design Archives - CENTURY 21 MarketLink Realty

Should You Use a Professional Stager When Selling Your Luxury Home?

March 13, 2019 By C21 Communications

If you’re planning to put your luxury home on the market, consider staging it first.

Staging is the process of “styling” a home to maximize its appeal to potential buyers. It can be as simple as eliminating clutter or reorganizing a bookcase, or staging can involve removing, replacing or re-arranging furniture, adding accessories or taking down heavy draperies that block the light.

According to StagedHomes.com, which provides training and awards the Accredited Staging Professional designation to real estate agents, designers and others interested in becoming stagers, staging a home helps it sell faster and at a higher price. In fact, in a recent survey, the site found that a staged home sells in an average of 10.3 days, compared to a non-staged home, which averages 84.6 days on the market.

Ask your real estate agent about staging options when listing your home. Some agents have a background in design and feel comfortable handling the staging themselves, especially if the home doesn’t need much to prepare it for sale, while others may recommend a staging professional.

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Instagram Inspiration: Interior Designers to Follow

February 3, 2015 By CENTURY 21

The goal of decorating your home should be to reflect your taste and to create a space where you enjoy spending time. Stay up to date on new interior design trends to inspire your design updates. Whether you’re moving to a brand new home, or sprucing up your old one, there’s always room for inspiration.

Follow your favorite interior designers on Instagram for instant inspiration. Here are a few interior designers we admire.

1. Jonathan Adler: Jonathan Adler’s Instagram feed is beautiful rooms filled with colorful throw pillows, duck figurines, and gorgeous flower arrangements. Follow Adler for inspiration on decorating with bright colors, patterns, and quirky accessories.

A photo posted by Jonathan Adler (@jonathanadler) on Feb 2, 2015 at 9:37am PST

2. Emily Henderson: This interior designer turned style blogger keeps her Instagram feed filled with colorful art and sleek design trends. From serene bedroom setups to brightly lit sunrooms, you can find plenty of insight on her feed.

A photo posted by Emily Henderson (@em_henderson) on Feb 2, 2015 at 1:48pm PST

3. Grace Bonney: Bonney has an eccentric, abstract design aesthetic. From geometric patterns to colorful quilts, Bonney is bound to make you want to add some life to any room.

A photo posted by Grace Bonney (@designsponge) on Feb 3, 2015 at 8:27am PST

4. Kate Arends: Arends has a simplistic design style. She favors clean lines, white walls, and a clutter-free home. Follow her if you hope to achieve a clean, modern look for your home.

A photo posted by Kate Arends (@witanddelight_) on Jan 28, 2015 at 3:52pm PST

5. Caitlin Wilson Textiles: Caitlin’s feed is filled with crisp, simple spaces with vibrant pops of color thrown in. Caitlin is known for her textiles and her pillows, furniture, and decor that can complete any room. Try adding a few pillows to your couch or bed for a budget-friendly upgrade.

A photo posted by Caitlin Wilson Textiles (@caitlinwilsontextiles) on Jan 25, 2015 at 2:00pm PST

6. Studio McGee: Syd and Shea McGee, the husband and wife behind Studio McGee have a classic, timeless, and preppy aesthetic. Their designs often incorporate white, gold, and pastels. They certainly follow their motto which is to, “Make life beautiful.”

A photo posted by Studio McGee (@studiomcgee) on Jan 27, 2015 at 3:45pm PST

You should make your home decor decisions based on what makes you and your family feel good. Advice and inspiration from professionals is just an added bonus that might spark your interest to try something new!

Recommended Reading:

-How to Make a House a Home: Creating Memories

-Small Changes, Big Difference: 5 Low-Cost ways to Give Your Home a New Look

-5 Ways to Take Your Living Room from Good to Great

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From Pullover to Pillow

November 14, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Create cozy fall decor from old favorites in your wardrobe. If you can’t bear to discard favorite old sweaters that are too small, too big, or too worn, recycle them into beautiful felted-wool pillows.

Instructions:

1. Gather several wool sweaters or scarves that you no longer wear. Mix textures and colors for contrast.

2. Wash each color of wool separately in hot—not warm—water. Dry each color separately at the hottest setting. The heat of the dryer will shrink the wool into tight felt that won’t fray, even when you cut it.

3. Using a purchased pillow form as your guide, cut one large square or overlap two rectangles for the pillow’s back. Pin together rectangles, squares, strips, or circles for the front, adding ribbing, buttons, zippers, or pocket details.

4. Sew the pieces together by hand or machine, or bind them to each other with fusible interfacing. Join the front to the back around the edges, and insert the pillow form. Slip-stitch the opening closed, or make holes for coordinating buttons.

This DIY project is fun and easy, plus it is much less expensive than similar store-bought pillows. Now just curl up with a good book or movie and a hot cup of tea.

Recommended Reading:

-5 DIY Projects You Can Do With Wallpaper

-Just DIY It: 5 Natural Cleaning Products

-Done in One Hour: How to Install a Faucet

-Double Agents: New Uses for Everyday Things

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Bring on the Patterns: How to Combine Designs with Confidence

October 31, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Usually when it comes to options, more is better, but that may not be how you feel when you get to a home decor store. There is an overwhelming number of fabric, color, and style options. Don’t worry. Take a deep breath and remind yourself that even the pros use formulas to create the styled rooms we all love. Use these tips and techniques to create a home you’ll love.

Adopt the Rule of One: One floral, one stripe, one check, and so on. Use this approach to limit your selection to no more than one of each so that you won’t have to worry about similar patterns clashing. Create a cohesive design by selecting similarly colored detail pieces like throw blankets, pillows and vases.

Start Small: If you’re uneasy about decorating with a large-scale or dominant pattern, use it in small doses. Decorative pillows are a great way to introduce patterns into your space without needing to make a big change.

Live Large: The larger the room, the bolder your use of patterns can be. To create a more intimate feeling in a big space, repeat a pattern or two. For example, use the fabric from window treatments on a chair cushion.

Give Texture a Try: Not into big blooms and colorful stripes? Create an alluring room by combining textures like hard wood and rugs and fabric in a variety of textures.

We hope that these tips help you create a beautifully decorated home. We’d love to know your tips for combining patterns and designs. Connect with us on Twitter and share your advice!

Recommended Reading:

-5 Ways to Take Your Living Room From Good to Great

-10 Secrets for Making Your Bedroom Appear Larger

-Small Changes, Big Differences: 5 Low Cost Ways to Give Your Home a New Look

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Ask Our Expert: Budget Friendly Bathroom Update

September 6, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Q: Could you suggest some ways to update a bath without completely remodeling?

-Brenda Lee, CENTURY 21 Partners, Owensboro, KY

A: Kitchens and bathrooms are key rooms that are first to date a house. A complete remodel in tight times can be costly. There are, however, a few designer tricks that can put a fresh spin on an outdated bathroom.

Walls: Nothing freshens a space more than a coat of paint. When picking your palette, think “spa.” Wall colors such a deep taupe, shale blue, and rich golden tan always work because they’re nature-inspired. Pair with soft white trim and you’re good to go.

Cabinets: Perk up dark wood cabinets by simply painting them the same color as white or cream trim. Complete the update with modern, oversized hardware. Brushed chrome or nickel finishes are timeless and add sparkle to the space.

Light Fixtures: Replace cold overhead lights with inexpensive track lights in the same color as your ceiling. Use dimmer switches and halogen bulbs to cast arcs of light only where you need them without destroying the mood of the space.

Mirrors: In tight quarters add full-length mirrors framed in molding that matches the room’s trim. This will visually stretch and add more “architecture” to the room.

Accessories: Fresh white terrycloth is a classic touch that says “spa”—so no more fussy accent towels that could simply date the space. Add great looking regional or shore-inspired black-and-white photography framed in nickel to match your new hardware. Hit it with a track spotlight, and it all comes together.

These little touches can help freshen and update any bathroom without breaking the bank. You can do it!

CHRISTOPHER LOWELL, an interior designer and Emmy Award-winning TV host, is known for doable design advice that nets stunning results.

Recommended Reading:

-Ask Our Expert: Chris Lowell’s Advice for DIY Curtains

-How to Decorate Your Home on a Budget

-How to Style a Bookshelf

-How to Style a Coffee Table

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How to Decorate Your Home on a Budget

May 29, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Buying a home is expensive, but decorating doesn’t have to be. You can decorate a home that shows off your style and personality without breaking the bank. Use these tips to decorate your home on a budget.

1. Make a Budget: Before you start shopping, create a budget that makes sense for you. How much are you willing to spend for a quick update? Figure out which pieces are essential in your home decor and work around that. For example, if you’re decorating a living room, a majority of your money will go towards a nice couch or entertainment center. List out what you’re willing to spend for certain items.

2. Shop Flash Sale Sites: Flash sale sites like Joss & Main and One King’s Lane offer their customers designer brands for discounted prices. These types of sales are a great way to stay within your budget, while still achieving the look you want.

3. DIY: Estate sales and flea markets are great ways to find vintage pieces for less. Don’t be discouraged by their rugged appearances! The furniture might need a little TLC, but a simple DIY project will do the trick. Quick paint jobs, new hardware and some dusting will have these pieces looking good as new! You can also buy less expensive furniture from stores like Ikea. Paint them, add new fixtures, and make them your own. Google “Ikea hacks” for inspiration.

4. Personal Touches: Grab a camera and get outside! Sometimes the best wall decor is your own. Print your favorite photographs to display in nice frames. Play around with patterns and color depending on your style. Create gallery walls with your favorite family photos, photos from trips, wedding pictures, or pictures around your neighborhood.

One added benefit of this approach is that it encourages you to infuse your personality into every element of home design. You don’t have to stick to the status quo – you are making decisions that represent you and your family.

Recommended Reading:

-How to Style a Nightstand

-How to Style a Coffee Table

-How to Style a Bookshelf

-Color Palette: Ginger Jars

-Color Palette: A Day in the Garden

-10 Secrets for Making Your Room Feel Larger

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Kitchen Design Inspiration from CENTURY® 21 Homes

May 8, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Your family spends a lot of time in the kitchen, so it’s important that the kitchen is comfortable and functional. We chose a few incredible CENTURY21^®kitchens to inspire your decorating decisions!

This kitchen’s monochromatic color scheme, light colored paint, lack of clutter, and extra lighting makes it seem larger. Build an island with storage and maximize cupboard space to create extra space for cutlery, pots and pans, and appliances. Can you spot the fridge? The clean, streamlined look is maximized because the fridge, dishwasher, and garbage cans are all concealed by matching paneling. The island doubles as a seating area so friends and family members can gather around.

We love a white kitchen! It may seem like white and light gray would feel dreary or sterile, but this kitchen feels bright and airy. The lit up cabinets, track lighting, and large hanging lights make the kitchen seem larger. If you have bay windows, take a cue from this kitchen and make a breakfast nook that your family will love.

This kitchen has an open floor plan, making the kitchen appear to be infinite. The cooking area seamlessly transitions into a larger dining space and seating area. Add a built-in desk so that you can finalize paperwork and projects while you are waiting for your perfect soufflé to be ready. We have a feeling that if you recreate this look, your family will spend most of their time together in the kitchen!

If you take these design suggestions you’ll never say, “There’s too many cooks in the kitchen!”

If you liked this article you may also like some of our other interior design inspiration articles:

-How to Style a Bookshelf

-How to Style a Centerpiece

-How to Style a Coffee Table

-How to Style a Nightstand

-Five Simple Chalkboard Paint Projects for the Home

-Storage Matters

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Let’s Get App-y: 3 Apps for Interior Design

May 6, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Interior design? There’s an app for that. We’ve rounded up five apps that will make your interior design projects easier. These apps seem like something straight from The Jetsons, but we can assure you that they are real and really helpful!

1. Benjamin Moore Color Capture® App (Android, iPhone, iPad): This app has multiple uses that are perfect for helping you choose colors for your home. If you’ve ever chosen paint colors before you know how hard it can be to choose between two colors that look so similar, yet so very different. Use this app to share your favorite colors on social media or by email, “favorite” colors, access the full color wheel (without having to carry it around), and write down notes. One standout feature of this app, is that you can take a picture of something that you love and the app will generate the corresponding Benjamin Moore paint colors! Paint different rooms with the colors of your favorite bouquet, sunset, flower, outfit, and whatever else inspires you!

2. Furnish (Android, iPhone, iPad): Wouldn’t it be great if you could see how your furniture would look in your home before you buy it? This app allows you to do just that! Use the app to browse furniture from their partners, Target, Ikea, Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, West Elm, Herman Miller, and Knoll, then upload a picture of the room where you want the furniture and see if you like how it looks!

3. Home 3D (iPhone, iPad): Use the architecture functionality to create your home’s floorplan and rearrange it so that it becomes your ideal layout. Use the interior design functionality to add and rearrange furniture, to paint or wallpaper different rooms and to test different looks. If that isn’t cool enough, you can also use the 3D dollhouse mode to virtually walk through your home!

4. iHandy Carpenter (Android, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch): iHandy Carpenter has a plumb bob, a surface level, a bubble level bar, a steel protractor, and a steel ruler all conveniently located on your phone! This is a great app for carpenters, handymen, and people who are decorating their home. No more tilting your head quizzically to see if the painting or picture you hung is straight!

5. Autodesk Homestyle (Android, iPhone, iPad): Use Homestyler to see how furniture, light fixtures, rugs, paintings, mirrors, and more look in your home! The app has 3D images which give you an accurate representation of what your home will look like. Use the app to browse and buy furniture from a long list of brands including Crate and Barrel, Ethan Allen, Jonathan Adler, and Pottery Barn. We all know that choosing paint is a huge commitment. You can try paint colors and wallpaper to see how it looks in your home! Browse the Design Stream for inspiration and ideas, share designs with friends and family, look through Portfolio Pages of professional designers, and ask the professionals for their advice.

Loving your living space is so important. Interior design can be stressful because you want everything to be perfect. These apps help you try before you buy and make sure everything is just right.

Happy decorating!

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Should You Use a Professional Stager When Selling Your Luxury Home?

Instagram Inspiration: Interior Designers to Follow

From Pullover to Pillow

Bring on the Patterns: How to Combine Designs with Confidence

Ask Our Expert: Budget Friendly Bathroom Update

Recommended Reading: 5 Coffee Table Books

Recommended Reading: 5 Coffee Table Books

How to Decorate Your Home on a Budget

Kitchen Design Inspiration from CENTURY® 21 Homes

Let’s Get App-y: 3 Apps for Interior Design