What is the difference between interior design and interior styling?

Interior styling is strategically selecting furnishings, colors, patterns, and textures within a space to fit the desired aesthetic and use for the space. Interior design is a blanket term than can mean anything from interior styling to design a kitchen to designing lighting schemes for an entire house. While we use the terms interchangeably, it is important to note we only select the furnishings and wall coverings within a space, not actually where those walls go. If you are interested in remodeling your home to make it more functional for you, we highly suggest you contact a general contractor who can arrange all of the aspects of that work for you.

Are you licensed interior designers?

No, we are interior stylists. Interior designers can work with your contractor to plan out your space, whereas we are more focused on the aesthetic once that space is already created. We can certainly consult with you when you are selecting things like fixtures, hardware, and finishes (which we do regularly) but we leave the really heavy lifting to others.

Do you work virtually or only in-person?

Both! For local customers in the eastern Massachusetts area, we love to work in-person as there is no substitute for standing in a space and meeting the person for whom we are designing in person. However, for customers outside of our local area (or those just looking to keep the costs down as much as possible) we offer edesign services. Both in-person and edesign packages have the same result and deliverables, it’s just that the route we take to get there is slightly different. Additionally, for our local customers, we can offer installation services, as well.

My partner and I have different styles and desires for our space. How do you design a space that works for both of us?

This is very common because, as the saying goes, opposites attract :).

But how do you determine which repairs, changes, or levels of staging will have a positive return for my home?

We will always perform a market analysis for your home before making any specific recommendations. This will include gaining an understanding of you home’s current selling potential, what other comparable homes have recently sold in your local area, what you and your agent want to list your home for, and what your overall staging budget is. From there, we will make specific recommendations for attracting buyers who are willing to pay top dollar for your home (your target buyers) while staying within your staging budget, as much as possible. Our goal is ALWAYS to help you increase the selling point of your home far above the cost of staging.

Can you manage the entire staging process for me?

Staging can feel overwhelming - we totally get it. If you' want us to act as your project manager for any repairs, upgrades, cleaning, etc. that need to happen let’s talk - we can put together a custom quote to help take the burden of managing the staging process off of your shoulders. All contracts and payments for contractors and tradespeople will be between you and them, but we can be your point of contact and help make the process move as smoothly and quickly as possible.

How in the world am I supposed to keep my home looking staged if I’m still living in it?

We won’t lie - living in a staged home is not easy. It takes a serious commitment to doing everything you can to clean up after yourself on a minute-by-minute basis and dedicated time each morning to bring it back to it’s fully staged state. But, don’t worry - we’ve got your back. If your home is staged as “occupied” in any way, we’ll provide you with all the tips, tricks, and tools you need to keep it in tip top shape. And, take heart - professionally staged homes sell significantly faster than unstaged homes, which means you’ll only have to keep up with your cleaning regime for a short time.

Do you stage vacant or new construction homes, too?

Absolutely - we love staging vacant homes! We’ll provide the same level of service as with our occupied stagings but with every space receiving the full vacant staging treatment. If you are a builder or realtor selling new construction homes, contact us for a custom quote - we’d love to be part of your selling team!

My home is under contract - when can I have it de-staged?

Real estate transactions can be tenuous in the early stages. Therefore, we recommend maintaining your home as staged until all contingencies are removed. Once that happens, we require 7 working days’ written notice for staging removal (if you have rented any furniture or accessories from us).

What happens if my home is not ready to be de-staged at the end of my initial rental period?

Every quote contains a weekly rental charge for retaining items beyond the initial 30-day rental period. Once you pass the 30-day mark, all items will collectively be charged on a weekly basis (this weekly rental rate is always noted in your staging contract). This is why it is so important to let us know as soon as possible that your home is ready to be de-staged - we will follow up with you and your agent if we notice the home has gone under contract, but it is your responsibility to provide us with written notice of de-staging.

What if I don’t like how my home is staged?

It’s important to remember staging is not interior design - it is a visual marketing technique designed to help sell your home quickly and for top dollar. While we will make every effort to ensure your satisfaction with the end product, it is our responsibility to ensure your home is properly staged to attract your target buyer, which means the design may or may not align with your personal taste. As such, all design decisions are at the sole discretion of Glen Street Staging + Design. We will select each and every item used to stage your home with care and intention to get you the highest return possible on your investment.

What happens if your inventory gets damaged while it’s in my home?

Accidents happen - we get it. Your contract will clearly spell out cleaning fees for any items damaged while in your care. We will also provide you with a full list of our staging inventory placed in your home and the full replacement cost by item that will be charged to you in the event it is damaged beyond repair or manages to go missing. Additionally, we always suggest our staging clients purchase staging insurance to protect themselves against large-scale damage or theft. Insurance is short money for the peace of mind it brings.

I love everything about my staging! Can I purchase the items you’ve placed in my home?

We’re thrilled when our clients love their staging so much that they want to take it with them to their next home! In most cases, you can purchase either the exact items we have placed in your home or we can arrange for you to purchase a new version of those items (depending on their condition and our staging inventory needs). Additionally, if you love the look but want a larger variety of items to choose from, check our out Glen Street Shop, where you can find lots of trade-only options that can be shipped right to your door!