Can’t Keep Meetings Like This

March 30, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“Trends exist to make one feel badly about what they don’t have.” -Nate Berkus
Today is either going to be a high or a low depending on your current outlook and station in life. I realize we are living in times that are fraught with controversy and I certainly don’t mean to cause anymore strife, but sometimes you just have to go out on a limb and talk about what really matters. And, today, it’s our highly developed sweatpants culture.

Hmm…I just remembered. I already wrote about that. You might have missed it – deliberately. So why don’t I add to last month’s treatise and wax poetic on the question people all over the word have been asking me –“What is trendy and what is timeless?”

To that end, I have distilled my findings into point-by-point items that almost everyone can follow. Incidentally, many thanks to the Form and Function Foundation for its generous support of my work. 
Will I regret putting up wainscoting? 
First off constituents, I would just like to mention that there’s a lot of really great stuff here, so thank you. I’ll try not to use a lot of dialogue, so you won’t get tired of reading. Or you could send this to somebody who really wants to read it. 

But before I go too far, I would like to note up front that some things will never go out of style because they were never in style to begin with. Like your family’s sword collection and that paint colour you picked that can be seen from 50 feet in a fog.

Also there are probably lots of trends you still haven’t heard of. I mean, we didn’t hear about Antarctica until 1820, but I’m pretty sure it’s been there the whole time. 

By the way, why is it that my phone, when I only said the words “Arco lamp” out loud once three weeks ago, knows to advertise mid-century-modern lamps to me on Facebook, but no one can seem to figure out how to delete the ads for personalized t-shirts.Now on to business.
Boring now may equal timeless later. 
The most timeless look is one where you cannot precisely say when it was installed. It’s knowing what will stand the test of time, not creating a time-stamped home.
I Will Always Love Hue. 

Black. It’s most everyone’s “personal uniform” these days, it’s the very definition of simplicity and ease. Given our past collective pandemic experience, stances on how to react, quickly became starkly black or white. It was so divisive, people set up camp with their lines of thought, santiizing everything. The internet had become the domain of certainly over open questions, assuredness over wonder.Increasingly becoming polarized by spending every waking hour online and the influence those algorithms had on what we interact with socially and politically, we were in a society that chose to see things in black and white. Moral grey areas disappeared. Reality shifted according to convenience and for whom ends justified the means. Now, here we are in present in-between time, this whatever-this-is-right-nowness, this discombobulation. Hopefully, we are returning to colour, pattern and maximalism as reaction. And discernment. 

But back to black and white.
Staying Power 
To say that black and white in interiors is a fad, is to say that neutrals are a fad. Whites and neutral colors that whisper, not shout, will always be the foundation of design. You simply cannot design a home without incorporating any white, black, or neutral colours in one form or another. A good neutral should be elastic, having the ability to flex with furnishings and under different light conditions.
Shades of forest green and navy have also been a timeless choice for interior design schemes thanks to their grounding connection to nature and easy-to-live-with appeal. By the way, colour theory states that purple and brown are complementary, but I have yet to prove this.
When it comes to classic paint colour options, Benjamin Moore’s Historic Collection is wonderfully reliable for adding perennial appeal. These 191 shades have stood the test of time for a reason. They offer a sense both nostalgic and timeless, making  for versatile backdrops that work for many different home styles. 
Subway tiles have never really gone out of style. First installed in New York City subways in 1904, they soon became the norm for subway stations all over the world. The tiles were simple to maintain, reflecting light in the gloomy underground. They then started to show up in home interiors, eventually and continuing to become the most well-liked backsplash option for both kitchens and bathrooms. 
As sure as clouds gather and clouds part, white kitchen cabinets have stood the test of time. They have been popular for decades, and nothing about that is going to change anytime soon. They’re classic, elegant, and understated, while still being able to mesh with contemporary design sensibilities. White cabinets are like chameleons, easily transformed with the addition of colour and various interior design styles. Yes, while a lot of us are craving richer colors and more contrast, there’s still plenty of room for creative freedom in a white kitchen with backsplash tile, the countertop, hardware and flooring.
Speaking of flooring, real hardwood floors in a medium brown, like walnut, are like a pair of blue jeans. They go with any style of furniture or decor. You want to make sure there is not a lot of gray, yellow or red in the stain. While luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring may be practical, it lacks the warmth and character of real wood.
When we picture a Parisian apartment, we most likely picture a space with herringbone or chevron wood floors. This design dates back to the 16th century when artisans fit miniature blocks of wood in a geometric pattern. Fast forward to today, and herringbone and chevron floors remain a favorite. The labor involved does make this a more expensive flooring choice, but you can be sure that they will never go out of style. 
Rooted in the Shaker design principles of honesty, simplicity and utility, Shaker style doors have been in style for more than 100 years. They are the most universal cabinet door style thanks in large part to their versatility. This paired-back kitchen style is distinguished by its simple framed door design with a recessed central panel. The frame can be thin and narrow for a more modern door, or wider for a more traditional cabinet. Various decorative trim and crown mouldings are easily paired with shaker doors. 
You owe it to society to stick with timeless fixtures in brushed or polished nickel, and a white or off-white quartz countertop with subtle, gentle veinings.
TIP:  In a new build, renovation, or just plain updating, choose finishes in the order of the least colour choices. First flooring, then countertops, backsplash tiles, paint colours last.                                                                                       
You are in a long-term relationship with your sofa. Just like a tea kettle that boils in seconds, picking a neutral colour and a structured silhouette can vastly improve your life. Practical leather (with the above stipulation) also stands the test of time. 
Gallery walls have undergone a remarkable transformation from their origins in European salons to today’s contemporary interpretations. What once was a formal display of traditional artwork has evolved into a versatile design element that celebrates personal expression and creative freedom.
I’m starting to see antiques becoming way more interesting to young(er) people. And that makes me so happy because it just breaks my heart when you see the craftsmanship involved and it just gets thrown away and replaced by Ikea. Nothing (much) against Ikea, but it’s just not the same.

Don’t throw out that chair, console, hutch or dresser. Give it a new life by painting, refinishing or reupholstering.
By the way, I’m really glad we could address this for the third time this year. Now, would it be possible for me to borrow your stapler? I need it to put these pages together before 5 p.m.

Never mind, I found it. 
Filed Under: Blog

Last Minute Checklist

March 28, 2025 by Leave a Comment

You get the call. Someone wants to see your listing in less than an hour.  The clock is ticking and I’m all about helping. So in that vein, I’ve put together a Last Minute Checklist to make your work life just a little easier.  

These simple and quick staging tweeks you can do at the last minute can have a massive impact in selling your listing quickly and profitably—because small details make a big difference.
CURB APPEAL
A snow shovel is not a porch decoration. Nor are plastic lawn chairs and empty plant pots. It’s all about making a great first impression.
FLIP (ALMOST) EVERY SWITCH 
One of the quickest ways to add the illusion of square footage and to put people in a good mood is to turn on all floor and table lamps. But you want to be a bit discriminate with putting on ceiling lights, as they can make rooms look warehouse-y instead of welcoming.
Use warm-toned 2700-3000K consistent lighting throughout the home. Check for burnt out light bulbs.
Hide cords and wires as best as possible. Cable management is a minor detail that can make a big impact, especially in MLS photos. 
Let in as much natural light as possible—unless you have a spectacularly bad view, in which case, keep blinds tilted downwards. This lets in as much light as possible while disguising as much bad view as possible.
If there are dimmers, adjust accordingly.
PILLOW TALK
An unmade bed gives the impression of-less-than-clean, and that can be an unsavoury image in the minds of buyers. 
Make sure the mattress is fully covered and everything is smooth, straight, and even.
Wrap the bedding behind side rails for the neatest look.
If there are pillowcases, face the openings toward each other.
IT’S PRIVATE 
Keep privacy in mind by storing anything that may give clues as to the present owners. 

As for valuables, financial documents, perscriptions, religious items and family photos, do a clean sweep. Buyers like to view each home as their blank canvas, and that’s hard to do with pictures of someone else’s family in Disneyland.
ROLL UP THE MATS 
Except for the entry.
NOT SO SCENT-SATIONAL
Remove scented plug-ins as there may be buyers who are “scent-sitive”.
LAUNDRY ROOM
Clear anything straggling on floors, the countertop, hanging from hooks or hangers, and on top of the washer and dryer.Last minute trick—store dirty clothes inside the washer.
BATHROOM
Put toilet seats down and check for a new roll of toilet paper.
Hide the plunger, plastic soap dispensers, and toilet brush.
Open the shower curtain.
Remove the bewildering range of skin care products and any reading material. A bathroom is a bathroom, not a library. Amen.

Just as hotels use white items to reinforce the idea that the room is clean, white towels in the bathroom make things look fresh. Fold 2 matching bath towels if there is a tub, and 2 matching hand towels in a powder bath.

Here’s how: Fold one side toward the middle and then the other so no raw edges are showing, and then fold it in half lengthwise to hang.
KITCHEN
If you’re truly pressed for time, you may not be able to complete this…but whenever possible, remove clutter and small appliances off the countertops— and windowsill.
Put sponges, scrubbies and dish detergent under the sink.
Take down items from the top of kitchen cabinets—a muffin top of unpleasantness.

IT’S YOUR TURN TO…
You may get that one potential buyer who will look everywhere, so take out the trash and recycling. All garbage cans should be out of sight. 
 
TEMPERATURE
You don’t want buyers to rush through the home because it’s either too hot or too cold. The ideal temperature depends on the home and season, but keeping it at around 70 degrees should ensure everyone is comfortable.
 
PETS
No thank you. Remove any signs—toys, photos, bowls, crates, leashes, beds, and litter boxes.
 
MUSIC
Put on some soft, smooth jazz or instrumental music.

BRING CHOCOLATES
…cause who doesn’t love chocolate?
Great work! You did it.

Now all you have to do is relax and wait for the lucky buyer who is going to find the beautiful and clean space perfect.
Filed Under: Blog

It’s Easy Being Green

March 17, 2025 by Leave a Comment

One thing the Irish say, is that the thing about the past, is that it’s not the past.                                                                                                       
Certain things are timeless. The little black dress. An Eames chair. A pint of Guinness. 

In an age of unending interconnectedness, ideas and inspiration, innovative ideas rarely hit from nowhere.

This is important when thinking about designing outside of ‘trends’; it’s especially hard because we’re having to wonder about transient fads from age of hyper-information, rapid consumption, instant gratification, and Amazon deliveries. A diaspora of desire. 

To and to haven’t.

Trending design styles are typically socially loud. If you have a pulse on interior design and notice that everyone is clamoring to update their homes with a new and unusual element at the same time, quite likely, it’s trendy.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph and all his carpenter friends, I’m so over the homogenous gray on gray on gray, the white on white on white, both having the same marketing team as cottage cheese and cauliflower. Because man, are they ubiquitous.

I have never been on the gray on gray on gray bandwagon, nor the white. Just like I don’t like perching on bar stools, having screen doors as front doors, and scalloped lampshades. Which all makes me sound very curmudgeonly, quickly becoming apparent I should limit contact with other people for the rest of the day.

Now, let’s take a step back and consider the question: What is timeless and what is merely having a moment, a passing craze?
Remember sharp-tongued Miranda Priestly laying out the process whereby Andy’s cerulean blue sweater originates from Oscar De La Renta and is “filtered down through the department stores and then trickled on down into some tragic casual corner where you, no doubt, fished it out of some clearance bin.”
Good taste is never about being right—or wrong. Well, maybe just a bit wrong.
For example, there were some decades in the past that had their fair share of questionable choices and colours, what some might call “disturbing to others”. It’s tempting to think that something had gone cosmically wrong, like Mercury is in retrograde, even when it wasn’t; really a handy shorthand for several shades of “Why?”
 The Punchy ’60s. Lime green. Rattan. Faux wood veneer paneling soliciting unsolicited attention. Groovy shag carpets, Having to “rake” the carpet just before company arrived and walking through those same 9 feet of shag carpeting to change the TV channel.
The Retro ’70s. Avocado green, harvest gold, and burnt sienna. Rattan. Macramé. Carpeted bathrooms. The inestimable “conversation pit” living room, where at cocktail parties, late-staying guests tended to fall in, and fencing was needed to keep children from daily concussions. 
Then came the bows and frills of The ’80s, making up in enthusiasm what they lacked in wit. Neon green. Rattan. Floral couches. Mirrored walls for a “timeless” look. Pastel everything. Leg warmers. Padded shoulders. Tequila Sunrise cocktails. (Although these are also still good.)
Next the perplexing Grunge ’90s, you’re glad if you missed it. Forest green. Rattan. Sponge painting. Track lighting. Entertainment centers. VHS tapes. Carpet on walls. Decorative border wallpaper. Swag curtains. Oversized leather sofas. 
The 2000’s of Futuristic Aesthetic and Minimalism. Blue-greens. Rattan. Stainless steel appliances and backsplash. Granite countertops. Crocs. Skinny jeans. iPods. Shabby chic. Uniform gallery walls. Sleigh beds. Concrete flooring. Light coloured wood flooring. Reclaimed wood. Glass-topped tables.
Gray Wave of the 2010’s.  Gray. Beige. Greige. Rose Gold. Rattan. Shiplap. Brass accents. White walls. There wasn’t a living room untouched by a shade of gray – the unheralded neutral hue of the decade. So began the trend shift from warm neutrals to cool grays, sometimes with the tropical hints of bright colours. 
Today is a day for “the wearing of the green” and to herald in the new neutral—green. It’s 2025, the age of the “Anti-Trend” and Biophilia, prioritizing harmony, wellness and ecological sensitivity.

Gone are the days when neutrals were limited to white, cream, gray and beige.Greens have now transitioned from a trend to a classic choice. They have earned their keep. Like my poor grandfather. My grandfather came from Ireland to get a better life, but my grandmother tracked him down and that was the end of that. 
Colour is one of the few things that say so much with so little.

But it all depends on the shade. (Please, not shamrock green.) The most important—and the most challenging decision in choosing the best green neutral, is to get the undertone right.

 Nature’s palette of serene greens, such as sage and olive with their gray and brown undertones, are go-to choices for longevity with universal appeal. These are colours that feel more natural and organic. They also pair well with other neutrals such as cappuccino and greige, or with bolder shades like mustard yellows and deep navy.

When choosing the shade of green, consider how your space is used. Is it for relaxation, work, dining, or in a high traffic area like the hall? You may want to use a subtler green for restful spaces or make a daring statement with a deep, dark green in a dining area.
Nevertheless, individual taste is timeless, not trendy. Collect a bit of the blarney or storied objects for your home that you love regardless of whether they are in the prevailing zeitgeist of alluring fashion or not. (They probably aren’t.)

Trust yourself, and create something that reflects you, where most every object is a memory. A reminder. Or where they are implicitly cherished for only the very fact that you own it. Maybe they are items that don’t cost much, but make life a bit sparklier. Or a special version of an everyday thing. 
Be an individual. Find your own taste—or I could tell you.  

Keep green and leprechaun. Sláinte!  

Thank you for reading to the end of this post. A baffling decision, but thank you.
Filed Under: Blog

Charming St. Patrick’s Day Marketing Ideas

March 4, 2025 by Leave a Comment
Top o’ the mornin’ to you. 

Mastering the art of gifting is a grand tool for establishing and nurturing long-lasting relationships with clients.  By showing appreciation through creative, unique or personal gifts, you can really differentiate yourself from your competition, creatinggreen with envy lasting impressions that stay top-of-the-mind.  

As St. Patrick’s Day approaches, it is a lucky opportunity to connect with clients in a fun and memorable way, as well as an opportunity to  showcase listings with “green” staging ideas that are “a bit of home”.


Lucky Charms Cereal 
Realtor: Delight clients with a small box of Lucky Charms cereal, complete with a note that says, “I’m so lucky to have you as a client!”  It’s sure to bring a smile to their faces. 
Staging: Set out a box along with a stack of cereal bowls on the kitchen counter.
 

Shamrock Seeds or Plant 
You: Give the gift of “wearing the green” with a small plant or packets of shamrock seeds. Include a note  –“I’m luckier than a four-leaf clover to have you as a….”or “May good luck be with you wherever you go, and your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow.” 

Note: Never iron a four-leaf clover because you don’t want to press your luck. 

Staging: Incorporate a plant on the front entry table beside your listing sheet, bathroom countertop or anywhere a touch of green will be welcome. As they say, it ain’t over till it’s clover. 

Pot o’ Gold Treats 

You: Fill small jars with gold-wrapped chocolate coins and attach a card that says, “You’re a treasure to work with!” or “May your home be filled with laughter, may your pockets be filled with gold, and may you have all the happiness your heart can hold.” 

Staging: Fill a crystal bowl with chocolate coins to tempt all those choco-holics. Or catch a leprechaun. 
 

Irish Coffee Kit 

You: Put together a Irish coffee kit complete with small bottles of Irish cream, gourmet coffee, and chocolate-covered spoons. Include a note with instructions for creating the perfect Irish coffee at home. 

Staging: Set out the above on a bar cart, along with Irish coffee glasses. It will be the luck of the latte.
 

Irish Soda Bread 

You: Bake or buy mini loaves of traditional Irish soda bread to share with your clients. Include a recipe card so they can recreate this delicious treat at home. 

Staging: Style a kitchen counter with a loaf of soda bread with a jar of jam on a wooden board along with a teapot and mugs. …or display a plate of green frosted cupcakes or Irish Cream macarons.
 

 

Lucky Lottery Tickets 

You: Spread the luck of the Irish with scratch-off lottery tickets with a note that says, “May the luck of the Irish be with you!” 

Staging: Hire me. Your lucky charm.   

Remember, you’ll never plough a field by turning it over in your mind.

Keep calm and leprechaun. Sláinte! 
Filed Under: Blog

Pillow Talk: In Defence of a Divisive Home Accessory

February 8, 2025 by

      ’Tis better to have loved and layered, than never to have layered at all.’                                                                       (Apologies to Willie Shakespeare.)
As Cupid readies his bow and arrow, businesses worldwide are gearing up for one of the most lucrative holidays of the year: Valentine’s Day – the day where everyone has an equal chance to be emotionally disappointed. And why is it that, on this night, we have four glasses of wine when we feel like we need so many more? 

You know that I have a soft spot for Valentine’s Day. Not an infatuation, not an attraction, but an obsession. Truly irrational. Especially when it comes to heart-shaped pancakes, chocolate covered strawberries with those little tuxedos, and most importantly – “heart” toss pillows.
True Confession. I have a decorative pillow habit. It makes me feel like I’m contributing to my community. So for Valentine’s Season I am bringing out all my “heart” and “LOVE” pillows, cause I’m a grownup who gets things done.  

Given I have no significant romantic obligations (I have only been married once which was in consequence of a misunderstanding between myself and a young person.), I can dedicate all of my extra time and attention to styling my numerous toss cushions, while finding new and innovative ways to keep them plumped.  

Many have rolled their eyes at the sayings on my decorative pillows, but they’re really missing the point. I don’t particularly care if my pillows are clever, only that they’re there, cherished for the very fact that I own them. 
I never met a throw cushion I didn’t like. 

All of us have a different take on turning a home into our refuge of choice. Some of us like a place we only have to dust once a decade. Some of us are still trying to figure out what our “grown-up” interior design style is, and some of us have the true goal of turning our home into an interior design haven; to find the intersection between what the heart wants and the best toss cushions.  

For example. Should you choose the one called “Apple Cider Smash” or the vermillion one? They have been sitting on your sofa for months, but you know how colour changes with the light—of course you do!—so it’s been hard to decide. One shade is a little cooler, one a little warmer.  Your friends refuse to discuss it any further, and they’ve begun to (unfairly) characterize your gentle queries every time they come out of the small bathroom as “gotcha” questions. They’ve actually stopped using the small bathroom altogether, which is fine, because none of them remember to jiggle the handle just so (even though you posted a detailed schematic on the wall and have shown them how to do it numerous times).  So the colour choice is up to you, but I’m sure you could use a second opinion. You don’t want to overthink it.

Not all pillows are created equal. 

The benefits of having accent pillows are endless. A multifaceted tool. Unsung heros.  From a symbol of status and wealth, to mood-altering, to showing off your personality, to improved health. I mean, seriously.

Toss pillows have provided significant contributions as early as circa 7,000 BCE in early Mesopotamia. Although they were probably made of stone.

Reasons… 

One: Good posture. Because among small people I am the tallest, I often stack two cushions on top of the other to use as a footrest. And to prop up my laptop.After all, you want to look great and  be comfortable. 

Two: Toss cushions are the perfect size for emotional comfort. i.e. sobbing, fainting, screaming into, as well as supporting specific body parts.

Look, I’m all in favour of emotion. In fact, I’ve been using this newsletter as therapy for years. One day I hope to someday publish a book on their calming effects. 

Three: The anti-throw pillow crowd, based on experiences at various aunts’ homes, asks if you really need these “scatter cushions” if you aren’t into the whole design process? In short, yes. And I’ll tell you why in one word: naps. 

Four: It’s an easy way to zhoozh up a space – if you want to veer on the classier side of Bed Bath and Beyond. It’s a tactic that always has increased the aesthetic value of a room and protected your loved ones, especially the pillows have eye-catching sequins, tassels, beads, or pom-poms.

There are certain inanimate rules and questions to ask before expertly deploying toss cushions.

Questions: 
Is karate-chopping the centre of the pillow de rigueur? Easy answer. Don’t. 

Are they going to stand out too much and distract from the containers on my kitchen counter? 

Rules: 

The Rule of Threes. Whether you’re looking at pieces of the same colour, pattern, texture, shape, or size, make sure it’s a trio. But if threes just aren’t working, aim for other odd or even numbers instead. It’s an opportunity to try out your most interesting layering ideas, encouraging robust gatherings and harmonious social interactions. 

Size Matters. Why? According to the The International Society of Furniture Designers, 78% say that choosing various dimensions elevates the arrangement. For example, mix a 22” square organic cotton pillow with smaller rectangular pillows with round pillows with some shaped like hearts to enhance flow. Remember: this is your space. It should reflect the holiday. 

Textures and Patterns. Neutrals and pet hair are not good relationship material. 
Final Thoughts. 

I also recommend living life on the edge with a bed covered, but usually next to (hence the word “throw” cushion which requires particular actions), with at least eight wrinkle-free tiny pillows.  

I mean, can you ever have too much love? It’s a phrase I live by, and not just because it’s needlepointed on three of my throw pillows. Which also makes for a great topic starter when conversation lags and unity is lacking. 

Just remember. February 15 is “National Put Away Heart Pillows Till Next Year.” Day. 

Please.
Filed Under: Blog

Valentine’s Staging Special

February 8, 2025 by
‘Tis better to have loved and listed, than never to have listed at all.’(With apologies to Willie Shakespeare.) 

As Cupid readies his bow and arrow, businesses worldwide are gearing up for one of the most lucrative holidays of the year: Valentine’s Day.  An opportunity to try out your most interesting marketing ideas and gain attention.

There are simple gestures to play Cupid to your clients and their dream homes –– finding the perfect match. Such a sweetheart deal. 

You know I have a soft spot for Valentine’s Day—heart cushions, fuzzy red throws, chocolate covered strawberries, and all that. Not an infatuation, not an attraction, but an obsession. Truly irrational. Especially when it comes to staging a listing.
‘All the world’s a stage, and all the sellers and buyers, merely players. They have their exits and their entrances…’but you don’t want them to come through the front door and quickly out the back.  Have them see red – in a good way. 

‘There are good hearts to serve men in mansions as in condominiums.’ 

It’s the small things that build connection and responsiveness. A comfy chair with a hearty toss cushion, a soft throw draped and ambient lighting, bonding buyers with a cozy sanctuary. Set out a couple of books or a cup of tea on a small side table, and you have a spot that feels like a warm hug. 

True love doesn’t have to mean sharing your toothbrush––or having them out for buyers to see.

Pop in a splash of red with a decorative soap dispenser or fluffy red towels.

‘If music be the food of love, play on.’
Soft music playing in the background translates feelings that spoken words can’t. Unforgettable. 

It’s all about connecting and showing reasons to love your listing by adding a touch of love to your marketing strategies. So go ahead, spread the love this Valentine’s Day! 

‘To stage or not to stage, that is the question.’ 

Happy Valentine’s Selling!

Filed Under: Blog

50 Shades of Green

January 31, 2025 by

It’s a brilliant and easy marketing technique in selling a home— one of my personal favourite and budget-friendly strategies for maximizing value and selling quicker.
If you have a property about to go on the market, knowing how to incorporate greenery to cozy up the vibe may be the difference between the listing dying on the vine—or sprouting interest.  

With today’s technology overhaul, home buying is less like a blind date and more like online dating. To snag those online suitors, it is essential that the homes’ profile pictures are nothing less than stunning, the home dressed up in order to earn that “first date”.  

Pick up any interior design magazine and you’ll see that almost every photo has either plants or fresh flowers providing the finishing touch. Surveys have proven that photos posted with plants get way more traffic, clicks, and direct messages. 
Buyers want a home that has been cared for. Displaying plants show that the seller is someone who likely also took care of other parts of the home, such as the HVAC system and roof. After all, plants do require some watering and attention to stay alive.  Incorporating house plants also demonstrate the availability of a large amount of natural light in the home — a plus selling feature.
“Right plant, right place.”  

Selecting the right ones is an art in itself, for each choice and placement dramatically alters the feeling of a space. Each choice is a petal in the bouquet of a home’s story. Plants and/or fresh flowers are not just decor items, but living art pieces that breathe life into rooms, making hearts flutter like a clean sheet on a long line. They can be the soothing balm that potential buyers need, connecting them more to the home. 

Buyers feel plant energy when they walk in – unless the plants are dead, which tend to give off the emotions of strip mall mannequins.  After all, and for the most part, plants are inexpensive compared to purchasing pieces of furniture or art to fill in those empty, neglected or awkward spaces. 
DO’S AND DONT’S 

Plants should accentuate the décor, not overwhelm it. Because after all, our one task in life is to make friends with reality.  

Solution: Place extra plants in various strategic locations, consolidate 2 or 3 small plants in one pot, or just pass on extraneous plant babies for others to care for during the short selling time.  
As sure as clouds gather and clouds part, not all plants are created equal. Instead of a spattering of small plants throughout the home, group them together to create a curated, intentional look.

Staging trick: Put plants on empty shelves or on end tables where there are no lamps.
 
There is no need to go out and buy vases of expensive flowers. A little bit goes a long way. A daisy in a small vase might look great near the bathroom sink. A cluster of white hydrangeas can be fabulous on a kitchen countertop. 
It’s safe to sprinkle a few faux options in. Chances are good that nobody will ever notice if a few are actually plastic. Pinky swear. 

Plants chosen and placed wisely speak volumes, using nature’s beauty to make a house feel like a home. That’s how you get that “Wow” from buyers when they walk into a room for the first time.
 
Now that the stage is set, let them work their magic.
 
Anyway, thanks for coming to my TED talk about staging plants. (And probably more information than you asked for.) 
 
Happy Selling.
Filed Under: Blog

Seemed like a good idea at the time

January 2, 2025 by

 Ahhh…January 1. 
 
Everyone comes out swinging this time of year, the traditional day for thinking about one’s past mistakes and making lofty promises to the gods. Or as some say – “casual promises that you are under no legal obligation to fulfill.”
 
Every so often we have a go at it. 
 
But staring down the barrel of 2024, I’m working on an alternative. It’s list of things that I have no intention of ever doing. It’s more achievable and way cheaper. I mean, I have to balance ambition with practicality. 
 
There is great satisfaction of checking these items off as you don’t do them. But remember, once you’ve crossed over, there’s no looking back.
 
For example. Walking the Camino – too far. Scaling Katmandu – too high. Snowshoeing in the Arctic – too cold. Reading cosmetic labels. Too many words. 
 
Like, who needs to fight these titanic battles, anyways? 
 
This Resolution may just change my life forever. Reborn. Given a sentence of freedom. Stripped of a useless layer, like being on an IV drip of some miraculous substance. In fact, this maybe my new passion. I’m sure it’s going to turn me into a more wholesome and better human being. 
 
Thich Nhat Hanh, the preeminent Buddhist teacher, who knows a thing or two about attachments, found that committing to a No New Year’s Resolution is the most reliable way to achieve your goals for the upcoming year and create lasting change. Because you have to ask yourself: “Is your resolution realistic considering your current circumstances?” 
 
They say if you want to keep your resolutions, one trick is to tell as many people as possible or maybe join a “No Resolutions” group with similar aims for mutual support. So I’m counting on you, dear readers. 
 
But there is one resolution to which I am committted. To not ever ask questions of people just coming off an elevator. 
 
“Excuse me.” Could you please tell me where this elevator goes?”
“Up.”
“Yes, I know, but where exactly does it end up?”
“The next floor.”
 
Sigh.
 
Given I am not particularly cheerful or optimistic or “festive” by nature, this ‘No Resolutions” thing may be a problem now that I have so much more free time to judge and brood, because an empty diary can be just as stressful as a full diary.
 
Nevertheless, even if you deeply desire to uphold the No New Year’s Resolution this year, there’s always room for improvement.
 
Take unread books. They aren’t an issue as long as they fulfill their implicit secondary function: as decorative objects and social signifiers.
 
Or eating better. I don’t want to brag, but I’ve kept last year’s New Year’s Resolution. I’ve had pasta every day all this year. It’s about personal accountability.

Learning a new language. For example, in many languages, I know how to say, “Hello,” “Do you have lite mayonnaise?,” and, “What is the Wi-Fi password?”

Improving your mind. I just finished watching a six-hour silent film about Napoleon. I’m sure this counts.

Upgrading a toss pillow collection to something more daring and clever – maybe something with tassels or lace edging. It will make you feel like you are contributing to the community. Maybe one day you will write a book about their calming effects.

Losing weight. Ten pounds. Only 14 more to go.

 Of course, if you ARE the 79% who still want to uphold this time-honoured tradition, but may find it difficult to see it through, there is an offical out. The second Friday in January is “Quitter’s Day.”
 
By the way, there’s no rule that says you have to wait until January 1 to make a No New Year’s Resolution. There’s always today.

Filed Under: Blog

Enter: “Experience” Gifts

December 12, 2024 by

Now that decorating the Christmas tree is over, as in “tree with lights”, some using a method I call, “Keep wrapping the tree in lights in a haphazard manner until you can see it from outer space and they look kind of even.” (Trademark pending), you may be silently panicking as you still need to find some gifts.

Something Beautiiful. Something Useful. Something Unique. Something Meaningful.
Enter “Experience” gifts.
Unlike material possessions, which often lose their luster over time, experiences tend to appreciate value. The anticipation leading up to an experience, the moment of enjoyment during it, and the cherished memories that linger long after are all part of the equation. 
And according to www.Scrooge.com, gifting experiences instead of “stuff” serves for better relationships, and possibly makes people become slightly less annoying.
My fav Christmas gift to date was an experience. 

On Christmas Eve morning, one of my daughters arrived, presenting us with our personal Starbucks to take on our drive to Mt. Norquay. Because…we were going SNOW TUBING!Quickly getting dressed in a multitude of layers – leg warmers, wrist warmers, and forehead warmers, nine of us divided up into our cars. I quickly put on Mariah Carey, rivaled for the Queen of Christmas title only by the Virgin Mary herself, and with an uncanny ability to mangle lyrics beyond recognition, sang along until thankfully, said some, we reached the hill.All afternoon we tubed, fortified with steaming cups of hot chocolate with a little extra bit of “spike” (the drink of reason), on what we all agreed, was the most glorious mountain day ever seen in the history of mountains.
Exhilarated and exhausted, we then were treated to a fine dinner, including “ski shots”, then ended the day with a glorious hot tub soak.   
Another year, in that I was going to be in the Whitsundays, I was gifted a plane ride over The Great Barrier Reef. It remains to this day, one of my top three life experiences.
Now, if this seems like a great idea, first think about the personality of the person or people to whom you’re giving the experience. Look for clues, like what they like to do in their spare time.

Do they like walking in nature? Then maybe they would like to learn how to make spruce ice cream, which is made from the tree and tastes like a Christmas candle. Now that takes the gold plated gingerbread.

What hobbies do they enjoy? Assembling tasteful peony arrangements? Doing a 5000 piece jigsaw puzzle just because they want to? Collecting strip mall mannequins?

Do they have a decorative pillow habit? Do they like wine and cheese events? (Although most of them have a bit too much cheese, not quite enough wine.)

Now that’s a gap in the market.
Do you have someone that is homesick, away at university, or just bought their first house in another city? Whatever the case, and if that’s so—there is almost nothing better than a Homesick candle. These come in a variety of scents that evoke the character of any city. FYI: Los Angeles smells much better in candle-form.
Does this special someone need a bit of rest and relaxation to close out the year? Or likes swimming? I hear Nelson has a fine Polar Bear Swim January 1.
Giving experiences can be a pretty thrilling mission. That said, here’s the best part: how exactly to wrap an experience gift, because it only makes sense that unwrapping it should be just as exciting as the experience itself.But is it really possible to wrap an intangible?

You bet. Pair an experience gift’s certificate with a solid partner in an “use what you already have” box, bag or wrap in humble materials such as newspaper, brown paper, or paper you saved from last Christmas.

Examples: 
Food Tour: Pack a picnic basket. 
Skydiving: Go old school. A Tom Petty CD featuring “Free Falling.”
Cooking Class: A monogrammed apron.
Wellness Gift Card: Some bubble bath.
Golf Lesson: A box of golfballs or new golf glove is a tee-rific idea. Hot Air Balloon Ride: Tie the printable certificate to the end of a helium balloon bouquet.
Sushi Rolling Lesson: Tie together with a set of fancy chopsticks.
Mani-Pedi: A gift bag full of nail polish.
Hiking, Spelunking or Cavern Adventure: A head lamp.
Brewery Tour: A personalized pint glass. 
Fishing Excursion: A “Big Mouth Billy Bass” wall mount singing the praises of fly fishing.
Rock Climbing Lesson: A box of Clif bars.
Bicycle Tour: A bike bell.
Photography Class: The old-school photographer will adore rolls of film. Photo paper is a great back-up idea.
Wine and Paint Night: A blank canvas or pack of brushes.
Escape Room: A magnifying glass or an old-fashioned detective hat.
Massage: Gorgeously-scented candles. 
Splatter Paint Room: A rain poncho.
Spa Facial: An eye mask. 
Pottery Lesson: Modeling clay or PlayDoh.
Glass Blowing Class: An icicle ornament.
Paintball Outing:  A NERF gun.
Whitewater Rafting: A doughnut tube or a lounging raft.
 
A few creative touches to the gift, such as tying with hemp twine, adding pinecones, cedar branches, boxwood, dried oranges, or any nature-inspired treasures, is not only a beautiful creative package to give away, but one which has the environment (and us) foremost in mind.
Now put on your Dance Christmas playlist, make a mug of chocolate peppermint candy cane whipped no foam latte minaret with whipped cream…and that’s a wrap!
I’ll now open it up to questions from the audience.
Filed Under: Blog

“And then they took my father.”

December 2, 2024 by

People like to talk about their travels, but few of us like to listen to them, must less “read” about them. Such resembles pedagogy, or just plain bragging.

Writing is the best instrument I have for metabolizing my experience and clarifying my mind. To process. But writing about some of the dark places in Vietnam and Cambodia I visited…is proving to be difficult. I hardly have the language to articulate it. Any sentences I think to write, soon prove unusable, dry, inconsequential.  

But it is these places that are proving to be memory keepers and will probably stay within me forever. At least I hope so.  

That’s the thing about travel—it shoudn’t always be easy. Sometimes it’s necessary.  

Just because we can see (or not see) the past does not mean it is still not alive.
We need to think about the implications of visiting such dark sites. Are we honoring the victims, or are we simply voyeuristically indulging in the macabre? Are we inadvertently glorifying their oppressor? Is it exploitation for commercial gain? Disrespectful? Is tragedy now a destination?  

Or does it force us to confront the uncomfortable reality of dark history, a warning about the human capacity for cruelty? 

Going to these places instantly slammed the question, “How much am I willing to feel…or not to feel?”
While in Poland In my early twenties, I had the chance to visit the concentration camp in Auschwitz. I chose not to go. I still am not sure if that was the right decision. 

Since, I have been at the Sarajevo “roses” and in Warsaw, both cities with shrapnel holes still on buildings, ghosts of the past around every corner. I have seen Robben Island, been to Pompeii, Pearl Harbour, Alcatraz Island, The Tower of London, Anne Frank Huis, and the Roman Colosseum—commodification of places of pain and shame. 
Stories once silenced and suppressed. Places that housed incomphensible atrocities. The people valued less than a grain of rice. Where the impossible happened.

There is a palpable energy that stays long with you after visiting such a place. It weighs heavy on your heart. 

But until you actually go there, all your knowledge comes from secondhand sources, like memoirs and sanitized movies. Now you see it first hand, standing on a part of history instead of apart from it. There is a depth and breadth that gives a whole new authority, poignancy and authenticity.
It is here where forgetting is just as important as remembering.  

But nobody enters these places, they enter you.
Yes, I went biking along rice paddies, sailed around the limestone karsts of Halong Bay, browsed the labyrinthine lanes of Hoi An’s Old Town, ate fish amok, walked miles at Angkor Wat in Siem Reap and around temples and temples and temples.
 

But I also went here.
 
“And then they took my father.”
“To keep you is no benefit, to destroy you is no loss.”
People were executed here by the autocratic, xenophobic, and repressive Khmer Rouge, using the most brutal of methods. Between 1975 and 1979, more than 2 million Cambodians were killed or died of starvation and disease under the Khmer Rouge regime.  The soldiers of the Khmer Rouge pushed people into wells and ponds, suffocating them to death. They baked them alive in local tile ovens, some with livers cut out while still alive. Some, they struck down with hammers at the edge of mass graves. Children were smashed against tree trunks or pierced wth sharp bamboo sticks to save bullets. Women were raped before execution, and things done to pregnant women and their fetuses that should not ever have to enter our imaginings. Children abducted and indoctrinated, and forced to commit atrocities. Families torn apart to silence them. It plumbed the depths of horror. It was a world on fire.
“When pulling out the weeds, remove the roots and all.” 
A saying of the Khmer Rouge in an effort to justify the murder of children.                                                                                    
The Tuol Sleng (S21)The hell state “prison” where people were held for weeks and months for grueling interrogations before they were either tortured to death or sent for re-education—meaning execution. It is raw and shocking. The shower size cells, the barren and stained rooms used to interrogate them, the metal shackles used to tie prisoners to their cots.

Blood is still on the walls and torture tools dot the site. There are paintings that depict the methods of torture used on the prisoners: some had electric shocks administered to their tongues; some had their fingernails pulled out with clamps; and others had their heads plunged under water until they passed out. Some were subjected to medical experiments, including “live autopsies” done without anesthesia and experiments with homemade medications. People bled to death. Of the approximately 14,000 people imprisoned at S-21, only twelve are known to have survived.
The Cu Chi TunnelsJust outside Ho Chi Minh City is a complicated spiderwork of tunnels built within 25 years from 1948 during the war against the French. The tunnels were extended to over 250 kms. during what is known locally as the “American War”. Many skillful, deadly, and dangerous traps were arranged to keep those inside safe. In heavily bombed areas, people spent much of their life there, housing entire underground villages, with living quarters, kitchens, ordnance factories, hospitals and bomb shelters. 

This was a first-hand look at both the resourcefulness of the Viet Cong and the horrors of war for both soldiers and civilians on all sides. Trying to imagine the endurance, challenges, resilience and adaptability of the people trying to survive for years in those harsh jungle conditions was painfully sobering.

Now, nearly 50 years on, Vietnam and Cambodia are still recovering from their barbaric past and continue to grapple with poverty and inequality. They don’t have political freedom and still live in an environment of repression and fear. In many ways, they are still grappling with its dark time and the psychological trauma experienced by survivors and their families. In fact, many Vietnamese locals are reluctant to talk about the American War, and today Cambodian schoolchildren learn only a cursory overview of the Khmer Rouge years. Although education is free for Cambodian children, you still see parents sending them out to work selling trinkets and food to tourists. 
 
You don’t visit these places for enjoyment or pleasure. You visit them to remember, to learn, and maybe grow more towards responsible activism and compassion. I don’t want my travel to be a boomerang dropping me off right where I started, disguising it in a narrative about how I am seeing edifying things—with the photos to prove it.  

But if one usually avoids museums, then suddenly seek them out for the purpose of experiencing a change, what are you going to make of the exhibits? You might as well be in a room full of Hersey Bars. If you are going to see something you neither value nor aspire to value, you are not doing much of anything besides locomoting. It’s locomotion all the way down. 

If travel (not an welcome escape vacation), is merely the pursuit of unchanging change, embracing nothing, you might as well use your passport as a coaster or to level wobbly table legs. 
Filed Under: Blog
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