See How a Stager Revamped This Charming Boston Carriage House
Depending on the city you live in, 1,400 square feet is generally considered to be on the smaller side of homes. But no matter where you are, when you have to spread that square footage over three levels in one unit, you can end up with spaces that require some creativity to use them in a way that feels both efficient and stylish.
That very same 1,400 square foot space — a Beacon Hill, Boston-area carriage house condo — worked for one couple who lived in the home for eight years, even as they welcomed two children during their time there. But when life took them back home to Wisconsin, they needed to not only sell the unit, but also to present it in a way that would make the most of its size, layout, and original architectural details.
The homeowners and their real estate agents, Matt Aranson and Sarah Maguire of the Aranson Maguire Group with Compass, brought in Boston-based Jess Harrington of staging company Jess Finessed for the job.
Beacon Hill is one of the most historic neighborhoods in America, and the details of the condo reflect that. But to show it could function for a modern family, Harrington’s job was to think about how a future buyer will use the space.
“Our design aesthetic is anchored in mixing old and new. We set a floor plan with furniture that shows the space efficiently and style with moments that delight,” Harrington says.
Like many staging products, the first item on the to-do list was repainting — but that didn’t include the whole house. “We specified a paint color, but were strategic in the redesign investment. A little goes a long way. We worked with the pink color in the primary bedroom,” Harrington explains. She also left the monkey wallpaper, which she saw as design-forward and whimsical. “We can’t take credit for the good taste there!”
Turning to the home’s details, Harrington was fortunate to work with floor-to-ceiling windows and built-in bookshelves. She says, “We used those elements as inspiration to select our pieces that would showcase the property’s best features. We don’t let historic design get in the way of modern function.”
Harrington always aims to fit lots of seating into a staging project rather than leaving it empty. She wants to amplify the home’s capacity to entertain, which many buyers look for (even if they aren’t big entertainers, the dream always sounds nice!). In the living room, that meant bringing in double sofas with a round coffee table in between.
To give the room a cozy look, Harrington says, “A striking rug and some geometric pillows with textured and layered furniture pieces always does the trick, and using functional pieces like the CB2 console can help a buyer envision how to leverage small or weird nooks and crannies for function.”
Harrington brought in styling pieces to add personality and warmth, particularly in the built-in shelves, but she always wants to avoid the look of clutter.
This clutter-free approach is especially critical for marketing — if a look doesn’t translate on camera, they’ll never get potential buyers in the door.
“I look for pieces that show variety, color, texture, and heights that complement the woodworking. We ‘camera test’ spaces to see if it feels cluttered in frame when we take a pic.”
“We often pull things out of shot for pics but put them in for a delightfully merchandised buyer tour. People are buying the home, but people buy a home they feel great in. It’s a fine balance to capture that in our work,” Harrington says.
On the outdoor patio, Harrington wanted to play up the privacy with a personality-forward look. She used the sellers’ own outdoor set, then turned it into a sweet spot with pillows, lanterns, an outdoor rug, and black Adirondack chairs to anchor the corner for another sitting nook.
The overall look results in a small but efficient home that works for a single person, couple, or even a small family. It’s going on the market soon, but, when it comes to the staging, Harrington laughs, “The Beatles photograph is a fave, and no, I won’t sell it.”
Are you buying a home or hoping to learn more about the current market? RSVP here for Apartment Therapy's free real estate webinar on Sept. 17, with insights from Egypt Sherrod, HGTV Host & CEO of Indigo Road Realty; Jose Prats, Director of Character Homes at Christie’s International; and Jason Saft, Founder of Staged To Sell Home.