Staging A Historic Home
It was definitely love at first sight for us with this historic home on Chicamauga Ave. From the fireplaces (four in total!) to the original pocket doors, this place was filled to the brim with charm. We knew the challenge would be making the home feel fresh without using pieces that felt too modern and out of place, but before we could get started with any staging, the home definitely needed a fresh coat of paint and a thorough cleaning. We gave the realtor some suggestions for updates and a few paint color ideas, but ultimately those decisions usually come down to the homeowner and what their budget allows, so we have to be ready for anything on install day.
One of the coolest parts about bringing this look together was being able to incorporate a few of the homeowner’s existing pieces that already worked really well in the space. For example, we were able to use a gorgeous vintage mirror in the home office. We love incorporating mirrors into our stages, but most of ours tend to feel a bit more sleek and modern, so this felt like the perfect bit of charm to work into our design. Another fun detail from the office is that the world atlas books we used to style the desk were actually donated to us by the mechanic who works in the warehouse next to ours. He was so thrilled when we showed him photos of the books being put to good use!
We also were able to use the existing dining table, which matched the wood tones of the home really well. We knew pairing it with some new dining chairs would make for a really beautiful look. This, combined with a fresh coat of paint, turned the dining room into a real showstopper and allowed the unique details of the room to really speak for themselves. This room was probably one of our most dramatic transformations from the whole stage.
Staging new builds is fun, because who doesn’t love a blank slate with endless possibilities, but homes like this one just hold a special place in our little vintage-loving hearts. So here’s to staging more historic homes in 2024!
-Kathryn