A master bedroom & living room with their "Before" and "After" shots

The above rooms were staged by Designing Diva Interiors, LLC. The photos below were staged by others. All are prime examples of how home staging-when done right- utilizes what already exists to bring out the very best in each room.

This outdated bathroom gets a makeover that appeals to buyers without costing the homeowner a fortune.A cluttered bedroom never goes over well. This stager presented the room's best attributes with small changes!

Designing Diva Interiors LLC is proud to work with Edmond Realtors to sell homes faster and often times for more money!

Jennifer Hicks is a Certified Interior Decorator and Owner of Designing Diva Interiors, LLC

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We moved to Oklahoma just over a year ago. Three weeks before relocating my wife and I visited the State for the very first time. I’m from the East Coast and Maureen is from Denver. So we feel a bit like expats trying to learn the traditions and customs of our host culture. This is familiar territory for us, as more than six of our nine years of marriage have been spent outside the U.S. I hope my misunderstandings and discoveries can help Okies see themselves through the eyes of an outsider, as well as giving “foreigners” an internal view of Oklahoma.

One of my first lessons happened soon after landing in tornado alley.  The weekend was approaching and I asked a local what he was up to Saturday and Sunday. His response, “we’re going to the lake.” Fortunately during my first days in OKC, I had driven south on 74 and seen Lake Hefner out my car window. Thus I was able to intelligently enter into conversation.

“Oh, so you spend the whole weekend there?”

Friend:  “Yeah, it’s not really worth it unless we spend a couple of nights.”

“Wow, so you actually stay right there? There’s special lake lodging?”

Friend:  “Sure. My parent’s have a lake house we always stay at.”

“Oh, huh…well that’s cool. Have a good time.”

I found it a bit odd that their idea of ‘getting away’ was packing up and driving just eight miles south of their residence, but I quickly filed it away and forgot about it. Until a couple weeks later when a different new Okie friend told me that his family was going to the lake for the entire week.

“Really, a whole week? And you just drive there each morning and spend the day swimming and stuff?”

Friend:  “No no man, we’re renting a house close to the lake.”

“You mean even closer than your house? Aren’t you only like ten minutes from Hefner?”

That was the question, the one which opened the door of my understanding. After getting his laughter under control, my friend pointed out that they were actually going to Lake Eufaula about 130 miles east of the city…one of hundreds of lakes in the State.

Where I’m from in Virginia, if we were going to a lake to hang out, we’d specify a particular one, “I’m going to Lake Anna,” or “we’ll be at Smith Mountain Lake for the holiday.” I’ve now come to realize that in Oklahoma “the lake” may be referring to Arcadia, Eufaula, Tenkiller, Thunderbird, or many other bodies of water. Amazing what the use of just one little definite article can communicate to the non fluent newbie.

I was very relieved to find that this completely land locked area boasts more than a mere 18 miles of lake shore. And thwarting any temptation to cast stones, I realized in reflection that where I’m from, one communicates a visit to any of the beaches dotting the Atlantic shore from New Jersey to South Carolina by simply saying, “We’re going to the beach.”

What about you, have you had to learn the customs or idioms of a new place the hard way? Any humorous “cross-cultural” stories you’d like to share?

Brian Russell is the talented Buyer Specialist and New Construction guru of the Platinum Partners at Paradigm AdvantEdge, sharing his perspective on Oklahoma, as a well-travelled non-native, exploring the state we love.

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For the past year, although certain aspects of the market have been unpredictable, we’ve seen fairly-steady growth, and respectable levels of home sales in the OKC metro, especially in comparison with the rest of the country. With that in mind, most of us headed into Summer anticipating that a time which is traditionally a busy few months would be just that, busy.

Yes, we knew that the largest stimulus in the the history of our country was coming to an end, but absorption rates were healthy and interest rates were at unprecedented lows (and still are), and the next few months are that time of year when the kids are out of school and many people are ready to make their move.

We were wrong. Surprisingly enough, that summer rush of sales took a vacation this year. According to the latest OKC metro real estate statistics, the number of homes sold in July was down 33% from July of 2009, following a June which was also down from last year.

Tougher appraisals and lending guidelines certainly haven’t made it easy for folks to buy, and weak economical news plays a factor too, but let’s not get all doomy & gloomy here. As far as I know, the end of the world isn’t coming, and the real estate market isn’t completely dead. In fact, in every market shift, there are opportunities for someone to capitalize.

My advice?

• Buyers: Remember those historically-low interest rates I mentioned above? Those, in combination with a market that’s liable to freak a few sellers out, will work to your favor if you’re a buyer with the resources to pull the trigger right now.
• Sellers: It’s more important now than ever before to make sure that your home is in better condition than the others on the market, and that you’re priced more-competitively than them, so that yours is one of the homes that sells, rather than sitting on the market and riding it downward if that’s where it goes.

Yes, it’s that simple. No need to freak out, just a time to evaluate your situation and see if you’re poised to benefit from this down-turn, or if staying put for a while is your better strategy.

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Our stellar buying specialist, Brian Russell, just scored a big one:

I just wanted to take a moment to let you know how much we appreciated working with Brian through the process of house hunting and ultimately closing on our new home yesterday.  He is a great asset to your company.

I originally reached out to Brian about 6 weeks ago after seeing one of his listing on line. Brian was very proactive in following up and setting us up with our customized list of homes (great interactive tool by the way). He has been quick to answer all of our questions throughout the process and has always been available to help us with inspections, lender issues, setting up additional/multiple showings, etc.  He listens well and quickly got a feel for our personalities and what we were looking for in a home. Plus he has a good sense of humor- and my wife likes him which is no small feat.

Our initial house hunting trip was somewhat spur of the moment and included about 14 houses we wanted to see. Brian was able to make all the arrangements to fit our schedule without much lead time. He was a good sounding board as we discussed pros and cons and gave us his honest opinion when asked. One thing I noticed as a sales professional myself for the last 17 years is that Brian seems to have mastered the art of being assertive without seeming to be assertive. He helped us move through the “paralysis by analysis” that often comes when you are trying to decide among multiple houses and working to narrow it down to the “one”. Very beneficial as we needed to transition quickly since I am changing roles and locations within my company.

We will recommend Brian and Paradigm AdvantEdge Platinum Partners to others.  Feel free to post our feedback in your client references section.

Matt Kirt

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After the storm, I didn’t know what was going to happen. My car was undriveable, my roof had water coming in, windows were broken, and I was shaken up. The rebuilding process began the next day with long holds on the phone with the insurance company. Due to the large number of people affected, some people waited up to 60 days to see an adjuster. I was fortunate to have an insurance agent who understood my concerns and took great care of me. She arranged for a contractor to come out and board up my windows, a wrecker to tow my car to a glass shop, and a lot of reassurance that all would be okay in the end. It’s been nearly three months since the storm and I still have boarded up windows, my siding is a mess, and we’re still finding glass in the yard. Here are a few things I learned about homeowner’s insurance and repairs covered under my policy:

Know your coverage and deductibles-
Deductible is typically 1% of the INSURED VALUE of your home. So for example, I only purchased my home for $45k, but the insured value (cost to rebuild) is $65k. So, my deductible is $650. Let’s say your house is insured for $200k, your deductible will most likely be somewhere in the neighborhood of $2,000.

Protect your property-
Following the storm, your job as the homeowner is to make certain that your house is not susceptible to further secondary damage. The day following the storm, windows should be boarded and openings covered with plastic to prevent water (and burglars) from getting in (True story, a friend of mine was broken into after the storm). You should also have your roof tarped all over to prevent any subsequent rains from coming in.

Take pictures before you clean up anything-
Whether you realize it or not, that glass from the window can be embedded in your carpet, or even vinyl. Point this out to your adjuster, he may pay to replace the flooring or at least a really thorough cleaning of it.

Don’t expect to receive a big fat check made out only to you-
Your mortgage company has a vested interest in your property, and rightfully so. It may be your home, but technically, until it’s paid off, the bank is a sort of silent co-owner. I like to think of them as an unwelcome roommate who doesn’t pay rent. The bank will require that you send them the check so that it can be endorsed. Some will send it back, others will deposit the money in an escrow account so that they can control what gets paid out of that account. It protects you both and ensures that your house gets fixed properly.

The mortgage company may require inspections-
Know that when large sums of money are involved, there will be hoops to jump through, and an inspection is one of them. My mortgage company requires an inspection for each aspect of the recovery. My roof is finished, so we’ll have an inspection before the contractor is paid. That’s normal if the bank is holding your money. They’re not evil, just smart.

Research your contractor-
During a catastrophic event such as the hail storm that came through Oklahoma City, there are shady contractors everywhere. Don’t hire someone out of haste, because they’re available. After an event like this, there’s probably a reason they’re available. Get references from friends, family, even your insurance agent. Make sure that the contractor is local and not someone who blew into town to make a quick buck. Don’t fall for the “We’ll pay your deductible” scam.

If estimates aren’t lining up-
Let’s say that your adjuster comes out and says a new roof will cost $5,000, but your contractor says it will cost $6,000. Try and schedule a time when they can both be there and discuss the difference in estimates.

Have patience-
Expect things to take a long time. As much as I’d like him to be, my contractor is not Superman (there’s no hidden S on his shirt, and he doesn’t wear tights.. as far as I know). You know the saying, “Rome wasn’t built in a day?” Well, houses aren’t built or rebuilt in a day either, especially when there are thousands of homes in the same or worse condition as yours. State Farm gave me 24 months to complete the repairs to my home, and It’s already been 3 months. The reality of a drawn out process has hit me. It will be a long time before I see this finished.

Understand the jargon-
I heard lots of unfamiliar terms like “Recoverable Depreciation”. (I honestly still don’t know what that means). The point is, talk to your agent, ask them questions. They’re there to help. If they’re not helpful, then find someone who is. The best source for the answers is the insurance company itself. Get names and numbers of customer service agents. It can be tough to make sense of everything, so keep track of who you spoke to and when. It would be nice if someone held my hand through everything, but at the end of the day, it’s my responsibility to make sure things are taken care of properly.

Prioritize-
My car was destroyed as well as my house, so I found myself in a position where I was without a car. I took care of the car situation before I got to work on the house. Then, after I bought a new car, the contractor put a new roof on. Next are the windows, then the siding, and lastly, storm doors and exterior lighting. Take it one day at a time.

Take the time to set up an appointment with your agent and review your policies. Ask them the “what-ifs” and make sure you’re ready for something big, should it occur. Talk to someone in your mortgage company’s Loss Drafts Division and find out how all that works. It never hurts to know ahead of time. I hope you never have to go through something like this, but if you do, take it from this control freak that it pays to be prepared! Until next time, Happy Homeowning!

Fallon Brooks is the keeper of one mortgage, a roommate, a dog and two cats… a proud home owner, who bought her first home October 2009 and enjoys sharing what she learns with other soon-to-be home owners.

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It’s easy, when you’ve lived here your whole life, to forget about or overlook some great attractions. I’m guilty of it, and surely I’m not the only one.

I was only able to snap a few pics/vids with my kids moving so fast, but hopefully these will be enough to pique your interest:

By the way, if you’re a tweeter, you can follow the Sam Noble Museum @SamNobleMuseum.

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Fear not! This isn’t your 90’s “fruits and plaids” paper and the papers of today bring a lot more to the table than grapes. Surprised? No one was more shocked at the selection than this girl. The last time I looked at wallpaper it was for a client’s pre-teen who wanted to look at nothing but purple and blue flowers. Easy enough. But this week my challenge was..well, actually challenging. My mission was to find a wall treatment that complimented the architecture of a 1908 historical home while embracing the modern pieces we would be incorporating. This was an active, younger family and sticking to just one style wasn’t an option. I walked into Ketch Design Center (50th and N. Western Ave, OKC) expecting to find one or two samples worth the client’s time. I was blown away at the selection and the patterns have never been more fun! I found six varieties to take back to the job site and each one had a vibe all its own. Dark and dramatic, metallic and vintage, monochromatic but modern. And Ketch isn’t the only place catching on to the craze (again). Designers all over the world are stepping outside of their traditional rolls and putting their outlandish ideas onto paper- literally. Check out this site, full of oldies-turned-goodies and new modern patterns that would turn even the smallest powder room into the biggest conversation starter.

If you’re like me and crave a look of old-meets-new, try the paint-able wallpapers. Completely textured/embossed, these white papers can take up to 3 coats of paint so you can get the best of both worlds. These are especially ideal for the recreation of tin ceilings. Painted a metallic copper or silver it might be hard to tell the difference once installed!

Not much for the new designs? The throwback collections are for you! Ketch has an entire section of retro wallpapers you thought you would never see again! Their helpful design staff can even recommend wallpaper installers if you’re not in the mood to DIY.

The point is, don’t discard the idea entirely. I won’t put it in every client’s home but it certainly has its place and it can completely transform a room in a way that paint sometimes can’t. Selling your home? Make sure that your wallpaper is neutral, not loud or outdated. Not sure what pattern is right for you? What a coincidence… I know just the designer….

Jennifer Hicks is a Certified Interior Decorator and Owner of Designing Diva Interiors, LLC

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Is it that things have changed that much, or that the stereotypes are just false? Forbes seems to think Oklahoma City can hold it’s own in business and career world, as evidenced by their ranking of our fair city in their list of ‘Best Places for Business and Careers.’

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The carpet in the laundry had years of water stains, pet odors, and God knows what else embedded in it’s pile (who puts carpet in a laundry room?!). The smell had become so bad that we had to institute a rule in the house: The laundry room door was to remain closed at all times, because the smell would spread to the entire house. Imagine the reaction of guests. “Fallon, your home is so cute……. OH. MY…. What’s that smell?! Did something die in here?” Yup, every time. So, I survived five months with that, shoot me an email and I’ll let you know where to send my medal. Unfortunately, I don’t have a picture of the offending carpet.

One weekend, I happened upon some tile on sale at Lowe’s, $0.58/sf. I was quite pleased with the price. I calculated the size of my room and determined I would need a mere 47 square feet. Pennies! The 13″x13″ tiles came in boxes of 15 for $9.99. I bought three boxes and 5 individuals for a grand total of somewhere in the $35 range. Not bad. I also purchased a tiling kit that had a float, some nippers, a bucket, sponge, tile spacers, etc. I think it was somewhere around $15-20. Mortar and grout were another $9.99 each. So, I spent a total of $70. Not bad for a new smell-free laundry room. Throw in the inevitable free lunch I was going to have to offer up to my poor friends who volunteered, and we’re looking at more like $90. Still, not bad, much better than the $300 I was quoted by a tile guy. My good friend Aaron owns a small construction company so he loaned me a tile saw, tile cracker, extra floats, a mixer (VERY IMPORTANT), etc. He gave me a quick run down of the misery that was about to ensue, gave me some pointers, and my wary volunteers and I went to work!

Being bound by my can-do attitude, a little naïve optimism and a tight budget, I went headfirst into tiling my teensy laundry room. First was the removal of the dreaded blue carpet (seriously, still wanting to know who puts carpet in a laundry room). Getting the carpet out was a bit like wrestling an alligator; an overweight, dead alligator. It stunk, bad, and despite the room’s small size, it was HARD work. It actually came unglued from the slab pretty easily, it was just the wrestling match that came after that was work. We used a pair of heavy duty pliers, found a corner and pulled as hard as we could. It came up in one giant smelly piece; Did I mention the smell?

I have never in my life underestimated anything as much I underestimated tiling. Those guys earn their pay, that’s for sure. Not only is it just backbreaking work, it takes skill, craftsmanship and ……. Algebra? Yes, I finally found a real-world application to everything Mrs. Powers taught me. I’m sorry Mrs. Powers, I should have paid better attention. It might have saved me a few tiles. The first step was preparing the floor for mortar. We scraped up the glue, cleaned the concrete with a solution to break down the remaining adhesive and then we went to measuring and cutting tiles. That process was full of mistakes. It took lots of problem-solving, patience, and an excess of Scooby Doo Band-Aids. After we laid the tiles down on the bare floor to make sure they’d be ready for mortar and grout, we mixed our mortar. Can I just say: Thank God for a drill with a mixer attachment! My arms would still be mixing if it weren’t for that bad boy. We laid down the mortar in three phases, laying tile in each section before the mortar lost it’s moisture, placing the little white spacers in between.

In this phase I thought it was going to turn out awful. The tile spacing looked uneven, the spacers didn’t seem to work right, and the mortar seemed to be drying too quickly. We let it set for 24 hours and went back to add the grout. Thank goodness for grout! It made everything better. The grout was probably the easiest part of the whole process. It went down quickly, and after letting it set for about an hour, it cleaned up with a sponge quite nicely.

All said, having what could only be described as a paper cut on steroids on nine of my ten fingers, losing nearly an entire weekend, breaking several tiles and having a backache of epic proportions, it was actually all worth it. I learned a few things; I can do anything I put my mind to; I will never attempt to do a tile project ever again; and most importantly, I have the most amazingly patient, helpful friends.

So, you want to tile a small room. I suggest starting on a small room that doesn’t see a lot of traffic. It will give you the experience necessary to undertake a larger project later on, and it will be something your mistakes won’t be too obvious on. My biggest mistake is a cracked tile at the corner of the door. There’s a hump in the slab there, so we had to leave it. I figured there would be a rug over it anyway. The best part? No more smelly carpet. My house smells fresh and clean, and we can leave the laundry room door open like civilized people. Wait, that doesn’t sound right…………

If you don’t think you’re as brave (pronounced: stoo-pid) as I am, then go with hiring a professional. I suggest calling my friend Aaron Worley at Copper Construction at (405) 361-3823. He’s an honest guy and he’ll give you a good estimate. Good luck with your project! Until next time, Happy Homeowning!

Fallon Brooks is the keeper of one mortgage, a roommate, a dog and two cats… a proud home owner, who bought her first home October 2009 and enjoys sharing what she learns with other soon-to-be home owners.

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