The reason this house was so in demand is because it was thoroughly staged before the MLS pictures were posted. This Baltimore, Maryland home was staged by Paula Henry of Simply Put Interiors. Paula was hired by Realtor Joe Vickers of Century 21 The Real Estate Centre. Joe pays for the professional staging service at his own expense. He knows that staging works. In this case the homeowners were being located and needed to sell fast. The sellers had a good idea of what staging is from shows like Sell this House and Designed to Sell from HGTV. The house sold so quickly because the sellers were aggressive in following the stager’s suggestions to repaint and rearrange along with other tasks. They realized that it was no longer their home, but now it is a product on the market that had to show at its best. 

For more on this Henry and Vicker’s successful staging and sale, read the full story from Trans World News.

From the Akron Beacon Journal’s Article “Area home sales freeze, down 29% in January”

According to figures provided by the Akron Area Board of Realtors, number of home sales in the area dropped a whopping 29% compared to January of last year. In total for 2007, the annual decline was 12% and things don’t look much better for 2008. The total value of home sales from 2007 dropped 28%. Not that it is good, but one number did go up, the average number of days on the market went from 91 days to 94 days. Well I guess there is some good news…the average sales price in January 2008 was $128,799 compared to $127,360 in January 2007. Don’t get too excited, that’s only 1% and there is more bad news. The National Association of Realtors announced Monday that national sales dropped last month to the lowest level in nearly a decade and is the fifth consecutive decline. Home values in Akron are reported to have dropped 3.8% over the past year according to the Zillow Home Value report. Can we say, “housing slump?”

If you are looking for some fun interior design inspiration for your circa 1960’s ranch-style home, you might want to check out the slide show at Apartment Therapy’s blog of Gregory’s Granada Hills 60’s Desert Home. Pay attention to the details… even the door handles and mass-market kitsch accessories are great! This is definitely a look that anyone can pull off by shopping vintage specialty stores mixed with IKEA. (Yes, my trained eyes spotted some IKEA goods in the pictures.)

I found a hilarious post on home staging at St. Paul Real Estate’s blog. Curiousity drew me in to find out how banks staged the homes that they have listed. Teresa Boardman is a Realtor and author of this article. She has posted some excellent pictures with commentary that are sure to make you laugh. Check them out….

…and that’s a good thing!

Why? Because winter is an excellent time to showcase one of your home’s selling features… the fireplace! A staged home will highlight the fireplace by making it a focal point (it already should be one) and keeping it free of obstructions. During a showing have the fire going to heat up the sale’s potential.

For another hot winter selling tip, click here.

Design Within Reach (aka DWR) has opened its first international studio in Toronto, Canada. DWR specializes in mid-century modern furniture, art, and accessories from well known designers such as Mies van der Rohe, Aalto, Bertoia, Jacobsen, Saarinen, Noguchi, Le Corbusier, Eames, Gehry, Wright, Gray and more! It is almost impossible to open and Architectural Digest, Metropolis, Metropolitan Home, or Interior Design magazine without seeing one of their legendary pieces.

The Ohio Design Centre in Beachwood, Ohio is hosting a Spring Preview 2008 event on Thursday, March 6th from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. The Centre is home to 100,000 square feet of residential interior showrooms featuring over 400 product lines including luxury furniture, kitchen and bath, surface materials, flooring, wall coverings, fabrics, lighting, antiques, art, accessories and more.

Here is a schedule of the presentations at the event:

11:00 - Baker Knapp & Tubbs with Kim Garr introducing the Lexicon Collection, a sophisticated early 20th century inspired group.

Noon - Roth Collection with John Crosby featuring Glant’s Capri Collection inspired by the manufacturer’s Mediterranean homeland.

1:30 - Great Lakes Marble & Granite with Desiree Stimac of Oceana Glass presents superior roc glass products such as sinks and accessories.

2:00 - J Hall Design welcomes Jennifer Connolly of the Cleveland Green Building Coalition. Join her in discussing green residential design projects and learn how you can make your home more environmentally friendly.

3:00 - Monroe & Associates presents Antonette Smith of Ralph Lauren Home to introduce the luxurious Spring 2008 fabric and wallcoverings collection.

Throughout the day be sure to visit all of the showroom openhouses. Showrooms not to miss include Bello Design, Brunschwig & Fils, Classic Oriental Rugs, Donghia, Gregory Alfonso, R.W.Shea & Co., and Scalamandre.

The Ohio Design Centre tends to be for the trade only. If you are a homeowner looking for a residential interior designer and are interested in attending this event, please contact us by clicking here.

If you want to see what is hot in interior design and you are in the Toronto area, check out the Toronto Interior Design Show (IDS 08) open to the general public Saturday February 23, 2008, 10 AM to 7 PM and Sunday the 24th from 10 AM to 6 PM. Admission is $16 in advance or $18 at the door.

Saturday’s schedule features:

• International Design stars on the KRUPS Stage
• Seminars on all things design
• The IDS Workshops are new this year:
  • Saturday’s workshop will be DESIGN & DECORATING TRENDWATCHING by Cobi Ladner, Editor at Canadian House & Home magazine and Mark Challen, Vice-President Communications also from the magazine. Unfortunately, the 100 places are sold out.
  • There are some places left for the LIVING WITH A COMMITMENT TO GREEN workshop on Sunday.
• What’s Your Design Dilemma?  This is your chance for a free 15 min. consultation with one of ARIDO’s registered interior designers.  Appointments are on a first-come first-served basis and arranged upon visiting the ARIDO booth (1617).

Visit the AfriCharisma booth to see and touch the remarkable rock and scatter cushions and pebble carpets by South African Designer, Ronel Jordaan. The felt cushions made to look alike rocks are divine. The unique cushions and carpets are handmade with no sewing (therefore no seams). 

Interior Design Show 2008 in Toronto

“When it comes to furniture, are you a conformist?”

“Then have fun at Ethan Allen. But if you want wood furniture that’s a little more unique, look for artful pieces made from reclaimed (read: recycled) wood, you rebel-with-an-eco-cause, you.”

These are obviously not our words, being fans of Ethan Allen. These rebel, rebel words come from one of our favorite sources, Ideal Bite. Check out the full article here.