incredible value to my health and well-being.

TCP helped me overcome stress over-eating and smoking that I had struggled with for more than 20 years.  I lost 14 lbs, quit smoking and totally changed my diet to healthy whole foods and went from exercising a few hours a week to 3-4 hours a day.

What was interesting was what we learned about subconscious re-programming and habits helped make all these changes much less painful than I had experienced in the past. Why? As Jim mentioned in an article in Forbes Magazine, “Research has demonstrated that 95% of all habits and everything that we do is subconsciously-driven, which is housed in the right brain. But when we say, for example, ‘I’m going to change my mindset,’ that is a left-brain, analytical thought. We’re using the smallest part of the brain, the 5% analytical part, to try to change our habits at a core level, and it just doesn’t work that way.”

I also struggled with voice issues which made it difficult to speak sometimes and found that doing healing visualizations and quitting smoking helped improve that tremendously.

I also have a nerve issue in my right foot that made it painful to walk more than 30 minutes. With healing visualizations and weight loss I am out walking several times a day without pain

TCP Improved My Well-Being

I used to be that person that would wake up thinking about what I had to do, check my email and social media and then DO DO DO all day and into the night for my business. I watched 5-6 hours of news a day and was stressed out, like a hamster on the wheel that never stopped.

Now, I start the day with a Miracle Morning routine consisting of silence, affirmations, visualizations, exercise, reading and journaling. I’ve learned do less better and feel amazingly peaceful, and grateful for all I have. I limit my news watching time to an hour or less.  

TCP helped me release anger and stories I had developed from a 15 year traumatic work experience which likely caused some of my health issues and stress eating.  Releasing the stories and forgiving brought me peace and healing.

My Doctor Was Amazed

Last week I went to my doctor for my annual check up and blood work. She said “Holy cow Mary Ann, What the heck have you been doing?  Actually she said “Holy Shit Mary Ann, What the hell are you doing?”.  My doctor and I used to dance together in a dance troupe so that is how she really talks to me:) Your blood work looks fantastic and you have lost 45 lbs from your highest weight record here. I told her about TCP. She said, “I am so proud of you, you just inspired me and made my whole day”!.

Yeah!! I’m good with that!

While my business income didn’t increase, I think I needed to be better to offer more to my clients and am looking forward to what the future brings for my business now that I feel like a new person.  I liked it so much, I just joined TCP for Business.

“The pandemic puts the earth on pause, cleansing and shifting our planet. This course does that for me on an individual level”. 

Try it for Yourself

Don’t take my word for it, try it for yourself. Some of these links are affiliate links, meaning I may get paid a small amount for referring you at no additional cost to you.

Get on the Waitlist for the next TCP Program. I think 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!

Ways to Work With Me

I specialize in helping you create a colorful and happy home that tells your story. I can work with you in person or online and assist you with design and color consultations so you can do the work yourself, or I can help you implement it all. My most popular package is a design/color consultation. Check out all my Edesign packages here.

What’s Your Global Design Style?

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When most people move into a new home, they sell their old property. But this isn’t your only option! If you want to skip the stress of marketing your home and negotiating with buyers—especially during the age of social distancing—consider turning it into a rental property. Converting your residence into a rental is a great way to get into the world of real estate investing and earn some passive income. Here are some tips and tricks to help you get set up and find your first tenants!

Make a Few Upgrades

Of course, before you can rent your home out to tenants, you will have to repair anything that needs fixing. One of your responsibilities is to provide a well-maintained property. After this, consider making some upgrades! For example, give the walls a fresh coat of paint, replace your plumbing fixtures, and if you have hardwood floors, get them refinished and polished. Think about lighting that gives the home a welcoming vibe. You might even want to make some home efficiency upgrades to reduce your utility bills. At the very least, Mashvisor explains that adding in-demand features to your property should let you charge higher rental rates!

If you’re going to be doing any major renovations, make sure you come up with the funding first. Cash-out refinancing could be a viable option, especially right now—the coronavirus pandemic has resulted in low mortgage rates! As PMUSA explains, cash-out refinancing involves replacing your existing mortgage loan with a loan of a higher amount and receiving the difference in cash. It’s common for homeowners to use this cash to make home upgrades, and with such tantalizing rates, you might want to strike while the iron is hot.

Protect Your Finances

Renting out property is always somewhat risky, even if you already own the home. Planning ahead will ensure your cash flow is secure. This is especially important given the financial uncertainty surrounding the virus! Start by estimating your monthly expenses and comparing these to your desired rental rate, remembering to account for hidden costs like emergency maintenance, insurance premiums, and vacancies. To get an idea of what you can charge for rent, look at the average rates for other rentals in your area, specifically for properties that are similar to yours.

It’s also important to update your insurance when you become a landlord. Allstate explains that your existing homeowner’s insurance won’t cover accidents, robberies, or disasters that occur in your rental, so be sure to protect yourself with landlord insurance!

Consider Long Term versus Short Term Rentals

Consider whether you want to do a short-term rentals such as  vacation rentals, or a long term rentals for housing. Short term rentals require more work and time on your part but may give you a higher return per night and more flexibility to list your home for sale when the time is right. Short term rentals will like need to be designed and furnished to attract your ideal renters. Long term rentals may be more appealing to renters but offer you less flexibility when you want to sell.

Start Looking for Tenants

When you’re finally ready to look for tenants, start with a good rental listing. Write a catchy headline, include several quality photos, and list any information potential renters might want from you regarding the rental rate, security deposit, amenities, parking situation, move-in date, pet policy, and utilities.

Before signing a lease, make sure you screen your potential tenants thoroughly. Dealing with bad tenants is expensive and incredibly stressful, so you want to take all possible precautions to avoid issues. Some important steps in the screening process include running a background check, verifying the tenant’s income, and calling their previous landlords.

Create a Management Plan

Many first-time landlords don’t realize just how much work it is to manage a rental property. You will have to create lease agreements, collect rent, perform regular maintenance, and deal with all of the financial aspects of renting out a home. On top of all this, you must be prepared to respond to tenant concerns and requests at any hour. If you have the budget for it, hiring a property manager will take a lot of these responsibilities off your plate. Your property manager can even help you set your rental rates and find tenants!

If you’re hesitant to put your home on the market during the coronavirus pandemic, consider renting it out instead! Renting out your home can be an exciting and rewarding endeavor, especially if you want to try real estate investing. Take the right steps to prepare your rental and you’re sure to enjoy success!

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

Need Help Getting Your Rental Property to Stand Out from the Crowd Online?

Whether you are putting your home on the market, or renting it as a vacation or other rental, home staging and a color consultation can help you. Make sure your property stands out from the crowd and has great photos to attract your ideal renters, guests or your target buyers.

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Today I spent a lot of time thinking about my mom. I realized Mother’s Day is coming up this weekend and was wondering what I could do for her.

My mom is 91 and at this point in her life she is not interested in collecting more things, so I am more careful these days about what I can give her that does not add to her collection of stuff when she is trying to eliminate things. As an artist, I often make things for her….but then again, it is just more “stuff”. Sometimes I get her gift cards for her local book store because she likes to read. But, I prefer she does not go out if she doesn’t have to so will skip that idea this year. Sometimes I get her a gift of a massage…but that is out right now too.

Considering she is 91 and has some heart issues, I Facetime her every day to make sure she is OK. Today, I tried and tried and there was no answer. I was starting to panic a bit and called, and found everything was OK (she just didn’t hear the ring on her ipad). Just another reminder, life is short, times are hard right now and the most vulnerable among us are important to try to keep safe and check up on them.

I can’t be there with her on her birthday, as I am in Alaska and she is in Florida. If I could I would not risk exposing her to the risk if I were to travel. So, it is what it is.

So I finally decided on a bouquet of flowers…roses in all different colors. I know she will love them for the short time they are in bloom and the smell in her home will be heavenly.

So how about you? What are you going to do to make your Mother’s day?  Why not try something new. Give her the gift of a beautiful home this year with  a Mother’s Day gift card 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!

Gift Cards

I have gift cards available for all my online design and color services which you can learn more about here. For an in-person consultation, give me a call  for pricing and I will send you a gift certificate.

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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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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

Ready to Create the Apartment of Your Dreams?

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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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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.

Call 907-362-0065 today to see what service is best for you.

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Prices subject to change without notice.

I recently entered an Edesign for this global style master bedroom in a contest! We were given room dimensions and a photo, and could develop any design we wanted. I had recently seen Benjamin Moore’s new 2020 color of the year, First Light, and was not really a fan, as I am not fond of “pink or blush” for wall colors. I decided to challenge myself to come up with a design I loved using “First Light” as the wall color for this contest.

The contest is for Edesigners of the Edesign Tribe of which I am a proud member. We were required to submit a concept board and a 3D render of the design.

I hope you will consider voting for my design:)

Voting is open for the contest now 12-20-19 through Tuesday, 12-24-19. Hope you will stop by and vote for my design here!

Before

The Concept Board

My “ideal client” for this design was a single professional woman who prefers a more neutral palette, wants a serene space for her bedroom and of course, likes pink. She likes mixing modern and vintage pieces with a touch of glam and global style elements.

Final Design

Learn More about this Design

See my blog article, Ways to Use Benjamin Moore’s 2020 Color of the Year- First Light for the full story on how I developed this design. Like the products I used? Download this free shopping list.

Downloadable Free Shopping List

Learn More about Edesign

Wondering what Edesign is? Check out my latest blog article, Edesign- How it Works.

The design above is an example of full service Edesign, where you would get a floor plan, a concept board, a 3D render and a complete shopping list with set up instructions. Check out my Full Service Edesign package. See all my Edesign and Online packages here.

What’s Your Global Design Style?

The project above is an example of global style design. Are you curious what your global style is? Take the quiz and find out.

Give the Gift of a Beautiful Home

Know someone that could use a hand with their home? Why not give a gift card for Edesign for an online Interior Design or Color consultation to a friend?

Call 907-362-0065 today

 info@northernlightsstaging.com

Terms of Service

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Disclaimer

Prices subject to change without notice.

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