Archive for December 2011

Who Knew We Were So Popular?!!!!!

I have to admit....the three of us are blushing a little! Well.... actually a lot! So far this month, we've been featured in The Lane Report, TOPS Magazine, Kentucky Monthly, The Herald Leader, and a number of other magazines and newspapers in the area! It seems we're everywhere!

Stuart wrote a great article for the Lane Report about Holiday decorating! If you would like to read the article, make sure you find the magazine, or you can download the article here.







Dwayne has a home that he's decorated for years featured in TOPS magazine! There are several great pages of wonderful classic and traditional Kentucky touches in this one! How can you go wrong with classic!? And Dwayne definitely proves that with this home!


And don't miss Kentucky Monthly this month! There are several pages of Christmas touches that I worked on. Here's a little inside information! All of the photos for KM's Christmas part was taken at Dwayne's home in Paris! And his children really did make the finger paint canvas seen in the magazine! AND YES....those really are his framed family recipes on the hutch! :)

Try not to miss any of the stories out there about house this month, and even more...don't forget to share them with your friends!!!!

Tips on Selling Your Home During the Holidays

As the weather outside gets frightful, and people are focused on Black Friday sales and what Roast Beast they'll be serving is there hope for those who have their home FOR SALE?

A home can be sold during the holidays if you apply a few rules and stage your home properly.

Here in Chicago, our winter holidays are an open invitation to go WAY over board with the concept of "Decking the Halls" -With too many trims, lights and blow-up seasonal icons bellowing on our front yards.


Deck the halls in key "Showcase" areas of your home - Such as your kitchen island.
My business, Reinventing Space  had the pleasure to be featured a few weeks ago in a clever and informative article on Selling Your Home During the Holidays in the Chicago Tribune - "Make holiday home sale a reality."




Here is some key advice from the article:

•Those left combing the market during November and December are typically more serious about the home hunt, Spreen said. They might include families relocating for job changes, first-timers ready to leap during a slow market, and those who've recently sold a home and need a new place to live.

•"You'll have fewer showings, but they'll be more powerful," said Dennis Dooley, managing broker with Prudential Rubloff Properties. Holiday season buyers are typically "motivated and financially ready," he added.

•Deck the halls with restraint. Holiday decorations make homes festive and buyers merry. But too many ornaments, wreaths and garlands can obscure views, make rooms feel smaller and distract buyers from their true purpose: deciding whether or not your home is right for them.

•And think twice before displaying decorations specific to your religious or cultural heritage, said interior stylist Julea Joseph, owner of Reinventing Space in Palos Park, since it makes it more difficult for others who don't share your background or beliefs to envision themselves living in the space.

•Photographs should picture the home as it appears in the current season, but sellers may want to capture and post additional shots of summer landscaping to give a hint of what lies ahead.

•Tap the spirit. Light the fireplace if you have one. Decorate with a pretty throw. Make your home cozy, and someone else might want to nest there.

•Clear the schedule. Since buyers are likely to be fewer in number during the dark days of winter, be ready to accommodate the interest you do have.


Deck the halls "lite" when your home is on the market during the holidays.



















Since 1999, certified interior stylist Julea Joseph has owned Chicago area based interiors and home staging business - Reinventing Space. Your can see her work on HGTV or in the news giving homeowners expert insight on how to refresh, style and celebrate their space -Whether staging their home to go on the market, just settling in, or just in need of a change.  Julea also offers her expertise with mentoring and certification educational offerings to Realtors, Home Stagers and Interior Redesigners in the industry. Visit her site, JULEA.com or Interior Stylist Program. For more information 708.448.7500 or email her at Julea@Julea.com.