Why is Decorating so Important? By Janet Davison

“Why is Decorating so Important?”

“Because it is so much fun!!”
(Maybe that’s why I stage homes and decorate for a living!)

It is true, that when selling a home, staging adds to the appeal in a way that can translate into a quick sale for top dollar. (See the article in this newsletter where one of our staged home sold on the first day!) What most people do not realize, is that staging is the exact opposite of decorating.
¨ Staging de-personalizes the home -- making it possible for potential buyers to visualize themselves living in the home.
¨ Decorating, on the other hand, is a celebration of you -- the people who live in your home.

We often ask the question, “Does your home speak well of you?”

The decorating in your home should be a reflection of your personality– an extension of who you are. The “reasons” for decorating become more emotional than practical. Your home is the comfort zone for present moment living, but it also holds your family’s memories and aspirations. A recent article from Better Homes and Gardens Magazine stated, “When our home is in order, we feel good about ourselves and our place in the world.” When you better your home, you better your life. Every little improvement counts.

OK, decorating is important. What prevents people from realizing their decorating dreams? Usually three things come into play
*Cost
*Know how

*Getting started

Cozy Chic Design is here to help you on all 3 counts!
We specialize in Redesign, which is the art of moving and rearranging the furniture and accessories that you already own. While we sometimes add plants and a few accessories, most of what we use is yours already. This gives your home a beautiful look at a conservative price.

Know How – Most people know what they like, they just don’t know how to create the look. That’s OK – we do!

Getting Started – that’s simple. The answer is NOW!
In the fall months, when it starts getting colder outside and darker earlier, friends and family tend to spend more time indoors. Now is a great time to add color to your home in order to make up for the lack of color that is a part of winter.

“Does your home speak well of you?”
If your home is not saying what you want it to… We Can Help!

The Art of Stripping by Micaela R. Brancato

My introduction to stripping (furniture) began with the purchase of our dream home; the ideal country location, requiring multiple do-it-yourself projects. Although my husband did not seem as thrilled about my desire to try something new, he finally realized it was the best decision. After all, it was the only major project standing in the way of enjoying our summer. I wish I could report my first experience went smooth. Instead, I’m excited to share my lessons learned for when you get the stripping bug!

1) Be prepared for this project to take some time. Depending on item being stripped, there are several steps that may need repeating.

2) Prepping is very important. Do it right the first time, because you don’t want to stop midway to re-cover your flooring or wall paint. Supplies you will need: Stripping agent (gel or liquid), paint brushes, plastic putty knives, sandpaper, wood cleaner, painter’s tape, floor cover, new stain/paint.

3) When the directions say, ‘use a generous amount’ they are not joking. Don’t be afraid to goop it on. The thicker it is, the easier it is to remove. Otherwise, you might dislocate your wrist trying to chip it off.

4) Make sure your new stain/paint is the right color. After all that hard work, the last thing you want is to strip again. Test in an inconspicuous area or on a sheet of paper.

You might be thinking (as I was many times throughout this project), why didn’t I just hire this out or paint over the darn thing. I’m excited to report it turned out better than expected. After a little profanity and tears, I ended up feeling a huge sense of accomplishment and learned a lot. My goal was not to scare you off. In fact, the sooner you start stripping, the longer you’ll get to enjoy that item. In the end, a little muscle and hard work will add a new look, save you money, or extend the life of a sentimental item. Good luck and don’t be afraid to start stripping!

Home Organization Binder by Cozy Chic Design

For anyone who needs a little help keeping their home affairs organized, this is your lucky day! In this cute and stylish little binder, you'll find an easy to use organization process that takes you room by room and provides places to keep your home improvement receipts, paint chips, fabric swatches, flooring information, warantee information, and much much more. Whether you are preparing to sell your home, moving, or just want a little help keeping your home organized, this is a great idea for you! Call us to order 707-447-0977 or 707-455-8265 for only $15!!

Home Staging Success: Sold in One Day!

Check out the befores and afters of this cute little 3 bedroom home. The savvy home sellers called us to "lightly" stage (no major furniture pieces) before they listed on the MLS. After listing with our beautiful pictures of their staged home, the home owners held an Open House and received the offer they were looking for on the FIRST DAY! We couldn't be happier for them!

Master Bedroom Before

Master Bedroom After

Living Room Before (homeowner's couch)

Living Room After

Office Before

Office After

Guest Bedroom Before

Guest Bedroom After

Home Staging Quiz

Do you know what it takes to sell your home?

1. There are 5 days until your Open House. Your living room is filled to the brim with clutter that you don't want to throw away. What is your best option?
a) Plan a garage sale
b) Moving everything into the garage
c) Pack the clutter in boxes and store off site
d) Put things into the closet so they are not visible

2. When should a home seller begin packing for a move?
a) Before they list the home for sale
b) As soon as they list the home for sale
c) After they receive a viable offer
d) After the closing

3. When staging a room, you should:
a) Create a focal point that's related to how the buyer will use it
b) Remove furniture from each room, to make it look larger
c) Make sure lighting fixtures are clean and working
d) All of the above

4. In staging, the "Rule of Odds" states that:
a) For every 3 prospective buyers, at least one will like it
b) When accessorizing, use odd numbers of items
c) No more than 3 colors should be used in a room
d) Each room should have enough seating for 3 people

5. Affordable items that can be used for staging include:
a) Old shampoo bottles and washcloths for a "lived in" look
b) Baskets, which control clutter and add a decorative touch
c) Shoes--placed near entryways and stacked in empty closets
d) Brooms and mops, which can emphasize cleanliness

6. To make a child's room look most appealing to buyers:
a) Decorate the room with growth charts and art projects
b) De-clutter shelves and closets
c) Paint walls a bright color such as purple, green or bright red
d) All of the above

7. Which of the following factors plays a role in staging a home:
a) The smell of a home
b) The layout of furniture
c) The backyard landscaping
d) All of the above

8. The best colors for walls in a staged home are:
a) A hue that matches the dominate furniture in each room
b) Dark hues in baths/basements; light in living/bedrooms
c) Neutral colors, such as taupe and warm off-whites
d) Colors that show off your personality

9. If carpet in the hom is worn or stained, what should you do?
a) Take an allowance off the home price
b) Ask prospective buyers to imagine the potential change
c) Cover most of the floor with furniture so it is less noticeable
d) Replace the worn carpet with a neutral color

10. To make a laundry room look its best:
a) Keep counters and sinks empty and clean
b) Hang clothes to dry and open washer to show "function"
c) Keep door closed; it's not an area that you should show off
d) All of the above

Answers: 1)c 2)a 3)d 4)b 5)b 6)b 7)d 8)c 9)d 10)a

Cozy Chic "Momtrepreneur"

As a military spouse, finding a job you love can be challenging and sometimes a fruitless process, even for those with experience and education. As a former military officer, and now a mother of two, nobody knows this better than momtrepreneur, Jen Griswold. “I chose to get out of the military in order to stay at home with my children. However, after leaving the workforce, I have always had the urge to start a little something of my own,” says Griswold.

After relocating her household 6 times in the last 8 years, Griswold acquired a love and talent for decorating. Each time, she created beautiful spaces utilizing furnishings her family already owned, whether they were ideally suited for each home or not. After 5 moves, she decided to combine her experience in relocating, her love of interior design, and her Master’s degree in Education to start a business specializing in home staging, interior redesign, home décor and redesign education courses.
Though the seeds of the business idea were planted years ago, Griswold did not officially “take the plunge” until she and her husband received orders to Travis AFB. While looking for houses in foreclosure-laden Solano County in June of 2007, the couple was flabbergasted at the condition of houses they encountered. “We kept thinking, all it would take is a little staging and these homes would be so much more appealing,“ stated Griswold. Cozy Chic Design & Home Staging was born January of 2008 and has grown steadily ever since.
Between caring for two kids under the age of 3 and running a business, Griswold has her work cut out for her. Yet, she would not have it any other way. “I work two days a week for five hours a day in client’s homes and the rest of the week I spend with my kids.” Phone calls, emails, orders and other office work are slipped in during naptimes, preschool, and mostly after the kids go to bed. Additionally, shortly after starting up, Griswold partnered with longtime decorator and Vacaville resident, Janet Davison. They share the workload which allows for a larger quantity of clientele. Davison also has experience as a military spouse and shares Griswold’s love for decorating and hard work. For the pair, partnering together made the office work much more manageable, decorating a lot more fun, and allowed family to remain a top priority. Griswold hopes her kids will learn by watching her entrepreneurial pursuits. “I think it is important for my kids to see that their mom has a creative outlet in which she has goals and works hard to achieve them. It is a wonderful lesson in both dedication and what it takes to achieve personal fulfillment.”
Though Cozy Chic Design now serves a wide variety of homes and businesses in Yolo and Solano Counties, the owners are still working towards a vision that would also focus on military families and spouses. Griswold and Davison’s long term goal for the company is to franchise into smaller units at military locations around the country in order to provide decorating services to military families and to provide career opportunities to the many talented and educated military spouses who would like part-time employment. They will begin testing the idea when Griswold moves on to their next Air Force base in a few years.

Vacaville Supports Vacaville Campaign

"Before"

Back in the days when the Vacaville Reporter was only delivered on Thursdays, and Mr. Wykoff delivered milk, and occasionally fresh-picked blackberries, directly to your door Marylou and Jack Amphlett moved to town.

It was 1958. All the phone numbers in town started with “HICKORY 8” and many of the downtown streets still had their namesake families living on them. Everybody knew everybody.

Neighbors helped neighbors. And “downtown” was like an extended family where merchants and shoppers supported one another.

In the light of the current economic times, it is time to get back to that “old town friendliness” in order to keep Vacaville’s merchants alive and well.

Cozy Chic Designers, Janet Davison and Jen Griswold, are always looking for creative ways to combine their passion for interior design with helping the community. This summer, they have partnered with Amphlett’s Decorating to kickoff a “Vacaville Supports Vacaville” campaign by incorporating local vendors’ wares and goods in Amphlett’s storefront on the corner of Main St. and Dobbins.

Owner, Stephen Amphlett, is excited to be able to use his store’s prime location to help boost the downtown economy. He reminisces about when his parents, Jack and Mary Lou Amphlett, moved to Vacaville in 1958 and opened the flooring and window covering business at its current location. Amphlett says “Vacaville was the kind of place where ‘community spirit’ thrived. The streets were safe to ride bikes on, and kids stayed outside all day. Nobody caused much trouble because someone would always keep an eye on you.” Amplett is excited to take part in a revitalization of the “old ways!”

To kick off the first display in Amplett’s window, Cozy Chic Design called upon several of their regular vendors to participate in the “Vacaville Supports Vacaville” campaign. The first step involved rebuilding Amplett’s storefront wall. Cozy Chic called upon Vacville general contractor and custom home builder, Dan Rehm, of Rehm & Co. Rehm didn’t hesitate to volunteer labor and materials to construct a brand new wall for the design backdrop. Dan has a reputation as someone who makes himself personally available to give free estimates in a timely fashion. He does absolutely beautiful work and is hands down one of Cozy Chic’s “choice vendors!” Dan has donated his skilled labor to other community service projects led by Cozy Chic Design and did not hesitate to help out again!

Pier One Imports is also a fervent supporter of the Vacaville area. Store manager, Tracy Snow, says she is “excited about keeping Vacaville shoppers in Vacaville.” Although her store, which is located in Vacaville Commons next to Safeway and Target, may not physically exist in downtown Vacaville, when you walk through the doors of Pier One you are immediately greeted with a distinct feeling of “downtown friendliness.” Pier One was generous enough to contribute all artwork, foliage, furniture and accessory décor to the current Amphlett’s display. Cozy Chic thanks Tracy and her team for their support on this and past collaborative projects—we are grateful for the example you are to the community!

Everyone knows that a “fireplace is the heart of the home.” Such is the tagline for the Gallery of Fireplaces, Vacaville’s downtown showroom for a variety of indoor and outdoor fireplaces, mantels, and coordinating accessories. Owner, Dennis Gregerson, was more than happy to let Cozy Chic have a pick of their outdoor fireplaces to use in the storefront. And if anyone’s shop exudes “downtown friendliness” it is Gregerson’s. Between the “home-on-the-corner” location, glowing fireplaces, friendly staff and permanent model, 3-yr-old husky, Sadie, the ambiance can hardly be beat! Anyone who has not stopped in should make it a point to come by to drink in the atmosphere.

Finally, we cannot forget to mention Wendy Z Photography for donating her time and efforts to take beautiful photographs of this project in motion. Wendy Zippwald, owner and photographer extraordinaire, has helped Cozy Chic document milestones on numerous occasions and did a wonderful job again this time! Wendy Z. Photography can meet any of your photography needs. Wendy strives to bring clients high-quality images in a casual and affordable way. She does Family, Newborn, Senior Portrait, Preschool and Wedding Sessions. She puts motherly love into each photograph and has a beautiful eye for those special moments!

Thank you to all the participants for a wonderful kickoff to our high hopes for a revitalized “hometown” feel for downtown Vacaville where everyone helps support one another. At Cozy Chic Design, Jen and Janet believe in the idea that business owners should, “love your job so much that you’d do it for free, and do it so well that you get paid for it.” We hope that you will remember those words and join us in participating to help “Vacaville Support Vacaville!”

**Stay tuned next week for the "After" pictures!
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Cozy Chic Design is owned and operated by Jen Griswold and Janet Davison. Their company specializes in interior redesign and home staging in Solano and Yolo Counties. Amphlett’s and Cozy Chic Design will completely change the window design on a quarterly basis to create a different look for each of the seasons. Anyone interested in participating in the project should contact Cozy Chic Design at either 707-455-8265 or 707-447-0977.