It’s February – perfect timing to share some of my favourites from the Kensington Calgary area that I love. These gift recommendations stick with the tried and true, but they have a Kensington twist. Whether you’re treating yourself or someone you love, choose to shop locally this Valentine’s Day.
 
Crave Cookies & Cupcakes – 1107 Kensington Road NW
 
Can you really go wrong with cupcakes? Chocolate Raspberry is the Valentine special flavour. Go big with the original size, or, for those still watching the calories, a mini will surely satisfy. For cookie lovers, try the Chocolate Cinnamon Heart Sandwich Cookies. Are you drooling yet?
 

Flowers by Metro Element – 1221 Kensington Rd NW
 
You’ve heard me talk about Metro Element before. It’s one of my favourite furniture stores. But did you know that they sell flowers too? Red roses for love and desire. Or maybe something more modern? Fresh flowers, especially in the middle of winter, are a beautiful way to brighten someone’s day.
 
 
 
SwizzleSticks Salon & Spa – 1211 Kensington Rd NW
To escape all the stress of life for a couple hours at a spa is dreamy. One of my all-time favourite spa days was at SwizzleSticks. My indulgence? The Aroma Wellness Chakra Massage. So relaxing! This is a perfect gift for your Valentine, but equally perfect for your own self-care.
 
Want local updates about the Kensington Calgary area? Follow Kensington Village on Facebook or on their website.
 
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 personalized Home Staging Consultation. In the meantime, share my blog to pass on the many reasons why Hillhurst, Sunnyside and Kensington Calgary are ideal places to live.

Are you the kind of person who feels a sense of excitement or relief when spaces are well organized? Potential buyers certainly might be. If you’re selling your home or condo, keep these utility closet staging ideas in mind. Apply the same techniques in other storage areas of your home for maximum impact.
 
As soon as I saw the utility closet featured in an article in Real Simple Magazine, I knew I had to “pin it” to the Set Your Stage Pinterest page, “For the Home”. That’s where I keep images of products or ideas that will inspire a staging project that I work on in the future.
 
The utility closet in the photo is jam packed, yet clean and organized looking. Any home owner would enjoy going into that closet to access their cleaning supplies (even if they don’t enjoy cleaning). So when you’re selling your house, why not impress a potential buyer with these utility closet staging ideas:
 
Use every zone of the space – Wall, floor, hanging rod, upper shelf, and even the door. Add hooks, baskets, over the door hangers, plastic bins etc. to create the structure to keep everything organized.
 
Think outside the box – Don’t limit yourself to items that are specifically designed for one purpose. In the photo, notice that a hanging shoe bag is used to hold cleaning products. Be creative.
 
Paint – It may seem a bit silly to paint inside a closet, but a quick coat of white paint can make it feel clean and spacious.
 
Using these utility closet staging ideas, you can kick it up a notch to create a positive impression for potential buyers. The best part is, it’s not expensive or hard to achieve. Want to see more? Check out Set Your Stage on Pinterest and get inspired by whatever draws your eye.

Before: Living room before home staging. Sometimes when you’re staging a property for sale, it pays to think outside the box. Moving furniture away from walls can actually make a room feel larger. An angled sofa in a living room may be unexpected, yet it may be just what you need to highlight key selling features that appeal to potential buyers.

After: This cozy open concept living & dining room is the perfect space for entertaining or relaxing. Take this living room I staged in Calgary for example. The angled sofa, grounded by a large area rug, helped to create a cozy conversation area that drew people in when they walked into the room. With the angled placement of the matching chair, people sitting in both spots would have a perfect view of the lovely outdoor areas of this home.

Colourful artwork on the back wall helped to create a feeling of symmetry. A tree placed in a back corner added height and a natural appeal. The space felt bright and airy, while at the same time calm and cozy.   Note the traffic flow. With the angled sofa strategically placed, potential buyers could easily and naturally be drawn to the sliding glass doors that lead outside to the deck. The backyard was a key selling feature of this home, and the angled sofa helped to create a seamless connection between the inside and outside spaces.   As a professional home stager in Calgary, an angled sofa is just one of the strategic tools I use when staging a property for sale. Want to know more? Keep up with all our latest tips. Follow Set Your Stage on Twitter. Find out what we are tweeting about today, or better yet – contact me directly!

Over the past two weeks, I have posted my home staging version of the 12 Days of Christmas. Below is a summary for your convenience, with links back to each day’s post. I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a joyful and prosperous New Year! On the twelve days of Christmas, my home stager placed for me:   A beautiful area rug Two lamps from Bouclair Three tables from Metro Element Four dining room chairs from Pier 1 Seating for five! Six throw cushions Seven pillows on a bed Eight healthy plants Nine books for an office Ten pieces of art Eleven pieces of fruit in a bowl One dozen roses   Should you be planning to sell your house or condo in 2014, consider hiring Set Your Stage to help you sell faster and for more money. Contact Jen for more information and a free Home Staging Assessment.