It’s hard to believe we’ve been staging and organizing Denver area homes for that long. Over the years, and in every kind of market, we’ve had the privilege of working in over 3,500 homes, helping thousands of homeowners, realtors, and sellers showcase their spaces in the best possible light.
From transforming vacant houses into warm, inviting spaces to helping homeowners organize and refresh their surroundings, this work has been endlessly rewarding. I’m so grateful for the incredible clients who have trusted me with their homes—and for the chance to do what I love to do, every day.
From 500 sq. ft. condos to 10,000 sq. ft. mansions, we’ve loved every challenge and transformation along the way. Thank you to our clients who have trusted us with their homes—we can’t wait to see what the next few decades bring!
Let us help you make the value of your home Abundantly Clear, too!
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
We have a lot of new information below, and our contact information is at the end of the video.
We look forward to helping you with your home staging, organizing and decorating projects!
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):
…with a standing desk.
The dog approves.
Mayfair staging – sold in 3 days!
What to do when staging a home with a large hallway…
What to do when staging a pink room…
Loveland staging – using their dining table.
Loveland staging
Call us for any home staging or decorating needs you may have!
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 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.
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.
Well, summer is almost over and pretty soon the pace of life will start picking up again. For a business owner, summer is a great time to reflect on what is working in the business, and what’s not. It’s also a good time to think of new ways to help your clients and spread the news about said services.
I work with many Realtors who are looking for ways to thank their buyers with closing gifts. Sometimes it will be a basket of goodies or useful tools that come in handy when you are moving in. Years ago, when we moved into our new home, we received a big bucket filled with a hammer, paper towels, a screwdriver, a tape measure, towels, and masking tape, among other items, and I must say that most of those items are still in use to this day. However, for the buyer who has everything, sometimes the best gift isn’t an item, but an experience.
A gourmet meal prepared in your home, a massage or time with a personal trainer are some nice ideas – but how about a professional organizer helping you get your kitchen items put away the first day you move in? Sounds good, doesn’t it? Imagine waking up on the very first morning in your new home, and you walk down to the kitchen and the coffee maker is plugged in and the coffee and all the accessories you need are within arm’s reach. Sure, you may be standing in your neat and organized kitchen with your cup of coffee, surveying the rest of your home that looks like “box village”, but at least you have one neat little oasis. And, you can make breakfast.
Depending on the size of the kitchen, it can take about four hours to set-up. This is a great gift to provide to clients, or you can offer two hours and the client can decide if they’d like more help. The nice part about giving an gift certificate like this is how ours are different – but I don’t want to give away all the secrets. Give us a call and we can discuss!
Holly @ Abundantly Clear – (303) 322-5327
P.S. – A note about comments… I review comments about once a month or more to see if they are appropriate to post. No comments will be allowed that include advertisements, inappropriate language, or that appear to be spam. If your comment does not appear to be a legitimate comment – and that is subject to my judgement and interpretation (such as it is), I will still read it, but it will not be posted. Them’s the rules…
Yesterday, my husband and I both had a day off, at the same time – a very rare occurrence. It was a hot, muggy afternoon, with dark clouds threatening rain. So, we decided to check the TiVo to see what it had recorded. We decided to watch Kung Fu Panda. High-brow it is not, and yet… there was a wise Turtle who said a wise thing:
“The past is history. The future is a mystery. Right now is a gift – that’s why it’s called the present.”
This is not a new quote, a new concept, or even a new movie, but I liked getting the reminder. How often are we so consumed with the future and the past, that we forget to enjoy or even notice the present? I love working with clients, helping them stage their homes or get their spaces organized and functioning well – because I am completely present with them, in that moment. I don’t think about the last appointment, or the next appointment, I just think about that item, or that picture, or lamp, and the best place where it should “live”. It may sound odd, but when I’m finished, I feel refreshed. Even if it’s a long day, and I’m physically worn out, my mind is awake. It’s why I love what I do.
Any project, whether large or small, has the power to engage us and connect us the the present moment. Years ago, before TV or I-Phones, people would unwind by playing a card game, chatting with friends, or even doing chores together. In fact, I doubt the need to “unwind” was even considered very often. You just did what you needed to do, and you found the joy in it, in that moment. If you find that TV, Facebook, or your Blackberry are at best post-poning your anxiety, and at worst adding to it, why not turn them off for a while? Is life so awful that we need constant distractions from it? If so, why aren’t we looking at the reason?
I find it funny that computers and Blackberrys are something we are “on”… like a drug. True, the very fact that I’m writing this blog is ironic, or just plain hypocritical, but when I’m “off” the computer, I’m off. Without these electronic leashes, I find I can enjoy everything from grocery shopping to cleaning out the garage. A project, any project, can allow you to remember how lucky you are to have a brain and a body that works. In the next few days, try doing a little project with the phone or Blackberry out of reach, and see how (after you get over the anxiety of being “disconnected”) it can calm your mind.
As you may have guessed, I’m still filling in my brand spanking new blog. But, I recently updated my website to direct people here for the latest and greatest tips and pictures – oops! So where are these fabulous pictures!?? I’m hoping to put NEW pictures on here – so they’ll trickle in as I work on new projects. The portfolio pictures at www.abundantlycleardesign.com are actually pretty recent – so feel free to check them out – (they take a long time to load on my old computer – but I hope they appear faster on yours!) Who knows, the next picture on my blog could be from your house (if you want them here – of course!) Here’s a recent before and after to get us started!
Welcome to the Abundantly Clear weblog at HollyLange.com!
My other website, www.abundantlycleardesign.com, has been up and running for years now, but I found that it was cumbersome to update. I’ve decided to keep that one pretty much “as-is”, while adding a second site that I can easily update.
I’m hoping to create a forum where people can ask questions about the kinds of things I help clients with every day: getting organized, staging their home for sale, making their space feel better without bringing in a bunch of new items they probably don’t need – and how to choose paint colors (and other decorating questions).
You can find out more about who I am at www.abundantlycleardesign.com and go to “about us”. In the mean time, I’m looking forward to seeing where this new site takes us!
