Apostle Art Home Staging & Design Blog

As a professional Home Stager in the Poconos, I am faced with many different types of homes and properties to stage and prepare for this competitive real estate market. Each requires a unique approach based on the characteristics of the home and what can be done to maximize the appeal.

No matter what level of property we stage, every homeowner wants to minimize cost while getting the best possible result, impact and ROI for every dollar invested. Our recent Lakefront property was certainly no exception. The greatest selling feature of this home is NOT the HOME!!! Owning a private beach in this desirable Lake Naomi community is really the greatest selling feature of this particular property and needs to take center stage when marketing to potential buyers.

So What did we do?

We took tons of stunning photos of the lake...

(Check out more amazing shots in the video tour we created below!)

 Ok...But what about the house?

Even though the Lake is the star of this show, the house needs to have the best possible appeal as well in order to attract a buyer at this level. There were definitely some challenges to overcome here which is why a Professional Home Stager is worth their weight in gold!

Here is what we did...

Before staging, when you walked in the front door you were greeted by a very challenging layout. The log posts cut the living space right in the center of the room making it difficult to know how to arrange the furniture. This configuration was not working and confused buyers as soon as they walked in the door. 

We removed the 2 green recliners and relocated them into another room, pulled one of the sofas from that other space and arranged in with the existing love seat to make a more natural flow and comfortable seating arrangement. And, of course, we brought in lots of pops of color and accessories to infuse LIFE and energy into the space!!!

The space was not very warm and inviting and only 2 people could enjoy the view...

Now you can imagine comfortably entertaining friends where everyone has a view of the Lake.

Before, This Master bedroom was very "yellow" and very naked.

We painted a more pleasing neutral on the walls that will appeal to more buyers. We then took the Log bed that was cramped in another bedroom accessorized it beautifully making sure to tie in the color scheme of green and rust tones from the adjacent living room. Now, this Master with a view a graceful retreat.

This space was an addition designed to maximize the view but was certainly not maximizing function.

Now you can eat, relax and enjoy the view. The recliners from the living room were moved in here to add some soft seating and together with the table create an open floor plan that doesn't block or truncate the space like before. Notice we switched out the blue color for a soft sage green that was more natural feeling. We also continued the color story in here with accessories that add vibrancy and fun!

The owners at one time had a table in this space but it was cramped and stopped the flow....and watch your head on that floating light fixture!

Now, the space feels open but still affords some seating...we removed the fixture as there was plenty of overhead lighting for the space and our dining table is where it belongs.

This Loft area was a bit bare and unwelcoming before...

Now, it's a comfy place to hang. We were careful to again pull in the colors from below to create continuity throughout the home.

This was the bedroom that originally had the log bed as well as desk and other wicker furniture crammed in the other side of the room...

We brought in a smaller bed and was able to use the desk and put some of the other furniture pieces in other areas of the home. We actually used every piece of existing furniture they had somewhere in the home. We just re-purposed them in a way so that each area would feel spacious and uncluttered.

There were just too many colors and finishes going on here making it feel a bit dated and old fashioned.

 I love what paint can do for a bathroom. A soft, neutral on the wall, crisp white over the oak, new seat cover, some accessories and now this bathroom feels cohesive and fresh!

Now that's how you sell a house!!!

If you missed my first post and tour of the home you can watch it here...enjoy~ 

For more information on this property click here.

Ok...I didn't plan this "deep" post. I already wrote one today about 11-11-11, so here are 2 choices

If you want a deep post that is light and airy too... go here...

Mysterious Numbers making me Wonder...TELL ME, WHAT DOES IT MEAN ....11-11-11???

If you want a deep post that is heavy and profound...read on...

I appreciate everyone's Veteran's Day posts as they reminded me of how special today is for our country and our world. Those posts prompted me to offer up a rosary for the soldiers who have sacrificed so very much for us all.

If you are not familiar with the Rosary. It is a Christian prayer that is based on the life of Christ. You pray the "Our Father", "Hail Mary" and other prayers as you hold each bead, during which you are also called to meditate on many of the mysteries of Christ's life.

There are four sets of mysteries, Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious and the new addition of the Luminous. Each day, a different set of mysteries is to be focused on. It just so happens that Friday is the day we reflect on Christ Sorrowful Mysteries as we remember his passion and the ultimate sacrifice of himself.

There are 5 mysteries a day and as I began to pray them and thinking about the sacrifices our soldiers have and continue to make I came upon some profound connections.

1st Sorrowful Mystery: "The Agony in the Garden"...

How lonely and abandoned He must have felt, no consolation, not even from his own Father. His friends asleep, having no idea how deeply he was suffering by the weight of the sins of the world and no one to share them with. So much mental anguish that is caused him to physically sweat blood. How so, must our soldiers relate to these feelings of abandonment as they sit in the trenches of war? Even those that do return with their life suffer greatly from the psychological scars that sometimes never heal.

2nd Sorrowful Mystery: "The Scourging at the Pillar"...

An innocent man, Bound and Beaten to the point that if he were not the Son of God he would have surely perished at the pillar. (If you have ever seen"The Passion" movie  you will understand the intensity of this event) How so, our brave men and women have endured great sufferings for no other cause than human freedom. They are accused of nothing but just scourged for the sake of what they stand for.

3rd Sorrowful Mystery: "Jesus is crowned with thorns and mocked by the soldiers"...

As if his broken body was not enough, they pierced his head with thorns, put a king's robe on him and spat in his face mocking him. How so does the soldier feel as he is pierced in spirit and taunted and mocked and spat on by the people in the streets and enemy soldiers.

4th Sorrowful Mystery: "Jesus takes up his cross"...

They say the deepest, most painful wound Christ felt was the one on his shoulder from carrying the cross. Falling several times under it's extreme weight, bloody face in the dust. How heavy are the crosses of those who serve. The weight is extreme yet they continue to walk on. 

5th Sorrowful mystery: "The crucifixion"...

Paying the ultimate price for our freedom. God in his wisdom sacrificed his only begotten Son.  Handed him over to the enemy who thought he had won the victory. How many Mothers and Fathers, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters will feel the pain of the loss of their soldier. It is their sacrifice as well.

It did not please God to see his Son suffer. The only way God could even bear it was the wisdom to know that through His sacrifice, the Victory was won...  Triumph over evil and death itself!!

So today, as we remember, let's offer up all of our Veterans, those currently serving and all their loved ones to the one who knows as good as anyone what sacrifice means.

God be with them, God bless them, God bring them peace!

Owning a home with a view is wonderful...Owning a Lakefront on one of the most beautiful lakes in the Poconos ... a Dream Come True!

I often think as I walk out of my front door on a crisp clear night, what a privilege it is to own this section of sky. It's mine! The heavens in all their wonder, thousands of far away stars and constellations...my private view...a perspective unique to the very spot in which I stand and own...my little slice of Serenity.

We recently staged a home located on the Lake in the beautiful community of

 Lake Naomi, Pocono Pines, PA.

I couldn't help but be taken breathless at the incredible scenic beauty that I experienced in the short time I spent on this gorgeous property. This "Slice of Serenity " is for sale, ready for someone to claim as their own and enjoy the all the wonder this piece of earth has to offer.

I will share some more of the amazing photos I took in separate post but you can check out the tour I put together here...enjoy!

:) 

For more information on this property click here.

For Information on working with a professional Home Stager to enhance your property in the Poconos

visit our website at ApostleArt.com  

Looks like these fellows have been swayed by the fashion trend of the last few years!

Unlike, so many youth (and plumbers) out there, at least these guys don't have to walk and function with this fashion faux pas. Waddling like ducks, juggling all their possesions in one hand, keeping the other on their belt loop so their pants don't end up on the floor.

I just died laughing when I saw this driving home the other day...clever eh! Too good not to share!

Never know what you are going to see in the Lovely Pocono Mountains!!

Happy FALL!!

:)

I seem to be making a lot of fast friends these days. So many very special people keep popping into my life in droves it seems. I recently blogged about one in my Humble Pie series but there have been many more.

I have a business associate that I know through a local networking group. We were talking one day last year about our kids and it turns out he has a daughter who is 15, same age as my son and they are both very passionate about music. He owns a video production company and recording studio in Stroudsburg PA, Tera Productions,...very cool so he suggest we get the kids together. Well, life happens and finally a year later, last Saturday we go over to see his studio.

His house and studio were like a fairytale!  It turns out that he is an artist and a designer as well and his lower level where he works was transformed into a European street scene complete with columns and meticulously faux finished, antiqued walls...a man after my own heart!

We quickly discovered just how much we all had in common and really did become "fast friends"! His daughter, Francesca, absolutely blew us away with her talent. She was having her very first performance ever that night at an event at a local Pizzeria. I am so glad we took the time to come out and see this beautiful young lady perform as I know she has an extremely bright future ahead of her.

You Go Francesca..our new and very special fast friend!!  :)

(Just click on the video to play)

                                                                            HUMBLE PIE

   1 Cup of Compassion

   2 Cups of Sugar

   3 Cups of Patience

   5 Cups of Humility

   7 Cups of Self Restraint

   2 Tbs of Understanding

   1 Healthy sprinkling of Love

Step 1: Check Yourself...

Step 2: Pour out All Self Pride into a large collander and sift until only humility is left.

Step 3: In a very large mixing bowl, quickly but gently fold in all remaining virtues.

Step 4: Zip your lip and pour mixture into a soft pie shell.

Step 5: Let pie heat up but do not let it bubble over!

Step 6: Quickly place pie in freezer for fast cool down.

Step 7: Always serve with a smile!!

   I suggest memorizing this recipe so you can make it at a moments notice. You just never know when you might need to serve up some good, old fashioned Humble Pie!

If you missed my Humble Pie saga and like a good story, check out these post...

Peace.

One Slice of Humble Pie Please!

Humble Pie...continued...would you like a slice?

Humble Pie... Slice # 3...Yum! 

One Slice of Humble Pie Please!

Humble Pie...continued...would you like a slice?

Ok...Time to wrap up this pie and put it in the fridge for later. 

2 weeks ago, I am at choir practice rehearsing the music that we will be singing on Sunday for Confirmation. I start thinking about how beautiful and spirit-filled the confirmation masses are at our church as we sing for them every year. The royal brass plays with the organ all blending with our voices as the Bishop, priests, Knights of Columbus and conferments proceed down the center aisle. This year, even more special as my daughter is being confirmed as well.

I start thinking about TY. He comes from a very large parish back home and has been attending a smaller local church while here. I consider how much he would probably enjoy participating in this grand affair...I consider inviting him to the ceremony. I think about it for a few days..will my family think I am nuts inviting one of my clients to such a personal event? Well....do I really care...they already know I am nuts!!

I call Ty to touch base on another matter and I ask him if he would like to come on Sunday and back to our home after for some grub. He accepts and is humbled by the invitation...turns out, he likes humble pie too!

 When I saw him walk into the Church all dressed in a suit, I was beaming and so was he...Who would have ever guessed from our first meeting to now??  So, afterwards we all gather at my house where TY stole the show. All my kids and my niece were gathered round him swapping stories about snowboarding , music and all sorts. My Mom and sister shared long conversations with TY and even promised to send him the delicious sweet lima bean recipe he enjoyed from the "mini feast" my husband prepared. 

Ever since my Father passed and my brother moved to FL with his wife and 5 kids, our family gatherings have not been the same. My Dad was always the life of the party and we have been missing that element for quite a while. TY brought some "new life" to us all last Sunday and we were truly blessed by his presence.

Towards the end of the evening, He found his way to our piano and began tickling the ivories for the first time in months. He misses his family and needs to go home soon. We were all delighted to have him enter into our "little world" for a while and I know he was touched as well but I do pray for things to move forward so he can get back to his life that has been put on hold for too long.

 So, Do you think" TY" knows how much I CARE yet????

Funny thing...the reading for the mass the Sunday before this was the story of the wedding feast. the King prepared everything and no one would come so he sent his servants out into the streets to invite anyone willing to join the feast. Ok...so I didn't extend the invitation quite that far but this was a first for me.

Our lives are meant to be shared, we are not meant to be alone but are called to open ourselves up to communion with others and when we do...we are most certainly enrichened by the experience!

:)

Humble Pie recipe coming up next so you can share the sweetness too!

Here it is...Val's secret recipe for Humble Pie.

This post will make more sense if you read part 1...

One Slice of Humble Pie Please!

Ok, my head is spinning...You may say many things but telling me I don't care is complete irony because I honestly and most sincerely couldn't care more and I just met you!! That is just who I am but I get that you don't know that...yet.

So...Do you want me to consult with you or are we going to just continue to debate all afternoon?

I could have just walked out the door at this point but instead, I took a deep breath looking around at the flowery furnishings, needle point wall art, sculpted dark brown 70's carpet, nicotine stained walls, Burgundy curtains and wallpaper borders and I just couldn't do it. This house needed me, the Realtor needed me, this client needed me although at this point he still had no idea just how much. So he finally agrees...let's do a consult...ALLELUIA!!  Um...isn't that why I came here in the first place?

Well you can just imagine how the next hour or two went on. It was almost comical...like am I being PUNKED here? Am I an a merry go round? Swirling conversations, jumping, skipping, hopping, bouncing here, bouncing back there, quickly tell me more but don't talk too fast. Give me options... but here's what I think... but tell me what you would do. I am not doing this... but tell me what I should do. Ok, don't tell me what I could do, but what to do, but I probably won't do it....aye yai yai...Mamma Mia...Lord help me please!!! 

So,in the middle of all of this hoop jumping, I am starting to see a need, an openness, a desperation, a desire to do the right thing and get this home sold. So what's the next step?...Yes, I am insane enough to offer a next step. Why? Because I DO CARE!

The Realtor calls me a day or so later to commiserate and says..."He said you were like oil and water. Maybe because you are so "arty" and he is so "technical"." So I am a bit surprised because I thought we actually ended the consult well and I was sending him a proposal for All the work to be done, painting, flooring, staging etc...So, having no confidence or hope of working with him again I prepare everything and send him the quote.

 Long story shorter than long...

He ends up doing everything I recommended!! Over the following few weeks we are spending a lot of time together. My husband did the painting and finds out that him and "TY" as I will call him, share a love of music and both play classical piano. (Guess he is "Arty" after all!) My son goes to help one day and also shares the music and another common interest...video gaming. Turns out, TY loves his games and they had a blast together in between coats. So I begin to learn more about TY and his situation. He is from the west coast and has been over here, away from his family for over 8 months trying to get affairs in order and this house on the market. It belonged to his Aunt and who passed and he has been getting a lot of pressure from the other heirs about getting the job done. He tells me he has been super stressed in his isolation and lost in what to do and confessed to dragging his butt. He also told me how amazed he was that within 24 hours of meeting with me, his whole outlooked changed! Everything made sense and for the first time in a while, he had HOPE !

Can You imagine...who knew?

Once we moved past that initial...who are you, you just want my money, what's the point...TY was a completely different person. We had pizza together one night when I was staging late and I learned that he is very active in his Church back home...we are both Catholic and love our faith...an even deeper bond was created. We become friends but even something more actually, we are support. I got him now and he got me. We laughed about our initial meeting, about his quirks and mine and our common "OCD" nature. I have been there when "other" people have tried to work with him for the first time and I see him revert back to the same scattered self. I see the perplexed look on their faces and think, "How many seconds till they head for the door...one, two...GONE?" I am so glad I stayed, swallowed that pride and ate that humble pie.

There is just a little more to this story if you are interested.

 I will wrap it up in part 3 along with my secret recipe for Humble Pie

Stay tuned friends!

:) 

Humble Pie... Slice # 3...Yum! 

Life is really funny at times and it never ceases to amaze me how one situation leads to another, to another, to another and often times you look back and think to yourself..."Who Knew?"

This is a story of an unexpected guest and a feast that started with a slice of Humble Pie.

"Maria on her Confirmation Day"

My daughter, Maria, made her Confirmation last Sunday afternoon. We had decided not to have a "big shindig" with the extended family this time. Instead, we just planned a small gathering afterward with my Mom, my sister, her husband and my niece. I suggested we just get pizza since we wouldn't even get home until after 6pm but my husband cannot just "do Pizza"! He loves to cook and so we ended up with more of a mini feast of sorts.

So, now to the humble Pie and my unexpected guest...

Back up about 6 weeks..

I get a call from an agent I work with on a regular basis. She gives me the name of a client who is ready for a Staging consult. She warns me...HE IS VERY DIFFICULT...you will need to pull out all of your reserves of patience on this one!!

Great...I love a challenge!

So I show up...ready to jump right into the consultation process. First we sit down for a few minutes to overview some things before we get started...or so I thought. What actually happened was a 45 minute grilling session and trial of my character, services, values and patience beyond what any saint could bear let alone little ole me!!

Hey...wait a minute, I thought I was here for a consult??

 Turns out, this particular man is very technical minded, extremely analytical and super suspicious. The conversation turned out to be the most challenging one I have ever had with a client as I was called to defend myself and my services but hardly given a word in edgewise to do so. He basically told me that I couldn't possibly care about whether or not he sells his house. I get paid regardless for my services so therefore I have no interest in the effectiveness of what my services do for him whatsoever!!

Oh.. and he started in on the Realtor too..."They have a conflict of interest the second they take you out to look at properties."... Say What?

CAN YOU IMAGINE??

Has anything like this ever happened to you?? What would you do??

Ok, I've got to make this a two part post so I can tell you the full story of what happened.

 Humble Pie...continued...would you like a slice?

:)

I really didn't know much about Steve Jobs but I was curious when I saw this link and was inspired by his story. A few of the quotes he shared really stuck with me and when faced with the brevity of our lives, things seem to take on a new depth of meaning.

Funny how death makes us reflect on life!

The two go hand in hand as you can't have one without the other!!