PANTONE Marsala (Photo gallery selections: Source)

PANTONE the leading authority on color has announced their color of the year. For most, you know PANTONE by seeing the PANTONE 'color and paint' display at home improvement store Lowes. But for design insiders they are the guru's of color marketing trends - From fashion and makeup to autos and appliances, their color collections are what we see transformed into new products all over the world.

PANTONE Color Studio

So this year they selected a mellow, red/brown color "Marsala".  They say: “PANTONE 18-1438 Marsala is a daringly inviting tone that nurtures; exuding confidence and stability while feeding the body, mind and soul. Much like the fortified wine that gives Marsala its name, this robust shade incorporates the warmth and richness of a tastefully fulfilling meal, while its grounding red-brown roots point to a sophisticated, natural earthiness" I like it! There's something exciting and a bit daring about the color and such a refresh change. We've already seen it in high end fashion, but could we incorporate into our home interiors?

Marsala Color of the Year PANTONE - Fashion (Photo: Source)

Sure, it's the color of brick, wood tones or a rich berry paint color.  So if you want to warm it up or add a bit of spice to a space - incorporate away.  If you like a more neutral backdrop, try pairing the color with cooler tones, for juxtapose pairing of warm and cool.

Marsala can be translated into Home Decor options.

PANTONE also said to pair Marsala with two other 2015 trend colors - Aquamarine and Glacier Grey.  Both of these colors have a strong presence already in home decor and perhaps already in your home.  Why not add a pop up your place with easy purchased pillows, a rug or accent accessories to add a bit of Marsala to your mix?

SPRING 2015 PANTONE COLOR TRENDS

Looking to step up for more Marsala? It could be a option for creating a statement in a space. perhaps a piece of furniture, bold window treatments, or a wallpapered accent wall. Consider this new trend color and I think you too will see - there's something about Marsala.

Hooker Furniture - Bombay Chest (Photo: Hooker Furniture)

Marsala toned fabrics and textiles by Ralph Lauren (Photo: Source)

Amaryllis Centerpiece (photo: Country Living)

If you want to have some beautiful Amaryllis blooms for this year's Christmas season, start growing them now. I love having fresh or live floral in my home rather than silk or faux. These little wonders which are easy to grow - pack a huge decorative punch and create just the right ambiance for a beautifully dressed holiday home. 
You can buy Amaryllis bulbs in a nice little kit, complete with soil and a pot, or if you have just a bit of a green thumb - buy loose bulbs which you can plant collectively in a large vase or bowl.  You can purchase the kits at any home improvement store and bulbs at a garden center.  A collection of bulbs will create a lovely centerpiece or entry statement maker. A single bloom is lovely on a counter, mantle or part of a tablescape. When to start? Below is a planting and bloom guide to help you determine when to get indoor gardening.

Amaryllis Bloom Chart (photo: Source)

I added a few more pictures to get you inspired to get a bit of dirt under your nails and celebrate the season with Amaryllis. I too started a Pin Board on Pinterest with more ideas: AMARYLLIS CHRISTMAS

Amaryllis Tablescape (photo: Southern Living)

Amaryllis in Mercury Glass Vase (photo: BH&G)

Photo: Chairish

Here at Reinventing Space our philosophy is simple - Make the most of what your have, create a home with soul, a layered space with a mix of old and new, rich with poor and an infusion of color, style and a bit of the unexpected.

If you are ready to rev up your home environment, especially with the entertaining season just around the corner - color is a great launching point to inspire you to swap out, up-style and redesign your space - A simple style recipe to add a whole lot of WOW.

Advice and suggestions flourish this time of year, but here is one that offers sound advise to those of us that are all about the 'art of the mix.'

If you haven't already checked them out, discover the uber cool on-line resale shopping hub for home furnishings/decor called Chairish. A marketplace to buy, sell or be inspired.  Their tastemaker team are pros at forecasting on-trend and super chic ideas to re-style your abode.

I love how they research, then curate their current product line.

Be inspired and check out their latest BLOG post "5-Colorful Couples to Invite into Your Home".

1. The bed is the focal point of a room, so start here.  My client owns this great air bed that basically is a rolling suitcase and you unzip, plug in and within minutes POOF turns into a queen size bed.  Frontgate has a few to choose from.
2. Head Board. The head board are 2 plastic decorative fencing panels from Home Depot. I know, I know, super clever, weigh nothing and you can attach them to the wall with a nail. Instant headboard. Acurio Panels from Home Depot. 
3. Bedding. A bed should be lush & lovely.  Chic bedding, fluffy pillows, cute accent pillows -and always throw a throw at the end of the bed for a bit of interest and texture. I found this great microfiber duvet set (almost no-iron) at HomeGoods and bird accent pillow fromMichaels. (had the shell pillow and throw in my staging stock pile.) 
4. The Night stand is a butler tray table. A butler tray is meant to be mobile, so easy open and close. This is a great what I call "Good Bones" piece of furniture.  The tray comes off and the base just folds up.  I found a close one on Amazon: Crosley Palm Harbor Outdoor Wicker Butler Tray 
5. Lamp.  Just make sure is substantial enough to work with the scale of the bed.

A great color pairing - Blue & Orange.  Sophisticated, cool and grounded, BLUE mixes with a spicy, lively and warm ORANGE. During a quick trip to order a few chairs at Pier One today - I paused at an entry display that caught my eye.  As I waited for the sales person to check on stock, I browsed the store combining the hues.

Coral Chambray Napkin

Indigo Floral Dinnerware

Carmilla Dining Chair - Blue Damask

Temple Jar - Orange

Faux Croc Persimmon Tray

Lexford Chest - Navy

Aster Quatrefoil Tile Pillow

Petals Lumbar Pillow - Orange

Aster Jacobean Pillow

A house cleaner moved home staging - shower curtain pushed to other side, accessories squished.

Ahhh.. cleaning people.  The coveted crew that makes us, the Home Stager, happy and horrified at the same time. In our perfect world, the cleaning people sweep in just prior to our detailed obsessed styling when we stage a home.  We love them because they're the experts in cleaning and polishing a home to make it fabulous for the prospective buyer.  The down side is, they clean the home after our job is done, moving what we've styled, squishing our perfectly placed accessories and moving everything around from furniture to window treatments in their quest for a tidy home - forgetting to put all those things back.

Our obsession with perfection has a goal - it produces a great online photo and gives the room optimum visual appeal. We take spaces and stage and style them not only visually appealing, but attractive to everyone who takes a peek. We showcase the best of the room which is why it is important to retain the product we produce.

Here are some ways a homeowner can preserve the integrity of the original staging.
1.) Have an photo archive of the recent staging for each room on your cell for reference.
2.) Print out a picture of the room/space and slip it into a plastic protector for the cleaning crew.
3.) Have a plastic storage bin that can house and protect staging props when the space is being occupied for daily usage or cleaned.

Here in Chicago, we are waiting patiently for spring to arrive after a very long, cold and snowy winter.  I woke up this morning to a wash of white again! Just a dusting of snow, but I’m so ready to see the green of my lawn. I'll take any green!!

I know its coming - the migrating birds are back, there are buds on my trees and I can see the chartreuse green tips of my daffodils pushing their way up in my garden beds. With spring outside on pause, if you're wishing for spring like me, why not give your home interiors a bit of a spring redecorating.  I have been rearranging and styling mine, storing away items that remind me of winter – heavy throws, pinecones, dark colored accessories and of course a few rogue Christmas items. 

I wrote this blog post 4 years ago after the death of my brother, it was his birthday last week - He would of been 59. I miss him.  This week, 15 years ago, I took a leap and started my interior redesign and staging business. My motivation for starting my business? My Mom's death.

Sometimes some of your life's biggest trials create the best motivation and teach you the most important lessons in life.



Posted October 2009.

My adventures in my business are never expected. The other night I had a few home staging evaluations back to back – The final at seven in the evening.  I don’t set many evening appointments, but the seller had a tight schedule, so I was happy to accommodate. Winter in Chicago, it's dark. As I drove down the street looking for the right house number, my GPS told me I had arrived – But to my dismay, I couldn’t see the house numbers.  Many of the homes lacked exterior lights, were nondescript from the street, and one looked kind of scary.

(Source)

When selling your home, do not overlook the marketing opportunity to make your home show as well in the evening as it does in the day. You will get evening showings, especially if the target buyer of your home is a dual income family, so don’t lose them at the curb or beyond.

I've been helping people prepare and package their home now for 15 years as a home stager and stylist. Your home is the most expensive thing you’ve ever bought, so if you are selling  – wouldn’t you want it to look its very best?  

The adage that you get one chance to make a 1^st impression rings very loud and very clear when it comes to selling a home. There are simple, fundamental home staging guidelines to create a great impression that need to be applied. This sage advice is not revolutionary. It will cost you either a bit of elbow grease or maybe some cash, but if you choose not to follow this advice, your competition gets the edge.
#1. The Virtual Invitation:   Today’s buyers are not driving around looking for FOR SALE signs, they’re looking on-line and if the MLS photos don’t cut the mustard, they’re not picking up the phone to book an appointment. 

(Source - Reinventing Space)

(Source TOH)

#3. Time on the Stoop:  As your Realtor is retrieving the key, your potential buyers are inspecting the stoop.  A front door in its prime, a new, substantial door mat, cleaned or replaced porch lighting, a working door bell and a nice container garden or potted plant sets the stoop stage.

(Source BHG)

(Source LUSH)