How do you bring a 1970'q home to the 21st century? First, call a Home Stager in Portland Oregon.
Our Portland-based home staging company has worked on hundreds of homes, but this one in Lake Oswego Oregon was quite a transformation. (Every day across North America this scenario plays out: the client contacts a local professional home stager for a proposal to help prepare their home for the market. In this case, it was an estate and the family wasn't sure if they should do any repairs or painting.)
When I walked through this house, I could hear it telling me "I'm actually much prettier ~ I have great potential!" It's true that homes we stage "talk" to us -- so I've learned to listen to them :-). This home wanted to be much more attractive, and it deserved it. It's in a very desirable Lake Oswego Oregon neighborhood on a 3/4 acre lot. When the client gave us the green light for staging, first we provided them with a lengthy "To Do" list which included painting, replacing light fixtures, changing out hardware, replacing flooring, installing new carpeting, deep cleaning every surface, etc. They were so motivated and got right to work! We selected the paint colors and the work began ....
UPDATE: This home was staged, listed & SOLD in just 40 days -- much faster than our local DOM average of 142! The seller wrote to us: "Thanks Maureen for all your expert advice and creative design. It really made all the difference in being able to sell my parents' home so quickly!"
Here are some Before & After photos of this staging project ... in the living room you saw white walls, white brick fireplace, old carpeting, a hodge-podge of furnishings -- no real opportunity for a buyer to make an emotional connection and fall in love with this home...
Soft brown neutral colors on the walls & fireplace, and new carpeting instantly updated this home. 
In the master bedroom white walls & old carpeting didn't invite buyers to move right in ... 
In the dining room we advised replacing the brass chandelier with something more modern, plus paint & new carpet ... 
A small bedroom is perfect for an Office - after removing the dated wallpaper & short curtains, and painting ...
The family room lacked buyer appeal "before" but like the rest of this home, had great POTENTIAL ...
If your home is languishing in the last century and needs an update .... contact your local home staging professional for help! Be prepared to do some hard work and you'll be rewarded with increased buyer interest. Don't forget the importance of good photos for the online listing ~ our company provides photos as part of our home staging services.
*** *** ***
Licensed • Insured • Accredited • Certified
2012 Professional Home Stager of the Year - Western U.S.
(Real Estate Staging Association)
Copyright © Room Solutions Staging LLC 2006-2012
"Staging That Sells Portland Homes"
Content may not be reproduced without permission.
Oh my gosh, I have that same coffee table (the one in the before photo) . Think we need you in San Diego!
Maureen, this home is really beautiful. Had the sellers moved most of their furniture out? I really like the pieces that you chose, the colors, and the decor. it's apeaceful relaxing home now.
Hi Maurine,
Wow what a difference, I loved the photos. Your sure know your stuff!
Great job Maureen! That home should sell in no time thanks to you. Any great idea to provide the photos to the sellers. Know any professionals you can refer me to in the Boston area? I'm always looking for talented professionals to offer my clients.
Wow, what awesome before and after shots - you have done a fantastic job with this house!
Really beautiful work. I love everything you did! I just wonder if these clients told you they had some furniture in the house that you could use? But when you get there, you see that everything - including the kitchen sink - has to go!
Hi Barb ~ Well to be honest, that coffee table is a popular style :-)
Hi Judi ~ Yes, the sellers removed all of the furniture and we provided everything for staging. Thanks for your feedback (by the way my great-grandmother was a Barrett).
Hi Lynda ~ Thanks so much for commenting. We stagers love hearing from Realtors!
Hi Lori ~ We're hoping for a quick sale! We think providing good quality photos taken with an ultra wide angle lens is a value-added service for our clients. (Have you checked on Active Rain for professional home stagers in the Boston area? I'm sure some good ones are listed. If you need help let me know and I'll get some names through a contact of mine.)
hi Karen ~ This was a really fun project because the sellers were so motivated to get the work done so that we could follow with staging. Thanks for stopping by.
Hi Joan ~ It's true that often, clients wonder if we can use the existing furniture....but usually in an older home we just need to bring in fresh, updated pieces to give the home a new "vibe." In this case no one was living there (it was an estate) so it made sense to start from scratch after all the cosmetic improvements had been completed.
Wow! What an impact your work has. Looks like an especially big job.
Maureen, as always awesome job...love your photos...
You are so very right.... Homes we stage do talk to us. You heard exactly what it was saying, Maureen and nailed it with your home staging.
Congratulations. Your home staging is being featured in the group Staging Before and After Pictures.
Kathy
Marueen - This may be one of my favorite before and after testimonials for staging! Absolutely!
I need you at my house. Know anyone in the Pittsburgh area?
Another wonderful make-over by unearthing the house's true character! Julie
Maureen, stunning pictures and great job. Congratulations.
Maureen, it's like a breath of fresh air for this home! You are an inspiration.
That is one AMAZING transformation.....love the new paint on the fireplace....the bedroom, dining room and office do NOT look like the same rooms or house!!!
Hi Jim ~ It was a big job but the sellers and their contractors did all the hard work after we gave them their "To Do" list. Our staging was a pleasure in this home ... I think I heard the house thanking me afterwards! :-)
Hi Mary Lou ~ glad you liked it!
Hi Kathy ~ I really do believe that if we are listening, we can hear what the house needs. Thanks for the feature!
Hi Shelley ~ That is so nice to hear .. thank you! Kind of makes all the worry and work worth it, if you know what I mean.
Hi Keith ~ Did you check here on A/R to find a stager serving Pittsburgh?
Hi Julie ~ Every home deserves to be shown at it optimum potential. These sellers were wonderful in that they allowed that potential to be unearthed.
Hi Beth ~ Many thanks for your comment ... much appreciated.
Hi Deena ~ This house really needed a breath of fresh air (I swear I heard it say this ....:-)
Hi Kathy ~ Painting the fireplace a couple of shades darker than the wall color we selected really helped it become a focal point for the room. Thanks for your feedback!
Maureen love Lake Oswego and with this house being on larger than normal acreage PLUS your great staging it will GO quickly, I've no doubt. When my recent staged to rent project goes on the sale market, I hope to do a similar treatment on the brick fireplace. Great work.
Maureen- loved what you did with the "fireplace" room. The fireplace is now warm and the whole room says "Come spend some time here". Also love the "pop" of red/orange in the pillows and art. Good work!! (as usual)
Wow Maureen - what a huge transformation! I love how you pulled it all together and let the home's true beauty show through.
Hi Ginger ~ This home is in the nicest neighborhood with stunning views of Mt. Hood -- you'd love it! Painting the brick above the fireplace was necessary to warm up the room -- it really made a difference in how buyers perceive this home.
Hi Kathy ~ Thanks, I loved helping the sellers bring this home to the 21st century. Instead of dated 1970's, it now looks modern and so much fresher.
Hi Wanda ~ This home is appealing, but that beauty was hiding ... glad you can see it now.
Maureen, can you tell me exactly what was done to paint the fireplace? I hear different things but I still don't feel like I'm sure what to do.
Hi Beth ~ The fireplace was all brick ... the painters sprayed it, since brushing it would have been very labor intensive. Since the old carpeting was being removed, spraying was a good option. I believe they may have used 2 coats. The color is Devine Mocha. The sellers also sprayed the fireplace itself with black matte heat-resistant paint, which really freshened it up.
Hi Maureen,
Isn't it amazing how these dated boxy houses come back to life with a little staging? It brings them into a whole new era. Great job!
Your vision was amazing with this home Maureen. Your staging has transformed the home into one that will appeal to todays' buyers. Great work throughout - I really appreciate how you pulled in the tile color on the fireplace.
Maureen, this makes me want you to come and stage my home, even if I'm not moving! Really good job.
I had to keep going back and looking again-the rooms do not look the same Maureen. WOW!!! Beautiful work!!
Hi Susan ~ Yes, all they need is a little attention and -- poof! -- they're so modern once again.
Hi Michele ~ The family room's red fireplace tile was remaining, so we wanted to show buyers they could work with it.
Hi Pat ~ Your comment just made my day! It would be my pleasure. Thanks for your feedback.
Hi Cathy ~ Thanks, we wanted to show buyers this home was not just a "project" but could look modern and inviting.
Gorgeous work as always Maureen! Love the pear art and the horizontal piece in the family room. I also like how you created symmetry on either side of the tall fireplace using art. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Maureen ~ Your staging definitely brought out the great features of this house. Looks fabulous!
Liz
Love it! You did an awesome job updating this "oldie but goodie". Congratulations!
Hi Annie ~ I recently acquired that fun pear art from another local stager and it worked perfectly in this home! Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Hi Liz ~ Very nice of you to stop by and support our staging group here .. thanks!
Hi Nancy ~ that's a good way to put it ..... an "oldie but goodie" and looking much better now. Glad you liked the changes.
Awesome transformation, Maureen! My first thought when I saw the before shots was "brady bunch" house. You really brought the house up to date!
Great job Maureen & congrats on being chosen for tv show.
Were the rooms saying "Thank you" as you spruced them up?
WOW! I love seeing you work. You did an amazing job. It looks like a model home.
You did just as YOU ALWAYS DO! I love lot's about the photos above, but I wish I had those pears!
Hi Sharon T. ~ Those Bradys would have been right at home here!
Hi Sharon C. ~ Yes, as a matter of fact I think I heard the house say "thanks for believing in me ..." LOL
Hi Chrissie ~ Thanks -- I was lucky to be working with motivated sellers.
Hi Karen ~ Aren't they fun? First time I've used them and they did the job they were meant to do.
Beautiful job! You mentioned Devine Mocha was the fireplace color -- what was the wall color? It's very subtle & nice. Glad you also mentioned painting the interior of the fireplace too with the right type of paint. I recommend this all the time. It is a detail often overlooked.
Hi Pangaea ~ Wall color in the living room is Devine Stone (a much warmer neutral than the stark white that was there before -- but difficult to see in these photos). I agree it's such an easy fix to update the black fireplace interiors too.
That's one wonderful transformation.
Estate work, to me, is one of the most rewarding jobs.
Maureen,
FABULOUS transformation. You made it feel so much more appealing with a subtle yet charming approach.
All the best, Michelle
Hi Virginia ~I know that you do a lot of estate work -- for me, it's not as common but it's always a good feeling if I can help the family realize the best outcome when selling the home.
Hi Michelle ~ Thanks, we wanted to make sure this home would appeal to today's buyers .... appreciate your feedback.
What a transformation, if the rest of the house was this dated, what was the kitchen like?
Hi Connie ~ The kitchen is awaiting the buyer's updates and has excellent potential. All of the bathrooms have been updated with new flooring, new light fixtures and hardware, and fresh paint.
What an interesting looking house. Looks like a great space to entertain guests. Beautiful living room.
Maureen, what a wonderful transformation! I love the soft colors on the walls, I think I've been inspired to paint!