Wisconsin Winters
Wisconsin winters are cold and dark. So, when realtors show vacant homes during the winter months, the interiors also look cold and dark. Even when the sun is shining, the furnace is usually turned way down, making the house cold.
A vacant traditional house shows dark even during warmer, sunny days because the windows are smaller, the woodwork is darker, and the layout is not open. The natural light doesn’t flow through adjacent rooms.
This room is directly off the living room. Perhaps it was originally an office. You can see the opening from the front door.
The living room is dark because the front windows (opposite) faces north and there is no overhead lighting.
Music Room
Because it is possible to close this room off from the living room, I decided to make it a music room. I put a guitar, a keyboard, and a simple dulcimer (santoor) with sheet music and a music stand.
Living Room
I added a floor lamp and a table lamp to reflect the light off the fireplace mirror. Two chairs next to the south-facing window are a cozy place for quiet reading.
Family Room
The family room is where most of the living takes place. It was added on some years before that allowed for more second-story bedrooms. This room can be configured in many different ways, depending upon what the family’s needs are. It leads out onto a screened-in porch, then out to the private yard.
I decided to include a TV-viewing area, a informal dining space that looks out onto the grounds, plus an office.
Office
Isn’t this a great spot for an office? A person can have something on the stove and yet check their email or keep an eye on the kids playing in the family room. It’s also nice to have an outside view while working.
Kitchen
The kitchen is not huge, but nicely laid-out. There is plenty of storage and shelving for decorative items.
Dining Room
The traditional dining room is perfect for formal dinners or a quiet romantic dinner for two. The built-in buffet holds the china and crystal. Lingering after dessert while watching the view out the front and side windows is the perfect ending.
Cheery
Premiere Home Stagers enjoyed staging this traditional beauty in one of Madison’s (WI) sought-after neighborhoods. By bringing in some color, texture, and interest, the online photos are sure to evoke an emotional response. This house surely went from dreary to cheery.
My recommendation is to stage a vacant house before winter sets in. There are plenty of prospective buyers that look for a house during the winter season, even in Wisconsin. Call Premiere Home Stagers to stage your vacant house. 608-345-9396.