Just released, these 2011 neutrals (complete with inspiring accents colours) are a hit with our Interior Designers at Accentuate Home Staging Design Group.  

These colours introduce a fresh new look at neutrals that we can all draw inspiration from as we prepare homes for SELLING and for LIVING.   Paired with touches of dynamic accent colours like Charlottes Lock No.268, Off Black No.57 or Babouche No.223 these colours are sure to add a contemporary spin to any interior…or exterior for that matter.  

	Oxford Stone No.264 Named after the stone often used in Oxfordshire village houses, this colour is perfect for creating a warm interior.
	Manor House Gray No.265 Inspired by the quintessentially English manor house, this definite grey has its roots in the 18th century but can be used to striking effect in modern schemes.
	Mizzle No.266 A soft blue grey reminiscent of a West Country evening mist. The blue will become more intense when painted in a smaller room.
	Dove Tale No.267 Named after the well known carpentry joint but with a twist in the tale! Some see this colour as a grey while to others it appears to be warmer and more stony.
	Charlotte’s Locks No.268 Highly dramatic and extremely contemporary especially when combined with Railings. Widely used as an accent colour in the minimalist decoration of the 1950s.
	Cabbage White No.269 A delightful clean colour that takes its name from the distinctive wings of the Cabbage White butterfly.
	Calluna No.270 Named after the Scottish heather, Calluna has a contemporary look but with the delicate inclusion of black, it retains a vintage feel.
	Brassica No.271 An aged, darker version of Calluna, named after the familiar purple colour often seen in the Brassica family of vegetables. This colour comes alive when combined with Calluna and Pelt.
	Plummett No.272 Named after the lead weight used to sink a fishing line, this mid-tone grey is appropriate for interior as well as exterior use as often seen in Gothic architecture.

For more details about Home Staging, Vacant Staging, Occupied Staging or Interior Design, call Accentuate Home Staging Design Group today at 604-328-6479 or visit our website at http://www.accentuate.ca/.

What makes someone want to buy something when they shop? Stores, big and small,
pay experts to examine the psychological, sensory and tactile impulses that
create the ideal buying scenario. The bottom line is clear. These stores invest
in hiring merchandising experts so that a large portion of the population will
want to shop there.

There’s very little difference when it comes to getting your house ready for
the market. If you have overlooked aspects important to your potential buyers
(even the superficial ones) you risk appealing to the broadest range of buyers
and ultimately risk the sale.

Take heed from the retail world and work to gain these reactions and observations
from buyers:

• A strong desire to venture inside
• A positive first impression
• A well defined layout
• A feeling that everything has its place
• An uncluttered looking space
• Clean fitting rooms – restrooms – countertops – etc.
• Ability to visualize ownership through use of mannequins and displays

Avoid eliciting these reactions:

• The feeling of chaos due to clutter
• Feeling claustrophobic due to cramped aisles and lack of white space
• Frustration from the inability to find or visualize what they want to see
• Stiff surroundings complete with un-strategically placed breakables
• Cold and harsh appearance resulting from improper lighting

When you’re selling your next home, remember to watch out for these cues, or
hire an objective expert who can help you.

Call it real estate staging, call it home staging...either way, it's a top real estate strategy to sell your house fast and for the highest possible dollar.   

Here's the #1 mistake according to real estate expert  Donna Freeman of HGTV's Secrets That Sell.

Read on for more: 

Vancouver Sun, February 29, 2009, by Rachel Ward

Key don’ts

Mistakes to avoid, and learn from, when doing renovations:

• Don’t jump. “Sit back and think about what you’re doing,” says Mike Holmes. “People don’t realize that this is probably the most amount of money they’re ever going to play with.”
• Don’t ignore your instincts. If you’re starting to see a bad pattern with your contractor regarding timeliness and work ethic, nip it in the bud. “Don’t be afraid to stand up to your contractor and say ‘get the hell out of my house,” says Holmes. “If you continue the cycle (of bad behavior), trust me, it will always get worse.”
• Don’t pay under the table. Paying a contractor under the table in cash may get you a discount in the short term but can also have you paying more in the long run. “You’re putting yourself out there for liability,” says Bryan Baeumier. “If you don’t have a contract, you have zero recourse and chances are he’s not paying his workers’ compensation, he’s not licensed or he’s not insured.”
• Don’t be unrealistic. If your budget is $5,000, don’t think you’re going to renovate your entire kitchen for that.
• Don’t assume there won’t be changes. “Assume the unassumable,” says Baeumier. “Be ready for your budget to increase and your plan to change.”
• Don’t live through major renovations. If you’re tearing up your entire house and doing a major renovation, do yourself a favour and move out. Big renovations can be a messy and mentally exhausting. They can end marriages!
• Don’t stop until you’re done. If you’re doing renovations DIY-style, don’t start another project until you finish one.

Canwest News Service

1. Initial Survey

• An assessment of your existing furnishings to determine what will be kept, what will go and what may be phased out over time.
• Existing site measurements will be taken to start the design process.

2. Interviews

• In depth interviews with you and your family to determine your wants and needs, your lifestyle, your budget, your timeline wishes.
• Determine who in your family will be the key contact/point person for the rest of your project.
• Now is the time to pull out those ‘design ideas’/photos that you’ve been collecting in order to best communicate the style and look that you are after.

3. Preliminary or ‘Concept’ presentation

• Based on your interviews, your interior designer will present you with a package of ‘ideas’ to introduce their interpretation of your needs and their ‘concept’ for your changes – floorplans, key elevations, furniture layouts, colour schemes, finish materials, furnishings, preliminary timeline
• Your involvement and feedback is key at this stage.

4. Final Plan presentation

• Your ideas/wants/needs will be presented in a more formal presentation.  As needed, colour and finish material boards will be reviewed in addition to detailed drawings.
• The cost estimate and timeline will be addressed.

5. Project Approval & Implementation

• Upon your approval of the final plan, budget and timeline, the project will be implemented.
• Tradesmen will be hired, furniture and materials will be ordered. This all takes time and you should be prepared. Furniture can often take 2-3 months to arrive while renovation timelines will be dependent on the complexity of your project, availability and delivery of finishes and materials as well the availability of the trades.

TAKE YOUR TIME and DO IT RIGHT. A rushed project has too many risks attached. Enjoy the process and most important, enjoy your new interior.