Wow, hasn't it been a while since I last posted! It is a bit sad really...sorry for being so slack. In my own defence though, I have been really busy! Business is going sensationally well, I am still working part time, and the children are just so flat out all of the time!
Now it is almost Christmas...a time of fun and festivity. But there is a serious side to Christmas. For some people, it is the worst time of the year, frought with sadness and dispair. It is the time of year when suicide is at it's highest rate. The road toll seems to increase. People send themselves broke. At Aspect & Element, we have a few tips to help you get through the silly season as safely as possible.
1. DRIVE SAFELY!! Not only do people die needlessly, but the families suffer. The Paramedics, Nurse, Doctors, Firies and Police feel it too. Imagine going to road accident after road accident, scraping people out of their cars, and then having to tell the families that they wont be spending Christmas with their loved one? Not nice for any body involved.
2. Spare a thought for our Military families.....all they want for Christmas is to be together.
3. If possible, LOCK your letterbox! I know this from experience, as just yesterday some dirty little thief tried to open my Christmas cards, apparently in the search for money (unfortunately for them all of my friends and family are broke, so we never get money in a card!).Better still, dont send cash via post!
4. Dont advertise what you got....leaving a huge empty Plasma TV box out the front lets would be thieves know what is inside.
5. Dont make Christmas all about the gifts, find other ways of showing each other how much you care. Have a baking day, and deliver your loved one's favourite meal to them. Get the kids to make something nice to give as a gift. And if you have a large family, hold a Kris Kringle. That way every one gets a gift, and you are only buying for one person.
6. Drink responsibly....you want to be able to have great memories of the time spent with loved one, instead of the way you got to intimately know your toilet bowl.
7. Give a gift to a random stranger. How lovely would that be, to receive a gift from someone you don't know?!
8. Love. Nothing more. Just love.
We hope that you have a safe and Merry Christmas, and will join us again in the new year when I promise to keep up to date with the blog posts. :)
Merry Christmas everyone!!!!
Monday, December 13, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
This may be a mistake......
But I am willing to risk it. You may call it pig-headedness, but I call it sticking to my guns.
I have recently began working in conjunction with a Real Estate agent for the Home-Staging side of my business. The agent was to use my services for his clients to help them sell their homes for more profit and in a shorter time. When we decided we would work together, I explained to him my values to make sure that we were both on the same page.
I explained to him that I keep my promises to my clients and suppliers. I stand behind my words, and if I say I am going to call/email, then I do. I keep them informed of the process, and how the job is progressing. He was in complete agreement of the importance of these values.
It has been two weeks since I completed the first consult for him. I have had to continually try to track him down to let him know how the consult went, what my recommendations were for the client, and to generally keep in touch. I like to maintain relationships with those that I work with, as I think it is very important to be able to work with people that you trust and like.
I have had no reply to my emails, no return calls from my voicemails, no replies to my text messages and when I finally did get through to him, he was in a meeting and said he would call me back within 30 minutes. Guess what? I am still waiting.
Now I thought long and hard about this, from his perspective. Did I do something wrong? No, I have been polite, professional and courteous. I delivered what I promised I would. My recommendations were spot on, and were exactly what I told him I would deliver, as well as a little extra (as I like to go the extra mile for my clients).
So I have decided that I am not going to work with this agent, as his values clearly don't align with mine. How can I promise my clients quality and second-to-none service, when I work with people who don't value the same attributes? Now this may mean that I lose work, and that I don't get as many jobs as I need. But that i ok. I am going to remain true to myself and my values, and I will refuse to work with people that don't uphold the same principles as me. That way I can ensure that my clients get the best product with the best service, as well as a little bit extra.
Wish me luck on this...I may need it :0)
I have recently began working in conjunction with a Real Estate agent for the Home-Staging side of my business. The agent was to use my services for his clients to help them sell their homes for more profit and in a shorter time. When we decided we would work together, I explained to him my values to make sure that we were both on the same page.
I explained to him that I keep my promises to my clients and suppliers. I stand behind my words, and if I say I am going to call/email, then I do. I keep them informed of the process, and how the job is progressing. He was in complete agreement of the importance of these values.
It has been two weeks since I completed the first consult for him. I have had to continually try to track him down to let him know how the consult went, what my recommendations were for the client, and to generally keep in touch. I like to maintain relationships with those that I work with, as I think it is very important to be able to work with people that you trust and like.
I have had no reply to my emails, no return calls from my voicemails, no replies to my text messages and when I finally did get through to him, he was in a meeting and said he would call me back within 30 minutes. Guess what? I am still waiting.
Now I thought long and hard about this, from his perspective. Did I do something wrong? No, I have been polite, professional and courteous. I delivered what I promised I would. My recommendations were spot on, and were exactly what I told him I would deliver, as well as a little extra (as I like to go the extra mile for my clients).
So I have decided that I am not going to work with this agent, as his values clearly don't align with mine. How can I promise my clients quality and second-to-none service, when I work with people who don't value the same attributes? Now this may mean that I lose work, and that I don't get as many jobs as I need. But that i ok. I am going to remain true to myself and my values, and I will refuse to work with people that don't uphold the same principles as me. That way I can ensure that my clients get the best product with the best service, as well as a little bit extra.
Wish me luck on this...I may need it :0)
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
The Swankiest House in Hollywood on PointClickHome.com-Page 3
The Swankiest House in Hollywood on PointClickHome.com-Page 3
I just had to share this wicked retro-reno!! I am not the biggest fan of retro, but this room is awesome! Love it :)
I just had to share this wicked retro-reno!! I am not the biggest fan of retro, but this room is awesome! Love it :)
Thursday, July 15, 2010
I think you might be missing out on money!!
I am sure that most people are aware of what home staging is by now. It is also known as Pre-sale Makeover, Home Styling or even Property styling. For those who don't know, here is a little bit about it.
Home Staging is the most powerful tool in a Real Estate agent or Home-seller's bag of tricks. It is the Ace up their sleeve. If you are thinking of putting your house on the market, then you can't afford NOT to hire a Professional Home Stager.
The Stager will:
- come to your house
- walk through the home assessing it with a non-biased, "buyer's eye", finding all of the price lowering features as well as the value adding features
-assist you in seeking out all of the things that need attention that you may have missed (you are emotionally attached to your house, the Stager is not)
-Will help you to stop looking at your house as your home, and start to see it for what it is : A product to be marketed to the right people, for the right price, in the right way.
-improve the "first impression' of the house (it takes buyer's just a measly 30 seconds to make up their mind!)
-help you to create a warm, inviting atmosphere that makes the buyer imagine them selves living in the home, therefore creating an instant EMOTIONAL attachment (those of you who aware of marketing techniques will know that getting a client to be able to visualise themselves in the home is sale's gold)
Put simply, A staged home = nicer house that appeals to a wider group of people = appealing advertising images = more interest in the property = more potential buyers = more chance of selling quicker and at your initial asking price, maybe even more.
Statistics have shown that only 10% of people have the ability to see the potential in a home. That means that 90% of people need help to imagine themselves being able to live in your house.
The research has proven that staged homes sell for more money and in shorter time than an un-staged home.
Isn't the small investment in a professional Home Stager much cheaper than lowering your asking price? Or even having to pay the continuing marketing fees to the real estate agent because the house hasn't yet sold? These days, the market is tight: the buyer has the upper hand. You all know that if you are trying to sell anything to anyone, it has to look great, stand out above all of the competition and be in perfect working order. Thats what we do for you.
Not convinced? Take a look at a real estate website. Look at the images of the houses and see which ones you like, and which ones you don't. Why do you or don't you like them? Can you imagine yourselves living in any of these houses? I am sure you too will see the value in getting your biggest investment in tip-top shape, you are way too smart to lower your asking price and walk away from your own money :)
Home Staging is the most powerful tool in a Real Estate agent or Home-seller's bag of tricks. It is the Ace up their sleeve. If you are thinking of putting your house on the market, then you can't afford NOT to hire a Professional Home Stager.
The Stager will:
- come to your house
- walk through the home assessing it with a non-biased, "buyer's eye", finding all of the price lowering features as well as the value adding features
-assist you in seeking out all of the things that need attention that you may have missed (you are emotionally attached to your house, the Stager is not)
-Will help you to stop looking at your house as your home, and start to see it for what it is : A product to be marketed to the right people, for the right price, in the right way.
-improve the "first impression' of the house (it takes buyer's just a measly 30 seconds to make up their mind!)
-help you to create a warm, inviting atmosphere that makes the buyer imagine them selves living in the home, therefore creating an instant EMOTIONAL attachment (those of you who aware of marketing techniques will know that getting a client to be able to visualise themselves in the home is sale's gold)
Put simply, A staged home = nicer house that appeals to a wider group of people = appealing advertising images = more interest in the property = more potential buyers = more chance of selling quicker and at your initial asking price, maybe even more.
Statistics have shown that only 10% of people have the ability to see the potential in a home. That means that 90% of people need help to imagine themselves being able to live in your house.
The research has proven that staged homes sell for more money and in shorter time than an un-staged home.
Isn't the small investment in a professional Home Stager much cheaper than lowering your asking price? Or even having to pay the continuing marketing fees to the real estate agent because the house hasn't yet sold? These days, the market is tight: the buyer has the upper hand. You all know that if you are trying to sell anything to anyone, it has to look great, stand out above all of the competition and be in perfect working order. Thats what we do for you.
Not convinced? Take a look at a real estate website. Look at the images of the houses and see which ones you like, and which ones you don't. Why do you or don't you like them? Can you imagine yourselves living in any of these houses? I am sure you too will see the value in getting your biggest investment in tip-top shape, you are way too smart to lower your asking price and walk away from your own money :)
Monday, July 5, 2010
The latest news from abroad!
My international Interior Design friends have noted that their businesses are getting busier and busier! After a quick decline in the hiring of our services due to the GFC and the economy, people have changed the way they view the financial world. Now, hiring an Interior Designer is a good financial move and is very much back in vogue!
Instead of going out, splashing money around on fruitless ventures, people are now investing in their homes. Gone are the spend-a-lot days where if you didnt like something you could just get rid of it and buy something new. People are taking the time to research their products to ensure they will last the distance. They want to be educated in their purchases, as it will save them money in the long run. The strong focus on the environment has also played a role in how we make our purchases; are the items made from sustainable resources? Are they 'Green'?
The other trend is to renovate instead of selling up and moving. It is costly to sell your home and purchase a new one; there are added fees and charges that, quite frankly, could be better spent on adding value to your current property. This could even help if you were interested in investing. But in the end it comes down to your own personal set of circumstances, what is right for one family/person is not necessarily right for another.
Hiring a good Interior Designer is an investment. It is an investment for your home or office, and an investment to you and your family. Do you ever see brown and yellow paisley wall paper and have instant flashbacks of the great times spent at your grandparents house? Do you go into an expensive restaurant with sparkling chandeliers and beautiful surroundings and feel glamorous, even though you have saved for the past 6 months for the occasion? Have you ever walked into a friends house and felt so at home, so comfortable? This is what a skilled Interior Designer creates; it is called ATMOSPHERE.
I love my job, I love being privileged enough to be allowed into my client's lives and homes to help them shape the way they live. It is an absolute honour.
Dont think of an Interior Designer as someone only the rich and famous hire, you can hire one too! Look around and compare fees. You may be surprised. Happiness starts at home, so make sure it is functional for your needs and beautiful to look at.
Yours in Design,
Kel
Instead of going out, splashing money around on fruitless ventures, people are now investing in their homes. Gone are the spend-a-lot days where if you didnt like something you could just get rid of it and buy something new. People are taking the time to research their products to ensure they will last the distance. They want to be educated in their purchases, as it will save them money in the long run. The strong focus on the environment has also played a role in how we make our purchases; are the items made from sustainable resources? Are they 'Green'?
The other trend is to renovate instead of selling up and moving. It is costly to sell your home and purchase a new one; there are added fees and charges that, quite frankly, could be better spent on adding value to your current property. This could even help if you were interested in investing. But in the end it comes down to your own personal set of circumstances, what is right for one family/person is not necessarily right for another.
Hiring a good Interior Designer is an investment. It is an investment for your home or office, and an investment to you and your family. Do you ever see brown and yellow paisley wall paper and have instant flashbacks of the great times spent at your grandparents house? Do you go into an expensive restaurant with sparkling chandeliers and beautiful surroundings and feel glamorous, even though you have saved for the past 6 months for the occasion? Have you ever walked into a friends house and felt so at home, so comfortable? This is what a skilled Interior Designer creates; it is called ATMOSPHERE.
I love my job, I love being privileged enough to be allowed into my client's lives and homes to help them shape the way they live. It is an absolute honour.
Dont think of an Interior Designer as someone only the rich and famous hire, you can hire one too! Look around and compare fees. You may be surprised. Happiness starts at home, so make sure it is functional for your needs and beautiful to look at.
Yours in Design,
Kel
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Ocean oasis
I have just come back from a week away at our beach shack on the beautiful Yorke Peninsular. It was not only restful, but inspiring. Nature is so beautiful; the colours, the shapes, the textures. It delivers such inspiration. I brought back with me a few pieces of driftwood that washed up onto the shore after a storm had whipped up the ocean. They are weathered, and fragile, yet so perfect and appealing. I have a few pieces that I like to use in my designs to add an organic feel to my rooms. I have even used one piece as a coat rack! Here are some of our holiday snaps. Take a look for yourself at how beautiful nature really is.
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