Blog Archives

Workshop Recap

08/28/2010

If you weren't able to attend the workshop on the 15th, you missed a great event! I walked attendees through different options for addressing their walls and explained some tips and tricks that I use to hang items safely. Several brought pictures of their rooms which we scanned and added items in digitally. It was a John Madden moment for me.

In other news related to the "day job," I'll be transferring to the Long Island district in November so if you live in Stamford and have been considering CSD services, now is the time to make an appointment.

Field Trip-Fallingwater, Part I

08/23/2010

One of the highlights of my recent road trip was a stop at the Edward J. Kaufmann house, better known as Fallingwater. It's one of Frank Lloyd Wright's iconic designs and totally worth the trip--even if you're not a design geek like me. I visited Oak Park during my trip to Chicago a few years ago and knew that my visit to Western PA would not be complete without seeing Fallingwater in person.

Field Trip-Flower Child Vintage

08/19/2010

While on my Midwest road trip, I got to visit a great vintage shop in Cleveland called Flower Child. I kept going from one great find to another exclaiming over the great deals. Perhaps my jaded New York City self is too use to the inflated prices because I found myself wishing I'd rented a Uhaul instead of a sedan. The fabulous Lucite dining set featured here? $600. And that wasn't even the best deal!

Solid deals-even if you're not an undergrad

08/18/2010

If you're 17-21 years old, there's a good chance you're making final arrangments to get everything ready for the next year at college. Ah to be young and carefree--those were good times. And while those of us a few (or maybe 10ish) years removed from college can't enjoy all the spoils of collegiate life, we can take advantage of some great deals. Stores like Target, Walmart and Bed, Bath and Beyond are all offering savings on small scale furniture, kitchen items and storage.

I grabbed several boxes of place settings of plain white dishes to use as display here at the day job for only $8 (for 4 settings). But for anyone who needs small kitchen appliances or some bed linens, now is a good time to pick them up.

Easy floral arrangement

08/16/2010

Throughout the hotel in Detroit, I noticed a similar floral arrangement that caught my eye, by being both attractive and simple. Tall glass cylinders with cut orchids perched in little niches or placed on tables. If you look closely, you can see the bottom of this arrangment is wrapped with a leaf to cover the cut edge. Those of us who are not so great with flowers could easily handle this arrangment.

Field Trip-Detroit, Part II

08/15/2010

While in Detroit, I stayed at the Westin downtown, which is definitely one of the nicer hotels in the city. Let's just say the "Heavenly" moniker for the bed was certainly appropriate. The room features comfy beds, attractive lighting and a stylish bath. So why did it leave me feeling so cold?

Field Trip-Detroit, Part I

08/11/2010

I have recently returned from terrifically fun three city tour through the Mid West. Or the "rust belt", to be more exact. Just one adventure in my mission to get to every baseball stadium in the Major League. It gives me the opportunity to visit some places in America that I'd probably never get to any other way. Like Detroit, for instance, which was the first stop. And that also means finding some some surprising design inspiration along the way.

Home Staging project update

08/09/2010

I wanted to share an update on the home staging project I worked on a few months ago. Now that it's officially sold, I can share the great news I heard from the broker who contracted me. After six months on the market with no offers and potential buyers saying the apartment was both too small and too expensive, it sold for full asking price within one week!

If you have a home you're trying to sell, get in touch with me today so we can work together and get it sold!

Take your best shot

08/02/2010

The real estate market is a lot like the dating scene. You only get one chance to make that all important first impression and you don't get a whole lot of time to do it. And, much like dating, a lot of the screening is done online. MLS, Century 21, and Remax are just a few of the realtors that feature listings online to generate interest. So if your home is on the market, it's critical that you take excellent pictures to show your home in the very best light. New York 1 has a video with some helpful information to help you do this. And, of course. CSD offers Home Staging services to help get your home ready for its closeup. .

Christine Schwalm Design