Empty to Stunning! I have a dear friend. A friend I trust my kids to be with, who is a good listener and someone I can trust. She is also the kind of friend who says, “decorate my house and I’ll write you a check for the receipts”. This is music to a decorator’s ears. It tells me she trusts my vision. For this blog, I want to highlight how I took her front room from empty to stunning.
They moved into their new build home on October 31st. By November she was asking me to help with her home and that it needed to be done by Thanksgiving! Yes, I said Thanksgiving. As in, I had 2 weeks to put together a family room, formal room, and dining area.
This was a blank slate. They had no furniture to use in the room except an antique piano. I knew I was going to use the piano and antique dresser her mother found on the side of road years ago. It was in mint condition and I discovered it in their master closet while staging their last home to sell. These were the 2 pieces I had to build my décor from for this room. I knew it needed to be a soft, inviting room. The colors needed to be calming and neutral.
The first item that needed to be purchased was a rug. The rug is a dominating piece in a room. If you are starting from scratch, it’s best to find a rug and build the room around it. I found this gorgeous rug on sale and knowing my friend’s style, this was right up her alley.
Their daughter plays the piano beautifully. I envisioned this room as a formal sitting area for them to sit and enjoy her playing. The next purchase was going to be chairs. I went simple and neutral so that the focus would be on the rug. I didn’t want patterns competing. With the rug, chairs, dresser (turned side table) and piano all in place, I could now focus on accessorizing!
We used lamps, a large mirror and a couple of wall items she already owned but everything else needed to be purchased. I began with the basics for every room. Every room needs some green from a plant, a clock and things that are personal. I also like to put phrases in rooms that bring a sense of “home” and purpose. The phrase I found for this room and mounted above the piano says, Happiness guides you Home. I got new frames for pictures and took off the black leather upholstered cover that was on the piano bench. The rug has a touch of gray so we brought that out in the new entry rug. Luckily, I found fabric that matched the pattern on the entry rug and gray in both rugs. I sewed her pillows and matching curtains to tie the gray together.
Finally, I didn’t want to leave the entry neglected, so I bought a long bench to put there for guests to use to put shoes on or take off, etc. It leaves plenty of room for a walkway and makes the space functional.
I love when the decorating is complete and I sit down in the room and don’t want to leave! It was a tight time frame! Don’t forget, while doing this room, we were also focusing on a large family room and dining room all within 2 weeks. I was grateful for her trust in my vision and she enjoys the compliments she gets about her home!
About Balance & Harmony 360², Inc.
Owned and operated by Melinda Smith, CPO®, we offer Business Training & Consulting with a Twist! Our sweet spot is working with Entrepreneur’s and their companies to create a productive work environment, happy home, and prosperous you! Our passion is listening to clients goals, thinking through solutions and coming up with creative 360² action plans that address work, home, and you! We also provide dynamic action oriented training to get your team motivated. Learn to Love Going to Work Again! Increase Time with Your Family! Get Things Done! Our process is simple and geared toward the professional. You CAN get your LIFE back in BALANCE!
Audrey Whiteley, CSE®
Audrey works for Balance & Harmony 360², as a Certified Staging Expert in the HOME Division. The home environment affects your health, productivity, and happiness. She works with individuals who need to freshen-up outdated décor, “show” a room’s potential or help homeowners create a lifestyle. Audrey makes the most of your surroundings whether you are staging for a quick sale, building a home, or want to elicit a more vibrant and peaceful setting in which to live.
Audrey Can Help Create
- Ideas or Design Boards
- Room Layouts and Arrangements
- Organization Solutions
- Home Staging DIY Reports
- Pre-Move Prep Strategies and Moving Plans
- Purchasing and Hands-On Staging and Decorating
- Project Management from Start to Finish
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