Planning your new home shouldn’t be a frustrating and overwhelming experience. You want to make confident, empowering decisions so that your spaces reflect your personality and lifestyle.

Builders require you to make many decisions in a timely manner – cabinetry, tile, lighting, flooring, exterior selections – just to name a few. A professional designer has the expertise to assist you in making those difficult decisions.

From blueprint to move in, a good designer transforms your frustration into feelings of fun, ease and excitement!

In addition to building assistance, Studio 5-d also offers a full menu of interior design services. From custom furnishings to accessories, we have the tools to help you create your own personal style! Our buying team shops the furniture marts and vendors unique to our industry, offering you the ‘latest and greatest’ in home furnishings.

When you team up with Studio 5-d, you get the benefit of an experienced, award-winning professional who can solve problems, help you avoid costly mistakes and, most importantly, create a tastefully-appointed, affordable space designed specifically to suit your lifestyle!

Relax and watch us perform magic!

The same applies to homes that are on the market. Without furnishings, many houses lack interest and buyers have difficulty imagining how the space would look furnished, not to mention picturing themselves living there. Look at home builders who have known for years how buyers emotionally connect to model homes that have been beautifully furnished and accessorized.

Due to job transfers, divorce, tenants vacating or a distant move, it’s not always feasible (or economical) to keep a home furnished when it goes on the market. Here are some simple ways to improve the marketability of a vacant property and increase the chances of a swift sale:

1. Curb Appeal: Buyers like to drive by prospective properties and many won’t make an appointment to see the inside if curb appeal is lacking. Sellers need to have a plan for keeping the lawn mowed, shrubbery trimmed, flower beds weeded, and gutters and windows cleaned. Also, eliminate any items left behind in the yard that are not included with the house or that make the property appear unkempt.

2. Odors: Potential buyers are often greeted with a blast of stale or mildew-ladened air when they enter a vacant house. Deal with the mildew before the house is listed. Leaving the heat or air conditioning running while the house is on the market helps to reduce odors. It also makes the house more inviting and comfortable to be shown when the temperatures are extreme.

3. Cleanliness: Some sellers don’t bother to clean a house before they list it or if they do, the results don’t last if the house remains vacant and unsold for any length of time. Dust, cobwebs and bugs tend to take over if routine cleaning isn’t maintained. Some buyers get the impression that a house will require repairs if it looks dirty, cluttered or abandoned—which can dramatically impact whether they make an offer and how much they offer.

4. Lighting: Bright, well lit rooms look bigger and create a more inviting atmosphere. Make certain all light bulbs are working and that light fixtures are clean. Any dated or outlandish light fixtures should be replaced with more modern and simple fixtures. If sellers take light fixtures with them, make sure a replacement is hung before house goes on the market. Note: For closets, attics or crawl spaces where there is no lighting, install battery operated light disks sold at all home improvement stores.

5. Window Treatments: Eliminate heavy, outdated and worn draperies and window coverings (this includes valances). Blinds and sheers can be left if they are in good condition.

6. Confusing Rooms: Some buyer’s can’t make sense of the floor plan in an unfurnished house. If a room’s function cannot easily be identified, if it looks out of place or negatively impacts the flow of the house, have a game plan ready. If the situation cannot be corrected or minimized, consider either furnishing the space to eliminate the confusion or write a short ‘action plan’ with remedies that buyers might use to modify the space.

7. Dual Functioning or Multi Purpose Rooms: Many homes are being built these days with rooms that serve dual or multi purposes. For instance living/dining rooms; kitchen/office areas; family room/play room/homework area. Because many buyers have difficulty envisioning a room any other way than the way they see it, it’s important to either show or tell them the potential uses for the room. Use area rugs to better define the individual functions of a room—place one where the dining room furniture would be and another where the living room furniture would be. Print cards and display them in a prominent place that say: “Don’t forget or did you know…this room could also be used for a play room, computer room, library/reading room, sewing/craft room, etc.” It is a written way to help buyers envision the possibilities of the room(s).

8. Vignettes: It’s often hard for buyers to get a feel for the size of a room when it is vacant. Furniture provides a gauge. If completely furnishing a room is out of the question, consider either adding a few essential pieces for instance, a queen or king size bed in a master bedroom that might appear too small to accommodate. Better yet (and more economical), create a ‘vignette’…a mini-scene…a cozy seating and conversation grouping. The ingredients could be as simple as one or two chairs, a small table, lamp, a touch of silk greenery. Pull it all together to create a scene or snapshot of what the room might look like. Buyers often like to sit down in a home they are considering buying to get a sense of how’d they’d feel living there. Creating a simple vignette facing a dynamic view, in front of a fireplace or in a room that oozes charm and comfort, could be the deciding factor.

A well planned strategy for selling vacant properties is imperative in all markets— sluggish or hot. Creating an inviting environment may not require adding furniture or accessories, but it does require a keen assessment of the house as to the best way to get prospective buyers to emotionally connect and picture themselves living there.

Don’t let your vacant listings leave buyers feeling empty. Set the stage and you’ll get them sold!

Deb Goetz, owner of Studio 5-d, LLC. is a former Realtor and a professional redesign and real estate stager.

With little touches around the house, on a desk, or around a dinner table, you can let the people in your life know how special they are to you. I don’t know a person who wouldn’t enjoy it!

Here are our ideas on tiny little ways to bring the Valentine spirit to your home.

It doesn’t matter a bit if red or pink don’t go with your decor. You’ll only have these special touches up for a day or two. They’ll surely bring a smile to faces!

·             Add a Bow to a Stuffed Animal

·             Tie Red Ribbons on a Chandelier or Ceiling Fixture

·            Tape a Red Ribbon on the Computer Monitor

·            String a Valentine Garland Over a Chair

·            Put a Small Vase of Flowers on the Bathroom Counter

·           Perk Up a Plant by tying a bow to a plant stick and place it in the soil

·          Purchase an inexpensive Fluffy Red Pillow for a chair or sofa

·          Don’t Forget the Candles!  Put them everywhere –  on the dining room table, a bedside table, on the bathroom counter, etc.

With simple, inexpensive and tiny touches, you can bring the spirit of Valentine’s Day to your home or office or that of your loved ones. It doesn’t take much work, but your thoughtfulness will add so much to their enjoyment of this special day. Happy Valentine’s Day!

 Deb Goetz

You wouldn’t think the reshuffling of personal belongings to make everything fit in an area would be such a challenge mentally.  Sure, moving furniture could be considered physical activity, but mentally taxing?

Well, there actually are two forms of rearranging that most certainly involve all aspects of the physical being.  Feng Shui and neuroarchitecture.

Feng Shui, is an ancient art and science developed over 3,000 years ago in China. It is a complex body of knowledge that reveals how to balance the energies of any given space to assure the health and good fortune for people inhabiting it.

Feng means wind and shui means water. In Chinese culture wind and water are associated with good health, thus good feng shui came to mean good fortune, while bad feng shui means bad luck, or misfortune. It is concerned with the flow of energy in your space to make it environmentally healthy.  This includes its physical health as well.  If a space isn’t healthy, you probably won’t be either.

Neuroarchitecture looks at how factors like light and room layout affect well-being.  “The premise is to consider how each feature of the architectural environment influences certain brain processes such as those involved in stress, emotion, and memory,” says Eve Edelstein, PhD, adjunct professor at the New School of Architecture & Design in San Diego and a research consultant to the Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture.

Neuroarchitecture is a discipline that seeks to explore the relationship between neuroscience and the design of buildings and other man made structures that make up the artificially created environment that most human beings live within. More specifically, neuroarchitecture addresses the level of human response to the components that make up this sort of built environment. The underlying purpose is to assess the impact that various structures have on the human nervous system and brain.

Whatever you call it, Feng Shui or Neuroarchitecture, determine what relaxes you, what causes stress.  Then, get your beloved possessions in the desired room, make a couple tweaks here and there, plop down in your favorite chair, take a quick glance around the room and voila!  You’ll find you can create an environment in tune with your needs and desires.

Ohm……

Sources:

 http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/homestyle/07/02/o.bed.bath.bliss/index.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feng_shui

http://fengshui.about.com/od/thebasics/qt/fengshui.htm

http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Feng_Shui/id/5612512

http://www.ecosalon.com/neuroarchitecture/

http://www.carolehyder.com/FSStories/physical.html

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-neuroarchitecture.htm

We are currently the ‘preferred designer’ for St Camillus, having just recently built a Selection Center within their facility.   This Selection Center allows current and new residents to upgrade their units with new merchandise including walk-in bathtubs, cabinetry, window treatments, countertops, closet organizers, etc.  The new Selection Center also acts as an alternative form of revenue for the facility.  Harwood Place is another client of ours and contracts Studio 5-d for the staging of a 2-bedroom unit for open houses and prospective resident tours. 

Value-Added Services:

v     Design/Selection Center planning and construction

v     Campus and private resident interior design consulting

v     Staging units and common areas

v     Facility refurbishing

v     Apartment refurbishing

o       Carpeting and flooring

o       Appliances

o       Tiled bathrooms and walk-in showers

o       Walk-in bathtubs

o       Blinds and shades

o       Custom Window Treatments and bedding

o       Faux finishing

o       Furniture packages for residents and facilities at discount prices

o       Break rooms

o       Rehabilitation areas

o       Cabinetry and countertops (including millwork)

o       Plumbing fixtures

Please feel free to contact us with any questions or for more information on our award-winning services.  

Contact me to place an order today.

Deb Goetz, Owner of Studio 5-d, LLC, is an award-winning interior designer and home staging professional serving the Greater Milwaukee Area.

If you answered “YES” to any of these questions, you should probably consider consulting with, if not hiring, a designer to help you with your decorating project. You’ll find that it’s money well-spent.

Deb Goetz, Owner of Studio 5-d, LLC, is an award-winning interior designer and home staging professional serving the Greater Milwaukee Area.

Communicate and Maintain Records

The key to a successful project outcome is good communication.  The more direct and specific you are, the easier it will be for the designer to successfully meet your needs and expectations.  Never hesitate to ask questions about any aspect of the project.  Keep notes of your discussions with the designer, and confirm any and all instructions, decisions or changes before they are acted on.  If you agree to make changes to the contract, always make sure to put them in writing and have them signed and dated by both parties.  Maintain a folder with copies of all plans and contracts, receipts, invoices and other documents. 

Before authorizing the designer to begin work, take time to discuss fees, as well as other charges or expenses you may incur.  Ask for a cost estimate in writing.  The cost estimate should specify the scope of work and the type of fee structure the designer uses.  (Bear in mind that the designer is not responsible for the costs of other professional services.)  If the designer charges extra for other services—such as reviewing plans or attending meetings with an architect or contractor—these should be listed as well, both by type and rate.

Practice Good “Clienthood”

Take your responsibilities as a client seriously.  If you are going to be very busy or on travel during this process, consider delaying the project until later or getting someone to manage it for you.  Remember, if you delegate the decision-making to the designer, you are agreeing to live with those decisions. 

To avoid disappointment or unwelcome surprises, follow these guidelines:

• Minimize changes to your plan.  Each part of the design will affect the whole.  Changes or special requests can require any number of adjustments that will add time and expenses to your project.
• Consider carefully and make notes before you call your designer.  Repeated calls are inefficient, expensive and can slow down progress.
• Stay flexible.  Decide beforehand where you are willing to compromise and where not.
• Trust your gut.  Do not agree to a decision that does not “feel” right to you, no matter how urgent it may seem to be.  Take time to request more information, do some research or just reflect.
• Avoid open-ended requests.  Tell the designer up front what you are willing to pay in total for a particular item or service.

Information provided by the American Society of Interior Designers website.

Deb Goetz, Owner of Studio 5-d, LLC, is an award-winning interior designer and home staging professional serving the Greater Milwaukee Area.

You wouldn’t think the reshuffling of personal belongings to make everything fit in an area would be such a challenge mentally. Sure, moving furniture could be considered physical activity, but mentally taxing?

Well, there actually are two forms of rearranging that most certainly involve all aspects of the physical being. Feng Shui and neuroarchitecture.

Feng Shui, is an ancient art and science developed over 3,000 years ago in China. It is a complex body of knowledge that reveals how to balance the energies of any given space to assure the health and good fortune for people inhabiting it.

Feng means wind and shui means water. In Chinese culture wind and water are associated with good health, thus good feng shui came to mean good fortune, while bad feng shui means bad luck, or misfortune. It is concerned with the flow of energy in your space to make it environmentally healthy. This includes its physical health as well. If a space isn’t healthy, you probably won’t be either.

Neuroarchitecture looks at how factors like light and room layout affect well-being. “The premise is to consider how each feature of the architectural environment influences certain brain processes such as those involved in stress, emotion, and memory,” says Eve Edelstein, PhD, adjunct professor at the New School of Architecture & Design in San Diego and a research consultant to the Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture.

Neuroarchitecture is a discipline that seeks to explore the relationship between neuroscience and the design of buildings and other man made structures that make up the artificially created environment that most human beings live within. More specifically, neuroarchitecture addresses the level of human response to the components that make up this sort of built environment. The underlying purpose is to assess the impact that various structures have on the human nervous system and brain.

Whatever you call it, Feng Shui or Neuroarchitecture, determine what relaxes you, what causes stress. Then, get your beloved possessions in the desired room, make a couple tweaks here and there, plop down in your favorite chair, take a quick glance around the room and voila! You’ll find you can create an environment in tune with your needs and desires.

Ohm……

Sources:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/homestyle/07/02/o.bed.bath.bliss/index.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feng_shui

http://fengshui.about.com/od/thebasics/qt/fengshui.htm

http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Feng_Shui/id/5612512

http://www.ecosalon.com/neuroarchitecture/

http://www.carolehyder.com/FSStories/physical.html

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-neuroarchitecture.htm