America's Next Top Model (home) - A six week shape up guide to a brand new view!

WEEK TWO - Find your style, add architectural detail

With your space plan (week one) in hand, let's find your personal style!

We know you have been pouring through design magazines for ages. Time to get out those pages you've torn out and place them on the table in front of you. What do you see? Do you see a theme? Do you tend to gravitate towards modern or traditional? Do you like a minimalist feel or do you prefer to seek solace in a comfortable setting? There is no need to name your style (such as Post-Neoclassical-Baroque-Egyptian-Revival-Chic) just pick out your favorites.

Now look through your beautiful magazine pictures. Ignore the color, furniture, art, etc. - focus on architectural details. Molding? Windows? Fireplace surround? Now look around your room - how can you incorporate the details you like from the pictures so that it works in your space? Check out your moldings around the doors, windows, floors... what if you added a piece to make them larger? How about adding ceiling trim? What about the walls? Would adding a chair rail give you the look you like? How about that built-in cabinet you've had your eye on?

Adding architectural interest could also mean taking something out - such as getting rid of the 1970s mirrored closet doors, taking down fake paneling, removing wallpaper. How about replacing the fireplace surround with something more contemporary? Dump the faded shag carpet and replace it with hardwood flooring.

Don't forget to consider your space plan with adding/removing architectural details - the room should still function the way you planned.

Adding architectural detail can either be a big project or small. Review your budget if your project includes adding flooring or cabinetry - you may need to forego other purchases as architectural details really are important. Now is the time to call in some favors and get help completing this project - as Tim Gunn says, "make it work!"

America's Next Top Model (home) - A six week shape up guide to a brand new view!

It's a new year! Time for a new you and a new room! Does the thought of redesigning a room give you a raging case of hives? It doesn't have to be so over-whelming! We have developed a six-week shape up guide that will have you decorating like a pro in six short weeks. Start channeling your inner Martha Stewart or Thom Filicia and let's get started!

  

 WEEK ONE - SPACE PLANNING

Let's talk space planning! Not a difficult concept, space planning is simply how you want your space (room) to function the way you want it to. The goal is to make the room flow and look beautiful without being cluttered.

Let's start planning! First, grab the nearest notepad to create your very own design journal. Calm down - we're not asking you to create the next novel for Oprah's Book Club, just a few pages to jot down notes will suffice. Or, for you techy-types, grab your I-something-or-other ... whatever works!

Now, take a minute to look around your room. Look at the size, shape, and traffic patterns of your room. Choose an area for each function in the room: office, entertainment, conversation, etc. Consider the unexpected - a barely used closet could become your new home office! Create a rough outline of the room in your journal and mark the different zones within the room (this is where your multi-colored highlighters come in handy - one color for each zone).

Zones created? Good. Now think about each zone separately. What do you want or need in each zone to make it ideal?  For instance, in your office zone, do you need: space for a computer, writing surface, task lighting, storage or filing space, cable/phone/internet access? Make a list of your wants/needs for each zone.

Almost there ... now take a minute to think about the basic items you'll need in each zone. Seating for Entertainment Zone? Desk for Office Zone?  Storage for Kids' Play Zone? Now dig a bit deeper. How can each item serve multiple functions? Can the television also function as a computer monitor? Can your filing/storage area also function as toy storage? Would a console table behind a sofa also double as a desk? If you hang the TV on the wall does it create more space for seating/storage?

Congratulations! You did it and you barely broke a sweat! You now have a very general blueprint (or, in designer-speak, a space plan) for your room.  Now you know what you need to place in the room to make it work. Hold on to your pretty space plan - it will be your design guide.

Staff Story - Elisa Fudoli-Ochoa

Elisa came to Divine Consign with a degree in marketing and a real estate license, along with 19 years experience as a makeup artist (and you can tell, her make up is always flawless!).  Elisa's skills don't end there, she has specialized in photography makeup and professional modeling portfolio design.

With all that great experience, one wonders why Elisa has switched fields?

"My passion is in home decor, color, and upscale resale!  I have been shopping upscale resale before it was cool," says Elisa. Plus, her real estate experience has strengthened her knowledge of good home design and staging.

Oh....and she is an Aquarius.

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5 Quick-N-Easy Staging Tips

Ready to sell your home? Have a $0 budget to work with? Short on time?

No worries, here are five quick tips for an easy-breezy solution for home staging!

1) Start getting rid of stuff!
    - closets should be cleared and easy to access
    - accessories should be at a minimum - unclutter tables, mantles, bookshelves
    - we love our family pictures, but prospective buyers don't! Outta there!

2) If you have any leftover paint in your garage, break it out now and touch up your walls

3) Re-arrange furniture to create clear traffic patterns. Arrange pieces around important focal points like a fireplace or picture window rather than the TV! (See our blog post about Floating Furniture for ideas)

4) Clean, clean, clean! Do the white glove test on all surfaces, even those you can't see!

5) Add splashes of color by using decorative pillows, fresh flowers, towels, rugs, etc.  You probably already have these things elsewhere in your house, move 'em around!

There you go, your realtor will thank you and hopefully your house will sell soon!