Home Staging • Model Merchandising • Interior Design

While fall means warm sweaters, scarves, and boots, a time for cuddling up in blankets, sipping hot beverages, pumpkin spice, and enjoying comfort foods...it can also mean a slower real estate market. So, if you are selling your home this fall, use these 3 home staging tips to reduce your home's days on the market!

1. Focus on Lighting: As the days get shorter, the need to ensure adequate lighting increases. Use warm, soft lighting to create a welcoming atmosphere. 

2. Create a Cozy Ambiance: Introduce textures that will evoke warmth and comfort. Consider layering soft, tactile materials such as plush throws, knit blankets, and velvet or woolen cushions on sofas or beds. Does your home have a fireplace? Make it a focal point and showcase its potential for cozy fall evenings.

3. Highlight Outdoor Spaces: Utilize nature's color show to enhance your home's outdoor spaces. Keep the yard tidy, rake fallen leaves, and add seasonal potted plants to increase curb appeal.

Carolina Spaces Furniture & Design is honored to annouce that we have won 4 Best of Home Staging 2022 awards from the International Association of Home Staging Professionals®!

Best of Home Staging 2022 in Staging Excellence has been awarded to Joan Inglis.

Best of Home Staging 2022 in Client Satisfaction has been awarded to Joan Inglis.

Best of Home Staging 2022 in Staging Excellence has been awarded to Tanya Denchfield.

Best of Home Staging 2022 in Staging Excellence has been awarded to Sharol Christenbury.

Congratulations to Joan, Tanya and Sharol! For more information on how our award-winning team can help you with your home staging, luxury staging, interior design, and model home merchandising service needs, Contact Us or call 1-855-SPACES-5.

Carolina Spaces Furniture & Design has won a "Best of Houzz" award for Customer Service on Houzz®, the leading platform for home remodeling and design. Founded in 2004, by Master Accredited Staging Professional®, Joan Inglis, Carolina Spaces Furniture & Design was chosen by the millions of homeowners that comprise the Houzz community from among more than 2.7 million active home building, remodeling and design industry professionals. 

This is the 10 year anniversary of the Best of Houzz awards program, and Carolina Spaces Furniture & Design's 5th win for Customer Service.

"We launched the Best of Houzz awards program over a decade ago to highlight the work of the most talented and customer-focused professionals in our industry," said Liza Hausman, vice president of Industry Marketing at Houzz. "We are extremely proud of this year's winners, many of whom have won multiple times, and we're pleased to give them this recognition and a platform on which to showcase their expertise."

"Carolina Spaces Furniture & Design is very grateful to have been awarded 'Best of Houzz' for the 5th year in a row. We are thankful to our amazing clients, and humbled that our commitement to quality and customer service in our interior design, professional home staging and luxury home staging, and model home merchandising services has been recognized again by the Houzz community," said Inglis.

Originally Published on Rent.com. By Charlsie Niemiec.

Pick a shade, any shade — the popular paint colors for 2022 offer something for any aesthetic!

You've probably seen them by now, the many popular paint colors for 2022. From Pantone's Color of the Year Very Peri to Benjamin Moore's October Mist, the shades of 2022 offer something for everyone's aesthetic. Whether you live for bold and moody hues or you prefer lighter or softer shades, the popular paint colors for 2022 truly run the gamut — which is why we talked with interior designers and paint experts about the best ways to style your apartment using these trendy colors. 

Here's what our experts had to say about tying 2022's chicest shades into your current living space.

1. Open your arms and embrace change

"People are craving change in just about everything this year. One result of this need for change is the use of more color in interior design, which is a departure from the all-white design schemes that have dominated the last decade," says Aaron Hall, owner of Painter1.com. "Four of the biggest paint companies (Sherwin Williams, Pantone, Behr & Delux and Benjamin Moore) all chose a 2022 Color of the Year in either a blue or green tone. These muted variations evoke the ultimate feeling of serenity, which is exactly what we all need right now!

"Also, color tones that complement these muted blue and green shades are creamy whites, warm-gray whites, natural wood tones and light or deep hues of gold, orange and peach. Try accent pieces in bold green, mustard yellow, royal blue or poppy red. Often, a rug, a favorite piece of art or patterned upholstery can be a great source of inspiration for beautiful interior color schemes."

2. Make a statement

"2022 is the year of making statements! Show off your personal growth by expressing your boldness with an ocean of blues, greens and moody black hues," says Autumn Rose Interiors. "You can start by adding a pop of dark accents to bookshelves and table-scapes. Once you're ready, try long, dark, luscious drapes to provide a beautiful contrast to neutral light walls or take it to the next level with a surprise room — like a dark, moody powder bath or bedroom."

3. Paint the ceiling

“Warmed up neutrals are a great way to incorporate trends but in a way that's timeless, easy and renter-friendly because it'll be easy to paint over if you move out. I love creamier shades of white on the walls paired with bright white trim and moldings," says Kaitlin Madden. “Moody hues are big right now, especially blues and greens. For a look that's very 2022, paint both walls and the ceiling (check with your landlord first!). If that's not an option, try it with furniture. Paint a kitchen cart your favorite shade and use it as an island, for example."

4. Be bold

“We love using bold colors, such as the Van Deusen Blue from Benjamin Moore (one of Benjamin Moore's most popular blues), to create vibrant accent walls in a property, especially in dining room areas to add a dramatic effect and visual interest," says Pavel Khaykin from Pavel Buys Houses. "When paired with a neutral contrasting wall paint color, such as Benjamin Moore's Classic Gray, the combination brings great energy to a room and goes beautifully with wood floors, especially white furnishings and fixtures. A small cosmetic update like this is fairly easy and quick to accomplish and can make your property truly stand out."

5. Add a little pizazz with framed art

“Chameleon colors like Sherwin Williams Sea Salt or Benjamin Moore's October Mist allow renters to add relatively neutral colors to their space to make it their own," says Port City Paint in Wilmington, NC. "When paired with shades of linen or gray — either paint or furniture — your home becomes a personal reflection of you! Add a pop of color with yellow, blue or coral throw pillows or framed art to add a little pizazz. A home office or workspace painted with a complementary color like Benjamin Moore Crisp Linen gives brightness and a sense of calm to the space. Accent a spare bedroom wall, half bath or a wall in your office space with a pop of periwinkle blue to bring the palate full circle."

6. Frame your favorite wallpaper

"A really fun way to bring style and design into a rental home is framed wallpaper! It is less expensive than wallpapering an entire wall," says stylist and designer Becky McFarland Cox. "The key is coordinating the wallpaper with a contemporary paint color like Benjamin Moore's October Mist. Framing wallpaper gives a huge visual impact and the best part is you can take it with you when you move!"

7. Get dramatic with warm neutrals and dramatic depth

“When people hear terracotta they instinctively see an image of typical terracotta colored tiles which naturally leads to envisioning a southwest aesthetic. However, terracotta is so much more than that!" says the Crimson Design Group in Columbus, OH. "Start with a terracotta-colored base piece — think large pieces of furniture like a couch or cabinet — and use an assortment of colors in the terracotta family like oranges and reds for your accent pieces. Your space will become much richer and a lot more interesting!"

"Bringing in aquas or emeralds can be as simple as incorporating live greenery or accessories like throw pillows or vases into a more subdued space. It adds life and vibrancy!"

"Additionally, vibrant and earthy shades are an excellent way to incorporate color into your space, especially through our personal favorite, gallery walls! You can also use baskets, frames or plates to bring a vibrant earthiness to your space."

"People are often scared of black paint but they don't need to be — there is a reason it is known as the chicest color. It can be used to create a stunning moody romantic space that encourages intimate conversation. Use different shades of black to layer as the background with warm neutrals mixed in for a modern space. It can also be the perfect contrasting trim to white walls!"

8. Look to your lighting

"To get the most out of your moody hues, we recommend leaning into different layers of lighting. It's hard to feel “the vibe" that a room full of aubergines and forest greens creates when all you have is super-bright overhead light fixtures," says Kind Interior Design. "Add lamps for task and accent lighting in various zones around your space. Replace the bulbs in your overhead (ambient) light fixtures with smart bulbs to be able to dim your lights if your home isn't wired for it. Dark and moody hues like Benjamins Moores's Backwoods become rich and luxurious when adequately (but softly) lit."

9. Opt for complementary shades when playing with paint colors for 2022

"A soft and earthy shade easily harmonizes with your floors, furniture and appliances," says Sandpiper Listings. "Benjamin Moore's October Mist is light enough to make rooms appear larger and it pairs perfectly with accessories and fixtures. Its calming tone is ideal for walls, doors or cabinetry. This sophisticated and modern color is complementary to blues, purples and darker shades of green."

10. Play with greige undertones

“Evergreen Fog is Sherwin Williams' 2022 color of the year for good reason! This incredibly elegant, cool paint color can be used in bedrooms, bathrooms, accent walls or even cabinets to instantly give your home a more sophisticated look," says Brandon Griffin, founder and owner of Triangle Pro Painting. "For a bold contrast, try pairing Evergreen Fog with Sherwin Williams Alabaster, as they both share the same greige undertone."

11. Make your walls the main feature

"Our color palette typically consists of a white, a neutral and a dark pop. Oftentimes, smaller spaces and rental walls get neglected but we've found that by adding a punch color, not only grounds a room but can make it feel bigger and taller," says Terra Sol Design Co. "Here are our top choices for giving those walls the feature they deserve!"

• Sherwin Williams Modern Grey (7632) - A perfect mix of grey and beige
• Magnolia Home Fine Black - A grey/blue/black
• Sherwin Williams Iron Ore (7069) - A charcoal/navy/black

"Additionally, use light or white decor and wood furnishings against a dark wall for the ultimate wow factor."

12. Amplify your furniture style

Joan Inglis, a model home merchandiser, interior designer, and master staging professional shared three ways to incorporate paint colors for 2022 into your space:

"Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog is a muted green shade, it works well with terracotta and dark green colors. Since most apartment walls are initially painted white or off-white, Evergreen Fog can be a good choice as a soothing focal point wall behind the bed or in a bathroom." Look for Evergreen Fog in upholstery, pillows and artwork. Bring in deeper companion tones such as Sherwin Williams "Rookwood Sash Green" and "Rookwood Terra Cotta" in textiles, art and accessories. Both deep colors will function as attention-grabbers and will intesify the appeal of your décor."

"Benjamin Moore October Mist makes me envision the apartment-dweller sipping a cup of green tea on their balcony while enjoying the cooler fall temperature. Consider using the very pale sage green color of October Mist to paint outdoor furniture, pottery and vintage accent furniture pieces. Bring in medium and darker tones in compatible sandy tan and caramel-like Benjamin Moore "Sandy Brown" and "Etruscan." Both will pair well with October Mist in solids and patterns mixed with white, off-white and black."

"Blacks, charcoals, dark browns and navy work well in design provided you have enough white or off-white to create balance. Dark rooms can negatively affect your emotions. So you don't want to surround yourself with black walls, black trim, black draperies and very little natural light. Darkest colors work best in rooms flooded with light, like a sunroom, or used as an accent surrounding bay windows. Anywhere fixtures and surfaces are solid white, black and dark colors can work well."

13. Play with dimension 

"If you are looking to charm with a touch of elegance and yet still be trendy, aquas and greens are two jeweled hues that will give you exactly what you are looking for," says Justin Brown, owner of J Brown Painting, "Brighten up your homes to the soothing gentleness of the color aqua or if you are looking to add a rich dimension to your space, emerald green is your go-to. The versatility of these colors is guaranteed to make a statement."

Get to painting!

With so many popular paint colors for 2022, the possibilities are endless! What are you waiting for? Head to the store for paint, paint rollers, paintbrushes, painter's tape and drop cloths — the necessities — and get to work!

Carolina Spaces, LLC - an interior design, home staging and model home merchandising firm based in South Carolina near Charlotte, NC - is happy to announce the addition of a retail boutique in York, SC to their list of services. The boutique offers name brand, designer furniture and custom designed/locally handcrafted pieces, as well as home decor items for sale.

"Downtown York does not have any store that currently offers new, designer furniture for sale. We are happy to fill that void," said Joan Inglis, Carolina Spaces' founder, owner and lead designer.

"If customers can't find what they are looking for on our showroom floor, we are happy to work with them one-on-one to meet their needs, including sourcing items from our warehouse and design studio in Belmont, NC, or placing custom orders with our brand partners," Inglis said.

The Carolina Spaces boutique is located at Yorkville Marketplace, 108 N. Congress Street, York, SC. Hours are Thursday - Saturday: 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM and Sunday: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM.

View the full press release at PR.com.

As Published in the Charlotte Home ι Design section of The Charlotte Observer

By Moment Palmer

The homebuilding industry has seen a huge surge in using recycled materials and sustainable practices for both construction and design applications, and now it's trending in interior design, too. Home decorating trends change constantly, and many pieces of furniture are inexpensive - since they're only intended to last until the next season's style debuts - and can easily be tossed and bought again.

However, many designers are working to turn this industry into something that's not only budget- and eco-friendly, but also long-lasting and sentimentally valuable.

"Recycling/repurposing is a great way to save money and the environment, but the true rewards come when materials are thoughtfully used to develop a space that is warm, welcoming and personal," says MaryJo Camp, certified kitchen and bath designer and partner with DesignCamp. "Our homes reflect who we are, and the kinds of materials and furniture one chooses combine to define the spac

TRENDS

The key to working upcycled furniture and decor into a room so it's both functional and decorative starts with first selecting one piece - usually a large item like a bed or sofa - and adding to the room one piece at a time. This avoids the outdated matching furniture suite look, instead building a recurring theme with the use of color, pattern or shapes.

"Repurposed, eclectic design is definitely very trendy - it mixes time periods and styles into a cohesive look," says Joan Inglis, owner of Carolina Spaces Furniture & Design. "The challenge in designing with recycled items, whether you use a few key pieces or a roomful, is to bring those eclectic materials together in harmony." Inglis recommends using different woods in varying tones, assorted metals and a mix of contemporary and traditional styles with a central element that ties the room together.

Personalization and well-being are the two main global trends emerging in sustsinable interior design. Combine purchased recycled materials with materials or pieces that have some personal importance to you, like antique hardware rom your home or a bureau turned into a guest room vanity. "These choices satisfy the need for emotional well-being by connecting to the past." says Inglis.

PERSONALIZED REPURPOSING

Incorporating personal and sentimental items into one's decorating scheme is a huge trend in upcycling decor, such as including reclaimed heritage pieces and family heirlooms. For example, old luggage can be stacked to become side tables with hidden storage, or a large, bulky TV armoire cabinet from a few decades ago can be inexpensively repurposed into a baby wadrobe, utlilty cabinet or computer nook. "Designers who understand their client's needs will encourage their clients to combine new and repurposed materials for a personalized design that can be enjoyed by the entire family," Ingllis explains.

Using antique drawer pulls and knobs from an original space and augmenting them with complimentary current hardware is a great way to honor the past while providing a new space that better suits the homeowner and family.

ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS

Recycling and upcycling items into residential applications in furnishings, designs and home renovations not only benefit the homeowner's budget but also local businesses - and is also good for the planet.

"Purchasing locally from shops that carry American-made furnishings rather than buying imports online helps the local economy and has far-reaching environmental benefits." says Camp. "Think about the fuel used in shipping from foreign countries, then trucking from ports to distribution centers, and finally trucking to your door versus home delivery from a local business. The same is true for wood products that go into the construction and remodeling of homes. Always ask your contractor if they source materials locally or in the Carolinas."

Reusing materials from the existing space saves homeowners the cost of hauling to a disposal site and saves the environment the use of a landfill. It's also important to balance the cost of refurbishing a piece to make it appropriate for reuse. Consider reupholstering rather than buying a new sofa or chair. You can get the custom look you're after while making far less impact on the environment.

Using unique items repurpossed in creative ways can elevate a project from merely nice to exceptional, making it difficult to put a price tag on the improvement.

"Sustainability applies to decor as well," says Kelley Lentini, co-owner and designer at House of Nomad. "Instead of always buying new decor, look for vintage pieces that can be mixed in with your newer items to give personality and layer story into your space."

WOOD AND BUILDING MATERIALS

Some of the best and most popular materials to repurpose include recycled materials like barn siding, shiplap and wood flooring/cabinets. People also use wooden pallets to create indoor or outdoor furniture, shoe racks, pet beds or shelving.

Other trends that incorporate recycling wood (and other) materials include:

• Live edge tabletops - A live edge is a slab cut from the tree without trimming the sides straight. Most of these slabs would be discarded because of cracks, holes and bark, but this naturaly beauty is very unique for use in dining rooms, consoles, cocktail and side tables. They can be found at lumber distributors that carry specialty woods.

• Stained glass panels - Add to cabinetry or walls to enhance color and definition to spaces.folks

• Unique table legs - Made of metal, wood, or other interesting materials, these can be used to support islands or other large pieces of furniture.

"Many folks enjoy visiting antique, thrift and consigment shops, flea markets and garage sales. There are plenty of furniture items, textiles, artwork and accessories from different time periods to be found. With some basic knowledge of carpentry and painting, the average person can morph an item into something totally different," Camp said.

TEXTILES

In addition to wood, textiles are also a popular interior design element homeowners and designers enjoy incorporating into a space. "Many of the rugs we hand-select in Morocco are vintage - meaning that instead of selecting new products, we are repurposing handmade items that have both beauty and age," Berkeley Minkhorst, co-owner at House of Nomad, explains. "Our goal is not just creating one-of-a-kind, traveled spaces but that our designs consider the places these designs come from."

Two favorite items House of Nomad designers like to use to add vibrant color to a sofa or bedroom are kanthas (hand-crafted from recycled saris) and overdyed rugs (crafted by taking vintage rugs, shaving them down, and completely dying them in one color). "These pieces are sustainable because they are repurposing a vintage piece," syas Minkhorst.

Whatever your next interior design project entails, consider using recycled materials and pieces to create a stunning one-of-a-kind look that is kind to your budget and planet.

View this post on Blogspot.com.

Joan Inglis, Founder and Lead Designer of Carolina Spaces Furniture & Design - the leading home staging, model merchandising and interior design firm in North and South Carolina, was asked to provide her expertise in the September 6, 2020 issue of The Charlotte Observer.  Joan, who is a member of the Sustainable Furnishings Council, shared her wealth of real estate, interior design and home staging knowledge by contributing to the article "Sustainable Design" as featured in the Charlotte Home ι Design section.

The article discusses how repurposed and upcycled materials can create unique looks for every room.

Joan Inglis has been featured dozens of times on TV, online and in print.  She has won numerous local, state, regional and international awards since forming her company, Carolina Spaces in 2004. Carolina Spaces is the leading expert in Home Staging, Luxury Home Staging, Model Home Merchandising and Interior Design in the Charlotte, NC region and provides award-winning services throughout the Southeast. Model Home services for home builders are available nationwide. Call 1-855-SPACES-5 or Contact Us for more information.

Whether you are thinking about selling your home in the distant future or in the short term, design decisions on improvements that you make now will have a lasting effect on future salability. Following is a check list of minor home improvements that increase desirability and add value and will help your home sell quickly when you decide it's time to move on.

• Front Door - The front door reflects the home's personality. From modern to traditional, choose a front door style that is compatible with the overall architecture of the home. Select a complimentary color that is timeless such as ebony or walnut stain. ROI about 70%.

Joan Inglis, Founder and Lead Designer of Carolina Spaces Furniture & Design - the leading home staging, model merchandising and interior design firm in North and South Carolina, was asked to provide her expertise in the September 2020 issue of Lake Norman Currents Magazine. Joan shared her wealth of real estate, interior design and home staging knowledge by authoring the article "Design Elements that Increase Home Values" as featured in the Ask the Expert section of the magazine.

In her article, Joan provides a check list of minor home improvements that increase desirability, add value, and will help your home sell quickly when you decide it's time to move on.

Joan Inglis has been featured dozens of times on TV, online and in print.  She has won numerous local, state, regional and international awards since forming her company, Carolina Spaces in 2004. Carolina Spaces is the leading expert in Home Staging, Luxury Home Staging, Model Home Merchandising and Interior Design in the Charlotte, NC region and provides award-winning services throughout the Southeast. Model Home services for home builders are available nationwide. Call 1-855-SPACES-5 or Contact Us for more information.

Charlotte's leading interior design and home staging firm, Carolina Spaces Furniture & Design, was honored with the 2019 Pinnacle Award for Best Interior Merchandising, a statewide best overall win, from the Home Builders Association of South Carolina (HBASC).

Carolina Spaces Furniture & Design won the 2019 Pinnacle Award from HBASC for furnishing and merchandising a model home for Avencia Homes at Riverwalk in Rock Hill, SC.

Carolina Spaces Furniture & Design is an interior design, model home merchandising and professional home staging firm that specializes in luxury properties. This is the firm's second HBASC Pinnacle Award, having also won Best Interior Merchandising statewide in 2011.

The Pinnacle Awards is HBASC's most prestigious awards program. Winners were announced at the Celebration of Excellence Awards Gala Aug. 9 in Hilton Head, SC. As a 2019 Pinnacle Award winner, Carolina Spaces Furniture & Design will be highlighted in the South Carolina Builder Journal and recognized on the SC Department of Commerce and the SC Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism websites.

"Carolina Spaces Furniture & Design is humbled and honored that our model home project was acknowledged as Best Interior Merchandising statewide in South Carolina," said company founder and owner Joan Inglis. "To receive this award for a second time from HBASC is a testament to our commitment to quality, and our successful interior design and merchandising services to home builders."

To view the entire press release, visit PR.com.