Longing for...

Can't get enough of  Anne Packard's art. It's dreamy. I long for lazy summer days.

at the beach

blue dory

sand sea and sky

White

White: It holds the potential to move toward every other color and this makes it a good choice for new beginnings, and development in any direction.  (From Crystal-Cure)

{elle decor}

{Kelly Wearstler-Veranda}

Put some white in your life when you want:

~to clear clutter and obstacles away

~to start a fresh beginning

~to bring about mental clarity

~purification of thoughts or actions

5 Things to avoid when staging your house

This photo comes from one of my favorite blogs: Hooked on Houses. Check out the "5 things to avoid when staging your house" here. It's a good laugh.

{image from Hooked on Houses}

Staging

Listing by Leslie Ota at Windermere.

Redesigning my Studio

I am in the process of redesigning my studio and I cannot decide if I should paint it a soft pink, powder blue or wallpaper it in a metallic silver something. I am inspired by so many different styles and colours.

{domino}

{domino}

{vogue}

{country living}

{country loving}

{patrick cline for Real Living}

10 Things a Stager Hates to Encounter

1. Someone who has used the hand towel for toilet paper. (I will not elaborate...)
2. Finding a condom
3. Noticing that your sheets have been slept in
4. Wine missing
5. Packages of candy opened (and made to look like they're not)
6. Dead anything
7. Robbers
8. Furniture stolen (we've had 1/2 of a house's contents stolen)
9. Animals messing on rugs and pillows (just happened)
10. Dog hair


Every job has goofy things that happen. Sister Ex and I had to work late this week and we got to giggling over a top ten list so I thought I'd share it.

Z Gallerie-Portland Shopping

Heaven. We found heaven!

What fun to finally get the chance to stop at Z Gallerie. In search of inspiration and staging accessories we hit the jack pot! Sister Ex and I spent a ton of time in the store absolutely overwhelmed at all of the beautiful and affordable pieces. We wanted everything. Next month you will see us driving down the highway in a large truck just like the early days of our staging company. (We used to fight, as sisters do, over who's turn it was to drive the truck).

We purchased a couple of these wonderful containers.

I would have easily purchased this but we were out of room in the car. This will be fabulous in my studio or my sweet salon.

More Z Gallerie-Portland

Sister bought these pillows for her master bedroom.

Overwhelmed by Orange. It was a wonderful visual.

Our stack of purchases.

Portland-Manor Fine Wares

For inspiration: Manor Fine Wares. Not much of a website.

(Can't figure out why 3 Monkeys, Galore and Manor have websites that are greatly lacking. They need Seattle's talented web designer Kamie Kahlo to get their sites moving. )

Who doesn't love Farrow and Ball Paint? Open House paint consultant Tara Nelson is in hog heaven. She loves picking out paint colors for our clients. And, in my opinion, nails it every time!

Manor is locatated in Portland's 23rd neighborhood shopping district.

Galore Department Store

Not really a department store but very cute that they call it that. This shop has a hip style of it's own. Kelly green carpet and accent walls makes it stylin' and cheery.

dressing rooms

I love the rows of clocks on the wall.

Portland Shopping-3 Monkeys

3 Monkeys is a regular stop for the sisters. It can be hit or miss every time. I scored 4 cute pieces and Sister Ex zero. It has an eclectic range of funky clothes, glittering chandeliers, rhinestone jewels, fun tshirts and hats. Very much worth a stop.

Clever window displays showing off their funky personality. Sister Ex is off to our next destination. You can see she's heading toward that cute petite green sign off in the distance. More on that later. This stop is our first after arriving in Portland that's why Sister Ex has only 1 bag. We have only been in town for 15 minutes.