All posts by Holly Lange

About Holly Lange

I started Abundantly Clear in 2005, at a little desk under the stairs in a new Stapleton apartment. What began as a business to help clients with clutter, grew into a full-service home staging and decorating business. I have staged high-rise condos to mansions, new townhomes to 100 year old Victorians, and everything in-between. I've helped clients pick out counters, back-splashes, tile, carpet and paint colors. I've helped clients make quick changes like hanging art, and I've helped them start from scratch. I've organized something as simple as a mud room and cleared out as much as 12 years' worth of accumulated items. If it's a project inside your home, I can help!

2024 – Getting Back to Basics – Or, Why I Get Up in the Morning

For many reasons, 2023 has been a challenging year. It was one of those years that gives you time to reassess. For almost 19 years, I have been helping clients through many of life’s transitions, and through many different economic climates. I’ve helped thousands of clients prepare their homes for sale, through something as simple as a consultation, to a full vacant staging with rental furniture and accessories, to everything in-between.

I have helped clients sell their homes faster and for more money than similar homes in the area. On average, when comparing the statistics with the typical Denver home for sale, the homes I have helped stage have sold in 1/3rd of the time and for 6% more. I have also helped clients re-decorate their homes, choose paint colors, select finishes for a new-build, organize their spaces, and generally be a problem-solver for the day-to-day quandaries of living a modern life in a home that may be 1 month or 100 years old.

So, after all these years, what have I brought to the table? What have I really been proud to accomplish? I’ve helped clients pick-out light fixtures and various elements for a remodeling project, and they’ve told me how happy they feel in their new spaces – but what really gets me out of bed in the morning are the staging projects that led to clients making more money, not spending more money.

We all have areas in our homes that could use a little spruce or update, and helping people choose the right thing the first time is a worthwhile skill – but I equally value the times I have told clients that they don’t need to replace something. Sometimes just re-arranging what you have can solve a functional problem in a home. Sometimes a fresh coat of paint can take years off the look of a kitchen, avoiding the need for a large-scale and costly remodel. Sometimes things can be fixed, instead of tossed out.

Growing up in a family that valued repairing items and “making-do” for as long as possible gave me the foundation for creative problem solving. Anyone can throw money at a problem – but if I can help a client sell their home for more with just a small investment or maybe even just their time, I know I’ve provided help that could benefit them and their families for years to come.

If you’d like to chat about the ways I can help you prepare your home for sale, or just life – give me a call (yes, a call – it’s not as scary as you think)!

(303) 322-5327

I’ve had this number for 19 years (too long to get rid of it) – it’s a voice line that forwards to my cell – so if you prefer to type – email me at holly@abundantlycleardesign.com

Staging in 2023

Like fashion, staging trends come and go. What have I noticed this year? Nothing is predictable, and it’s okay to mix it up (old, new, modern, traditional). Take this staging we did last week.

Because of the busy street out front, I knew I wanted to frame the window in some way, calming down the outside. When staging, we don’t usually put new curtain hardware up, so I had to find a way to do this with our items. I had these lamps in mind, but the rest wasn’t decided until the selection at the rental warehouse. The door to the patio and the office door to the left meant that the seating couldn’t come into the room too much (like a sectional), however, the room was very deep. In the “before”, there was a couch so far away from the fireplace, it felt like a lot of wasted space. In order to feel like the space could be fully utilized, we needed to have the best of both worlds – a deep seating area that didn’t encroach. Enter: the curved couch and glass coffee tables.

I deliberated between this couch and another one for a while. I was concerned it would be too deep, but combining it with the glass coffee tables mitigated that feeling. These tables add to the coziness of the room without adding too much bulk. More curves also mean you can walk around them to the patio, easily.

To me, a living room doesn’t feel finished without two distinct seating items (generally, at least a couch and a chair). This curved chair is near the entry, and because of the curve and the low back, it doesn’t create a wall. I also haven’t used this skinny piece of art in 3 years, but when I saw it, I had to grab it. The black frame works with the tables and some black dining chairs in the adjoining kitchen. https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=592740472833784&set=pcb.592740582833773 – I like how the reddish orange goes with the brick outside. And, the plate on the table has some orange that ties into the art. That creates a visual through-line from the middle of the room to the patio. That was a surprise, too.

Anyway, this house sold in a couple of days. I’d like to say that was a surprise, but since 2005, we’ve seen that staging a home just… what’s that word… oh, yeahworks. That’s why I love it, and always try to make each project better than the last.

Thanks for reading. – Holly

2020 Staging Tips – Or, Spots in your Home You May not Have Thought Of…

Spring is here, and that means “For Sale” signs sprouting up almost as fast as tulips.  Once the stay-at-home orders are lifted, and showings go from virtual to in-person, it may be time to “up your game”!

Most sellers understand that some preparation is necessary to sell a house, but they often don’t expect how much work it really entails. We know the counters should be clear, and rooms should be neat, but what about the spaces that may not get photographed?

Home stagers like to talk about how selling is more about psychology than decorating. What “feeling” do buyers have when they walk through your house? The buyer wants to feel welcome when they enter a home.  This is very similar to how you prepare your home for a special party, detail your car when you want to sell it, or wear a suit to an interview. Do they feel like this house will give them a better life, or one the same or maybe worse than what they currently have? Stuffed linen closets, basements that are too full to walk through, cabinets that cannot close, and un-expected items in the master closet (scrapbooks, anyone?), can send the wrong message to a potential buyer.  These common issues might tell a buyer that the house is too small, or it has inadequate storage space.  No matter the size, if you can’t walk into your walk-in closet, it’s not a walk-in closet!

What about the clutter outside of the storage areas?  Mail on the kitchen counter, stacks of clothes in the bedrooms, open bookshelves packed to overflowing, collections and projects covering every flat surface – these are all sending the message that the seller isn’t ready to sell.  Even if they can see beyond the clutter, buyers will hesitate to make an offer on a house if they feel that the seller isn’t really serious. It might feel to them that you may change your mind or not be open to negotiations if they make and offer.

So, what can you do about it?  Off-site storage is an option, and it can come in handy if the storage areas in your house are minimal.  With this in mind, here are some ideas for staging the storage areas:

Basement – buyers do understand you will be moving, so having boxes in the basement is perfectly acceptable.  In fact, seeing them will also tell a buyer that you are ready to go.  Keep the boxes neat and against the walls, and away from the door/entry.

Linen Closets – Have you seen how Martha Stewart folds her towels?  Her website says: “A properly folded towel has a neat, fluffy appearance and hidden edges”. Towels should be folded in thirds, lengthwise, then in in half or thirds widthwise, depending on the length of the towel.  That way, different sized towels can look more uniform because you can control the width of the folded towel in the first step.  Stack like items together, like towels and sheets, and minimize the height of the stacks so they don’t tip. It sounds like a picky item, but it looks great when done this way!

Bedroom Closets (especially the Master Bedroom) – Wire hangers and dry cleaning plastic must be banished from all closets (“no wire hangers”)!  They are unsightly and they can even ruin your clothes.  Inexpensive white plastic hangers can make a closet look neat and uniform – and if you really want to get fancy – buy the wooden hangers (you can find good bulk deals at home and hardware stores).  Make sure only shoes are on the floor, and minimize the items on the top shelf.  A crowded top shelf, with a lot of items out of reach, could say the closet is too small and inefficient.  Finally, don’t store anything in your master bedroom closet except clothes and shoes.  Use other storage spaces for your books, luggage, paint cans (!), etc.

Kitchen Cabinets – Yes, buyers look through your cabinets, maybe not all of them, but at least the larger ones and the pantry.  You don’t need to have your spices in alphabetical order, but food containers with overflowing contents, sticky shelf surfaces, and over-sized items preventing doors from closing just won’t fly.  Kitchens sell houses, so make sure yours feels large, with plenty of storage space.

Garage – If you have a two car garage, then it should look like it!  It’s better to store things in the basement then to make your garage look too small for a Mini Cooper (especially in Colorado – the land of SUV’s).  If you have an extra fridge in the garage, it may be time to part with it.  If you can store larger “toys” off-site (and that includes those for the grown-up kids – like quads, etc.), that’s ideal.

Although it’s crucial to make the living areas feel warm and inviting first, never underestimate the importance of storage areas to a buyer.  A little extra work on those areas will help your home stand out, and sell faster.

And if you need a little assistance figuring out how to get started – give us a call! (720) 289-3986. We offer in-person (safe-distance requirements and/or mask policies will be followed), or even virtual staging consultations. They include a thorough room-by-room list to give you a detailed road-map so you can confidently prepare your home to sell. Call us for more information – thanks!

Welcome!

Welcome to the Abundantly Clear Design blog. We have moved AbundantlyClearDesign.com to this site. If you are experiencing slow speeds here, it’s because we are working on some upgrades – but in the mean time, you can also find us on Facebook.com/abundantlyclear and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/abundantlyclear/

Also – if you have any trouble with the links, please call us at (303) 322-5327 (this is a voice line only) or check out our other pages (above).

We look forward to helping you with your home staging and decorating projects!

2017 Decorating Trends

The decorating trends for 2017 include a few surprises, and some holdovers from 2016. This year, comfort and some fun elements are becoming popular.

Here they are in a nutshell:

Colors:

  • Bright greens (apple, lime, emerald)
  • Light and soft colors (light blush, light grey)
  • Dark and deep colors (deep grey/purple, graphite, navy blue)
  • Bright white for accent

Patterns:

  • Lots of bold patterns and pattern mixing
  • Texture mixes – large, chunky textiles mixes with faux fur and very “comfy” textures
  • Mohair, wool, and velvet is also featured
  • Reclaimed wood and wood tile is still popular
  • Tropical prints, and geometric prints (this sounds like a 70’s re-boot to me)!

Materials for fixtures and accessories:

  • Bronze, copper, and gold, soft – not too shiny, and all mixed together
  • Chalk-white, or matte white ceramics
  • Marble and brass tables, and counters/sink fixtures
  • Acrylic (acrylic “frameless” art mounts and tables)
  • Natural “driftwood” style tables.

Overall styles and trends:

Farmhouse and reclaimed styles are still big, but accents like bare Edison bulbs are out. A more sophisticated farmhouse look is gaining ground – think of artisan-crafted furniture and accessories, like hand-blown glass, and less crafty/DIY items. Streamlined styles are still popular for those with a more modern taste, but adding textured throws and unusual art and wall hangings will keep it from feeling cold. Some sources say the boho-chic style is still popular, but it seems like the main trends are comfortable, yet sophisticated… whimsical, but with a bit of drama. There also seems to be a paradox of styles between hiding away items and having a minimal look, but then also adding more and more patterns. The heavy industrial seems to be fading away, along with oversized furniture. Using space efficiently is key this year.

And if you would like any guidance on navigating the new trends, and finding the ones that suit you and your home best, feel free to call us!

Abundantly Clear Design – 303-322-5327 – holly@abundantlycleardesign.com

Earlier Decorating Projects

There have been a lot of projects since my last post, and a lot of other changes, too. Here are a few photos of recent projects (some staging, some decorating):Office Decorating

...with a standing desk.
…with a standing desk.

The dog approves.
The dog approves.

Mayfair staging - sold in 3 days!
Mayfair staging – sold in 3 days!

What to do when staging a home with a large hallway...
What to do when staging a home with a large hallway…

20140417_160158

What to do when staging a pink room...
What to do when staging a pink room…

Loveland staging - using their dining table.
Loveland staging – using their dining table.

Loveland staging
Loveland staging

Call us for any home staging or decorating needs you may have!

 

Got Baggage?

I recently spent a week with my sisters (I have three) and I realized something. No matter how well we are doing, we still carry around our own personal baggage. Sometimes it’s from yesterday, and sometimes it’s from twenty years ago. Emotional baggage is very hard to part with. In some way, it defines us. Even difficult experiences make us who we are. Logically, we want to get rid of it, but perhaps we are afraid of losing something important. Perhaps these memories offer comfort, because they show us how far we have come. But when this baggage is always in front of us, how much of our present can we truly enjoy and appreciate?

Clutter is a physical form of this emotional baggage. Sometimes it directly relates to good or bad memories. Sometimes we just remember how much it cost and so we hate to “get rid of it”. But how much is this “baggage” really costing us?

Would selling it be worth the time? If so, great! If not, ask yourself what this item really means to you. What do you feel when you look at it? Does it bring up that emotional baggage? Would a donation to a charity help you get this off your mind, while possibly giving you a payoff greater than the actual dollar amount it is worth?

I believe the freedom people seek when starting to get organized is only possible when they are willing to free their minds from the emotional baggage that led to the physical pile-up. The stacks accumulate because we avoid them, and the negative feelings become more intense when we avoid them, as well. Have you woken up from a terrifying dream, lately? Have you hurt yourself walking through a cluttered space? These are signs saying: “pay attention to me!”

When you are ready, so am I. Let’s get rid of some baggage together.

Live “abundantly clear”,
Holly
(303) 322-5327

Intimidated By Accessories?

 Accessories transform a nicely decorated room into a perfect, finished space.  But many homeowners have a hard time choosing the right ones.  Consequently, rooms are often left unfinished.

 Now, with this simple checklist, this can be a thing of the past:

When you see an accessory that you are considering for your room, make sure it meets these guidelines: 

  • Does it have the right mood?  In order for an accessory to “work” in a room, it needs to be in harmony with the mood of the space.  That means that it evokes the same feelings.  Is your room romantic?  Sleek?  Cozy?  Make sure the accessory feels that way, too.  However, accessories that change a room’s mood can work as well if done correctly.  For example, a modern space feels warmer with rustic or hand-made accessories like woven bowls or rough textiles.  Rooms with a lot of patterns in the fabrics can benefit from areas of “rest” with monochromatic or streamlined accessories.

 

  • Is it going to make the room too “theme-y”?   In general, it’s best to avoid a room that looks like it came out of the Madonna Inn (Google that if you aren’t familiar it).  A touch of whimsy or a conversation piece here and there is great, but a “jungle room” may start to feel a little old after a few months.  A bowl of beach glass on the table with sea shell throw pillows can look great, but add in anchor-design curtains, a fishing net, and a light-house sculpture and the room starts to feel like a seafood restaurant from the 70’s.  A room should have a consistent feel, but a little restraint goes a long way.

 

  • Is it the right scale?  If you are looking for a piece to display on a large, high shelf, don’t choose something that is too small.  It will just feel lost and incomplete.  And a very large item will look out of place in a room of small, delicate pieces.  Make sure that the accessory you choose harmonizes with the scale of the other items and furniture around it.

 

  • Is the color right?  Does the color (or colors) of the accessory work in your room?  Of course, it doesn’t have to match exactly, but make sure it blends nicely.  NOTE: Another option is to choose an accessory with a color that stands out.  This can make a dramatic statement.  Make sure, however, that this “drama” fits the mood of your room! It can also help the design of the room if this “pop” of color happens in three places throughout the room – for a triangulation of color.

 

  • Do you love it?  This may seem obvious, but many homeowners get caught up in making sure that all of their decorating “works” and forget to make sure that they really love everything that is going in their home.  Even if the accessory fits all the other criteria, if you don’t love it, don’t buy it.

And remember, less is more.  Like when accessorizing an outfit, sometimes the best thing you can do is take one item away to help the remaining ones look even better.  That way, you can…

Live Abundantly Clear!

– Holly (always happy to help you accessorize, or edit) Lange –  (303) 322-5327

I’m Stuck in a Window Well and I Can’t Get Out!

The other day I was sitting on my back porch reading a book about the Law of Attraction.  I’ve read books about this concept before, but I often like to remind myself of the simple concept that we have more control over our lives than we might think.  That’s not to say it is our goal in life to control everything, but that success or failure is often a product of our outlook and attitudes, and being open to a solution.  Often we are so fixated on the problem, solutions don’t even enter our heads. 

 While I was reading, I was marveling at the beauty of my little back yard, and the sounds of birds, the breeze, and the cars and dogs in the distance.  I love the sounds of waves, and sometimes miss living near the ocean, but I realized that the sounds I heard were very much like the ocean.  They had a rhythm to them, and they were breathing in and out.  It was a lovely realization.  But then I began to notice a few robins that kept calling to each other – and it stood out against the other sounds.  I saw an adult robin, and then a young robin fly to the top of our fence.  His wings were small and he seemed unsure about this new flying thing his mom was clearly anxious for him to try.  Then I heard some fluttering coming from other spot.  It sounded like a bird that was stuck somewhere, struggling.  I looked around and realized it was coming from our neighbor’s window well.  This was about 6 feet deep, with a metal grate on top.  I walked over and saw another young bird sitting down there, unable to get out, and looking up with his little beak open.   He must have fallen in, but couldn’t fly well enough to get out.  Luckily, the grate wasn’t locked, so I was able to lift it up and put it aside.  Meanwhile, the mother bird was keeping a close eye on the situation and was calling to the baby bird.  After I moved away, the little bird flew up and out of the window well and wound up near a tree a few yards away.  I put the grate back on and went back to my reading.

Baby Bird stuck in a window well.
Baby bird stuck in the window well.

 About fifteen minutes later, however, I heard the familiar cry of the baby bird.  It was higher pitched than his mother’s, so I was beginning to recognize it.  It seemed like the mother and her chicks had left, but this little bird hadn’t followed.  I peered through the fence and could see the baby bird hopping towards the same window well.  Of course, not being able to speak bird I couldn’t warn him to stay away from it, and sure enough, he hopped onto the grate and then fell through it.  Poor silly bird.  I walked around and took the grate off again, but without Momma around to coax him out, I think he didn’t know what to do.  After about five minutes or so I had to intervene.  I put on my gardening gloves and climbed down the little ladder.  After a few attempts at gently picking up the very scared bird, I finally was able to lift him up back onto safer ground.  I also tried to shoo him away from that pesky grate.  He still wasn’t flying, but at least he had a chance at survival, now.  I know he may not make it, but I did the best I could and now it’s up to him.

Baby bird safe - for now.
Baby bird safe, for now.

So, of course, events like this often inspire me to think of them as a metaphor for life.  Sure, why not? 

How often have we felt like we were stuck in a big window well?  How often are we tired, scared, and just want our Mommies?  I believe that whenever there is a problem, the solution is waiting for us.  The window well grate is lifted up for us but we don’t see it, or we are too scared to try and escape.  Sometimes, we are even lucky enough to have someone lift us up and save us (even when we make the same mistake twice!)  But in the end, we are ultimately on our own.  Our adventure is ours alone, and only we can decide how it’s going to go.  It may be a little scary, but if we are brave and accept help when it is given, we might do okay.

And in my life, I am so grateful to have taken some time, listened, and been allowed to have this little experience to share with you.

As always – be well, and live abundantly clear,

Holly