Peggy Johnson - Charlotte NC Home Stager

In Charlotte and Lake Norman North Carolina Redesign +More Peggy Johnson offered these tips to real estate professionals. 

From the cabinets to the appliances, to redesign to staging your home find out how to ensure a successful renovation.

Renovating your kitchen will add ease to your lifestyle and value to your home. Here are the 10 most important things to consider when you're updating your kitchen.

1 Use quality materials. -quality drawer slides and hinges mean cabinet doors will stay closed and drawers won't stick. Stay away from drawers that are stapled together or made of particleboard. For cabinet interiors, wood veneer is more durable than melamine, laminate, MDF or particleboard.

2 Determine cabinet heights. If you have eight-foot ceilings, choose cabinets that go to the ceiling. They offer more storage, enabling you to use extra wall space for artwork or open shelves. If your ceilings are higher than eight feet, leave 15 to 18 inches above the cabinets.

3 Decide whether to paint or stain. Though stained-wood cabinetry is forgiving, most finishes date quickly and aren't easily altered. Brush-painted cabinets can lend a unique personality.

4 Select an elegant counter top. White Carrara marble (honed or acid washed and sealed) and stained wood add elegance and warmth. also honed Kirk stone slate, soapstone and Wiarton limestone, and plastic laminate with a wood edge for a sophisticated look.

5 Install an island that works. Beware of placing a bulky cube in the middle of the room. We like islands that have an open, airy look. Ideally, an island should be unencumbered by appliances, but if you want it to house a dishwasher-sink combo or a cook top, try to maintain the light look of a leggy harvest table.

6 Don't overdo the details. Design accents such as pediments over stoves and plaster molding's on cabinet fronts can represent decorative excess. Remember that the style of your kitchen should be compatible with the rest of your home.

7 Avoid maintenance nightmares. Natural surfaces with inherent texture -- slate, terra-cotta, brick and tumbled marble are more difficult to clean but camouflage the odd crumb. Smooth surfaces in light colors, such as white laminate counters or ceramic floors, are easy to clean but show everything. And as much as we love stainless steel, it's not easy to keep smudge-free.

8 Stick to basic appliances. Instead of lots of appliances and gadgets, consider selecting a few reliable basics. For example, a commercial-quality stainless-steel range makes an interesting focal point and takes up less space than separate wall ovens and a cook top.

9 Incorporate an adjacent dining room. A clever design, plus the appropriate lighting and furniture, will let you adapt the room's atmosphere to suit any occasion. Consider a banquette designcombined with slip covered chairs for an efficient use of space.

10 Add interest. Your kitchen should reflect you, not look like a showroom. Before designing the space, search for a piece of unique furniture and use it in your design. A room full of floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall kitchen cabinets looks boring and uninspired.

Decorating is like fashion the little black dress and that perfect white shirt you can always count on.

1. Leather Club Chair - Ideal for conversation and reading. A leather chair gets more comfy and softer as it ages if leather is not for you choose your favorite fabric.

2. Decorative Throw - Throws are great for accenting and decorating a chair or sofa.Cashmere will always work any time of the year faint designs add visual interest to a room without overpowering it.

3. Sofa- A ample loft sofa is one that you can stretch out, sleep on and seats at least three. Wood construction should be of quality and offer durable sinuous springs. Down filled and combo foam are very comfortable and hold the sofa's shape as well.

4. Wool Area Rug - A rug anchors your space and can bring your room to life. Subtle patterns and neutral colors are a good choice. Properly caring for your rug will result in a long-lasting rug.

5. Set the table - Using stainless steel flatware. Smooth and dense is how you want it to feel in your hands. A combination of simple and classic design is one you will enjoy for many years and its ideal for casual or formal occasion's.

6. Crystal Vase- Looks beautiful on its own, or filled with magnificent white flowers or seasonal colorful decorations like shells, pine cones or fruit. Look for a vase with clean lines it will never go out of style.

7. Round Pedestal Dining Table - Seats 6 to 8, 48" in diameter this is a relaxing way to entertain and dine with your guest and family. Your guest will feel right at home as they sit back and enjoy conversation without ever bumping a knee or a table leg.

8. Crystal and Fine Glassware - Wine and liqueur connoisseurs it taste the best when sipping from crystal or fine glassware. Shape and the size of the glass should always feel pleasing to the hand and complement a drinks bouquet.

9. 500 or More Thread-Count Cotton Bedding -  A smart investment. Soft, polished white bed linens make you feel like you are sleeping on a bed of clouds. Expand your collection as your budget allows.

10.White Dishware - Allows food and its presentation to show. You can mix using various designs and shades of white. Make sure your dishes are chip-resistant, dishwasher and microwave safe.

Decorating with Peggy in Charlotte North Carolina

 Great Redesign Tips Charlotte NC

Designate a Study Area for the kids before you start your redesign

Does your child believe that lying on the floor with his laptop on his lap, music turned up and a cell phone ringing is proper study time? I think it's time to create a space that provides productive study time.

•Interior Space. Choose a space in your home that will allow a since of peace and quiet. In the kitchen create an area that is in a corner, family room and bedrooms can work as long as you have the proper space to lay out your books and materials.

•Desk. Invest in a desk that is solid and well constructed it will be worth it and it will last. Children tend to be hard on furniture.  Choose a desk that has a comfortable work area.

•Lighting.  Use a desk lamp that has good light pattern that will cover a large area, this helps in preventing eye strains.

•Chair.  A Comfortable chair is essential. Find an ergonomic chair this will maximize productivity and reduce discomfort. Seat cushions in bright fun colors and patterns will help your child stay at the desk to his / her homework is complete.

•Storage.  Storage space is a must. Keep plenty of plastic boxes with labels and shelves this will help your child put away his or her things.  Bright colors will make organizing easier and more fun.

•Compliment.  Create places and interior spaces for your child to display accomplishments, like gold stars, awards, art work and a job well done. A reminder of what we achieved is something we all like to see.

Children who have a study space of their own can develop good study habits.  Choosing the right colors and furnishings for that interior space may help your child develop a sense of ownership in the interior space, and having your children study will help the parents relax. It's a positive for everyone.

Have fun with your redesign.

Home Stager Charlotte NC suggest

Using paint is a simple and cost-effective way to completely restore and revive any area in the home. There is such a wide choice of color in paints, wallpapers, furniture and fabrics, allowing us to make our own designs and statements with color. With so many choices, where do we begin? Choosing the correct scheme for a room can transform a space from a tired living area into a stylish one. The right decisions made early can have a dramatic effect that can even add value to your property.

There are many factors to consider before you begin the work of filling space with color. A little practical knowledge and creative inspiration can go a long way in helping you to make the right choices. Ask yourself some of these questions when choosing color.

•·        What is the room to be used for?

•·        Who uses the room the most?

•·        What time of day will the room be used the most?

•·        How much natural light does the room receive?

•·        What important architectural features are there in the room?

•·        Which large pieces of furniture are, or will be, in the room?

•·        Which colors are featured in the rooms directly adjacent to the room?

•·        What feelings and emotions do you want the room to convey?

Simple color rules from Home Stager Charlotte NC

There are good basis upon which to build ideas, but with so many paint colors, application techniques and surfaces available to us today, we can easily go beyond the basic principles.

•Ø All reds go together, as do all pinks. Certain shades of red and pink together can be great for a rich, passionate living room or a pastel floral bedroom.

•Ø Soft oranges are fantastically warming and darker oranges must be used in moderation.

•Ø Brown looks great with orange. Turquoise and cool grays are good complimentary colors to orange.

•Ø Yellows go well with greens and oranges. Blues and yellows (complementary colors) create a classic interior combination for an upbeat, fresh environment. 

 •Ø Green is often used like a neutral color to balance a room since certain shades of green, such as soft sage, can go with almost any other color.

 •Ø All blues go together and all greens go together. Shades of blue and green are fantastic together at all levels of intensity, from pale sky and duck egg through to dark inks and peacocks.

 •Ø Shades of violet can work well together. But may be too overpowering for most. Violets also look great with greens. Blue violets work well with cool blues, and red violets look beautiful with soft pinks.

 •Ø Grays and neutrals mix together well for a classic backdrop of unobtrusive tones, and such colorless palettes have been popular in the past and continue to be used today. Almost any color can be mixed with neutrals and grays to create unusual and stunning interiors.

Color & Mood

Certain color groups will often inspire particular emotions. There are several emotions which certain groups have been recognized as inspiring. These emotions can be altered dramatically depending on the depth or tone of the color, but the basic principles are worth remembering when deciding on your color palette.

Pinks are fun, lively, positive and feminine.

Reds are passionate, daring, intimate and comforting.

Oranges stimulate creativity and are warming and cozy.

Yellows are welcoming and sunny, Strong yellow are said to help the brain work better.

Greens represent nature and are tranquil and invigorating as well as restful and balancing.

Blues are connected to the sky and to water, and they are associated with clear thinking and calm, meditative environments.

Violets can be stimulating and sexy, while blue violets can be cooling and spiritual.

Home Staging and Interior Redesign Charlotte North Carolina

Our economy is scaling back on expenses and today people are focusing on the concept of interior re-design, as opposed to design. Redesign involves using furniture you already have and giving it new view, or moving it into new rooms for a change of scenery.

Neutral colors also help a property look best in photographs online, which is where potential buyers first make the decision to look at a house or condo in person. One way to pull off economical re-design in the home is to paint using neutral wall paint colors. Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams have a wonderful selection of neutrals. Neutral colors will add a clean and fresh backdrop. As the housing market tries to bounce back in 2009, home owners will lean towards a neutral palette when re-painting the rooms in their home.

The investment in paint and time is an inexpensive way to achieve the design look without the design dollars. 

Redesign + More is committed to being your valuable resource for successfully selling your listings.

The Benefits to Partnering with  Peggy Johnson Home Stager Charlotte NC

* Detailed On-site Home Staging Consultation.

* Home Stager will develop a Top Ten Action Report Includes the Key Rooms and More

 Our Realtor Referral:

* All Realtor Agents receive a discounted fee for a 1 hour home staging consultation.

* If you refer an Agent and the Agent locks in a date for a consultation Redesign + More will give you and your referred agent a 40% off on the next booked consultation.

* Partnering and long lasting relationships are important we take it a step further give us your MLS # and we will post on our Home Staging networking sites Active Rain, Twitter, Facebook, Google Blogs and more.

We are here to help you attract a range of buyers and more showings.

Please email peggyjohnson@redesignplusmore.com

Home Staging in Charlotte NC