Did you catch the AMA’s last night? The ending was a bit on the ridiculous side but looking over some of the red carpet pics, you can’t help but notice a color trend that makes up for it. Loving the silver and gold — and the metallic trend in general. Even if a few of the performances were a bit on the lackluster side — the shine was not missing in these beautiful stars during their spotlight on the red carpet.

How could this trend work to bring some glitz and glamour into your staged home?

This sitting room is a bit over the top — not sure how welcome someone would feel if this was in your home. Pretty but not practical? But when is glamour ever practical : )?

This collection of accessories as a focal point in a room seems a little more realistic. Definitely brings in the metallic trend without overdoing it.

Love this — shimmer in small doses — perfect for holiday decor.

Gold accents throughout this room are prominent but not overdone — it’s a great example of this trend working well in the balance of a room. This one is our favorite

Shimmer and shine don’t always work in home decor, but when placed just right — it’s a pretty way to bring some red carpet into your home!

Image Credit: PopSugar, CharmHome, VastudC, Richmond Thrifter, SLCHomeStaging

Color Trends and Inspiration

Closet and Casa who: Harper Poe, Owner of Proud Mary, why harper rocks: I am pretty much in love with her shop full of colorful totes and striped pillows. And this looks like the perfect weekend tote!

Staging News

Salvation Jane Pillowcases I recently wrote about decorating and shared a beautiful image of a bedroom that I liked from the home of Kirsty and so many of you wrote in to ask about the sweet pillowcases so I have to do a little show & tell! Okay so I am showing….

Style Tips and Tricks

A Classic Makes a Comeback With old school charm and a glamorous finish, the bronze task lamp is an accessory that I’ve been noticing a lot lately in design publications. The piece once seen more commonly in libraries and offices is moving away from the desk to perch in entryways, living rooms and bedrooms. We’ve rounded up 7 beautiful examples, along with a few shopping suggestions.

Property of the Week

Babylonstoren in South Africa Babylonstoren is a Cape Dutch farm (one of the oldest!) in the Cape Winelands, South Africa, with vineyards and orchards surrounded by the dramatic mountains of the Drakenstein Valley. It has an exceptionally well–preserved werf dating from 1690.

Local Faves and Raves

Conservatory’s New Garden Railway Exhibition Celebrates Playland Lau Hodges and her Conservatory team has outdone themselves this year with not only an interesting natural exhibition, but also one that is rich with history, icons and entertainment from the era of San Francisco’s Playland at the Beach, an amusement park that sat along the Great Highway below the Cliff House from 1921 until 1972. Dominating the room are larger-than-life Playland letters that hang over the railway section – a genuine sign from the original Playland that was hanging in the hallway of the Conservatory’s marketing consultant; she picked it up at a Bay Area antique store years ago.

Color Trends and Inspiration

Blue and Green Inspiration Magnus Anesund cheered up my evening with his beautiful photos in green and blue. His pictures are full of emotions and joy. I hope that you will like them too.

Staging News

Christmas Palette Drama This evening the last of the turkey is being consumed, in the form of what I am sure will be a delicious turkey stock based soup! Which means it is officially time for the Christmas season to begin. I have tons of event, shopping and decor inspiration in store for the next few weeks. However, I wanted to start off simple with the sophisticated and moody palette of these two interiors. I love the drama created by pairing holiday greenery with cool wood and slate tones.

Style Tips and Tricks

Decorating Tip: Learn to See Things Differently I find it so inspirational when I see people take products and furniture and use their imaginations to personalize somewhat mundane things into something special. That’s the beauty of IKEA. Their price point is affordable and nothing feels precious which gives you freedom to explore your ideas – perhaps a lamp base would look better decoupaged in a favorite paper or a cabinet would be far better with new hardware and wallpaper hung on the inside.

Property of the Week

Design Under the Influence: Fashion Meets Architecture Today’s topic is kinda fun: during this past New York Fashion Week, I read that Derek Lam’s Spring 2012 RTW collection was influenced by Neutra’s Kaufmann house in Palm Springs. Fashion meets architecture? I was intrigued, as you can imagine! So I thought I’d investigate it further.
Local Faves and Raves

The Ten Least Expensive Properties for Sale in the Marina Our list of the 10 Least Expensive Properties For Sale in Noe Valley was a hit, so we’re going to turn it into a regular thing. Each week, we’ll go from neighborhood to neighborhood, carefully collecting data so that we can show you where to score your own slice of SF for a reasonable price. This week: the Marina.

One challenge when decorating a home can be all the little nooks and crannies. Sometimes it’s under a windowsill, or an under utilized space under the stairs. What better time to showcase these spaces than when you are staging your home for sale? It’s a small area, easy to stage, and can highlight a feature of the home that a prospective homebuyer might not normally notice.

This corner of a room gets an instant identity update as a reading nook with a few well-placed items. A few comfy pieces, like an inviting place to sit, and some cozy pillows make this a perfect relaxation spot.

Add a bench and some pillows and you have yourself a sweet reading spot in an area that might otherwise be used for storage or left empty.

By utilizing this small space at the foot of a bed, you can add some extra function to the bedroom area. Setting the stage for a room to be multipurpose also makes a smaller room seem larger.

This one’s just for fun: how amazing is this space??!! This may not work for a staged home but for your own home? It’s just too perfect of a hideaway spot to leave out of this list!

What nooks and crannies in your home can you turn into a reading nook? With the holidays coming up — everyone will need a place to hideaway for a little : ).

Image Credit: Bhg, Old Post Road Blog, Apartment Set C

Color Trends and Inspiration

Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2012 There are a few “events” on the Apartment Therapy editorial calendar that are marked with a big red circle. One of them is the launch of the new IKEA catalog each August and another is the announcement of Pantone’s pick for “Color of the Year”, which the community always likes to weigh in on. Well, today is the day! Drumroll please – the color of the year for 2012 is….tangerine tango!

Staging News

A Pretty Home Done Up in Shabby Vintage
Style Tips and Tricks

Covet chairs. chairs are my thing. the thing i can’t live without, the things i covet. like this pair of awesome eames wire chairs, the very cool looking patio chair from la silla acapulco(i think i could even live with it indoors). and this big hunk of handsome black leather chair from rue and this gray one shot by pierre-jean verger — swoon!

Property of the Week

“Breaking Dawn:” Edward & Bella’s Tropical Honeymoon Hideaway in Brazil I read all of Stephenie Meyers’ books in the series when they first came out and was frankly not crazy about this one (couldn’t get past the “baby” storyline). I was eager to get a look at Bella and Edward’s honeymoon hideaway on “Isle Esme,” though, so I tracked it down. It’s a pretty fabulous beach house. Wanna see?

Not So Local Faves and Raves (but still SUPER cool!)

Five Eco-Friendly Houses to Try Green Living Before You Buy Shrugging off the trappings of our resource-intensive society for something a little less damaging to the environment is no easy feat, so perhaps it’s wise to consider renting an eco-friendly pad before committing to a purchase. To that end, a quick search of the vacation-rental site AirBnb turns up some awesome places to try out green living. Up first is the itHouse in the desert enclave of Pioneertown, Calif. Equipped with solar panels, well water, and glass walls, the one-bedroom house is completely “off-the-grid.” The self-sufficient structure rents for $350 per night and lies some two hours outside of Los Angeles, not far from Palm Springs. Like many of that town’s modernist homes, the itHouse has a clean aesthetic that makes the sacrifices more bearable.

Are you on Pinterest? We often get innundated with so many different social media sites, it’s hard to know which ones to join and which ones to avoid. Pinterest is a great source of daily inspiration. While Twitter is a constant stream of thoughts and information, and Facebook is a more broad platform for sharing daily life — Pinterest seems to be more about style, taste, hopes, inspiration. Just snapshots of not just who people are — but who they want to be.

For staging and decorating — it can be a goldmine of ideas for big spaces and small spaces, empty walls, or do it yourself projects.

This color palette from Design Seeds is a great springboard for decorating an entire home!

I don’t know if I would recommend pink walls — but for this room it works. It’s so dainty and pretty!

Just love how this room is decorated — the purple and the white is very relaxing. Perfect for a bedroom!

How much do you LOVE this kitchen and dining room? Lots and lots, right? Would you have even considered this color if you hadn’t been inspired on Pinterest? : )

If you have some downtime this holiday, consider checking it out. You never know what you might find that will help you get you through the holidays or get your New Year’s started just right!

Image Sources: Design Seeds, Sipaco, Home Decor

Color Trends and Inspiration

Inspiration: Neutrals Because I had a color fetish this week, (ask my online clients) I thought that I would bring some neutrals into the picture. There is nothing more calming than creams, wheat and caramel tones. I could seriously relax in any of these spaces.

Staging News

Pillow Play: 5 Home Trends to Try Right Now We’re big believers in personal style. Right now, we’re loving a mash-up of patterns. Whether it’s coming down the runway or peppered throughout your house, the bold prints you pick have a lot to say about your style. A fun, easy way to experiment with trends (that you may be too hesitant to wear out the door) is to take risks with home decor. Pick up pillows that will add an unexpected punch to an otherwise neutral room.

Style Tips and Tricks

Finding Holiday Refuge: Perfectly Peaceful Bathrooms I really do enjoy getting to see most of my relatives over the holidays, especially my three sister, as we’re spread over the east coast. However, ever since I was a child, a room or house full of people can start to leave me feeling a bit suffocated after awhile. Whether or not you’re like me in this characteristic, it’s still important to take a little time for yourself to recharge. My personal favorite is a hot bath with some candles, because it’s so comforting and peaceful.

Property of the Week

5th Street Brooklyn This 4 story townhouse in center Park Slope was renovated by “the Brooklyn Home Company”. Extra large double hung windows were placed to flood the home with natural light. The house has some great features, a library ladder leads to an extra lofted guest room, ceiling wooden beams, large built-in shelves, and a guest room inspired by the sleeping quarters of a ship.

Local Faves and Raves

San Francisco Spotlight: HD Buttercup Some people search their entire lives for mecca. I found it a block and a half from my house and I highly recommend you make the pilgrimage – if you’re looking for the design mecca that is. H.D. Buttercup is the ultimate playground for the decor lover. It’s like the store that never ends.

It will be awhile before we get through these dreary winter months, but until then you can brighten up your home decor with some bold color combos.  Can’t decide on which color inspiration to incorporate into your staged home? How about all of them?? 2011 has no doubt been the year of bold colors — from the runways to walkways and all the way into your homes. Here are our favorite images bold color combos done right:

Love this living room — playful and fun without being reminiscent of Candy Land.

How much would you enjoy eating breakfast in this kitchen? What a fabulous way to start your day!

Not crazy about the circle patters, looks too much like the Target logo. But love the color combo in the room.

Not quite ready for all the bold colors at once? This bedroom uses a two color combo plus black that might be a little more realistic for the more subtle style taste.

Whatever you decide, bringing some bold color combos into your home can help you get through the winter!

Image Sources: MxdThingz, YouSharez, Will Power Within, Arsitekturmedia, Interior Design Home

Happy Holidays from Staged4More!

Color Trends and Inspiration

Pretty in Pink never been one for red & green christmas decorations (i’ve always wondered where that traditional came from anyway), i just felt like a little bit of pink today, and some sparkle thrown in for good measure. this fab friday is pretty in pink.

Staging News

The Designer’s Obsession: Color, Color, Color If there is one aspect of interior design that Apartment Therapy readers just can’t seem to get enough of, it’s color. From choosing just the right neutral to trying out something new, unusual and maybe a bit daring, we love to (at the very least!) endlessly consider the possibilities.

Style Tips and Tricks

Chic DIY’s That Anyone Can Do If you didn’t have a chance to follow through on all (or any!) of those “DIYs I Want to Try” you pinned in 2011, fret not my friends. There is still time to pull off a crafty upgrade to your dining room, your bedroom, or your front door with ease and panache. Ready. Set. DIY.

Property of the Week

Broker Fail: The Worst God-Awful Listing Photos of the Year Oh man, 2011 has been an epic year for terrible, no good, utterly embarrassing listing photos. Between the rash of foreclosures and just about everyone else looking to cut costs, the property marketers generated some pretty half-assed products this year. None were worse than the Georgia property owner—or exceedingly bold listing agent—caught with her top off, an image that appears not once, not twice, but three times, thanks to bathroom mirrors in the $200K three-bedroom. While this might be the most egregious example of a marketing misstep, there were plenty more this year.

Local Faves and Raves

The Christmas House on Gellert Drive So…more on the Christmas House on Gellert Drive…was reading a Yelp review when someone mentioned of a Christmas house on Lake Merced. Curious, I decided to investigate. I found the house, on Gellert and Everglades. Don’t know who did this set-up, or how long they have been doing it. Looks quite nice though. Adds to the drive heading into the Sunset for those visiting from the Peninsula.

Color Trends and Inspiration

It’s Not Beige, It’s Greige Out with the old, in with the new. Just as in fashion, where we see trends come and go, (and sometimes come full circle decades later) decorating has its trends that move with the colors of the year(s). For quite sometime now (i’d say over the past 2 years), gray has become the new beige and it’s making a statement like no other. Gray is such a calming color but it can be bright, light, dark, subtle…no matter what, it’s always soothing to the eye. This is the very reason I’ve been convincing my clients to use so much gray lately, especially on the walls! It’s the perfect neutral that will cohesively tie any room together.

Staging News

Make the Most of the Light: Tips for Beautiful Curtains If you’re a follower of Feng shui (or a fan of fictitious ’90s decorator Duarto Feliz), you believe that the windows of a home represent its eyes, and should be dressed accordingly. I don’t know about that, but as a designer I do know that there’s precious little that makes my heart sing like a pair of beautifully-hung curtains.

Style Tips and Tricks

DIY Decorative Tray I love decorative trays because there are so many uses for them. You can use them to serve food (preferably breakfast in bed!) or you can put them on your bar cart or coffee table to serve cocktails. You can also use them to display jewelry, perfume and nail polishes. The best part about this tray is that it is made with a picture frame. This lets you switch out the design inside the frame with your changing decor.

Property of the Week

Hot Tin Roof this is one very hot tin roof. constructed at the end of the 19th century from prefabricated sections of corrugated iron and affectionately known as a tin chapel, the wee church was converted into a charming and quite cozy re-purposed home by artist and craftsman nick kenny in the historic town of faversham on the kent coast of england. “pretty much everything in here has been bought for a pittance as scrap or salvage, or picked up for next to nothing at auction,” nick explains. such an inspiration. i could worship here quite easily.

Local Faves and Raves

Gobble, gobble — Turkeys roam the streets of Berkeley Perhaps buoyed by the passing of Thanksgiving and Christmas — not that the wild variety is often to be found on the plate — turkeys are making their presence known on the residential streets of Berkeley and Albany.