Designed to Sell ... SOLD!!!

We asked for a miracle and we GOT one. 

Staging our home to sell was incredibly intimidating to me for several reasons:

•  I have no idea how to design anything.
• My budget was very slim.
• It was crucial that the design appeal to a large amount of people.
• We have to live here so we have to like it too.
• I knew staging was the best way to sell our house quickly, so the pressure was on...

After about two weeks and 4 showings (two of which were the same family.)  We sold our house to a nice lady and her daughter- the first people to see our house. 

As I was staging I kept wondering how I could express the love we have for our house, our neighbors, and the neighborhood.  Could I write little sticky notes everywhere explaining:

 "This is where we played silly games and laughed 'til we cried." 

And "this is where Ivy took her first steps." 

 "This is where Hyrum learned to read." 

"This is where we brought Delia home and realized we DID have enough room in our hearts for her even though we thought it was impossible."?

No, I didn't write sticky notes, BUT it just so happened that through a little mix up they came to look at the house while we were still there.  (It was very awkward and I would never have chosen THAT to be their first impression.)  As we were hustling to get out the door and out of their way, they refused to let us leave.  So we did a little dosy-doe around the house to give them their privacy and all ended up in the front room at the end of the showing.  I decided this was my chance to tell them we love the house and neighbors.  I don't know if that helped sell the place or not, but I do know it started a connection with a sweet mother and daughter.  It's so crazy how we'd been praying for someone to buy the house who'd love it and would be grateful for it. Not only did we find a great family to live in our house, but we also get to live here until Bryan graduates.   Tender mercies...

So, back to staging.  I really tried to design the house so it was peaceful, comfy, and displayed the fact that this is a happy, loving place.

So here are the pictures:

Dinning area:

Cute plate:

(Plates are a great, inexpensive way to fill a lonely wall.)

 

Sitting Room

 

These wall decorations are actually place mats-  it's amazing what can be accomplished with a lot of prayer and a little creativity!

Back wall storage thingy:

Kitchen:

Guest Room:

We have LOTS of stairs.  So, to distract exhausted buyers, we put this pretty pendant up on the landing:

Master bedroom dresser:

Masterbed:

Masterbath Shelves:

Kids' Room: 

(The quote says, "Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart. -Winnie the Pooh")

One of my favorite creations for the kids' room, inspired by my super awesome sister Jen: 

(They're just paper and modge podge on canvas.)

Big kids' room:

Downstairs Bathroom:

Bathroom Mirror:

When we told the kids about the big move their reactions were adorable.

Hyrum:  "I don't want to move!  The view is too beautiful!"  (We do have a pretty little view, but how does he know that?)

Ivy: “Are we taking our house to Texas?”

Bry: “No, we’re going to sell it and get a new one.”

 “Is it because it’s broken?”

“No, we just need to go to a new house.”
 “A bigger house, where Santa can live, and eat our cookies?”

I've learned a lot about myself through this process- I didn't know that green is totally my favorite color.  I didn't know that I have a crazy decorate-with-birds/ birdcages-fettish (they are so cute and perfect for gender-neutral decorating).  And, I didn't know how much I would LOVE Interior Design!