Diana Young's (dianayoung) Blog

Ever wanted to own a cabin in the woods?  Well, this cute little cottage set atop a hill in Redmond, Washington (near the famous Microsoft campus) will make you feel like you've left the city far behind. With a huge deck off the living room to enjoy the fall colors and the terratorial view this h...

Here are photos of a starter home we recently staged in Shoreline, Washington.  The living room had old carpeting which the sellers removed to reveal beautful and valuable hardwood floors.  Warming this space up with an area rug, soft fabrics and well placed lighting really shows potential buyers...

We are always looking for ways to improve the overall look of homes we stage for our clients.  Here is an example of just one more of those details that make a difference. Lighting:  In each room we add at least one, usually two or three, lamps.  This lighting may be left on 24/7 using 40 or 60 w...

Okay, it's happened again.  After staging an absolutely beautiful view home (new construction, too!) I didn't want to leave and go to my "real" home, which is in the process of a long-overdue remodeling project and pretty messy at the moment. One day my home will be finished, furnished and "stage...

We've recently staged several homes with lots of windows (a good thing) which creates lots of wonderful natural light in a room (another good thing).  What is not so good is the glare or reflection that is created from this natural light onto the artwork we have so thoughtfully selected and place...

A consistent color palette used throughout a home are key to creating a cohesive, applealing space.  Warm terra cotta, sage green, mustard yellow and tan accented with black were the colors selected for this home in the Broadview area of Seattle.  As my real estate agent friend would say, "Just m...

Believe it or not, this 1 bedroom, 1 bath condo is only 600 square feet!  Prior to staging, potential buyers could not picture themselves living in such a small space.  Now the staged condo shows them how comfortable and roomy this petite in-city dwelling really is.  Here are a few staging techni...

Many of you have asked, "What are the other 24 biggest real estate mistakes?" as featured on the recent HGTV special presentation "25 Biggest Real Estate Mistakes".  Here is the link so you can view all 25:  http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/real_estate/article/0,3120,HGTV_27356_5846325,00.html There are ...

Do you know what they are?  According to the real estate experts on HGTV's "25 Biggest Real Estate Mistakes"the Number 1 mistake sellers make is:"Failing to Showcase Your Home and Make Small Cosmetic Changes"  "When you are selling your house, you have to really look at it objectively and think a...

The bathroom is usually the smallest room in the house, but one of the most important to potential buyers.  Make this space a relaxing retreat by creating an elegant ambiance.  Fluffy towels, artwork, potpourri in a decorative container, plants and a luxurious shower curtain can transform this re...