Homes of every size and price can benefit from a little staging help, and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. That’s the motto of expert stager Karen Eubank, who has helped homeowners maximize profits through strategic design. While the bulk of her clients are selling homes between $200K and $600K, Karen is the go-to gal for Realtors looking to give their clients an edge in a competitive market.
Take this lovely estate for example. Karen consulted on this beautiful property, and while the architecture and finish-out is lovely and high-end, it had several stumbling-blocks that was keeping it from selling. And according to Karen, after a walk-through consultation and a detailed staging report (something she suggests for anyone putting a house on the market), the homeowner was able to do all the suggested changes herself! Brilliant and cost-effective!
“Staging a home prior to selling is always a good idea,” said Mark Cain of Dave Perry-Miller & Associates, the listing agent behind the gorgeous estate at 5433 Falls Road. “Editing or removing collections of things, minimizing furnishings to make rooms look larger, maximizing natural light to lighten and brighten rooms, and giving the house and open and fresh feeling is the ultimate goal of staging. I believe that every dollar spent for staging definitely pays dividends, and I rely on professional stagers for their keen insight.”
And that’s exactly what Karen suggested for this home, which is priced at close to $3.3 million and has five bedrooms, six full and one half baths, 7,151 square feet on more than an acre in Old Preston Hollow. The home, designed by Elby Martin and built by Tom Loposer, has four living areas and park-like grounds, perfect for entertaining. The home benefits from huge windows and mature trees, giving it a feeling of privacy. The finish-out in this home is incredible, with wide hardwood mouldings, gorgeous wood and Italian tile underfoot, a pool and spa that works perfectly with the expansive grounds, and windows in all the right places where you can soak in the view.
But some of the furniture was distracting from the home’s selling points, said Karen. “The room with the black headboard bed had a huge change,” she said. “It originally had the twin bed and some mix of teen and childhood items. It had extra bookcases which distracted from the beautiful built-in bookcases. The twin bed was dwarfed by the room, so I suggested it be turned into a guest room.”
It makes a stunning impact, don’t you think? Other rooms benefited from some simple furniture arrangement, such as the second-floor study. With the removal of the desk and a few comfy chairs, it makes a much better reading room. And thanks to a change in perspective with the photography, this shot now showcases the beautiful iron railings in this home, as well as the stunning light fixtures, Karen said.
“The large home office on the first floor looked awkward in the original photos. Lots of bookcases that were not built in so not relevant to the sale and the desk was not positioned for maximum appeal,” Karen added. “Other rooms, such as the living, dining, family rooms simply had excess furniture removed.
A large secretary was moved from the grand two-story entry so it did not compete with the chandelier, a gorgeous architectural feature that gives the home such drama. Moved to the family room, it now helps showcase what is intended to be a versatile communal space instead of making the foyer play double duty.
And there’s plenty of space in this home that will serve its purpose, such as the bar area with at 75-bottle SubZero wine chiller and wine storage vault. The kitchen features granite and butcher block counters with custom Christopher Peacock cabinetry, a walk-in pantry, and commercial grade appliances such as a Dacor six-burner range with double ovens, a built-in SubZero refrigerator as well as two each additional refrigerator and freezer drawers, a farm-style sink, all of which is open to the newly restyled keeping room.
This is a fantastic family home, with a gorgeous 23 x 23 master suite for those who need a place to recharge their batteries after a long day. The upstairs master is sizable and features a gorgeous bank of windows, a dramatic tray ceiling, and the most perfect chandelier that just breathes romance. There’s a second master downstairs, perfect for guests.
In the upstairs master bath you’ll find beautiful custom tile, a luxurious jacuzzi, his-and-hers vanities, and a private water closet with bidet (a must these days! No joke!). It is so serene and relaxing that you’ll never want to leave, and thanks to the huge closets and ample features, you’ll never have to!
Not only is this home amazing, but the transformation helps it show off its many features that will attract the perfect buyer, and soon!
