Update your walls – even while renting!

Dec, 13, 2011

Posted by rrashfor
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I always get questions about how to dress walls when renting, especially when painting is not an option.  There are plenty of options, from fabric covered walls, hanging large pieces of art, stencils but was still not satisfied with those options.  Since I stage so many homes with white boring walls,  I was also looking for a low-cost and low impact way to bring small portions of walls some life for staging.

So I was excited to learn about adhesive wall paper, a product I stumbled upon at last years ICFF (design trade show in NYC). It is called Tempaper which describes it perfectly – temporary wall paper!  No glue or adhesive required. You just peel the backing off the paper and adhere it to the wall.The color/design options make it look more like wallpaper than the typical Contact paper would. But the installation is VERY similar to Contact paper, except that you are installing vertically rather than horizontally.

When one of my clients for help with decorating her children’s rooms in a house they are renting, I thought this the perfect solution. A way to bring in color and design to the room with low commitment – perfect for those tweens! they change their mind quickly! The tween daughter’s favorite color is blue and after we selected the bed, Tempaper’s Aqua grey was a perfect match fo the room. Take a look!

tweens bedroom

I’ll admit – installation was a little frustrating – trying to ensure the paper went on the wall smoothly proved more challenging than I thought, but in the end – the space turned out GREAT!  I found this fabulous grey bedding set via Overstock (after scouring the DC area for bedding that would complement the walls) and everything came together nicely. And best of all – the daughter loves her room!

I would definitely use Tempaper again, and am hoping to have to chance to do just that with home staging projects in 2012. Check out the website, pick your design and color and get to covering up those white walls!  They even have wall paper for a child’s nursery – sounds perfect!

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Posted in color, decor accents, decorating, wallpaper by rrashfor | 1 Comment

Home staging storage revealed!

Dec, 8, 2011

Posted by rrashfor
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I know that people always wonder where home stagers keep and store the items they use in homes. Storing furniture is one thing, but what about all of the accents, vases, books, lighting, art, fake plants, dishes, glassware, fake tvs…where is that kept?

Many home stagers will tell you these items are kept EVERYWHERE – their living room, garage, basement, guest room…and that is pretty much true. Fortunately for me, I have a back porch, formerly known as a sleeping porch, which quickly turned into fabulous home staging storage space. It is small – only about 7 ft wide by 10 ft deep so I try to maximize the space as best I can. I was elated to gain two industrial storage shelves, donated from local foundation who is remodeling its offices. I have taken my time to re-arrange and review items in this space and make it more functional. Take a peek!

This picture obviously highlights one of the donated bookcases, cleaned up and lined with contact paper and ready for work! already filled to the brim!

Yes, my bike is still in the space – but I found a way to use the empty air space and reduce the amount of floor space that it uses. And the boxes sitting on the table (on the right) are sitting on my working table – where I can table scape, wrap and unwrap items and the like.  This represents about 40% of my inventory – I still have large art in the hallway, linen in an upstairs closet (space bags to the rescue) and a warehouse full of furniture about 5 miles away! whew!

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Posted in declutter, decorating, homes for sale, workshop by rrashfor | Comments Off

How a bench lead to a barn…

Nov, 9, 2011

Posted by rrashfor
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As you know, I am a busy home stager in the Maryland side of the Washington DC Metro area. I recently reviewed a small home to stage later this week and was thinking about which furniture pieces that I had that would work in the space. The home has an eat-in kitchen with green painted walls, and white cabinets.  As I was reviewing my inventory in my head, I thought about my white shabby-chic table, but then realized I am low on chairs. I have lots of pairs but no foursome. So I thought a white bench would be a nice addition, would work with one of the pairs that I already own. I knew I didn’t want to pay retail for this bench, so started reviewing Craigs list.

After 3 different searches with little to no return, I stumbled on a link to vintage furniture for sale in Frederick, MD. This local retailer sells vintage items in their barn and just my luck – they were in the middle of their Holiday Tag Sale. I have always been curious about the buying in the barns – are there really good deals? is it good stuff?  There pictures posted on line helped answer some of those questions but I had to go and check it out for myself! To the hills…

First barn...hmm...

After a solid hour through the scenic route – Route 28 Darnestown Road, we made just a few turns to land at Chartreuse and Co, in Buckeystown, MD. It was relatively easy to find, and the drive was easy, although hard not to speed on those country roads!

After we parked, we walked ‘down the lane’ and walked upon this scene as pictured here. Hmm..(I said to myself)…on the one hand, this IS what you traveled to see -  a barn full of furniture, and then on the other hand – what in the world? Looks like someone just put all their stuff out in the yard!

Then I spotted by bench and all was right with the world. $50 a steal!  Which totally encouraged me to keep on looking! Wondering what else will I find?

Inside the furniture barn, things look a little better. Some cool pieces if you like

plenty of good solid furniture!

country or shabby chic look – lots to work with here!

 

 

 

 

Next up…I find my way to the front of the main barn…and quickly learned that this wasn’t one vendor, it was a series of vendors/shops inside the barn. GREAT stuff, lots of different items to be found. If you like country, vintage and/or shabby chic, this is your spot. Great prices and unique items too. I forgot to take pictures inside, I was too busy shopping, taking it all in. I had a budget and was able to stick to it and found a few interesting pieces for my staging job.

Come on in!

 

The barn has two floors full of wonderful items. Art, letters, vases, soap, rugs, stemware, dishes, and on and on and on.  Seriously. If you find yourself drooling over the Pottery Barn or Restoration Hardware catalogs, drop those catalogs, turn off your computer and get yourself on Interstate 270/Route 28!  You have found your spot!

 

 

 

There are some great items on their webpage here (caution music will play) and although lots of stuff was sold by the time I arrived, there was plenty of items available. And plenty of people too! Folks will travel for a deal!

 

So I guess now you are wondering what I left with! As I said my main goal was a white bench – which i found along with a few unique items.  All were purchased for staging purposes and I plan to use them in the project

Bounty from barn shopping

later this week.  There were other items that I thought about but at the end, this was my takeaway. I had to stay within my budget of $100, which I believe I did!  What a great way to support local businesses and find unique items to use in home staging projects. Perfect for my bungalows and cape code vacant homes in Takoma Park and Silver Spring. Can’t wait to post how I used all of these items too!

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Posted in decor accents, decorating, furniture, Shopping, travel by rrashfor | 2 Comments

8 Things that made me smile at Blogfest Day 2!

Jun, 25, 2011

Posted by rrashfor
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To wrap up the posts of my time at Blogfest 2011, I thought about the things that made me smile on the second day! Here they are – enjoy!

New Friends!

1. Sharing a room with two fabulous design bloggers! Lakeitha Duncan (on the left) of the newly launched Swoon Worthy Boutique and Janell Beals of Isabella and Max Rooms blog. Not only did sharing the room help out my pocket, it also helped my stomach and overall mood!  Hotel had complimentary breakfast every morning which was a true blessing! Anyone who knows me knows that I NEED breakfast each and every day! I am cranky if I don’t eat!  And coffee isn’t breakfast either!

This terrapin is fancy now!

2. Stumbling on the terrapin dressed in Lilly Pulitzer fabric in the Lilly Pulitzer section of the Kravet showroom in the NY Design Center.  The terrapin is the mascot of one of my alma maters, University of Maryland, College Park.  Looks like this one could be a cuter cousin to the one on campus.

 

3. Admiring the multi-generational family business of Kravets – which I totally didn’t know they are family owned and run!  Below is quick (admittedly blurry, sorry) picture of  Mr and Mrs Kravet, (aren’t they cute) their son Scott (far right) Principal and Creative Director of the company and Barbara Berry, the amazing designer and good friend of the family.

Family businesses can work!

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Being totally inspired by the passion that Barbara Berry shared with attendees about travel, design, fabric and culture and how SHE was and is inspired by all of those elements. It was refreshing to see and hear passion from a self-made and successful interior and furniture designer with a simple and amazing presentation. Here is she showing her new fabric line and answering questions from fellow design bloggers. She is also introducing a new line of teas after inspiring trip to Asia and India.

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Creative interior designer vignettes, presented by Kravet and Lee Jofa, in a cool loft space in Long Island City.   There were six designers in attendance and each had designed a small space, inspired by a chosen Lee Jofa fabric. We were able to meet designers and get autographs in this great big and heavy coffee table book, Inspired Styles.  It was a fun event…starting with  Thomas O’Brien signing my book…

Thomas signs on his page...to me!


6….watching Kimberly of Pink Egg Shell work the room! Here she is (in the middle) with staff at the Lee Jofa/Kravet designer event…

 

 

 

 

 

 

… 7…enjoying the smallest but tastiest appetizers ever…!

Cheesburger anyone?

 

 

 

 

…8…watching Jonathan Legate and Amy (who somehow jumped out of the picture just as I hit the button) jamming to the music at the event!

I really enjoyed my time and bummed I had to miss day 3 due to prior commitment. But I totally enjoyed all of the fab design bloggers/twitter peeps that I met and those I have met since then. Oh and thanks again to the entire Kravet team for planning, developing and executing a great event! Hope I can return next year!

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Posted in decorating, furniture, travel, workshop by rrashfor | 1 Comment

Reppin’ DC at the first Blogfest 2011!

Jun, 1, 2011

Posted by rrashfor
1 Comment

Pic courtesy of Kravet

Earlier this month, I attended the first ever Blogfest on Design, 2011 -  a 3 day design blogger event, held in NYC. The event was sponsored by Kravet and Lee Jofa, and included a number of design magazine editors and staff members, celebrated interior designers and FABULOUS design bloggers from around the US and Canada!  And to my surprise – I was the only one in attendance from the DC area! Here are photos from the 2 days I attended – it was a great time and I was inspired by everything!

First was our entrance into the fabulous Hearst Tower! Lunch was scheduled on the 44th floor! The escalators lead to the smoothest elevators ever!  The photographer was able to catch me being astounded by the beautiful building.

 

Next up was lunch on the 44th floor of the building. Here are the centerpieces, simple elegant and refreshing. It was a chance for the design bloggers who drove and flew in from across North America to meet each other (after months of tweet chatting with each other) and our ‘cruise directors’ from Kravet’s social media team -  Beth Greene (@bethkgreene) and Jennifer Powell (@jenniferepowell). And yes, House Beautiful was our host for lunch.

 

Here is a shot of one of my roommates, LaKeitha Duncan, of Home to Three Duncan Boys, being interviewed by Jennifer Powell, of Kravet! LaKeitha and I met through twitter and she flew up from Atlanta! There were about 120 or so design bloggers in attendance and we had a great time hanging out and meeting one another.

of course, after the fun of lunch, we moved into the auditorium and settled in to listen to the editors of three major design magazines  Pictured below are the editors Mark Rozzo, Editor at Large of Town and Country, Newell Turner, editor in Chief at House Beautiful and Dara Caponigro, Editor in Chief at Veranda. For all of you who LOOOOOOVED Domino magazine (and i know a bunch of you did), Dara Caponigro, former editor of Domino, is now running things at Veranda.  As I learned, the world of design publishing is one big family.

After the talks, we returned to the 44th floor of the Tower for a Town and Country event, and then we were whisked away to check out Elle Decor’s Modern Life Concept House. Lots of inspiration here but no pictures – my phone/camera battery had died by this time. But all is not lost, there is a nifty Elle Decor Modern Life Concept House video that showcases the three condos on the top floor of the building.

 

We ended the night with a party hosted by the ‘Dynamic Duo’ of DesignTV – Jonathan Legate and ABC Drago, along with Joss and Main. DesignTV is a weekly twitter chat, hosted by the two, for tweeting about design and design-related topics.  Great event, tasty signature drink (almost too tasty) and I even had the good fortune to meet  Elaine Griffin, who told me I looked like I was 25!  Best compliment of the night!

Even after only the first day, not only was I glad I attended, it was uplifting to be in the company of such wonderful and fun people.  So many of my friends in real life ask me why I tweet and what does it matter and that they don’t get twitter and I now I can say – this is a GREAT return on my tweeting investment.  I wouldn’t have been invited without tweeting, answering tweets, sharing, attending tweetchats and the like. And I felt that even before I got to day 2 which was just amazing!  Will post that in next few days! Stay tuned!

Posted in decorating by rrashfor | 1 Comment

DC Interior Designer hits up ICFF on way to Blogfest 2011!

May, 28, 2011

Posted by rrashfor
1 Comment

Just last week, I had the good fortune to attend Blogfest 2011, a first-of-its-kind event for interior design bloggers. The three day event was sponsored by Kravet, and it was an amazing event! My hats goes off to the entire Kravet team, for being such great hosts!

Blogfest 2011 was held in NYC and started on a Monday, but I started my trip early! I arrived in NYC on Saturday, and first order of business was attending ICFF, the International Contemporary Furniture Fair. This annual event brings innovators and manufacturers of modern and contemporary products and design, from ACROSS THE GLOBE and bring them to the ever lucrative US market.  Attendees are interior designers, retailers, store owners and magazine folks who are looking to showcase or sell various products in their channels. This is probably my 4 or 5th time attending – and enjoy it everytime.

Three products really stood out for me this year…

Grill...or planter? Both!!

First up was black+blum’s Hot Pot BBQ! Black +Blum is a UK design company with an innovative and creative product! The BBQ is charcoal and there is a grate and liner for charcoals and ashes for the working grill portion.  Then if you can easily camouflage the grill by placing the plant on top. the planter has a separate water ways for the water from the plant, so you don’t have to worry about the water messing up your charcoal! Very innovative and of course being the designer, i asked him if the planter comes in different colors. It doesn’t for now, but demand warrants it, it could be coming! Isn’t this just the coolest thing ever?  Perfect for balconies or small urban settings!

 

The next product is PERFECT for my home staging side of the business – that is Tempaper – which is self adhesive, removable, high quality temporary WALL PAPER!! I had heard/read interior designers tweeting about this so I was excited to see and touch and feel the product at hand.  This is perfect for use as a home stager, since I can use it to dress up bookcases, end tables and the occasional coffee tables, as well as being able to use it in a small area in a home. No mess no fuss, easy to apply and easy to remove. Actually, I can see some of my design clients being interested in this too – especially if they are afraid to commit to wall paper.  And for RENTERS – who want to add a little style to their place!  When its time to move, the paper just rolls off and away they go!

Last product I would sell if I had a retail store,  or if I managed events. These folding chairs are so much nicer and cooler than the typical metal folding chair!!  It is more of a flat pack chair and would replace the ubiquitous awkward folding chair.  It was introduced in Dutch furniture fair two years ago! The Flux chair by Flux is so cool.

Here it is as it starts…

 

And here is the chair once it is finally opened. NO, it doesn’t change color, I just took two pictures of two different chairs. For the amazing easy way to set it up and break it down, check out the Flux chair video from the company. Pretty cool eh?  Now, can’t you see this being easier to store and carry than those metal or plastic folding chairs?

I tried to visit Brooklyn Flea Market on Sunday – I have been aiming to get there since February but the rain totally washed out my visit. It was cold and rainy during my entire visit and lots of vendors didn’t show up for Sunday’s event in Williamburg. Or if they did go, it was after we left!  No worries – back into NYC to meet up with my roommates and get ready for Blogfest 2011!  Onward and upward!  More posts to come!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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