Space Saving Ideas for your Long Beach Homes

Small Living Space Soutions for Long Beach Homes

Space Savers or Hidden Secrets?

Down here at the beach we trade square footage for beach living and ocean breezes.  But what do we do with all of our stuff?  Lifetime collections of photos, books and other treasured belongings, that we are just not prepared to part with, need a place in our new homes as well. 

Small spaces are a challenge when we downsize our lives.  Creative use of our space without feeling cluttered and oppressive becomes a mission.  Creative Home Engineering, a Tempe Arizona company specializing in hidden passageways may have solved some of these issues. 

What a great way to expand space, furnish our homes and create hidden storage spaces!  When your square footage is limited every found space becomes critical.  Living in small spaces certainly has its challenges and rewards.  A small mess in a large home is a huge mess in small space.  One needs to be a neat freak in small spaces.  Creative Home Engineering is providing several wonderful solutions. 

Have you been wondering where to hide a safe in your home?  Take an unsightly hall closet and convert it to a hidden safe and a wonderfully elegent storage cabinet. 

Looking for a safe and discrete hiding place for those things that should never be found by others?  Lovely and elegant built in's hide your most private possessions very nicely.

While we have many larger homes in Long Beach, many of the homes here are of the smaller cottage genre.  Small living space ideas are in demand, we are pleased to be able to provide some solutions. 

Read also: 

Small Living Space Solutions for Long Beach Homes

Posted on July 15, 2008 00:48:03 by Laurie.Manny

Staging Your Long Beach California Lofts

STAGING YOUR LONG BEACH CALIFORNIA LOFTS

Living "loft style" is a total change of lifestyle. Loft living in Long Beach is for those who love to entertain more and enjoy life,  rather than spend time taking care of their Long Beach homes and gardens. Lofts are located within walking distance of Downtown Long Beach restaurants, nightlife and public transportation.  I tend to think that original, creative, entrepreneurial types are drawn to the lifestyle of loft living.

My visualization of a loft is having a brick wall interior, a view of the city lights, concrete or wood flooring and an open floor plan with high ceilings, large windows and lots of square footage.  The home stager's job is to define the space and style by separating areas with dual-functionality furniture, "portable walls" and accessories taking into consideration the views and special features of your loft by the placement of accessories and furniture.

Staging or setting up your loft is a bit different than a home staging for a traditional 3-bedroom 2-bath home.  The loft's one large room image needs created room definition. There's a lot of versatility in designing a loft. Repositioning the "walls" creates a new place, almost as if you've moved.  

The challenge is changing the virtual kitchen, dining room, living room and office into reality, well worth the time spent! Just as we know creating the illusion of openness with paint color in a traditional home works, the illusion of separation in a loft can be accomplished in a different way using floor rugs, two-sided bookcases, hanging panels, floor screens and portable walls. The high ceilings create and keep the openness of the floor plan - the reason why so many love lofts. The use of mirrors positioned to reflect the sunlight will brighten up entire space. For pet owners, it's also possible to incorporate an awesome area for your pet in an end table or nightstand.

Furniture, such as benches for storage, beds with hidden floor drawers, tables with wheels to move from place to place and stackable chairs for entertaining are ways to incorporate dual usage. In addition, placing throw pillows around a coffee table or ottoman cubes that slide under the table can add extra seating. Metal racks and open shelving for kitchens will allow storage and clear counters.

Everyone has a vision on how a loft should look and be designed.  Whether it's modern, futuristic, retro, European or eclectic, when it comes to design, it's always a matter of your own taste.

Diane Concialdi
DC Redesign  
(714) 815-3506

Read the rest of the series: 

• Preparing Your Long Beach Homes for Sale - Home Staging Tips

• Long Beach Home Staging-Define Your Long Beach Homes with Color!
• Redesign Home Staging for your Long Beach Homes
• Staging Your Long Beach Homes

Staging and Home Improvement related articles:

• Remodeling Your Long Beach Home?
• Curb Appeal On A Budget
• Summer in Long Beach California - Reduce Your Energy Costs and Stay Cool
• Self-Healing Homes
• Why Stage Your Long Beach Home or Condo?
• Long Beach Backyards-Ponds and Nasty Swimming Pools
• Long Beach Home Kitchen Remodels
• Long Beach Home Bathroom Remodels
• Stage YOUR Long Beach Home to Sell

Posted on July 08, 2008 02:45:49 by Laurie.Manny

The Effects of Home Staging Your Long Beach Homes

Home staging projects can be very exciting, fun and are a lot of work. In these before and after images you will see that after photos set an emotional air and convey a more desirable feeling than the before photos, suggesting a higher level of appeal to all Long Beach buyers. 

Dining Room - Before and After

Location is important to buyers in Long Beach; it's essential that your home stager spotlight any available extraordinary view such as the ocean, a greenbelt, city or mountain views as well as the backyard or patio.  Many Long Beach homes have small backyards or only have a small patio to work with, which makes it essential to set up the patio and be sure the gardens are weeded and tended too. 

Patio - Before and After

Home staging accentuates the specific architecture of your Long Beach home and defines the interior spaces. A bad home staging job can actually take away from the sale of your home. You want the buyer to focus on the positive.

How furniture is layed out is extremely important in defining any area, especially if the purpose of the room is for living and dining. An empty house is cold. Defining furniture placement pulls the room together and creates a flow throughout your home to help a buyer visualize the home's potential. 

There is definitely a power to staging.  Home staging creates an inviting atmosphere your buyer can see themselves living in and a place to call "Home!" 

Read the rest of the series: 

• Preparing Your Long Beach Homes for Sale - Home Staging Tips
• Long Beach Home Staging-Define Your Long Beach Homes with Color!
• Redesign Home Staging for your Long Beach Homes
• Staging Your Long Beach Homes

 
Staging and Home Improvement related articles:

• Remodeling Your Long Beach Home?
• Curb Appeal On A Budget
• Summer in Long Beach California - Reduce Your Energy Costs and Stay Cool
• Self-Healing Homes
• Why Stage Your Long Beach Home or Condo?
• Long Beach Backyards-Ponds and Nasty Swimming Pools
• Long Beach Home Kitchen Remodels
• Long Beach Home Bathroom Remodels
• Stage YOUR Long Beach Home to Sell

Read also:

• Chasing the Market Down - Are You Guilty?
• Long Beach Homes-Issues for 1st Time Home Buyers
• Selling YOUR Long Beach Home - It' Tough Out There - Are YOU ready for this real estate market?
• Selling YOUR Downtown Long Beach Condos-State of the Market

Posted on March 23, 2008 20:59:59 by Laurie.Manny

Preparing Your Long Beach Homes for Sale - Home Staging Tips

Preparing Your Long Beach Homes for Sale

Home Staging Tips for the Long Beach Homeowner

Marketing your Long Beach homes is similar to the way merchandisers market products using special packaging. You wouldn't buy a product that doesn't look good, would you? Would you buy a home that is disorganized and dirty?  Neither will today's Long Beach real estate buyers.  Try to look at your home through your buyer's eyes.

Physical clutter can create mental and spiritual blocks to success, health and selling your Long Beach home. Have you ever needed to pick up your rooms, make your bed, and put away the dirty dishes in the sink before you leave for vacation?  That's because space cleaning assists in lightening your mind and leaves you with a feeling of balance.

First Impressions Sell

Some unacceptable first impressions home buyers have can be corrected with the list below. Always remember first impressions and how it is important in any part of your life and in selling your Long Beach home.
 

1. Clean up the walkway to your home removing weeds and dead plants, adding new ones, and sweeping and hosing off the driveway and garage doors. It may be necessary to paint the front door, if washing it doesn't help. Also keep the entrance well lighted at night.
2. Remove any personal stuff, old newspapers and magazines, clothes lying around and religious artifacts. Make sure countertops and dresser tops are clean and clear.
3. Move out any unused or extra furniture so that your rooms are more spacious and not crowded with a lot of stuff.
4. All cupboards and closets should be clean and orderly.  Get rid of old unused clothing.  Kitchen and bathroom cupboards should be extra clean and neat.
5. Remove from sight any cat litter boxes, garbage cans and pet dishes and check the odor in your home. Most homeowners don't realize that odor plays a big part in the sale of their home.
6. Replace any old rugs and carpets, paint the walls or remove any old wallpaper. Buyers love when everything is done before they move in.
7. Keep your rooms light and bright with clean windows and window coverings. Open up the blinds and curtains and let in the sunshine. If it's a nice day, open up the windows and let in the fresh air.  
8. Add tons of real flowers around your home inside and out. Flowers will also freshen up the scent of your rooms.
9. Keep your rooms painted in colors that appeal to all. It doesn't necessarily have to be neutral but don't use hot pinks, lime greens, or themed kids rooms. Even if it's a deep color and everything else is correctly staged, clean and neat, the color will not matter. 
10. Your garage is not the catchall.  Make sure it is very clean and organized. It you have time, try and have a garage sale before you list your home with your Long Beach Realtor.

If you live in an area where all of the homes are somewhat the same, with similar features, floor plans and neighborhoods, make your home the best looking one on the block. A Home Stager will help you achieve the look of a perfectly staged home but not look artificial.  Your buyer needs to think, "I want to live here."  Your Long Beach home will be remembered!

Stage your Long Beach Homes to sell.

Diane Concialdi
DC Redesign  
(714) 815-3506

Read the rest of the series: 

• Long Beach Home Staging-Define Your Long Beach Homes with Color!
• Redesign Home Staging for your Long Beach Homes
• Staging Your Long Beach Homes

Staging and Home Improvement related articles:

• Remodeling Your Long Beach Home?
• Curb Appeal On A Budget
• Summer in Long Beach California - Reduce Your Energy Costs and Stay Cool
• Self-Healing Homes
• Why Stage Your Long Beach Home or Condo?
• Long Beach Backyards-Ponds and Nasty Swimming Pools
• Long Beach Home Kitchen Remodels
• Long Beach Home Bathroom Remodels
• Stage YOUR Long Beach Home to Sell

Read also:

• Chasing the Market Down - Are You Guilty?
• Long Beach Homes-Issues for 1st Time Home Buyers
• Selling YOUR Long Beach Home - It' Tough Out There - Are YOU ready for this real estate market?
• Selling YOUR Downtown Long Beach Condos-State of the Market

Posted on February 27, 2008 13:00:34 by Laurie.Manny

Long Beach Home Staging-Define Your Long Beach Homes with Color!

Staging Your Long Beach Homes

Are you considering selling your Long Beach Home?  Have you considered the value a professional home stager will bring to the table? You should.  With so many homes for sale on the market in Long Beach it has never been more important for your home to show well.  This is the third in a series of articles on staging your Long Beach Homes by Diane Concialdi of  DC Redesign.  This portion of the series addresses bringing your home to life with color. Here you will find great tips for you to consider prior to placing your homes for sale on the market; we hope you are enjoying the series.

Define Your Long Beach Homes with Color!

Each year we are presented with a new palette of color choices for apparel, home furniture design, décor, appliances, automobiles and more.  Home decor changes for 2008 are a warm range of colors with a rustic feel combined with modern, natural products such as bamboo and anything clean and green.
 
If you're uncertain as to what colors to choose for your room palette, here's a tip:  pull colors out of your favorite tapestry, pillows, curtains or piece of artwork. Designing a room this way works every time. Don't forget black; it completes the look and pulls it all together.
 

Colors in softer grays, putty, stone and granite colors or browns, greens and sunset colors like oranges and yellows create an earth-like landscape for your home.  Use soft pewter-blues with tan hues to create the feel of the beach or colors in greens. Tone-on-tones for whites, beiges or lighter browns and neutrals combined with a wall in a dark richer color add dimension to your rooms.
 

Start with darker colors for floors, move upward for the lighter colors on the walls and don't forget the ceilings. Using the same color for your entire room including the ceiling also works!  Paint has different sheens so be sure to use the right one.  Flat paint camouflages imperfect walls; eggshell and satin give a more formal look and high gloss should be used for woodwork and doors.
 

Use the same color schemes for adjoining rooms to flow from room to room. Colors such as coffee bean, tangerine or kiwi work well for kitchens and stimulate your appetite; just remember - the color of foods!  Blues for dining rooms suppress the appetite and make dinners less enjoyable. Bedrooms require warm deeper shades to create a calm and peaceful atmosphere for a good nights sleep.

• We look better when surrounded by color and feel happier.  
• Buyers choose homes that make them feel happy. 
• Color your home, stage it and price it right. 

Would you like to get an idea what that color you have been thinking about will look like up on the wall?  Try the tool over on valspar painter, its fun, easy to use and will really give you a feel for the colors you are considering.

Stage your Long Beach Homes to sell.

Diane Concialdi
DC Redesign  
(714) 815-3506

Read the rest of the series: 

• Redesign Home Staging for your Long Beach Homes
• Staging Your Long Beach Homes

 

Staging and Home Improvement related articles:

• Remodeling Your Long Beach Home?
• Curb Appeal On A Budget
• Summer in Long Beach California - Reduce Your Energy Costs and Stay Cool
• Self-Healing Homes
• Why Stage Your Long Beach Home or Condo?
• Long Beach Backyards-Ponds and Nasty Swimming Pools
• Long Beach Home Kitchen Remodels
• Long Beach Home Bathroom Remodels

 

Read also:

• Chasing the Market Down - Are You Guilty?
• Long Beach Homes-Issues for 1st Time Home Buyers
• Selling YOUR Long Beach Home - It' Tough Out There - Are YOU ready for this real estate market?
• Selling YOUR Downtown Long Beach Condos-State of the Market
• Stage YOUR Long Beach Home to Sell

Posted on February 10, 2008 00:21:19 by Laurie.Manny