Questions for Kimo:

Swept up on an Accessories Quest; we land on Southern Hawaii shores- SoHa So Good!

http://www.sohaliving.com

The beach is where it's at, so why aren't you there?

Above: At The Beach Sign. $28 Made entirely of recycled wood. Size: 16" x 7" 

Its oh so very easy to get swept up in accessory shopping and when there are sales, watch out! Sales shopping is like sailing the open seas it's exhilarating, liberating, and soaked in danger. Even the most seasoned shopper can get wrecked over a sale. Trapped on a shopping reef unable to stop the relentless flow of bric-a-brac cross the bow as wave after wave of accessories take it's toll on your your creative mind and heavily laden shopping cart. Your credit cards strain over the enormity of it all as you slowly maneuver through the check out lane; carefully avoiding the merchandised point of sale items singing their sirens song and the ruinous shoal of a maxed out credit card.

Above: Green Potted Forest Fever Tree. This synthetic looks exactly like the real thing. Maintanence free.

$170 Size: 59"x 55"

 

My last post was absorbed in the Pier One Imports Winter Clearance sale and for those of you who are familiar with Honolulu and it's armada of stores and shops, you might be aware that across the street from Pier One on the Makai side Ward Center is one of my favorite boutiques SoHa. SoHa is short for Southern Hawaii and it contains a great but somewhat pricey collection of designer household items from the South Pacific and South East Asia.

Left: Natural assorted shells including starfish and sea urchins

$25- 6" Nautilus $60- 12"Conch

 

 

 

Right: Natural Shell Salt & Pepper Shakers adorned with cast metal tops.

$16.80 Size: 2.25" x 2" each

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above: Sea Life Towels, embroidered guest hand towels. Set of 6 with multicolor embroidery on natural linen.

$88.50  Size: 14"x 22"

 

Right: Sea Life wool and cotton Hook Pillows. These colorful sea creatures offer a wonderful pop to neutral colored furniture.

$75.  Size: 18"x 18"

Left: Tropical Fruit & Flora Wall Hangings. Made of 100% Birch, you can stain, paint, or decorate them as you please. Frame them, or mount them alone; great stencil too. These almost look like traditional hawaiian quilt patterns but not quite. Pictured upper left to lower right: Palm, Pineapple, Breadfruit, and Lychee

 
$7.25 ea  Exterior size are 12"x 12" Standard

Aloha Friday Kakou!

JDS Consulting- Staging Hawaii nei! Providing Real Estate Merchandising services including: Home Staging, Interior Decor, Turn Key, Landscaping, Remodeling, & Open House Hosting. Visit our Blog: Questions for Kimo: Decor Design & all things Hawaiian- www.RealEstateDesignOnLine.com  tel.+1.808.344.1264  Kimo Stowell Copyright ©2009

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...no, it's not Christmas it's Clearance as in Pier One Imports Winter Clearance Sale!

With visions of plum colored wine goblets and imported cane furniture dancing in my head it's time to head to Pier One for their winter clearance sale. If you're a Home Stager or Designer now is the time to find great bargains on those must have accessories.

Here is a collection of interesting artifacts from Pier One Imports for under $12.

 

 

 

This Coconut Bark Bowl makes one howl of a statement as a table centerpiece.

sale price $11.18
Orig.tag $15

 

 

 

 

Nothing Screams Tranquility like a Meditative Buddha in your choice of serene colors-

sale price $3.28 each
Orig.tag $13.50

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Faux Water Hyacinths add tropic pizazz to your piazza, patio, or lanai. Or use them as tropical doilies.

sale price $4.98
Orig.tag $10

 

 

 

 

 

Foo Dogs, these ferocious fury friends add Asian charm & color to your console table.

sale price $4.98 each
Orig.tag $20

 

 

 

 

 

 

JDS Consulting- Staging Hawaii nei! Providing Real Estate Merchandising services including: Home Staging, Interior Decor, Turn Key, Landscaping, Remodeling, & Open House Hosting. Visit our Blog: Questions for Kimo: Decor Design & all things Hawaiian- www.RealEstateDesignOnLine.com  tel.+1.808.344.1264  Kimo Stowell Copyright ©2009

 

ccesory Alchemy and the Magic of Staging. The power of accessories is in your hands.

Professional stagers carry many secrets in their stagers bag of magic tricks and nothing is quite as powerful as their inventory of accessories. To layman they are merely household items but in the hands of a talented stager they can transform the mundane into magic, transforming your property for sale into gold.  

How is this magic done you ask? Well, it takes an eye for detail, color, composition and a few tons of fairy dust (just kidding on the latter). None the less, the 'artistic eye' or the ability to combine the functional with the aesthetic, is not easy to define. The slightest variation in colors, tones, light, shadow, patterns, shapes, object sizes, or viewpoints can lead to a drastic difference in the overall feel of a room or space. Understanding the interplay between these elements is where the magic or artistry of staging lies. Now you can learn the techniques through schooling or you can be born with an innate understanding of composition and color but regardless of your background it does take time to compose & create a well accessorized home that is attractive to potential buyers.  

In Hawaii, tropical decor is very popular. Selecting appropriate accessories to convey the island lifestyle to potential buyers is a priority for Hawaiiana Style. Below is a selection of tropical accessories that I have used recently to help bring Hawaiiana or tropical charm to our clients property for sale.

 

    

This bamboo cutlery and caddy from Bealls  can add 'Island' flare to your staged dinning vignette. Hand painted Hawaiian Plumeria goblets with ochre colored napkins from Pier One re-create the rich color casts found in the Hawaiian landscape.

The tropical Carambola Tree produces Five Fingered or Star Fruit which is a popular treat here in Hawaii. These faux versions look good enough to eat with a little Li Hi Mui Powder. Mmmm ono!

This faux tropical flower arrangement consists of Kalo or Taro leaves, green Ginger blossoms, pink Eucalyptus   and matching Antherium. I purchased the various faux stems from FloraDec here in Honolulu.

 

This cute gardeners caddy with faux 2" succulents, from Pier One, adds out door charm to your casual indoor dinning vignette.

 

JDS Consulting- Staging Hawaii nei! Providing Real Estate Merchandising services including: Home Staging, Interior Decor, Turn Key, Landscaping, Remodeling, & Open House Hosting. Visit our Blog: Questions for Kimo: Decor Design & all things Hawaiian- www.RealEstateDesignOnLine.com  tel.+1.808.344.1264  Kimo Stowell Copyright ©2009

 

Tropical Curb Appeal: Choose Colorful Crotons!

One of my favorite tropical plants that packs a serious color punch are Crotons. Adding these bright plants to your yard or interior space can create a dramatic eye catching effect that will turn buyers heads.

Crotons or Codiaeum variegatum are native to the Pacific Islands and are prodigiously grown through out Polynesia. Very popular in Kama'aina gardens here in Hawaii, Crotons have only recently (last 20 years or so) found their way into interior spaces as potted plants. Crotons grow to heights of 5' to 6' and are stocky colorful shrubs. The firm waxy leaves sprouting in tight pinwheel fashion, turn from a dark green to a kaleidoscope of colors; ranging from dark red to bright pink with, purples, oranges, and yellows. Croton leaves are sensitive to light intensity and show best in part shade environments as full sun fades the coloring.

What makes Crotons a stagers dream is that the leaves can be rooted and placed in an arrangement that lasts for 2 to 3 months. Such easy maintenance is ideal for home staging and the bright colors add a powerful pop to interior decor.

Draw backs : some varieties will ooze white sap, if the leaves are torn or punctured, and it can stain fabric. Also If you move an outdoor plant inside you may lose leaves if the lighting decreases so try to find a space in the home that shares similar light to it's former outdoor environment.

 

 

Croton Varietals : 'Banana', 'Gold Dust', 'Mammy', 'Norma', 'Petra', 'Sunny Star'.  Petra is the varietal shown here.

 

Crotons can dress up those unsightly utility pipes and still allow plenty of room for access.

 

JDS Consulting- Staging Hawaii nei! Providing Real Estate Merchandising services including: Home Staging, Interior Decor, Turn Key, Landscaping, Remodeling, & Open House Hosting. Visit our Blog: Questions for Kimo: Decor Design & all things Hawaiian- www.RealEstateDesignOnLine.com  tel.+1.808.344.1264  Kimo Stowell Copyright ©2009