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Raeann Abbott

The Ultimate Thanksgiving Table

By | Home Staging & Interior Design, Lifestyle, The Sarasota Team

Thanksgiving 2015!

Kristin Boser, our Staging Captain, invited us over for a peek at her Thanksgiving dinner plans. Her inspiration came from her vintage china passed down from her Grandma, and the rest of it came together from there.

Candles, mini pumpkins, and mason jar glasses were the perfect accents to her already gorgeous setting and the final touch was a bottle of wine from Hick’s Fine Wines and we couldn’t be more inspired by the result!

Alberta Hardwood Show Room Launch

By | Sarasota Homes

Sarasota Homes has been working with Alberta Hardwood Flooring since we started as a company 20 years ago! That is one long relationship and you better believe we have both come a long way. We were thrilled to be invited to and attend the launch of their GORGEOUS new show room on September 24th. It was a lovely evening of mingling, yummy appetizers, and inspiring atmosphere!

The show room features large tables which are perfect for laying out samples, samples, and more samples. You definitely know how we work Alberta Hardwood!! The samples are neatly displayed around the bright, neutral room and allow us to feel and see them up close.

There are multiple display rooms finished and staged to give clients a feel for the finished product and stir up their creativity. My personal favourite is the bathroom with the geometric grey tiles that run up the wall and down on the floor which then ties intricately into walnut flooring (another personal fav)!

If you are looking to be inspired, you MUST go visit Liz at Alberta Hardwood Flooring’s show room located at 9303 51st Ave in Edmonton. Thank you for inviting us and congratulations on a job well done!

Alberta Hardwood Flooring

Website
(780)568 9999
9303 51 Ave NW
Edmonton, AB T6E 4W8

Bryanne Acheson

Dog lover, new home specialist, realtor, and avid runner.

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Fall Projects To Do Now to Sell Your House In The Spring

By | For Sellers, Home Staging & Interior Design, Real Estate

Thinking of Selling In The Spring?

That means you have months to get ready for it. Here are a few tips for getting a jumpstart to putting your home on the market!

Get a Home Inspection

Getting an inspection done prior to starting the process of selling your home will help you prepare for any repairs that need to be addressed.

Have A Go At The Spaces You Don’t Use Often

It might be your basement attic or it might be a spare room that’s turned into a storage space. Donate, sell, or throw away the extra baggage.

Don’t Underestimate That Curb Appeal

From trimming bushes or replacing walkways – knock it off the list so you’re ready to go in the spring. Even a fresh coat of paint on the front door will bring your curb appeal up a notch.

Give Your Floor & Walls A Little Love

Maybe your carpets need replacing – or just a deep, professional clean, your hardwood needs polishing, and your walls need a fresh coat of paint.

Consult a Real Estate Professional or Stager

If you already know you will be selling, consider having your professional photos taken while there are still leaves on the trees. Talk to a stager to see what else can be done to prepare your home to sell.

A Head Start On Packing

Or at the very least, organize what’s already in storage. Pack up your summer-only items to keep them out of the way and store them in an organized space.

Kristin Boser

Our resident stager has a few tips to offer up when you’re getting ready to sell.

  • use accessories and smaller pieces to update your home’s look rather than replacing the large furniture
  • if you have any bold colors popping off the walls, consider repainting them
  • remember you’ll want people to picture themselves in your home – be prepared to stow away a few of your personal touches (specifically, the family photos)

5 Rules to Eclectic Rooms Done Right

By | Home Staging & Interior Design

No. 1
Have Fun

That’s what this style is all about! Mix and match but always ensure you are sticking to the fundamentals of good design otherwise this style can get away from you quickly. Assert self control, be methodical, and step back occasionally to re-asses your work. And remember to be fearless – if you want a moose head above your bathtub, do it!

No. 2
BE UNIQUE

Make sure your space reflects who you are – unique! You are anything but cookie cutter, so find  inspiration but always make it your own. East meets West; Luxury meets Rustic; Masculine meets Feminine; Traditional meets Modern. Commit to an original style that feels like you. Not sure where to begin? Look at your playlist. If you have moments that take you from HipHop, to Classic Jazz, to 80’s Hairband – then make sure your space allows for any of those moods. Contrast is key to making this style work.

No. 3
common threads

Always have a common thread to tie the look together. Be it sheen, color, silhouette, pattern, or proportion. This is how you find unity in your space of interest. Again, keep in mind moderation and contrast. If you are starting to have an overwhelming theme of rectangles, soften the space up with a few rounded edges.

No. 4
layers

Just like fall fashion, layers are what makes a style interesting. This goes for homes as well.  Layering opposites adds to the contrast in the space – wood and metal, fur and satin, leather and lace. This allows your personality to shine through (see Rule 2) effectively.  Again, step back and ensure that your space looks and feels like the authentic you, without forcing it on the eye.

No. 5
start simple

Clean the slate of any clutter, keep your canvas as neutral as possible. Rooms evolve as your style palette is discovered. Therefore, your walls and floors should not compete or distract from the look you are hoping to achieve.  Take everything off the walls, remove your accessories and consider their place in the newly barren room. Are they meaningful? Could this be your inspiration to the room? Do these pieces belong in this space or are they better suited somewhere else?  Let your creative juices flow mixing and matching your items in new ways. Take a deep breathe – this is going to be GREAT.

Lisette Sluser

She’s our in-house interior designer, stager, full-time comedian, and part-time caffeine drinker.

Lisette's Instagram

Fall Maintenance 101

By | Uncategorized

Fall Maintenance

Your home represents a large investment – the largest investment many people ever make – and it requires safekeeping and protection. We’d be lying if we said fall decor was all your house needed once the leaves change and the temperature drops. Common advice might be to take care of minor maintenance problems as they arise but it’s also a good idea to exercise preventative maintenance.

Here’s a list of what you might already do (and maybe some you forget) to get your house ready for winter.

  • Remove garden hoses from hosebibs prior to freeze up
  • Drain exterior water lines
  • Clean solid fuel fireplace chimney(s)
  • Check door and window weatherstripping
  • Clean and service humidifier
  • Drain Sediment from hot water tank
  • Fertilize lawn
  • Water trees and shrubs and winterize landscaping
  • Test CO and smoke detectors
  • Clean range hood filters
  • Check for soil settlement at the foundation
  • Inspect eaves troughs and downspouts
  • Check basement teleposts
  • Inspect floor drains
  • Check furnace and ventilation system filters monthly
  • Check for condensation and humidity
  • Check attic for insulation voids
  • Balance air flow at heating ducts

Welcome to the Fulton

By | Home Staging & Interior Design, New Homes For Sale, Sarasota Homes | No Comments

Ahh, do you feel that?

That’s the welcoming, easy-going vibe of The Fulton!

The ultra-clean, neutral colour palette sets the stage for you and your family to infuse with your own personal character. The smoke grey island stands alone as a focal point amongst all-white cabinetry in the open concept kitchen. From family dining, to entertaining, to relaxing by the fire – you will feel at home in the grand living space on the main floor. When you’re done entertaining, soak up in your free-standing tub in the matching His-and-Her’s ensuite before cozying up in the master bedroom. This home is one you have to see to believe! Stop on by and visit us at 69 Nault Crescent to view The Fulton today.

Staged by Kristin Boser & Lisette Sluser

Furniture & Decor: Crate & Barrel, Homesense, Ikea, Bouclair

Welcome to the Cypress

By | Home Staging & Interior Design, Sarasota Homes

Like any growing family, this house is the perfect mix of traditional vs. modernism. From the clean, modern architectural lines to the juxtaposition of warm woods and cool tones – it’s easy to feel at home here! The kitchen is striking in it’s play with cabinet colours and counter top surfaces – the days of “everything matching” are over! The asymmetrical placement of the fireplace serves as the perfect grounding element in the great room. Drift away as travel upstairs to the dreamy theatre room / family space and into the master bedroom – the perfect oasis! From the huge living space with a romantic two-way fireplace into the luxurious master ensuite & closet, you may never want to leave!

Staged by Kristin Boser and Lisette Sluser

Decor: Crate & Barrel, Bouclair, and Homesense .

SARASOTA REALTY p. (780) 460 2222 f. (780) 458 4821 25 Carleton Drive St. Albert, Alberta T8N 7K9