Ideal Design Elements-iDe

iDe is an interior design and home staging business servicing the greater Chicagoland area and suburbs. Karen is an interior designer and certified home stager. With the combination of both design and staging experience, she is able to provide a more comprehensive staging package for homeowners/sellers (agents-brokers) and even clients who are anticipating moving/selling in the near future. Karen creates an iDeal aesthetic home environment clients & potential buyers are seeking and wanting in today's market. iDe specializes in 'vacant' properties when staging is requested. Karen has her own warehouse of select furnishings to rent or purchase; and also has other great rental sources to use for the ultimate layout and design. With designer discount, Karen is also able to purchase anything needed for a specific space or home setting. She has a very creative eye and can visualize a homes' potential before she even starts her work. iDe creates an iDeal and successful end result that will showcase and enhance the homes "full potential". Karen has a BFA in Interior Design, minor in Industrial Technology. She has experience in both commercial and residential design. Areas include: space planning, drafting, client proposal-presentations, purchasing. HOMESTAGING: iDe transforms a Seller's home into an iDeal Buyer's home; by using its key elements. Karen's signature element is to "wow" potential buyers the moment they walk through the front door. First impressions are key in selling a home quickly so this is one of the most important elements iDe addresses when staging a home to sell. Karen is a member of RESA (Real Estate Staging Association). A new Consumer Guide report has been released on the RESA website (for 2013) on the Statistics of Staging. Several homes were researched regarding homes staged vs not staged and timeframes which either sold; depending whether they were staged prior to listing or after sitting on the market, along with the price range of the homes too. Bottom Line: Homes staged prior to listing on the market sold on average in 23 days. And staging your home prior to listing will sell 7x faster (or 87% faster and less time on the market) than not staged. Regardless whether a home is staged before or after it's been listed; data shows it will sell much quicker than if not staged at all. Professionally staging a home puts your home in FRONT and ABOVE ALL other homes NOT staged. iDe offers a variety of rental contracts for staging a home and furniture-accessory rental fees. Depending on the size of home and furnishings required will determine rental rates; iDe does require a minimum 2-month lease, at a set price and any additional months can be included and extended for a discounted rate. Discounts would vary depending on length of lease agreement. iDe is a professional certified staging business. DESIGN: iDe's goal is to create an ultimate iDeal aesthetic environment in which clients can't wait to come home to. It's important to create a sanctuary of comfort and character that will meet today's design styles and trends. iDe also incorporates those classic elements to insure the design lasts for years. Karen addresses each home as if it were her own so every detail is included and implemented into her design projects. Function and form are critical elements, but style and design are important as well. A well designed home must have an optimal space plan and offer great traffic flow, therefore iDe addresses these elements into each home project. The "wow" factor is very important to utilize as well in designing/furnishing a home so Karen takes great measures to insure she creates this in her final stages of designing a home environment. Karen prefers a more neutral style and color theme; it's easy on the eye and will never tire with using the soft hues. She likes to incorporate a pop of color here and there to draw the eye to specific areas and/or spaces and add interest to the overall theme and aesthetics. This concept insures your new home environment and design will last for years with the ability to easily swap or change accent colors (in items such as accessories, linens, or walls) to provide change if desired. (This can apply to decorating for the holidays and/or hosting special events.) iDe has many sources in selecting finishes, has many of her own samples to provide for clients such as: flooring, wall tile, back splash (materials for kitchens/baths), paint samples etc...Karen can produce 'concept or design boards' for client presentations. She believes concept boards are a great way for clients to visualize her ideas and proposed design plan.