Home Staging: A Sneak Peek Into the Mind of a Designer
/With a beautiful Victorian facade, this Toronto home was headed to market. Anyone can rent some furniture and just throw up art, willy nilly. Our approach is a little more considered than that. We think about who the prospective buyer will be, and what they may like to see. We consider the neighbourhood, the demographic, the finishing materials selected throughout, and the intent of the architect.
Front Entrance
Here we asked, what is the first experience of the home?
Every entrance needs a "landing place". You know, that area where you land your keys, wallet, and mail. My house doesn't have one, and I'm painfully aware of it. So, wherever possible, we like to show an inviting entrance that has a little unloading zone.
Dining Room
With the dining area adjacent to the front entrance, it's important that the two spaces, while having totally distinct uses, are also complementary. We mimicked the black and white art in the entrance and used a similar piece for the dining. The finishing touch was a vase grouping on the dining table, bringing in some of the blacks, greys, and whites found in the rest of the finishes.
Kitchen
The entrance of the house so far, is neutral in colour, and tailored in style. The kitchen is an opportunity to add a little bit of colour, while repeating some elements from the rest of the house. Fresh flowers, and pops of green infuse this kitchen with some interest, while keeping the overall feel serene and minimalistic.
Living Room
The third zone on the main floor that a buyer will experience is the living room at the back of the house. While it can be tempting to put in a sectional (they are awfully trendy), we realized that an oversized piece of furniture would make the space feel small. Instead, we selected a smaller sofa, with straight, tailored lines. The brass stools double down as a coffee table, and repeats the brass in the bowl on the kitchen island (small details count!). In lieu of a television, we show a console with art, where a TV could be placed. We never show televisions (a big black blob on the wall. . . ugly) but instead show where one could be placed, while keeping the design aesthetic beautiful.
Master Bedroom
The Master bedroom is the escape of the house. It's how you start your day, and end your day. Our home staging approach with master bedrooms is always to make the space feel as warm, inviting, and relaxing as possible. Warm and inviting can also mean colourful. While the main floor of the house was more neutral, we though this area was a good opportunity to add some whimsy an fun.
Master Ensuite
The finishes in this washroom were stunning, light and airy. Check out the slab marble in the shower! In keeping with the elegant finishes and softer lines, we used a design classic, the Kartell ghost chair, at the vanity.
Credits:
Listing Realtor: Myles Slocombe
Photography: PropertySpaces.Ca
Developer: Yves Lajeunesse
Staging: Jennifer Giffin
