Not everyone lives in a home the way they would like others to see it when it’s time to sell. My clients realize that in order to sell their homes more quickly and for more money they have to turn it into a product that will appeal to potential buyers.

In this house the family room had become a dumping ground for clutter that ranged from video games to kid’s toys and a myriad of family photos of all shapes and sizes crowding the fireplace mantel. Fine for living but not for selling!

To showcase how the room could be used as an eat in area, I brought in rental furniture and removed all the personal clutter that was distracting and made the area feel crowded. While the after shot would be a bit sparse for living, it does allow a buyer to take in the room without distracting them with details.

The Results

This home sold for $21,000 over asking within days.

Debra Gould, President Six Elements Inc.

Home staging expert Debra Gould will bring in rental furniture and accessories where necessary to create the right look for a home going on the real estate market. Contact us to learn more about how Debra can help you.

I redesigned this kitchen with paint and accessories instead of ripping out cabinets and putting in new counters. It was even featured in Woman's Day Magazine! Runner on the counter is from the Debra Gould Home Collection

Many families don’t have tens of thousands to spend on a new kitchen, or they don’t want to live through the significant inconvenience of ripping out this critical room and waiting for it to be rebuilt from scratch.

I did it once on my second property and it was a nightmare. The day after I moved in with my toddler I had the kitchen ripped out so that I’d have better cupboard space and a spot for a dishwasher. It took over two months to complete and in the meantime we lived in a construction zone with all the dust, noise and danger that entails.

I managed to set up the fridge, microwave and toaster oven in the living room, but every time I turned on the microwave we’d blow a fuse. Let’s just say it was one of THE most stressful periods of my life. From then on I vowed to never buy a house that didn’t already have a dishwasher built in or a space that I could use a portable one.

If your biggest problem is that your kitchen is just plain ugly, before you go spending tens of thousands of dollars tearing out cabinets and counters, putting in expensive tiles and back splashes, etc., consider the magic that can be achieved with well chosen paint and accessories! You’ll be amazed at the new look you can get with a cheap kitchen makeover.

Need help with your own kitchen makeover project?

With a two to three hour consultation in your home, I will give you new colors to consider and suggest many other changes that will transform your kitchen at minimal cost. Contact me to learn more.

If you’re outside the Toronto area, I can still help you by phone working from photos you email me. Learn more about this virtual consultation service.

Design and color expert Debra Gould is president of Six Elements Inc. She creates environments that are warm and welcoming while reflecting the spirit of the people living there.

What you kitchen looks like can make of break the sale of your home. It’s a really expensive room to renovate, but there is plenty you can do to change the look with the right paint colors and by decluttering and re-accessorizing.

Need help with staging your kitchen and other key rooms?

With a minimum two hour consultation in your home, I will tell you what changes you can make to your kitchen and every other room to ensure that you’ve decorated your home properly before you put it on the real estate market. Contact me to learn more.

If you’re outside the Toronto area, I can still help you by phone working from photos you email me. Learn more about this virtual staging service.

Debra Gould has staged millions of dollars worth of real estate, including seven of her own homes. She offers Home Staging, Interior Redesign and Color Consulting services, as well as the StagingDiva.com website.

Debra has gained international recognition and has been featured in major media in the US and Canada including: HGTV, CNN Money, CBC National News, CBS Radio, GlobalTV, CityTV, The Wall Street Journal, Woman’s Day, Reader’s Digest and more.