Set Your Stage

July Must Do Activities in Calgary: Vendome Café

July 06, 2014 (posted by Jennifer Campbell, Home Staging Calgary)

Looking for must do activities in Calgary this month? Add the Vendome Café to your list. Whether it’s for breakfast, lunch, coffee and a sweet treat, dinner, or drinks on the patio, for many of us who live in the area, the Vendome is part of our summer tradition. It’s “a touch of Europe in the heart of Sunnyside.”

Originally settled in the 1880’s, Sunnyside is one of the oldest communities in Calgary. Close to the downtown core, now the area is home to urban professionals (like me) and their families who are drawn to the quiet yet funky neighbourhood feel. Located on 2nd Avenue, the Vendome Café offers that same feeling, housed comfortably in an old brick building with loads of charm.

Jennifer Campbell Home Stager at Vendome Cafe

In July, the Vendome is the place to be. Listen to live music every Thursday (the schedule is posted on their Facebook page). And on July 12, the Summer Fun BBQ is back!

When you go, consider trying one of my favourites: Chicken Club Panini. Yum! I also love their hot chocolate.

The Vendome Café is just one of the reasons I love Sunnyside/Kensington. Here are some of my other favourites (in case you missed them in previous posts) that you can add to your “must do activities in Calgary” list: F.A.T.S. Bar & Grill, Cupcakes, flowers & more, farmer’s market and parks.

If you live in Calgary and are planning to sell your furnished or vacant property, contact me (Jen at Set Your Stage) to find out the benefits of my home staging services and schedule your free personalized Home Staging Assessment.

In the meantime, share this post! Invite your friends to meet you at the Vendome Café and pass on the many reasons why Hillhurst Sunnyside and Kensington Calgary are ideal places to live.

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Add Wow Factor through Home Staging

June 08, 2014 (posted by Jennifer Campbell, Home Staging Calgary)

Even natural beauties can use a boost sometimes. Vacant homes are no different. Great features are attractive on their own. But add a bit of strategic highlighting and just the right colour of lipstick and what was already special will become striking. Add wow factor to your vacant property with professional home staging.

Take a look at the before and after photos in the Set Your Stage Evergreen photo album on Facebook and you’ll understand what I mean.

This stunning two storey home on a corner lot in the community of Evergreen, just steps from parks, school, transit and only minutes from shopping, was already a natural beauty before we started staging it.

An open concept main floor showcased hardwood flooring throughout, with a spacious living room accented by a mantle trimmed gas fireplace. A gorgeous kitchen boasted granite counters, tiled back splash, stainless steel appliances, raised eating bar, custom built walk-in pantry and a large dining room.

Sounds nice right? Take a look at the before and after staging photos and consider why it makes sense to add wow factor through staging:

Before: Kitchen before home staging.

After: We added healthy and trendy accessories on the granite countertops.

Before: Living room before home staging.

After: This cozy open concept living & dining room is the perfect space for entertaining or relaxing.

Do you prefer the natural or “boosted” beauty?
How easily can you see the naturally beautiful features in the before versus after?
Which one could you imagine yourself living in if you walked through to view the property?

Most people will answer that they prefer the “after”. That’s why it’s advantageous (read our testimonials) to add wow factor when preparing to sell a vacant property. Potential buyers see and feel the added value.

Set Your Stage has many more before and after rooms posted on Facebook for you to view. Log on to your Facebook account to browse around our page. Enjoy. Don’t forget to “Like” us so you get all the updates.

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First Time Home Buyers: Staging for Millennials

June 02, 2014 (posted by Jennifer Campbell, Home Staging Calgary)

First time home buyers can have unrealistic expectations. They want it all but on a budget. After all, Millennials are relatively new to their careers, may still be paying off student loans, and are focussed on lifestyle factors. Staging allows you to present your property in a way that really speaks to them.

Before: Kitchen before home staging.

After: We added healthy and trendy accessories on the countertops.

Millennials (or Generation Y) are the group of buyers who are in their twenties and early-mid thirties. Sometimes there is little difference in what they perceive as their wants and their needs when it comes to buying their first home. Staging allows you to present your property in a way that appeals to their wants, while more closely reflecting the needs that they can afford. Creating the desired lifestyle feeling in the space will go a long way.

Before: Office area before home staging.

After: What a cute space home owners could fit their office space in.

Millennials will definitely be checking out your listing online first. For these buyers in particular, your online curb appeal will be critical. Here’s an interesting clip from Cityline about curb appeal.
Help spaces look larger by removing clutter and reducing furniture.
Consider green features and health oriented accessories.
Create a space for a laptop in a work/study area.
Think modern details that look high end, clean lines, and contemporary colours.
Highlighting space for entertaining friends that is tech/media friendly is ideal.

Before: Living room before home staging.

After: This cozy living room is the perfect space for entertaining or relaxing.

First time home buyers are looking for the biggest bang for their buck. Image matters. So stage your property to meet Millennials’ lifestyle needs and you will both benefit.

A professional home stager can be an invaluable resource for you. Contact Jen at Set Your Stage for a free personalized Home Staging Assessment today.

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Make a Home Feel Young Again With Staging

May 27, 2014 (posted by Jennifer Campbell, Home Staging Calgary)

Remember the late 80’s and “Lovesong” by the Cure? Don’t laugh, but I figure it could be the theme song for a Woodbine bungalow villa I staged in Calgary. I’m so proud of the work we did to professionally stage the vacant home. Before staging, it felt tired and old. After staging, we made this home feel young again. Then it sold.

Take a look at the before and after photos in the Set Your Stage Woodbine photo album on Facebook and you’ll understand what I mean.

Just for the fun of it, while you view the power of home staging for this particular property, listen to Lovesong and notice the lyrics:

Whenever I’m alone with you
You make me feel like I am home again
Whenever I’m alone with you
You make me feel like I am whole again
Whenever I’m alone with you
You make me feel like I am young again
Whenever I’m alone with you
You make me feel like I am fun again

Before: Reading area before home staging

After: This open concept space is perfect for entertaining or relaxing.

When potential buyers viewed the property after staging, they could see some of the older features, but the space felt young again. Young buyers could imagine themselves there, especially for a first home purchase. Perhaps a renovation would be required at some point, but potential buyers would know that they could easily live there in the meantime without doing any major work. Which means that they wouldn’t need that extra money right away either.

Before: Master bedroom before home staging.

After: This simple, yet stylish bedroom is the perfect retreat for any homeowner.

Staging makes it easier for a potential buyer to fall in love with a property for sale. As much fun as it is to reminisce with an old song that brings back memories, most people don’t want to live in that past. With professional staging, I was able to make this property feel young again.

Set Your Stage has many more before and after rooms posted on Facebook for you to view. Log on to your Facebook account to browse around our page. Enjoy. Don’t forget to “Like” us so you get all the updates.

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July Must Do Activities in Calgary: Vendome Café

Add Wow Factor through Home Staging

First Time Home Buyers: Staging for Millennials

Make a Home Feel Young Again With Staging

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