Marin Home Staging & Design

Tips and ideas on staging your Marin or San Francisco home, loft or condo to sell. Marin home stager blog by Marin Modern Real Estate.

There are currently 15 blog entries related to this category.

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Homes in Marin That Make You Fall in Love

Friday, February 22nd, 2013 at 12:17pm. 202 Views, 0 Comments.

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Ask any realtor and they will tell you that some homes do make you fall in love from the moment you walk through the door. I turned to syndicated columnist Marni Jameson to find out why some homes cast a magic spell and how you can invite love and romance into your home.

Romance comes from the root word, ‘Roman' and refers to something that has a lost and beautiful past. Think of the hundreds of couples who marry each year in old farmhouses, weathered estates, stately mansions and beautiful gardens. What do these places have in common; a rich history with a storied past, a place that invites love and day dreaming.

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According to architectural historian, Susan Sully, any style home can be romantic. Romantic homes share the…

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Free LED Holiday light swap for Marin residents!

Wednesday, November 21st, 2012 at 12:26pm. 390 Views, 0 Comments.

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Free LED Holiday light swap for Marin residents! Mark your calendar and go a little greener this December.

Rising Sun Energy Center, a green workforce development and retrofit service organization, is offering a holiday light exchange program. So bring in your old incandescent light strands and get new LED ones for FREE! The old lights will be recycled by ACE and funds will go toward cancer research. The LED light supply is limited, so come early.

To participate, you must be a Marin County resident and bring your PG&E bill.  The holiday light swap is offered on a first come first serve while supplies last basis.  The next Marin dates are in San Rafael:

  • 12/1/12, 12pm-5pm: Northgate Mall, 5800 Northgate Mall, San Rafael, CA
  • 12/8/12, 8am-12pm:…

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Pumpkin Patch Front Yard Marin Style

Wednesday, October 17th, 2012 at 8:27pm. 273 Views, 0 Comments.

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This is so easy and fun to do!  You will love it every time you drive up to your house!!

Put 12 or more pumpkins (gourds and squashes too) around under bushes and strewn around the yard.  Turn some upside down, some sideways, etc.  It's great to use different shapes, sizes and colors!  You don't have to spend a fortune either....pumpkins start going on sale at some of the groceries mid-October. I found mine as low as $3.99 each for nice sized ones at TJ's this year.  Pumpkin patches will obviously have the most interesting and unique choices, but definitely at a price when you need/want so many (I have 15 in my yard).

You could also put some individual solar lights (like the kind you get for $2 each at your local home center store) near…

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34 Smith Ranch Court in San Rafael - Just Sold!

Tuesday, June 26th, 2012 at 10:04pm. 406 Views, 0 Comments.

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I’m pleased to announce the recent sale of 34 Smith Ranch Court in San Rafael.

This property is one of ten homes nestled in a small community of homes off of Smith Ranch Road, where houses don’t very frequently come on the market. The property, which had been in the same family since it was built, had been well-maintained and did not have a lot of deferred maintenance.

I represented the sellers - three brothers. To prepare the property for sale, we did some touch-up painting, updated some fixtures throughout, refinished the hardware floors and staged the property - I believe all of this made a difference. The feedback I heard from prospective buyers and agents alike who walked through the property was about how well the property showed and how…

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Get Inspired! Home Remodeling Ideas

Wednesday, April 4th, 2012 at 7:43pm. 504 Views, 0 Comments.

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When looking for remodeling ideas, look no further than Houzz. It's the best design web site I have come across in years.  In my years of being in residential real estate, I have spent many of draining hours going through design showrooms, home design catalogues and searching online for the perfect products for my remodeling projects. Now that I have found Houzz, I don't need to leave my desk and I can even order the products online in many cases.  

Houzz is a forum that brings together cutting edge designers, architects, builders and creative homeowners to share their design ideas with the rest of the world.   You can easily search the site…

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Preparing your home for sale: 10 tips to make your home show well & maximize profit!

Thursday, March 29th, 2012 at 4:17pm. 667 Views, 0 Comments.

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Before: Kitchen looks dirty & dated.                  After: Kitchen looks clean & fresh.

As a realtor, I have helped many homeowners prepare their home for sale. Every property is unique, but these basic guidelines and tips will help make your property shine. 

Homes that look good and are priced right sell fast and for the most money!

Tip #1: De-clutter entire property. That includes the yard, the closets the garage and most importantly the whole interior of the house. Less is more!

Tip #2: Clean the entire property. That means the yard needs to looks fantastic and neat and the interior is squeaky clean. Most buyers can't get past a mess to see "good bones". Alittle landscaping goes a long way too.

Tip #3:  Paint.  Paint is…

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Atomic Ranch Interiors Book for Mid-century Modern Enthusiasts!

Tuesday, March 13th, 2012 at 8:25am. 625 Views, 0 Comments.

Interior design ideas for mid-century modern homes. 

For our clients who are passionate about midcentury architecture and design, I wanted to encourage you to take a look at the latest book by author Michelle Gringeri-Brown and photographer Jim Brown entitled Atomic Ranch Midcentury Interiors.  

I pre-ordered this book a number of months ago and anxiously awaited the official release date.  I just received my book and am pleased to report that it was well worth the wait!   The book features amazing midcentury modern interiors from homes in California, Oregon, Ohio, New York, Oklahoma, Virginia and Texas.

Whether you own a mid-century modern home and are looking for design ideas or simply appreciate the design aesthetic of these classic homes, I'd encourage you to pickup a copy of the book.    If…

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Affordable Solar House Designed by Marin Architects' Rushton-Chartock

Monday, March 12th, 2012 at 7:54pm. 462 Views, 0 Comments.

A recent Marin IJ story, "Living Small" spotlighted a very cool prototype for a 2nd unit that is state of the art and energy efficient.  It utilizes photovoltaic panels, on-demand water heater, state mandated insulation, energy efficient appliances and takes advantage of passive heating in winter months.  Many communities are making it "somewhat" easier to add a second unit as a way to meet affordable housing goals. Think of all the possibilities from an in-law unit for parents, a separate home office, housing for an au-pair or for that 21 year old++ who has moved back home!  Best of all, the design can be expanded to a 3 bedroom/2 bath, 1,031 sq. ft. single family home. The estimated cost is $237,000. 

 

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This design opens up so…

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Should I do a Major Home Remodel in Marin County or Not?

Monday, February 20th, 2012 at 11:57am. 564 Views, 0 Comments.

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Are you considering remodeling your Marin County home before you sell it?

Not all of your heartfelt choices will benefit the value of your home, if you intend to cover your remodel costs with an increase in your home's value. Some of your remodel choices will need to be balanced against sound financial analysis and careful planning. In years past, it was normal to spend big bucks on remodeling your kitchen. Gone are the days of a high return on a kitchen remodel that includes: three dishwashers, built-in European coffee maker, and three bread warmers.

You can still get that fresh new look and add value to your home if you take a more calculated approached.

Here are some of Top Remodel ideas that Add The Most…

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Finding a Home With Charm and Character in San Rafael

Sunday, January 8th, 2012 at 12:31pm. 552 Views, 0 Comments.

When Clint and Kim started their search over a year ago for their first home, they didn't want a cookie cutter home.  They were looking for charm, character, something a little unique. They weren't disappointed!  The house that captured their imagination was located in Central San Rafael and had been owned by Dr. William Galeno, the largest collector of Japanese armor in the west. Remnants of the past could still be found in the house.   The heirs, who were selling, the house clearly were not tuned into the market conditions or realistic about the house and all the deferred maintenance.  This listing held the record for the most days on the market in Marin - 841!

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Then Clint and Kim came along...... and after a protracted negotiation,…

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