PORTLAND — Tiara Gunstone and Rachel Robichaud have a tradition: The founders of Crush home staging and design in Portland evaluate every project before they say they’re finished. They won’t stop styling furniture, highlighting architectural features or using design tricks to make a home for sale inviting until they can jointly say: “We totally crushed it!”
The design duo’s job: To elevate the appearance of a home with furniture, artwork, lighting and decor.
“Our style is approachable, modern-traditional and eclectic,” says Gunstone, an interior designer who worked at Atelier Ace, the creative agency behind Ace Hotels. “We are inspired by how something as simple as staging can totally transform a space while creating an emotional reaction from a future homeowner. This is what inspires us to keep ‘crushing it’ every day.”
Gunstone and Robichaud charge $150 for an in-person walkthrough of an occupied home and to provide a written report on suggestions to prepare it for potential buyers.
Here are Tiara Gunstone and Rachel Robichaud’s tips to make rooms look more inviting for home shoppers:
Paint
We can’t stress enough the power of a fresh coat of paint. We always recommend painting walls a light neutral color when possible.
Our go-to off-white is Benjamin Moore White Dove, which has a slight warmth too it. But before you commit to a paint color, compare it against your existing trim color and wood tones.
Although some homeowners are apprehensive to paint everything white and light as it may sound boring or “cold,” this allows home buyers to see the space as a blank canvas for their ideas.
Many homes suffer from a lack of good light. We have found that reds, oranges, browns and yellows detour home buyers as it’s hard to see past and doesn’t photograph well. Painting is an affordable way to update your home quickly.
Lighting
We recommend switching out distracting fixtures in the main spaces.
When we do home consultations, we will make recommendations for easy swap outs that are affordable and ship quickly. When switching out light fixtures, it’s important to keep in mind the era of the home while also selecting something that will make it feel updated.
Staging
Staging creates a visual of how the home can be setup and feel.
We always keep in mind the era of the home but also want to create a very approachable aesthetic that appeals to a variety of buyers. We keep our furniture fairly neutral then add pops of color and warmth through artwork, decor, soft goods and plants.
Staging will complement the architectural features of the home and can also distract from the negative ones.
It’s all about that first impression. The most important rooms to stage are the ones you can see the moment you walk in the door.
If you are going to stage, we recommend concentrating on the living room, dining room, kitchen and bathrooms and ideally the primary bedroom.
Due to the pandemic, many buyers are looking more online first. A photo of a home that is nicely staged will make a lasting impression on potential buyers compared to an empty space. We like to call it “magic” after nearly every home we stage has received multiple offers.
Declutter
If staging isn’t an option with owner-occupied homes, we offer a home consultation walk through and write-up on preparing your home.
Decluttering is number one. Personal photos, toys and overall clutter distract buyers from looking at the home itself.
Rearranging spaces to feel more inviting also is key. Adding plants or a fresh white bedspread make an impact in photos and home tours. This is also where painting and lighting recommendations help transform the home.
Good Photography
Real estate photos are more important than ever.
Research shows that a buyer is more likely to want to see a home in person when there are good photos and good staging compared to dark, blurry photos of empty or overly cluttered unappealing spaces.
One of our favorite photographers in the industry is Spin Photography. Chuck Collier Schmidt’s photos, which you see in this story, capture the home and its potential. It’s worth investing in good photos and some owners keep them as a reminder of where they once called home.