How a former lighting expert for dance parties, a health worker and a Gold Coast Interior design and decorating team transformed an inner city apartment from drab to fabulous.

It started as a simple Christmas wish by an inner city couple to freshen and update their apartment and ended with a unique transformation.

Initial Consultation

The first hint of the owners openness to totally transforming their riverfront retreat came with the request to have a New York mural decorate the walls of the guest bathroom.

New York Wall Mural

This request and many others are incorporated into the design by the Showhomes team who refine the ideas to make the apartment not only visually stunning, but more liveable for our dynamic home owners.

Design Development

A special gift reveals the clients’ desired colour palette.

The colours are incorporated into the rooms as the hallway ‘after’ photos reveal.

Paint colours supplied by Inspirations paint and Colour Oxenford include Dulux Stowe White, Orangeade and Hildegard.

The Design Brief

The clients’ initial brief seemed so simple: new wooden floors, paint walls, renovate bathrooms, install wall mural, maybe look at lighting down the track…

Before Lounge Room Wall

The  budget was small. Only enough to be swallowed up by the bathrooms and flooring, so the aim originally was to keep the home’s redesign very simple and cost-effective.

It took about two months of preparation and selection to bring the final ideas to life. Of course, as the ideas grew, so did the the budget.

Creativity unleashed: This model, included in the Design Brief, constructs the room as envisaged by the owners (below).

Lounge Room Model

“The interior design process is structured in a way that it allows our clients to tap into their creativity and unleash their true desires,” said Tracey McLeod, CEO of Showhomes.

Once the owners tap into what’s possible, they then have to decide whether to play it safe or go for it.  It’s a personal choice which can be influenced by many factors – time, money, lifestyle, degree of disruption, etc.

“It’s the only way to create interiors that people love, rather than ones they just like.”

Below: The clients locate a NASA photo they want to incorporate into the design of the storms on Jupiter, taken in May 2006. The ‘after’ photo shows the real Lounge Room with the wall mural in place. Created with the help of Murals Your Way.

The flooring throughout the living areas is Armstrong Southern Eucalypt and the CD cabinet custom made in Tassie Oak, both are installed with loving care by Graydon Foxover.

Procurement of Goods and Services

The Showhomes team bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the selection and purchase of the clients’ fixture and fittings, furniture and furnishings.

“It’s a collaborative process between the clients, the designer and our installers,” says Tracey.

“Everyone wants to make a dream come true.”

Before and After Ensuite Bathroom: Fixtures and fittings procured for the project.

Ecomasters, the bathroom builders, inform the designers of the inclusions needed to transform the bathroom as per Showhomes specifications.

Meanwhile, in the Master Bedroom…

Showhomes Master Bedroom Brisbane Before

The Master Bedroom is designed almost as a cave. The room is transformed by a New York Wall Mural. The mural is complimented by Dulux Sea Kelp on the walls and Strachan on the skirting boards, window frames and doors. Painter and paper hanging genius Steve Broom even paints the air conditioning unit to match the wall mural.

A total blackout blind is added by All Shutters and Blinds and charcoal carpet installed by Masters Coomera.

New York Mural Master Bedroom

Project Management

The Showhomes team manage the transformation of all rooms. The most challenging for the tradespeople was an Australian-first design with LED lights dancing on the ceiling of the Lounge / Dining / Kitchen area.

Working closely with Showtech Australia, Osprey Electrical install the LED lights in three rows across the tiered ceiling cut from 3D Wall Panels ‘Dune’ pattern. Dulux Design Pearl Gardenia Frost is applied to the ceiling panels to enhance and ‘dance’ the LED lights.

Builder Graydon Foxover’s and painter Steve Broom’s care and attention to detail ensure that the lights dance across the ceiling to perfection. (More photos to come.)

Ceiling made from 3D Panels with LED Lighting

The Verdict

Showhomes would like to thank everyone mentioned above as well as:

Photographer – Caco Photography

Professional organiser – Debbie Buckley

Feng shui expert – Debra Jarvis

Professional cleaner – Kerry Nielsen

Accommodation provider – Debra Mainwaring

Consulting Architect – Jan Hogarth

MEDIA ALERT

 Australian Home Staging industry applauds REIQ’s

‘vital’ endorsement

Home stagers and property stylists across Australia are celebrating the Real Estate Industry of Queensland’s recognition of the value of staging when selling a home, according to industry spokesperson and founder of the Australian Home Staging and Styling Network, Tracey McLeod.

The state’s peak professional association for the real estate industry since 1918, the Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ), was recently quoted in an article published in Real Estate Business, that vendors should seriously consider investing in a makeover to boost interest in their property ¹.

‘The REIQ’s recognition of Home Staging is a ringing endorsement of the real estate industry’s most undervalued secret weapon’, said Ms McLeod.

Described by Wikipedia as ‘…the act of preparing a private residence for sale in the real estate marketplace. The goal of (home) staging is to make a home appealing to the highest number of potential buyers, thereby selling a property more swiftly and for more money.

 Staging techniques focus on improving a property’s appeal by transforming it into a welcoming, attractive product that anyone might want’. ²

When told of the Australian Home Staging and Styling Network’s response, REIQ’s events and communications manager, Amanda Haack, said she was ‘so pleased’ that the article had provided some positive commentary for the industry.

Almost 85 per cent of all real estate agencies in Queensland are members of the REIQ.

‘Yet, I’d estimate that fewer than 5% of agents in south-east Queensland regularly use stylists,’ said Tracey.

Gold Coast real estate agent Lorena Chiappara feels that many agents may have trouble ‘selling’ the concept to their vendors.

‘I have always been a believer in home staging, but seeing the results first-hand has certainly made me a better advocate for styling amongst my home owners,’ said Lorena, after recently selling a home in 12 days for $75,000 more than the expected value prior to staging.

Nationally, the members of the Australian Home Staging and Styling Network are set to build a stronger home staging and styling industry in 2013 aimed at supporting home owners, real estate agents, home stagers and property stylists nationwide.

‘It’s great to hear that you are championing a code of practice, it’s absolutely essential when operating within the real estate sector. Professionalism and accountability are key,’ said Amanda Haack.

With the efforts of the Australian Home Staging and Styling Network and peak body endorsements for the industry, it’s only a matter of time before home staging is a recognised practice amongst home owners and real estate agents alike. 

For more about this media release or for more on the Australian Home Staging and Styling Network , please contact Tracey McLeod on 0401 312 323, or email tracey @showsell.com.au

To find a home stager in your area, please post a request on https://www.facebook.com/groups/australianhomestagers or contact Tracey McLeod.

1  http://www.rebonline.com.au/breaking-news/5880-home-staging-is-vital-buyers-agent-reiq

Ken welcomed us into his home and shared his home styling experience

The Half Day Home Makeover allows you to experience the start of the journey for yourself

We can guarantee you will be amazed by what we can achieve in a few short hours

You’ll feel relaxed during and after the process

You’ll enjoy being part of the experience

You can be fully involved in making decisions and moving items

At the end of the day, you’ll feel right at home!

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“It’s like this is how it was always meant to look!”

Ken talks about the process of professionally styling his home for sale with Showhomes.

It was such an honour and a pleasure to style Ken and Glenda’s beautiful property. Ken was very ‘hands on’ and played a pivotal role in the styling process.

When New Farm real estate agent Claudia Marchand first saw this classic 1937 Art Deco home, she knew that it was just right for decorating for sale.  It’s combination of lovely bones, architectural heritage and uniqueness, meant that it was perfect - in more ways than one! Feature photo courtesy of LJ Hooker New Farm

External Home View

The motivated home owners, Ken and Glenda, also felt that their riverside retreat would benefit from professional styling and immediately invited Showhomes into their beautiful 1937 home.

Initial Consultation

Along with Tracey from Showhomes, the proactive pair make the styling changes immediately.  The transformation begins to take shape within the first couple of hours – even before the ‘before’ photos are taken.

Lounge Dining after Initial Consultation before Makeover

The clients’ furniture is rearranged for better viewing and walkability.

Dining Room after Makeover

The natural light is captured, giving the impression of a larger space.

Lounge and Dining Rooms after Showhomes

One Day Makeover

Just a few days after the Initial Consultation, the Showhomes team are back, ready for the photo-ready One Day Makeover.

Lounge Room before Makeover

Artworks are repositioned and rugs are replaced.

Lounge Room after Showhomes

The natural charm of the sitting room/second bedroom becomes apparent after the Makeover.

Sitting Room after Makeover

The Sleeping Zone

The bedrooms are transformed into welcoming sleeping spaces.

Master Bedroom before Makeover

In the Master Bedroom, the room’s elegance is enhanced by the wall hangings.

Master Bedroom after Showhomes

The spare room…

Spare Room before Makeover

Becomes a teenage retreat that loves the camera!

Bedroom after Showhomes

At the end of the day…

The owners have shown off the elegance of this wonderful home superbly in readiness for the next generation of buyer. They have used mostly their own furniture and artworks with additional accessories from Showhomes.
      

Many thanks from Showhomes to photographers Paul McCann and Antony Merat; and Deb Buckley from Your Life My Time; for their assistance with this project.

After the excitement of the makeover, Ken and Glenda’s masterpiece is now open for viewing online at http://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-qld-hamilton-111791611

Verandah after Makeover

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“What a great team! I am so thrilled with the results.”

Annette shares her journey.

When a renovated property oozes character, it is often the workmanship of the renovator as much as the character that they have been able to craft into the home, that is on display.

External Home View

The character of a home is never more obvious than when the owner places it on to the market and invites public inspection.

Initial Consultation

The home is partly furnished when Tracey from Showhomes arrives.

Entry Lounge ‘Before’ with Furniture

On display is the owner’s attention to detail and the quality of workmanship that has gone into restoring the original character and adding modern features.

Front Entry Lounge Room Before

The owner, Annette, and Tracey discuss the requirements for styling the property for the target market and a vision of the finished ‘product’ soon emerges.

Lounge Entry After Showhomes

Annette and Tracey create a plan of action and determine a timeline for completion.  As part of the plan, they decided which of the existing furnishings would stay and which would go into storage prior to styling.

Front Lounge Entry before Showhomes

The owner’s loving descriptions of the improvements made to each room set the tone during the initial tour.  The shining floorboards proudly await the furnished finish.

Front Entry Lounge Room After Showhomes

The standard of workmanship was something that the Showhomes team were only too happy to match with their makeover.

One Day Makeover

Because the Showhomes team are bringing larger furniture items, the One Day Makeover is completed over two days. Day One: removal and installation of furniture and furnishings and Day Two: Styling.

Living Spaces

From simple beginnings the makeover takes shape.  The client takes some furnished ‘before’ photos.

Back Lounge Room Before with Furniture

The existing furniture is removed and replaced by Showhomes’ furniture.

Rear Lounge Room before Makeover

Together the team transforms the rear kitchen, lounge and deck areas into a cohesive living space.

Rear Lounge Room after Showhomes

The rear lounge blends comfortably with indoors and outdoors.

Simplicity is the key to transforming the kitchen.

The Sleeping Zone

The master bedroom simply furnished and unfurnished before the makeover.

Master Bedroom before Furnished

The final renovations completed, the room awaits the makeover.

Master Bedroom before Unfurnished

The master bedroom is styled mainly with the clients furniture and furnishings.

Master Bedroom after Showhomes

The spare room provides the canvas for the stylist.

Bedroom before Makeover

Cushions, artwork, lighting and accessories are the stylists tools of trade.

Bedroom after Showhomes

Transforming the exisiting office to a single bedroom.

Office area before Showhomes

Minor changes create a major effect.

Child room after Showhomes

The lovely canvas provided by Annette’s home together with the artistry of photographer Linda Mandy and the efforts of the Showhomes team allows the furniture and furnishings to enhance the space in every room for simply stunning effect.

The Results

Simply stylish!

The market response to this property has been nothing short of amazing.

“Everyone is just loving the place!

The feedback is phenomenal… the general response is ‘gobsmacked’!”

Check this lovely renovator out online http://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-indooroopilly-111802043

We leave you relaxing on the deck with the simple lines of the verandah providing a natural structure to work with.

Deck after Showhomes

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At this time of year the word ‘declutter’ seems unspeakable when placed in the same sentence as ‘decorations’, ‘holidays’ and ‘family’.  However, the reality for you this year is that your home is on the market and it’s a game-changer.  You don’t want all of your hard work preparing your home for sale to go to waste over the holiday period.

So how do you balance presenting your home to potential buyers and welcoming your family and friends during December and January?

‘On the twelve days of Christmas my agent said to me…’

1. Creativity is Key

Less is more when styling your home for sale so look at everything with a ‘half as much is twice as good’ attitude this year.  Your focus is on inspirational ideas that halve the spatial impact whilst delivering double the benefit to family, friends and onlookers alike.

2. Setting the Scene

Potted colour by the front door is often recommended when styling a home for sale.  At this time of year a vibrant door wreath can serve just as well to show a clear path to the front door for first-look drive-by viewers.

Door wreath viewed at http://retrorenovation.com

Click here to find out how to make a stunning wreath using retro decorations, similar to the one pictured above.

3. Colour Fusion

Christmas colours complement every palette from beachy blues to earthy tones and everything in between.  When selling your home during the festive season, remember to use a colour palette indoors that blends with your existing colour scheme rather than a boldly contrasting one.

4. Star Attraction

This year, your home is the star, not the colourful decorations.  Christmas accessories, such as your Christmas tree, decorations and lighting should accentuate the size and features of the rooms without overcrowding them.

5. Deck the Walls

Instead of pulling out the large traditional tree perhaps try inexpensive Christmas wall decals that make your living room look larger, fresher and modern. (Cutely decorated baby optional.)

Christmas Wall Decals from www.babyology.com.au

6. Religious Relief

Christmas is a wonderful time of year that is enjoyed by many Australians regardless of their religious origins.  Celebrating the season without overtly religious overtones in your home-for-sale will add appeal to the broadest number of potential buyers.

7. Decor’ations

Simple vases and platters are inexpensive ways to add consistent style during and after the celebrations.  The trick is to find items with year-round appeal that won’t be out of place in the wake of Santa’s sleigh.

Florals courtesy of www.floralimages.com.au

8. Lightening over Lighting

Remember, less is more when presenting your home to the market. Overdoing festive lights can detract from the features of your home inside and out.  Far better to invest in washing windows and replacing interior bulbs with the highest energy-efficient wattage.  These will show your home in the best possible light to potential buyers.

9. Candle Power

No other decorator item says Christmas quite like candles.  They effortlessly blend your on-the-market home’s style with your celebrations.  It’s recommended that you place candles at least 3.8 cm apart to make sure they burn evenly.  Candle displays are also effortlessly restyled after the festivities.

Candles available at www.partylite.com.au

10. Storage Solutions

You want to be able to respond quickly to potential buyer requests to view your home, so enlisting the support of guests and having a place to store their bedding and belongings during the day is essential.  Quick storage solutions will help you stay in control of your home’s presentation whilst on the market over the holiday period.

11. Glamour finishes

Can’t help yourself?  Satisfy your Christmas styling urge this year by wrapping your gifts in glamour colours and metallic finishes.  Go crazy with gold, silver, bronze and copper papers, ribbons and bows.

12. Giving Double

While not strictly a styling idea, gift cards or vouchers are a great gift idea when time and space are restricted.  They take up a fraction of the floor space as traditional gifts but may be worth twice as much to your loved ones once the Boxing Day sales kick in.

Give a Half-Day Home Makeover

Showhomes Christmas Gift Half-Day Home Makeover is especially priced to be the perfect gift to yourself this year.  To order, please call Tracey on 0401 312 323.

Showhomes Half Day Makeover Gift Voucher

 Merry Christmas!

When an Agent Gets Paid

Real Estate Agents can work long and hard on a listing only to find that at the end of the day, the listing expires and they don’t get paid. 

If a home is not styled at the outset, then it’s great to introduce property styling to a client whose property has been on the market for 30-45 days. This is the time when a price drop is being considered and a new strategy required.

What is Property Styling?

Showhomes Brisbane – Media Room After One Day Makeover

A national real estate publication has agreed to a feature article on ‘Does property styling actually work?’   The real estate publication will follow the progress of Tracey McLeod and the team from Showhomes, in occupied homes for sale to determine how property styling professionals work and whether it’s right for your real estate business and your clients.

This means that Showhomes needs to style as many properties as possible between now and December. We’re aiming for 20 homes in 10 weeks. The ideal homes are owner-occupied with the owners willing to do everything they can to get their property sold, ie. weekly open homes, priced to meet the market and professional presentation.

The editor will select one or more property from the before and after photos and selling stats. They will interview the agent, the home owner and Tracey at the end of the marketing process, possibly for their December 2012 issue.

This is obviously not for every home-for-sale. However, if it sounds like something that will benefit your real estate business and positively impact on your pre-Christmas sales, then call Tracey now on 0401 312 323 to register your interest.

The aim is to add a minimum of $20,000 extra value to the homes-for-sale in 2 days

To keep the process affordable, Showhomes mainly uses the home owners own furniture and furnishings and can work with any style of home.  We can also work with any price point, just so long as it’s not overpriced, making it difficult or impossible to sell. 

An investment of $220 is all that’s required for the initial consultation. From there, the homeowner’s investment depends on the size of the project and the scope of work.

The Premise

Adding furniture to a vacant home makes a difference to it’s marketability, but what about when it’s the owners’ current principle place of residence? Is property styling more of a hindrance than a help to both agent and vendors, and is the investment out of the reach of most sellers?

The Proof

One way to ‘prove’ whether property styling actually works is to compare the suburb data with the clients’ data for average days on market and average discount rate, across a number of suburbs over time. This also fits perfectly with the premise that property styling helps homes sell faster and for more money.

Before and After: Can styling make a difference to a sale?

The Claims

Benefits of Professional Property Styling

• Virtually any property will benefit from professional styling
• Professionally styled homes sell faster and for more money
• Professional styling can give agents better sales statistics and happier clients, thus adding to their reputation and business success over time
• Home styling is a boom industry and if you are not styling your home then your competitors are

For Real Estate Agents

• Home owners who style their homes understand they have a role to play in helping their home to sell
• Home owners who style their homes are more motivated sellers
• Professionally styled properties have better online photos
• The properties attract more online viewers
• And bring more people to the open homes
• Agents of professionally styled properties are more motivated as a result of the improved desirability, higher market activity and better mindset of sellers
• It’s easier for buyers to fall ‘in love’ with professionally styled properties

For home owners

• The investment is low – initial consultation from $220 (with Showhomes) – especially when compared with the potential ROI (return on investment)
• Professionally decorating a home for sale can add at least an extra $20,000 to the value of the property for sale (and up to $100,000)

The Outcome

Did professional property styling deliver on it’s claims?

About Showhomes

Here’s what we do

Tracey McLeod is founder of the Australian Home Staging and Styling Network a group connecting stylists, designers and professional organisers from across the country.

Do you want to join in the fun?  Call Tracey now on 0401 312 323.

Upstairs Deck After

When Paddington real estate agent Pamela Ross first saw this home, she knew she wanted to secure the listing for this meticulously crafted renovator at Ashgrove. Over the years, Pamela has watched the conversion of an original 1914 Queenslander into a modern family home by owners and builders Gavin and Helen.

Front of House

Knowing that the home is ‘something special’, Pamela calls in the team from Showhomes to bring it’s inner beauty to the fore by highlighting the home’s beautifully restored traditional features along with the modern lifestyle envisaged by Gavin and Helen for the next generation of owners.

Day 1 – Initial Consultation

10am Monday

Tracey from Showhomes is introduced to the home’s history.  Gavin describes the painstaking restoration and renovation process.  He and Helen outline the effort that has gone in to creating amenity in the living, sleeping and outdoor spaces.

Office Before

Tracey opts for designing a modern home with a uniquely Australian theme in the living areas.  Together she and Helen build a plan to prepare for the photo-ready makeover a few weeks away.

Office After

The first room encountered is the downstairs office.  Helen explains the significance of the room for Gavin’s business and entertainment requirements.  Showhomes’ furniture and furnishings are brought in to compliment the existing desk.

Office After

Modern artworks reflect the desired look and feel of blending home’s traditions with the modern world; as well as reflecting the owners’ love of the outback.

Day 2 – Photo-Ready Makeover

10am Tuesday

Living in Design

Helen rallies her sister Sheryl and daughter Jessica to assist the Showhomes’ team with the makeover.

Kitchen Before

Family involvement in the styling process is crucial in an occupied home.  The family needs to be able to comfortably live around the styling and know how to pull it all together for viewing at a moment’s notice.

Stylish simplicity is important.  Upstairs, the superb kitchen is cleared, cleaned and styled for market.

Kitchen After

The dining room awaits attention…

Dining Before

Seemingly effortless definition is created

Dining After

The large living space

Lounge Dining Before

A distinct ‘Lounge Room’ is created, bringing relaxation and definition into the room

Lounge Before

Splashes of colour draw the eye across the large living and dining space

Lounge Dining Kitchen After

Creating comfortable flow towards the outdoor dining and seating areas

Armchair After

Desk After

The deck appears more rustic before

Deck Before

And more polished after

Deck After

More barren before

Side Deck Before

And more comfortable after

Side Deck After

Designed for Living…

Back Deck After

The Sleeping Zone

Creating uniquely private sleeping areas for a variety of potential users of different ages, whilst keeping flow to the feel of the home, is the professional’s challenge.

Master Bedroom Before

The Master Bedroom sets the scene

Master Bedroom After

Personal comfort

Master Bedroom Before

From the outside in…

Master Bedroom After

Whilst an adjacent room

Guest Bedroom Before

Becomes a child’s space

Child’s Bedroom After

A guest bedroom transformed

Large Spare Room Before

As a young adult’s room

Young Adult’s Room After

Another downstairs bedroom

Spare Bedroom Before

Becomes a teenager’s retreat

Teenager’s Bedroom After

Market Ready

‘Helen and I really appreciate the efforts your team put into our project!’ said Gavin.

Showhomes thanks and acknowledges the time, talents and treasures of our wonderful stylist Cheri Lee; two brilliant photographers, Paul McCann (before photos) and Antony Merat (afters); Nathan from Floral Images,  and Judy and the artistic team from Dalozzo Galleries.

Helen and Gavin are looking forward to seeing the benefits of professionally decorating their home-for-sale – better online photos, more viewings at open homes – higher offers – a faster sale.

Please note: All photos and artworks are subject to copyright.

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Selling a house in a competitive market isn’t easy as many home owners are finding out. But now it’s possible to get a real, tangible, competitive edge no longer reserved only for the homes of the rich and famous, property developers or savvy investors.

Professional home staging or interior decorating for homes for sale is a proven marketing technique used across the globe to gain a competitive advantage.  Here’s how it works…

While the market determines the price of a home, using professional techniques of home decoration can take it to a whole new level.

Which room would you prefer to buy?

Carpets cleaned, windows washed and ready to sell…

Media Room before Makeover

One day later… within a strict budget using the client’s own furniture, items borrowed from a neighbour and a few extra items from Showhomes to complete the picture, here’s what we create.

Media Room after Makeover

Is it possible to fall in love with a room?

Here’s another view of the same room one day before interior decorating for sale. Again, it’s cleaned and ready to sell.

Media Room looking to foyer Before Makeover

From fatigued to fresh… with the client’s own furniture rearranged and accessorised for full selling potential…

Media Room after Makeover

Professional interior decoration for homes for sale helps homes sell faster and for a higher price, even in a quiet market.

That’s how Showhomes have helped four homes to sell from the first viewing.

Here’s the full before and after photo tour of this stunning Fig Tree Pocket home.

Interested in selling your home faster and at a higher price?

To find out if decorating your home for sale is right for you, please phone Tracey now on 0401 312 323 or email tracey@showsell.com.au

An initial consultation is still only $220 incl. GST

We’d love it if you’d ‘like’ our work too!