The Interior Design Tips You Need to Know

Urban Presentations’ Senior Property Stylist Roya Akbari’s latest project.

Before-and-after photos tend to mislead, tricking us into believing that room transformations are easy. Truth is, a lot of strategizing, planning and hard work goes into the before-and-after room transformation photos you see online.

Wondering how you can transform the rooms in your home? We've got you covered with the basics below.

Hang it right. A beautiful painting or piece of artwork will look far better when hung at the right height. Keeping a consistent centre line throughout your home helps create a sense of harmony. As a general rule, aim to place the centre of your artwork at eye level.

Mirrors matter. Not only do mirrors add light and depth to a room, but they can reflect views, visually expand a space, and be the feature piece of a room. Did we mention their practicality? A mirror is a great investment and one that will make a huge difference when it comes to the look and feel of your space.

Switch up your shapes. Most living rooms will have a lot of rectangles and squares – it’s simply the nature of those bigger furniture items such as sofas, sideboards and shelving units. If you notice your space has lots of lines and right angles, think about adding some circles. A round coffee table, a pair of round side tables, a round rug, a round wall hanging – the options are endless!

Focus on your feature piece. Let's be honest: a room isn't complete without a feature piece! These pieces should be something that will surprise, delight and make an impact. It might be an oversized piece of furniture in a bold colour, a fabulous rug, a work of art, or a feature wall. This piece is designed to steal the spotlight. It should be the thing you fell in love with the moment you saw it, (and that you might even be prepared to splurge on).

Create the illusion of height. Do you have low ceilings? Choose low-profile furniture such as sofas and coffee tables to create the illusion of room height. Boost this with tall, slim bookshelves that draw the eye upwards and make walls and windows appear taller. Mixing different heights in this way will also help create a relaxed vibe in your home.

If you don't love it, it's time to lose it. It’s surprising how often clients point to an item in their home and say “Hate that!” We so desperately want our homes to feel finished that we often rush decisions and give in to impulse buys that weren’t really right — but you can and must love your home and every room in it. That means filling it with things that have meaning and memories attached to them and parting ways with the pieces you don't truly love.

Remember to work rugs into the room. Rugs are one thing we frequently note is missing from clients’ homes. Rugs help not only to anchor a room but to add colour, texture and softness. Need to carve up a large, open-plan space into separate zones? A rug is your number-one tool. Rugs are also relatively inexpensive for the impact they create but remember that size matters! Be generous with the size of your rug, and don’t forget the on-the-rug rule for your living room: go bigger to ensure that at least two legs of every furniture piece in the living area are sitting on the rug.

At Urban Presentations, we are here to help you prepare your property for sale!

Our team of talented property stylists provides gorgeous designs, on-trend staging furnishings and exceptional client care.

Whether you need full-service staging or a professional consultation give us a call at 604-875-0566 or email us at info@urbanpresentations.com to see how we can help you UPStage your space!

Want to buy a home from an estate sale? Here's what you need to know.

Urban Presentations’ Senior Property Stylist Roya Akbari’s latest project.

Urban Presentations’ Senior Property Stylist Roya Akbari’s latest project.

All good things are worth waiting for, so if you fall in love with a home that's being sold in an estate sale, the wait may very well be worth your while! That said, buying a home from an estate sale can present a few additional issues to keep in mind before sealing the deal. Here's what you need to consider before purchasing your next piece of real estate through an estate sale.

Ensure the estate has been probated. Until the estate has been probated (the court process by which a will is proved valid or invalid), title to the property cannot be transferred into your name.

Make your offer subject to inspection in an estate sale. Making an offer should be subject to inspection since the homeowner isn't around to tell you about the condition of the home. Avoid any unpleasant surprises by securing yourself an inspection before sealing the deal.

Consider requesting a written appraisal of the home you'd like to buy. You may also want a written appraisal of the home to ensure the executor is selling at a reasonable price. This can be done by scheduling an appointment for an appraiser to come to make an objective assessment of the value of the home in question. Be sure to check that the appraiser is a bonafide expert in your local market before deciding which appraiser to hire!

You should also be aware of the lengthy timelines involved. Purchasing a home is never a quick transaction. Purchasing homes from estate sales can take longer than the average home sale depending on the variables listed above among many others. It's true that all good things are worth waiting for, so if you fall in love with a home that's being sold in an estate sale, the wait may very well be worth your while!

At Urban Presentations, we are here to help you prepare your property for sale!

Our team of talented property stylists provides gorgeous designs, on-trend staging furnishings and exceptional client care.

Whether you need full-service staging or a professional consultation give us a call at 604-875-0566 or email us at info@urbanpresentations.com to see how we can help you UPStage your space!

Questions to Consider Before Choosing a Time to Sell Your Home

Urban Presentations’ Senior Property Stylist Roya Akbari’s latest project.

Selling in May or June can result in a faster home sale at a higher price. However, just because homes tend to sell faster and for more money during these months of the year doesn’t necessarily mean that it is the best time for you to sell your home. We've rounded up five additional factors to consider, other than just keeping your eye on the calendar.

1. What are the consequences of not moving?

Consider your reason for moving and whether it is more important than a faster sale at a higher price. Some common reasons people move that may add urgency include:

  • Need to find cheaper housing

  • Upgrading to a new or better home

  • Relocating for a new job or job transfer

  • Starting or growing a family in one’s own household

  • Other family reasons such as caring for older parents

  • Family milestones, retirement, and job changes can cause even greater urgency to move, often requiring you to sell during a slower season.

If waiting for a better season might have consequences such as missing out on a job opportunity or delaying an important life goal, a faster sale for a slightly higher lump sum may not be worth your while.

2. Can you afford to sell your home?
From agent fees to home improvements and unexpected concessions, the total cost of selling a home can add up. According to recent data, many homeowners do not build enough equity in their homes to offset buying, closing, and moving costs until they’ve been in their homes for around five years.

3. Is your home in the best shape to sell?
Consider how much time and effort it will take to prepare your home for sale. If your goal is to sell fast, then it might be better to focus on minor repairs and cosmetic updates with short, predictable timelines. If you’re not in a hurry then choosing the right remodelling project can be a great way to add value to your home and maximize your sale price.

4. Is the local housing market working in your favour?
Apart from seasonal trends, there are other market forces at work. You’ll often hear the real estate market described as either a “buyer’s market” or a “seller’s market” depending on how competitive it is to buy versus sell. Consider the market before making the decision to sell.

5. What is the total cost of buying your new home?
Once you understand how much it will cost to sell your home you can start building a budget for buying your next one. Of course, the list price is just the beginning of the costs involved. According to a recent analysis on the cost of buying a house, it's been estimated that closing costs, the cost of moving, and purchasing new furniture can add up to nearly $40,000 more than the list price for a median-priced home.

To determine the best time to sell, it’s important to understand if the conditions of the market where you’re selling a home and buying a home are working in your favour. For example, how fast are home prices appreciating in your neighbourhood? How does that price growth compare to where you want to buy? Are homes selling quickly? Or has inventory started piling up with slower sales?

Ultimately, however, the best time to sell your home is the time that makes the most sense for you. While it’s true that homes tend to sell more quickly and for closer to the asking price in the spring, that doesn’t mean that listing your home in May will guarantee an ideal outcome. By doing your research, pricing your home competitively and choosing the right offer, you’ve already set yourself up for success.

At Urban Presentations, we are here to help you prepare your property for sale!

Our team of talented property stylists provides gorgeous designs, on-trend staging furnishings and exceptional client care.

Whether you need full-service staging or a professional consultation give us a call at 604-875-0566 or email us at info@urbanpresentations.com to see how we can help you UPStage your space!

How to Properly Light a Dining Room

The dining room is not just for eating – it’s a multi-functional space, used for homework, paying bills, playing games, and other tasks. Providing sufficient light at the table and around the room is key! Throughout the decision process, keep in mind the activities you and your family use the dining room for and the lighting required to enhance those activities.

A lone chandelier or pendant rarely achieves adequate lighting in any room. You can hang a chandelier over a dining room table and call it a day, but try and remember to create layers of light.

Consider the scene you want to create, the emotion you are looking for, and what kind of lighting will complement your own style and your home’s existing décor. You also want to make sure you have enough light on the table, walls, and artwork while avoiding glare.

When it comes to sizing, be selective. The size of the chandelier will depend on the size of the room and the width or diameter of the table. If the room is less than 10 feet wide, a chandelier less than 24 inches will be more comfortable and appealing. Of course, larger rooms and larger tables can accommodate larger chandeliers.

Provide lighting over the table for eating and drinking. A chandelier or light fixture that is to scale with the dining room table will light the seating area nicely. Whichever fixture you place over your table, be sure to add soft general lighting to provide a flattering, warm background and a more comfortable atmosphere.

Aim to provide general lighting and accent lighting. Recessed or track and monorail lighting are perfect in most dining rooms. Monorail, recessed, and track lighting allow you to feature certain architectural elements of your space as well as bring focus to your artwork. This allows the room visual interest and prevents the space from feeling “flat.” If you don’t have any artwork to illuminate, use wall sconces to take the place of art and add indirect lighting to the space.

At Urban Presentations, we are here to help you prepare your property for sale!

Our team of talented property stylists provides gorgeous designs, on-trend staging furnishings and exceptional client care.

Whether you need full-service staging or a professional consultation give us a call at 604-875-0566 or email us at info@urbanpresentations.com to see how we can help you UPStage your space!

How to Style Media Unit Built-Ins

If your home is a new build, there is a good chance that your family room will have a wall cut-out made for a media cabinet. Not only are many media cabinets clunky and expensive, but it can also be hard to find one that perfectly fits the dimensions you need.

We love to fill these wall cut-outs with built-ins. It creates a clean, custom look. So whether you have a wall niche to fill or are looking to refresh your media wall, here are some ideas for creating media built-ins that fit your style and space.

Consider combining shelving and cabinets. Although we love a few open shelves styled with beautiful books, plants and decorative pieces, this is a perfect space to add storage cabinets. Cabinets can hide wires, sound systems, remotes, and game consoles to keep your space free of clutter.

Incorporate shiplap to add interest while avoiding clutter. If you are in love with the modern farmhouse, adding shiplap to your built-in is a no-brainer. The clean lines of the shiplap add design to your wall without clutter.

Make a rustic statement with reclaimed wood. Reclaimed wood adds warmth and character to built-ins. We especially love it paired with this concrete fireplace for a touch of industrial modern.

For soft lighting, use sconces. Sconces above your shelves add another layer of soft lighting to the space, highlight your favourite decorative pieces, and add design to the space.

Make an elegant statement with mirrored cabinetry. Adding detail to your built-ins, like mirrored cabinet fronts or a library ladder, creates a unique high-end feel.

Keep it simple with a built-in credenza. No styled shelves, just a built-in credenza to ground the oversize TV and add storage.

Go dark. Dark built-ins add a bit of edge and contrast in all-white spaces.

At Urban Presentations, we are here to help you prepare your property for sale!

Our team of talented property stylists provides gorgeous designs, on-trend staging furnishings and exceptional client care.

Whether you need full-service staging or a professional consultation give us a call at 604-875-0566 or email us at info@urbanpresentations.com to see how we can help you UPStage your space!