TRICKS OF THE TRADE

MY BIGGEST PET PEEVE......THE ULTIMATE "STAGING" !!!!

Two of my fondest memories growing up were "shopping" adventures with my Dad. The time frame started in the Fall of 1951 and went through to the next year.

The first was looking at homes, new and used. My parents were planning to move to a home closer to our church and school.

We had so much fun touring homes. Dad would comment on the way the sellers would arrange the furniture to make the room look bigger .....and then point out that there wasn't a chance of anyone ever opening the closet door!! If we found one we liked he would then take my Mom to check it out. Boy, did I feel important being such a help to my Dad!!!! In reality, my Mom was ill and Dad had to do the looking without her. I was taken to be a companion to Dad, but mostly to get me out of the house!!! One thing I particular remember is the aroma of the new concrete in the basements!!! It's funny how certain "smells" can live with you forever!

When my parents finally chose the home ..... I was thrilled. I loved the house. My favorite feature was the living room ceiling and fireplace wall. The ceiling was a Cathedral style with a corrugated board/wood between heavy wood beams. I have never seen this product since. It was also on the entire fireplace wall with built-ins on either side of the fireplace. This product was faux painted in a vertical design in different shades of blue. VERY MID-CENTURY!!!! I can't believe that my "new" home was what is considered today as Mid-Century.....along with all the furnishings!!!

My second fond memory was the shopping for the furniture that would be put into our new home. Again, Dad and I did the ground work. I really enjoyed searching for the perfect sofa, chairs, tables and lamps we thought Mom would like. They were all the latest thing.....Danish Modern!!!

A few weeks after we moved in, the Builder asked my parents if a photography firm could take some "shots" he needed for an advertising brochure. The day the photographers showed had to be the most thrilling day of my life !!!! I was in awe the entire time!!!! I was positive they chose our home because of the furniture I picked out!!!!What I observed that day has never left my mind!! The photographers proceeded to move everything around. Totally impractical arrangements, but we were told, needed to get the "look"!!! A chair would be in a shot at one side of the room, and then moved to reappear in another area. THE SAME CHAIR!!!! STAGING, YES!!!!

OK.......Memory Lane Finished!..... It's now 2011!

For years I have subscribed to numerous "Shelter" magazines.....AKA "Decorating" magazines!!! I have found over and over again the same "trick" used by the photographers back in 1952!!!! It drives me nuts!!! A room looks fabulous and the accessories are perfect. Flip the page and we see the room from a different angle. And what do I see.....A piece that is in one place in the first shot, is in a different position or entirely gone in the second!!!! It's done over and over!!!

I want to show you a perfect example. These pictures are taken from one of my favorite magazines, Atlanta Home and Lifestyles. This room is a spread featuring an Interior designer's own home in Buckhead. See if you can find the "Staging" !!!

This shot is featuring the Designer's desk and accessories.

Same room, featuring the sofa angle, but notice ......different chair pulled close to coffee table. The chair in the first picture is gone!

NOW, I AM GOING TO STAGE A ROOM IN THE BUCKET LIST HOUSE ........

PERFECT DINING ROOM WITH MATCHING HOST CHAIRS
(SHOWING DIFFERENT ANGLES)

ACTUAL DINING ROOM IN THE BUCKET LIST HOUSE

One Host Chair placed in corner until needed for use

We are still experiencing extreme heat, so MC is still on vacation!!! Hope to have some new projects in the works soon......keep checking your mail for UPDATES FROM THE BUCKET LIST HOUSE