In a nutshell, here are the steps used in redesign:

1. Determine the needs of the client and the purpose of the room.
2. Empty the room.
3. Determine the desired focal point of the space — is it an architectural element such as a fireplace, or a “moving” focal point, such as a sofa?
4. Bring furniture pieces back into the room, placing them appropriately for the desired function and feel of the space, working from the largest pieces to the smallest.
5. Accessorize the room, being careful not to overdo it.
6. Determine which key pieces are missing and come up with a shopping list of items to purchase as the budget allows.
7. Enjoy your new space!

Shown below is the “before” shot of a room with poorly placed furniture. The main entrances to the room were from the left, but they were all cut off by the sectional.

Family Room with Misplaced Furniture

In this shot you can see that the room has been opened up to the left entrances by repositioning the furniture.

Family Room After Redesign

In addition, we brought in much needed lamps and repositioned a few accessories.  The “new room” has now been restructured for better function and flow.

Redesign is really a simple process once you understand the basics and have a feel for placement. I recently worked with a client on an interior color consultation. I noticed that the painting she had hung in her family room above the fireplace really wasn’t appropriate for the space in terms of color or size, but thought it might work well in the living room. We moved it to the new space and it completely transformed her room! It’s typically the little “tweaks” that make the biggest difference in a space.

If a room in your home is just not working for you, give this Atlanta redesigner a call: 770-843-2307. You might have too much furniture, poorly positioned furniture, or misplaced accessories. Together we will transform your space and turn it into something you will love to come home to.

If you want your home to glow, the colors to flow, and the clutter to go, contact Patsy Overton Interiors.    770-843-2307  Accredited, Licensed, Insured

How 'bout those polka dots!!!

Yes, Newt stopped by for a photo while my son, John, didn’t see anything special in the moment and continued to eat his ice cream bar.  If only the school had called me in for a color consultation before painting the walls that icky yellow/green!

Family Room

Please notice the seven different color samples painted on the wall.  As an Atlanta color consultant I see this sort of thing on a regular (almost daily) basis.   I asked, “Do you mind if I take a few photos and post a blog on your color samplings?”  The homeowner replied, “Oh, you’ll have lots of photo ops in this home.  Feel free!”  She was right.  I had hit the jackpot.  The family room was just the beginning.

Sun Porch

I can’t tell you how often I go into homes and see an array of paint colors sampled on the walls.

Foyer with Confused Doggie

Notice the poor little “cone-head” doggie.  He had an injury on his leg.  “Mom & dad” had to put him in a cone to prevent him from aggravating the wound.  I think even he is confused by all the colors on the walls.

Dining Room

Here is what normally happens.  The homeowners decide to paint.  They hire a painter.  The painter hands them a fan deck and says, “Let me know when you’ve decided which colors you want to use.”  (The painters have learned NOT to get involved in helping their clients make color selections.  It is a tedious process than can eat up way too much of their time — plus, they don’t want to be held responsible.)  So the homeowners start pouring over the fan deck.  They see some things they “think” they like, then start buying samples of the colors to throw on the walls.  The more they put up, the more confused they become.  Finally, they throw up their hands and declare, “We don’t know what we are doing.  Where can we find an Atlanta color consultant?  We need professional help!”

Master Bedroom

The main problem I’ve found is that people simply don’t know where to start in making their selections.  In this case, we began in the kitchen working from the existing flooring and tile which was not going to change.  From there, we methodically worked our way from room to room making sure we were creating a good flow of color.  When I go back to help with the decorating, I will take “after” photos and post them for you.

I want to thank these homeowners for letting me share photos of their home to make a point.  If you can’t decide which paint colors to use, call Patsy Overton Interiors BEFORE you spend a fortune on sample cans of paint.  A recent client said, “For what I spent on sample cans, I could’ve paid your fee!”  That’s the idea.

If you want your home to glow, the colors to flow and the clutter to go, call Patsy Overton Interiors.  770-843-2307  Accredited, Licensed, Insured.

First, a fresh coat of paint is a necessity.  If your walls are covered with dated wallpaper, get rid of it.  If they are colorful, neutralize them.  When thinking about what you need to do to your home, always think about what most people will be attracted to.  While your tangerine walls may be beautiful and right on trend, most people will not want them.  Shown below is a bedroom that was painted for selling.  I selected Sherwin-Williams 6197 “Aloof Gray.”  (If you would like to see more photos of this beautiful Atlanta home that was staged a couple of weeks ago,  click here.)

Freshly Painted Master Bedroom - SW6197 "Aloof Gray"

Second, take a good look at your flooring.  If the carpet is worn, nasty, or in a ghastly color like blue or hunter green, have it replaced.  If it is dirty, have it professionally cleaned.  If it just needs spot cleaning, I highly recommend Spot Shot or Krud Kutter.  Both products are true miracle workers.

Third, remove any dated window treatments.  Notice I didn’t say they need to be replaced — just remove the old ones.  There is nothing like dated window treatments that screams “so ten years ago” to a prospective buyer.  Yes, I have custom window treatments in my own home and know how expensive they can be, but if they are dated and past their prime they need to come down.  Shown below is a staged family room with no fabric on the windows.  See how nice they look!  Even if they had simple blinds instead of the plantation shutters, they would still look fresh and clean.

No Dated Window Treatments

Fourth, update tired lighting and bathroom fixtures.  Pictured below are before & after shots of an updated basement bathroom.  Notice the dated countertops are still there, but what a difference regardless!  If you were a buyer, which bathroom would you be more drawn to?

Dated Bathroom - ugh!

Updated Bathroom - much more appealing!

There was much work to be done once the homeowners were out.  Every room received a fresh coat of paint, new carpet was laid, the kitchen cabinets were painted and light maintenance issues were taken care of.  Finally, just last week, I went back to stage the vacant property.  Shown below are before & after shots of the living and dining rooms:

Living Room - before

Living Room - staged

This space has come to life with furnishings and accessories.  I actually built the room around the large canvas artwork which belongs to the homeowners.  Using that large-scale piece and taking into consideration the beautiful white marble floors which run throughout the main floor, a color scheme of red, white and black was appropriate.  I especially love the zebra chair and ottoman for a bit of whimsey.

Next, here are photos of the master bedroom:

Master Bedroom - before

Master Bedroom - staged

This master bedroom is HUGE!  As you can see, it contains a bay window with ample room for a full-sized sofa, fireplace, vaulted ceiling, and a coffee bar with cabinetry (not shown).  Also, the office shown below actually overlooks the master bedroom on the second level, fireplace side.  The spaces are separated by a railing.

Office overlooking the master bedroom.

This great space could also be used as a nursery or workout area.

And, finally, every home needs a sauna and walk-in safe, right?  See below:

Sauna

Door to Walk-in Safe

This Atlanta staged home truly has it all!  If you are interested in a showing, here is contact information:

Address:  409 Angier Ct., NE in The Enclave (gated community)

Contact:  Mansoor Sufder at 404-934-6838

If you are in need of a professional, certified Atlanta home stager, contact Patsy Overton at 770-843-2307.

Patsy Overton Interiors

POInteriors.com

A couple of years ago I staged a beautiful Alpharetta home.  Shown below is the “before” shot of the foyer:

Foyer - before

This was a very large foyer with a spectacular star inlay in the center of the floor, which I didn’t want to cover up; but the eye needed a place to rest and something to focus on.  Here is the “after” shot:

Foyer - after

Although this was a home staging job, this is the perfect example of redesign work.  The space was actually empty when I got there, unlike what you see in the first photo above.  I found the glass-top table in the living room, the arrangement in the upstairs hallway, the mirror in a secondary bedroom and the chair in the breakfast area.  What a difference this made in giving a great first impression of the home!

If you are decorating your home for your own pleasure or staging it to sell, don’t neglect the foyer.  A great first impression is crucial!  Don’t know where to begin?  Then call Patsy, your Atlanta home staging, decorating and redesign expert for help!  770-843-2307

If you want your home to glow, the colors to flow and the clutter to go, call Patsy Overton Interiors.  770-843-2307  Accredited, Licensed, Insured. 

Color never sleeps.

Sam had purchased a house in his own subdivision from neighbors who had fallen on hard times financially.  The plan was to purchase the home at auction on the courthouse steps, freshen it, sell it, then share the gain with the former owners.  Wouldn’t we all like to have a neighbor like Sam!

I received a follow-up email from him a few weeks ago.  Here’s what he had to say:   “I’ve been meaning to send you a note and share the wonderful comments I had on the colors you selected for 9020 Etching Overlook in Ammersee Lakes.  The house sold 38 days after listing, even in this horrible market.  The commercial paint contractor whom I hired was totally complementary and said that ‘your decorator sold the house.’”

So what did this Atlanta decorator, home stager and color consultant do?  Decorate the home by bringing in lots of accessories to high-light all the great selling features?  No.  Stage the home by bringing in rental furniture to this vacant property?  No, again.  So, what did I do?  I simply performed a color consultation to neutralize the existing hues and high-light key areas of the home to make it more appealing to the masses.  Yes, you heard me — that was it.  I met Sam at the property, walked the home noting the large open spaces, closed off rooms and bedroom suites, and advised him what colors to use throughout the house.

I don’t have before and after photos of Sam’s home, so I’m going to share with you pictures of another home where the wall colors were neutralized in much the same way.  BTW, this staged home sold in two days!

Living Room - before

Living Room - after

Dining Room - before

Dining Room - after

I don’t know about the housing market in your area, but in Atlanta we are still experiencing a record number of foreclosures and have a saturated inventory.  So, can the right paint colors sell a home?  You be the judge.

If you want your home to glow, the colors to flow and the clutter to go, call Patsy Overton Interiors.  770-843-2307  Accredited, Licensed, Insured.

“So many colors, so little time.“

Several weeks ago I met with a new client in Duluth for an exterior color consultation.  Alina and her husband had been trying to sell their beautiful two-story home for a number of months.  While the home is in immaculate condition both inside and out, there was still a problem.  Take a look at the “before” photos below to see if you can determine what needed to be corrected:

Duluth Home - before

Duluth Home - before

Yes, as lovely as the home was, the exterior paint color had a definite pinkish hue.  Alina knew this was something that needed to be corrected in order to sell the home.  So how did this color consultant work with the homeowner to determine which palette to go with?  Here are the steps we took:

1. We drove the neighborhood to determine the right “look” and “feel” that would be appropriate.
2. We took note of the homes on either side and across the street from this home, being careful not to duplicate their colors.
3. I pointed out the unchanging elements of Alina’s home — namely the charcoal gray roof and stark white window sashes — which we had to work from.
4. Knowing that the current trend is toward gray, we came up with the palette shown below.

While Alina loved the new palette, she still lived in fear of the colors turning pink on her.  After several reassuring phone calls, she took a deep breath and had the house painted by Bill Siegel with CertaPro.  Shown below are the final results:

Duluth Home - after

Duluth Home - after

Now the home is no longer “in the pink” and Alina is thrilled.  Here is what she had to say in a follow-up email:  “Patsy, it’s STUNNING!!!!  Pictures don’t do it justice. Just the look I envisioned. You are a genius. Thank you so much. Now I don’t want to move!!!!”

I want to thank Alina for her testimonial and for allowing me to share her story and photos with you.  As the home was painted only a few weeks ago, to my knowledge it is still on the market.  If you are looking for a beautiful, spacious home in Duluth, you might like to put this one on your list.  Here are the particulars:

• 7040 Sweet Creek Road, Johns Creek, GA  30097
• Sugar Mill Subdivision
• 6 bedrooms, 4 full baths, 1 half bath
• Contact:  Lynn & Mitch Wieskopf, Harry Norman Realtors at 770-418-0990 or mwieskopf@aol.com

Is your home “in the pink”?  If so, you need professional help!  Call today to schedule your color consultation with Patsy.

If you want your home to glow, the colors to flow and the clutter to go, call Patsy Overton Interiors.  770-843-2307  Accredited, Licensed, Insured.

I had just returned from Little Rock, having spent three days training under Tobi Fairley, an outstanding designer with a national reputation who has frequent magazine spreads.  If you are not familiar with her work, here are a few photos to bring you up to speed:

Tobi Fairley Designs

Tobi Fairley Designs

Tobi Fairley Designs

As you can see, Tobi enjoys incorporating lots of color in her designs.  One of her signatures is painted furniture, which gives an incredible updated look to traditional pieces that, otherwise, would look like “grannyish.”  To see more of Tobi’s beautiful work, click here for her portfolio.

So what does Tobi Fairley have to do with my recent Atlanta color consultation?  Take a look at the photos below:

Ginger's Dining Room

Can you believe it?  As soon as I walked through the door my mouth dropped open and the words “Tobi Fairley” popped out.  Ginger Moore, my client, said, “I love Tobi Fairley’s designs and saw on your website that you had just been to her design camp.”  Wow!  Ginger has totally captured the Tobi Fairley look with the complimentary color scheme of orange and turquoise and the beautifully hand-painted furniture and ceramic lamps.  In addition, take note of the totally cool light fixture which Ginger crafted herself by combining two separate fixtures.  Go girl!!!  Also, notice the lighter hue of turquoise Ginger has used on the ceiling which beautifully gives the room its finishing touch.  Very nice!

Next, take a look below at her living room, which she has turned into a reading room for herself, her daughter and friends:

Ginger's Reading Room

Isn’t this adorable?  Once again you see the Tobi Fairley inspiration with the pairing of orange and turquoise.  When I mentioned the framed silhouettes of her children, she told me those were done years ago at Disney World.  That was very interesting, as this is also a look that Tobi has incorporated into her designs.  Maybe she made a recent trip to Disney World herself! 

And one last photo of a grouping in her family room:

Ginger's Family Room

Aren’t you impressed with Ginger’s designs?  I certainly was!  This was definitely one of those jobs where I walked through the door and asked, “Now what on earth am I doing here?”  As it turned out, Ginger wanted me to help her select a new color for her family room to better coordinate with the undertones of her sofa.  In that area she utilizes softer tones of aqua in a large area rug, accent pillows, and artwork.  With that in mind, here are the colors we selected:

Ginger's Color Palette

She will use Believable Buff on three walls of her family room, Quietude on the two-story accent wall and as an accent color on her bookshelves, and Antique White on the brick fireplace.

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you — Ginger also paints her own canvases!

I want to thank Ginger for allowing me to post these photos of her home so you could all enjoy her beautiful work.  Also, they are a great representation of how you can take a “look” from designers whose work inspires you (like Tobi Fairley) and make it your own.  Well done, Ginger!

If you need the help of an Atlanta color consultant, call Patsy at 770-843-2307.  Patsy does both interior and exterior consultations.

“So many colors, so little time.”