Lonnie Paul

I've had the distinct pleasure to e-meet Lonnie Paul! I'm honored and thrilled though very sad that she was eliminated from Design Star. In any event, I wish her the best and hope to keep in contact with her.

New and Improved website!

It's finally done! After days, my website and business focus has been revamped a bit! I've added specific interior redesigns to my site such as Room Makeovers, Feng Shui Design, Professional Organizing, Home Redesign Shopping, Moving Preparation, Move-in Design Set-up, Landscaping, and Business Redesigns. This is, of course, in addition to home staging and online home staging. Check it out and tell me what you think. :-)

http://inspirationhomestaging.com

New, lower pricing

For a limited time, enjoy new, lower pricing on our home staging and interior redesign services! Our complete online home staging consultation service and online interior redesign consultation service has been reduced from $125 to $49!!!

Check it out! http://inspirationhomestaging.com

Avon Calling!

We are delighted to be a part of the Avon family!

Pamper yourself along with your home!

Avon offers wonderful products at terrific prices. Now you can shop 24/7 at your own convenience and your orders will be shipped directly to you. For the latest in Avon products and specials, including free shipping, check out our site at:

http://www.avonrepresentative.com/suegrady

Enjoy the pampering! You deserve it!

You can reach us through the site above or email us now at AvonLife10@aol.com

Tweeking my site. New photos coming soon.

I've been doing a bit of updating to my site. Have some new photos to add, too.

It's been very hot here in San Diego recently. Ugh! How has it been for you where you are?

Testimonials

I just updated my website to include some testimonials so thought I'd put some here for you to see as well.

I learned of Inspirational Staging through a website on HGTV. For months, I watched and listened as she gave advice to each buyer or sellers' individuals' need. From room to room......this company would re-work existing furniture and decor through posted photos... to a brand new "model home" look.I have admired Inspiration's dedication to detail, ability and talent to save money for the client by using existing furnishing and decor, clever foresight in bringing forth ideasand turning those ideas into reality..to bring a brand new look to help in bringing about a sale.Within weeks of her advice on this website, many sellers announced their homes - as "SOLD".Truly one of the greatest "Home Staging" artist with vision...I have seen.
Sincerely,REMAX ACR Elite Realty Group, INC.Phyllis Crosby, GRI/RealtorTampa Bay, Florida

The home looked amazing! ME, Coldwell Banker

"We will always be grateful to you for the staging help! Not only did you help us put the house together so that it showed off the best features to the potential buyers, but your support throughout the process was invaluable.We sold 30 days after the house went on the market, and we know that without the staging, this would not have been possible.Thank you ever so much!" PP, Online staging client, GA

I love the way you have the home decorated. TB, Coldwell Banker

I was under pressure to sell my home quickly so a perfect presentation was essential while it was on the market. Inspiration Home Staging devised an effective staging plan that improved the flow between rooms and made the whole house look more inviting. In addition to having a sympathetic ear, the owner and lead stager has a keen eye that spotted furnishings and accessories in other rooms that could be repurposed, and she offered great suggestions that kept costs to a minimum. Every agent who brought buyers through complimented the staging, which helped draw 6 offers -- most above asking price -- in the 3 days the house was on the market. Inspiration Home Staging's assistance was invaluable, and I would recommend her to anyone who wants to sell their home quickly and for top dollar. SI, Online staging client, TX

Everyone truly loved the property and the view. They were amazed with all that you have done to make the home bright and updated. ME, Coldwell Banker

During the staging process, I have found Inspiration Home Staging to be very thorough and meticulous. She has a great eye for design and demonstrates a particular and strategic know-how on showcasing a home, which highlights every aspect, for maximum benefit, as to what the house has to offer to a potential buyer.I highly recommend her services. MG, Forum member

You have always given outstanding advice to people that come to the HGTV website for advice in how to prepare their homes for selling quickly. Your knowledge of specific products has been immensely helpful (paint colors, etc) because when you're trying to get a house ready to be sold, it's often difficult for people to step outside their own personal taste, and understand that once the house is on the market - taste specific decor does hurt. I think you have an outstanding eye and visualization capability to be able to see optimal changes (many times with very little money) that will improve the look and flow of a house. Your communication style is also very strong - you have a way of saying "make massive changes" in a manner that doesn't come across as overwhelming, even when the house is in desparate need of a major overhaul. I would definitely hire you to stage my house when I go to sell it. DB, Forum member

Thank you so much! You have really inspired me. I will get working on your suggestions this weekend. CW, Online staging client

"It always amazes me how you can take a ho-hum room and make it into a "wow" area with just a few suggestions and a little bit of work! Your clients are fortunate to have your services...." IR, Forum member

Hi, I saw everything that you posted to help out Sgt and I loved your analysis. I was wondering if you could help us out too. I know most of the time it takes someone else looking in to see things that you, as the homeowner, don't see. ZM, Online staging client

Hi, I just wanted to see if you could tell me the name and brand of paint or a number and brand you used in the bedroom. Saw the pics and it is so beautiful.... OG, Forum member

Expanding!

Thanks to the wonder of the internet, we are proud to expand our online home staging business overseas! Stay tuned for more information!

To see additional photos...

Additional photos of all different types of rooms can be seen on our website under Photo Gallery. Check them out at http://inspirationhomestaging.com

A little girl's room

This little girl's room showed definite signs of growing pains. We were called in to help. We got rid of what wasn't working, kept what was working, and added some new. Just look at what happened!

Here's a pretty room, A before and an After, of course!

HGTV Designing for the Sexes

Well, unrelated to the home staging idea that has been submitted to HGTV, I've had the distinct pleasure of e-meeting Rick Rifle. He is the new host of HGTV's Designing for the Sexes due to air in 2010. He has been tremendously kind to me and extremely supportive. I am really looking forward to seeing his show and honored to know him.

Recent Example of Online Home Staging

"The MLS # is 6151582

Ok, right this minute, what is wrong with your house? NOTHING! If you didn't do anything, would it sell just the way it is? Probably. It looks clean and decluttered. But it might be able to look a bit better, it might be able to have a bit more pizazz. I've already mentioned a few things to you before so I won't mention them again.

So here goes, round one of staging, using the photos, in order as they appear right now on realtor.com.

Photo 1. Eliminate

Photo 2. Come in a bit closer on that photo, if possible, to avoid getting the street in the photo.

Photo 3. Kitchen: What color are the walls? Put a colorful bowl of fruit, or a plant, in that corner to the right of the sink. Remove the metal shelving unit. (More on that later.) Remove anything from the front of the fridge.

4. Dining/kitchen: Remove garbage can (for the photo). Will come back to the eating area in a later photo. (Again, the arrangement of photos needs to be more cohesive.)

5. Is this the formal living room? Remove the gold chair. Is that a tv in the lower righthand corner?

6. Again, formal living room? Remove that pole lamp. Straighten out that end table so that it sits right beside the couch. Get the matching end table from the family room and put it on the other side of the couch with a lamp on top of it.

You'll need to go get two or three medium to large colorful/coordinating pictures to hang horizontally above the couch. Make sure that they are exactly the same size pictures. Buy three to four solid colored throw pillows to place on the couch making sure that the throw pillows have some of the same color as the new artwork will have above the couch.

Remove the white table (it looks too tall for a coffee table), ideally, replacing it with a "real" coffee table. Open the curtains a bit more. The blue/gray chair looks fine and now you'll have a seating arrangement with the couch and the blue chair without the gold chair blocking the walkway into and out of the room.

7. Is this the family room? I'm puzzled by the doorway and also the closet but it sure looks like a family room that is right off the dining area.

See that bookcase under the window? Move it into the kitchen where the metal shelves were and put the microwave on top of it. Put your cookbooks on the shelf below it. Put a plant (or nothing) on the bottom shelf.

Ok, you've already removed the end table to the formal living room. Do you by chance have another couch or loveseat that you could put into this rom? If it's a family room, it really needs one.

Remember that white table from the formal living room? Put it in here, under the window for the moment, with that white chair next to it. Do you by chance have another white chair?

We'll have to come back to this room.

8. Coming back to this room but do you have a match to either chair here?

9. The dining area looks great except that the one picture on the wall looks very lonely. I'd get four smaller colorful pictures and hang them two on top, two below, in a square pattern. (I've seen fabulous stuff at the dollar stores that would be just perfect. Just something colorful, or even botanical, maybe 4 8x10's in size, hung in the square pattern.)

10. Remove the garbage can in the bathroom for the photo.

Once again, that one picture above the bed looks lonely. Replace it with three mildly colorful ones hung horizontally.

11. I think the bed needs to be dressed up more. Get two more bed pillows and at least one solid colored throw pillow though three would be better. I'd recommend a bed in a bag, something neutral but classy looking (doesn't have to be expensive) and make the bed with it, stand up the bed pillows, and put the throw pillows in front.

12. Maybe another pot or two of flowers on the patio."

So that was the end of round one of staging. We had a few more rounds, a few tweeks here and there.

Interestingly enough, the homeowner received an offer within the first two days of it being on the market only to have the buyer get cold feet at the end of the option period. Yet, within two days of it being relisted, another offer came in with two back ups! Just amazing!

Here's a Before and After of a Redesign

And the after!

www.inspirationhomestaging.com
This is the before.

June already!

Oh, my, where has the time gone? I have been so busy! But, my goal is to get this blog thing really figured out so I'm going to attempt to be a good little blogger.

I have submitted a home staging idea to HGTV.com so please hope that I will be hearing favorable news. I'll let you know.

Hope you enjoy the photos above, a before and an after, of course!

Home Staging. Try it for selling. Try it for living.

Home staging is like a breath of fresh air coming into your life and your soul. It changes you and your surroundings for the better in every way. In fact, home staging, whether you are trying to sell a home or simply wanting to enhance the home you live in, is the single most affordable and effective way to achieve spectacular results.

Inspiration Home Staging is proud to offer Virtual Home Staging, too!

http://inspirationhomestaging.com. Contact us today.

My first blog

This is my first blog.