~ Hi there! On HGTV's Hit Reality TV Show DESIGN STAR, I sewed, painted & sawed my way through some pretty tough challenges, but design doesn't have to be hard! I believe in combining simple, timeless design ingredients to create what I call "Design Recipes". I hope you find this to be a truly awesome resource. www.design-recipes.com contains design tips, articles, podcasts, how-to videos and of course design recipes galore! I invented Design Recipes simply because I love sharing my ideas! For years I collected design magazines, tagged and clipped pages with inspirational images & did nothing! That's because I didn't have the resource information so I could purchase the beautiful furniture I was seeing on the pages of the magazines! With Design Recipes, I SHARE how the room was executed, giving you the basic design tools needed for you to recreate the same look on your own and best of all I give you all of the resource information! Enjoy!
Hello everyone and Happy Easter! Tomorrow we not only welcome the month of April but an exciting transition for the “Design Recipes” blog. Those of you who faithfully follow this blog know “Design Recipes” is more than just a blog but an entire DIY brand that includes the http://www.design-recipes.com website with DIY tips and more than 500 design recipes, How-to videos on You tube (TheCathyHobbsChannel) and social platforms that include Pinterst, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
As of April 1st we will be launching a content rich blog platform that will provide Design Recipes –Monday-Friday each week! Be sure to also keep an eye out for our new look in late Spring.
Here’s what you can look forward to on our blog:
MONDAY -Project Of The Week
Each week we will take on and profile a design project, many we will design and chronical over weeks or months.
TUESDAY- Tuesday Tips
Be sure to check in each Tuesday for our best design tips.
WEDNESDAY- Home Staging Secrets
Home Staging is one of the hottest trends right now. Each Wednesday a new secret will be revealed.
THURSDAY- Travel To Design
Grab your passport, sit back, relax, and take notes as we spotlight a different city or country highlighting it’s history, architecture and design.
FRIDAY- Friday Floral Power
We love florals!! Each Friday we highlight innovative ways to bring florals into your home, in the form of professional videos!
≈ Comments Off on WASHINGTON, D.C. AREA HOME STAGING COURSE TAUGHT BY CELEBRITY HOME STAGER CATHY HOBBS OF HGTV DESIGN STAR RETURNS TO D.C. AREA AFTER MUCH SUCCESS, MARCH 27-29 2012!
After an incredibly successful 3-day Certified Staging Professionals course in November. Celebrity Interior Designer and HGTV Design Star Finalist Cathy Hobbs will be returning to Arlington, Virginia, March 27-29, 2012. The course also covered in Washington Home and Garden Magazine offers aspiring home stagers, 3 days of intensive training that leads to the prestigious Certified Staging Professionals designation.
≈ Comments Off on ARLINGTON VIRGINIA HOME STAGING COURSE TAUGHT BY CELEBRITY HOME STAGER CATHY HOBBS OF HGTV DESIGN STAR RETURNS TO WASHINGTON, D.C. AREA AFTER MUCH SUCCESS, MARCH 27-29 2012!
After an incredibly successful 3-day Certified Staging Professionals course in November. Celebrity Interior Designer and HGTV Design Star Finalist Cathy Hobbs will be returning to Arlington, Virginia, March 27-29, 2012. The course also covered in Washington Home and Garden Magazine offers aspiring home stagers, 3 days of intensive training that leads to the prestigious Certified Staging Professionals designation.
When it comes to design, having a point of view is everything, and this time of year it seems like everybody has one. New year trends are picking up steam and what was deemed “so 2011” is moving further into the past. Honeysuckle pink, rainbow bookcases, those ubiquitous “Keep Calm And Carry On” signs, I get. But DIY? Dead? I’ve been a fan of Sheila Bridges traditional design and her one-of-a-kind “Harlem Toile” collection for some time. She’s been a go-to source on everything from how well President Obama decorated his White House digs, to giving Gayle King’s kitchen a sunny new look. So it was no surprise when Elle Decor called on Bridges to help put some bad 2011 trends to rest. What was surprising, however, was the trend Bridges says we need to let go: The DIY craze has run its course, says decorator Sheila Bridges, who has seen her share of “earthy, handmade concoctions.” Just because it can be reclaimed doesn’t mean it should be. Gasp! In a time when penny pinching is de rigueur and treasure hunting is all the rage, I’m sorry, Ms. Bridges, but I have to disagree. I mean, since when has DIY been resigned to a “craze” anyway? Don’t handmade creations and a unique point of view date back to the very beginnings of interior design? Whether you choose to furnish a room from a single source or mix new items with ones you already own, it’s all about adding your paint, your fabric, your way of making it, well, yours, right? Yes, this is coming from someone who spent five years learning how to make everything from tonic water to trivets from scratch. At Martha Stewart Living, where I worked as an editor, practically everything was homegrown. But my experience there also made me hyper-aware of the incredibly vast world of DIY that was thriving beyond our walls. There’s Etsy, of course, who boasted some $467.8 million in merchandise sales last year, up from $314 million the year before. Then there’s celebrity blogger Erica Domesek, whose DIY creations have quickly made her blog, P.S. I Made This, a household name. But if that isn’t convincing enough, I’ve asked four DIY mavens to weigh in. Rashon Carraway (AKA Mr. Goodwill Hunting) is a virtual genius in the DIY space. His clever creations (including this $300 living room makeover he did for a good friend of mine) has landed him a regular spot on the “Nate Berkus Show.” Kristen Turner, the muse behind DIY blog Glitter N’ Glue was chosen as one of the top fashion bloggers on Today show’s DIY Style Week. Cathy Hobbs, interior designer and home stager extraordinaire, worked her way through six rounds of HGTV’s reality competition “Design Star” last fall. While co-host of the show, Tanika Ray, took notes and expanded her design chops to another HGTV spot, “HGTV’d.” Here, they share their thoughts on Sheila Bridges’ claim and their best DIY moment to prove it.
≈ Comments Off on BALTIMORE AREA HOME STAGING COURSE: BECOME A REAL ESTATE STAGER (CERTIFIED STAGING PROFESSIONALS) CLASS JANUARY 17-19 IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND AREA
≈ Comments Off on BECOME A REAL ESTATE STAGER: (CERTIFIED STAGING PROFESSIONALS) COURSES TAUGHT BY HGTV DESIGN STAR FINALIST CATHY HOBBS (PHOTOS FROM ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA CLASS)
I just want to thank all of the wonderful students who signed up for the recent Certified Staging Professionals course I taught in Arlington, Virginia. You were such a wonderful group and I wish you so much success! In addition to the below dramatic before and after transformation, the class received some wonderful press in Washington Home and Garden Magazine!
By Cathy Hobbs, ASID Created: Sep 21, 2011 Last Updated: Sep 21, 2011
Print | E-mail to a friend | Give feedback
Related articles: Business > Real Estate
Certified Staging Professional Cathy Hobbs in action, staging one of her many projects. (Courtesy of Cathy Hobbs)
Starting and building a home staging business is ideal for design enthusiasts, professional organizers, do-it-yourselfers, real estate brokers, and virtually anyone who has a desire to have their own business and has an interest in real estate, interior design, or decorating.
In 2005, when I became interested in adding home staging services to my existing interior design business, there was really only one course that stood out above the rest: the three-day Home Staging Certification Course offered by Certified Staging Professionals.
Similar three-day courses and online courses are currently being marketed, but the Certified Staging Professional Course (CSP) is the only course I discovered that provides home staging training plus the in-depth business knowledge that a new home stager needs to succeed in the competitive world of home staging. Their three-day intensive course consists of two days of in-class instruction, followed by a third day on-site where students actually stage a property.
Earning Money as a Home Stager
Home stagers can charge anywhere from $75 to $300 an hour, so for an avid marketer as well as someone with lots of contacts, the income potential can be tremendous. Just like with any other entrepreneurial endeavor, what one gets out of it is linked to what one puts into it.
The first step in launching a home staging business is letting everyone you possibly know that you are a home stager and are available to help them sell their properties. Most people at some point in their lives will need to sell a property and that is where you will come in!
What is wonderful about starting a home staging business is that there are minimal startup costs. In order to start a home staging business, one will need to have the following:
1. A computer
2. Business checking account
3. Professional liability insurance
4. A digital camera
5. A professional email address
6. A website
7. Business cards
8. A dedicated business phone line
9. A fax machine
What Does Home Staging Entail?
Staging can mean a number of things as it relates to selling a property. It can mean anything from painting and minor repairs to obtaining rental furniture and furniture arrangement. As a stager you will want to build a team to help you execute these tasks.
As a stager, you can expect to provide the following services:
1. Remove clutter
2. Pack away any and all unnecessary items and furnishings
3. Apply a fresh coat of paint or make paint color recommendations
4. Clean and steam carpets
5. Hire a professional cleaning crew
6. Recommend minor repairs
7. Rent furniture
8. Incorporate furniture and accessories to show function
Are Courses Required?
Unlike interior design, there are no education requirements for becoming a home stager. In fact, home staging is actually an unregulated industry. The question I would simply ask someone who is considering starting a home staging business is why would you not seek training?
It is hard enough starting an entrepreneurial venture, let alone setting out on one’s own without the necessary tools and basic foundation. Taking a professional business course such as the Home Staging Certification Course offered through Certified Staging Professionals is the key to having the foundation and resources in order to set you on the proper path.
The Certified Staging Professionals website as well as their expert staff and instructors provide a wealth of resources and knowledge as well as ongoing support to help make your home staging business successful.
Related Articles
* Introducing Columnist Cathy Hobbs
Certified Staging Professionals offers classes in Long Island, N.Y., Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Boston, Philadelphia, Nashville, San Francisco, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Miami, Detroit, and Fargo, N.D., just to name a few. If you’re interested in becoming a real estate stager, contact Certified Staging Professionals directly at (www.stagingtraining.com) or (1.888.STAGING). Good luck. And Happy Staging!
Five-time Emmy award-winning television personality Cathy Hobbs (ASID) is the founder of Cathy Hobbs Design Recipes™, specializing in interior design, home staging, and model residences for luxury new developments. A nationally known design expert, Cathy has appeared on such programs as The Nate Berkus Show and HGTV’s Top Ten. Cathy was also a finalist on Season 6 of HGTV’s Hit Reality Series Design Star. Cathy Hobbs is an ASID, LEED AP (BD+C), CSP.
VIDEO CLIP: HOW TO START A HOME STAGING BUSINESS
≈ Comments Off on THANKSGIVING ENTERTAINING IDEAS: NYC Celebrity Interior Designer 5-time Emmy award winner Cathy Hobbs of HGTV Design Star Shares Thanksgiving Entertaining Ideas
Thanksgiving is a time for family and of course GRAND ENTERTAINING! 5-time Emmy award winning tv personality and HGTV Design Star Season 6 finalist Cathy Hobbs shares some family friendly Thanksgiving entertaining ideas!
≈ Comments Off on WASHINGTON, D.C. HOME STAGING COURSES: BECOME A REAL ESTATE STAGER: (CERTIFIED STAGING PROFESSIONALS) CLASS NOVEMBER 30 – DECEMBER 2 IN ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA!
≈ Comments Off on Washington Home & Garden Magazine Features Upcoming Certified Staging Professionals Course In Arlington, VA With Cathy Hobbs Of HGTV Design Star
HGTV Design Star Finalist Cathy Hobbs is bringing her home staging course to the DC-area this month!
The Certified Staging Professional™ workshop is an intensive, comprehensive program taught through hands-on interaction, group exercises, role-play and in depth practical application of work samples geared to prepare the participants to enter the staging industry with the confidence and experience necessary to succeed. WHERE: Holiday Inn Rosslyn at Key Bridge
1900 North Fort Myer Drive, Arlington, VA 22209 703-807-2000. Meeting Room: Potomac
WHEN:
November 30th – December 2nd HOW: To sign up for a staging class with Cathy Hobbs please visit www.stagingtraining.com or call 888-STAGING.
I was able to get an exclusive interview with the designer to learn more about her background. Read more after the photo!
Cathy Hobbs ASID/LEED AP
HGTV Design Star Finalist Cathy Hobbsis bringing her home staging course to the DC-area this month!The Certified Staging Professional™ workshop is an intensive, comprehensive program taught through hands-on interaction, group exercises, role-play and in depth practical application of work samples geared to prepare the participants to enter the staging industry with the confidence and experience necessary to succeed. WHERE: Holiday Inn Rosslyn at Key Bridge
1900 North Fort Myer Drive, Arlington, VA 22209 703-807-2000. Meeting Room: Potomac
WHEN:
November 30th – December 2nd HOW: To sign up for a staging class with Cathy Hobbs please visit www.stagingtraining.com or call 888-STAGING.
I was able to get an exclusive interview with the designer to learn more about her background. Read more after the photo!
Q: How has your experience in broadcast news influenced your experience in interior design?
I was in broadcast news for 19 years, and in television especially, it’s all about the visuals.. telling a story with pictures. Having this background as really helped me tremendously with my interior design. First, it always allows me to be able to step back and truly visualize a space and focus not only on the big picture, but the fine details as well. Interior design is at it’s core, visual, so my background in television has truly helped a lot. Q: You are the first Green Home Stager in New York City. How important is sustainable design in NYC, compared to other cities?
I am not sure New York City residents are more interested in sustainable design, but it is definitely a trend here. Beginning in about 2006 as new development condominium buildings were being built, many developers were looking for sustainable options, such as using recycled materials, having green roods, even down to the selection of fixtures for the bathrooms and kitchens. Much of my business is focused on new developments in New York City, designing common spaces such as lobbies, children’s rooms and gyms as well as model residences. So when my clients were looking for green alternatives, I was the company selected because of my LEED credential. Q: What do you see as the biggest mistake that homeowners make when decorating their homes?
Mistake #1 Problem: Hanging artwork too high Solution: Eye level is at 5 feet. The center point of a piece of artwork should be hung at 5 feet above the finished floor. Adjustments up or down a couple inches may be needed but I consider this to be my general rule of thumb.
Mistake #2 Problem: Painted Ceilings Solution: I tend to always leave my ceilings white, in order to help visually raise the height of a room. While I am not completely opposed to painting a ceiling a color, people often fail to realize that a painted ceiling automatically visually reduces the height of a room. I recommend painted ceilings only if one if looking to create a certain mood or sense of coziness.
Mistake #3 Problem: Decorating with too many colors Solution: I love color! And love using color, but as a general rule of thumb I tend to encourage people to design with (1) neutral color to be used a general wall or fabric color for upholstered pieces and then to use (2-3) accent colors that can be incorporated into accessories such as pillows, area rugs, artwork, pottery and vessels. I also remind clients that is o.k. to create a design scheme, using shades and tones of the same color.
Mistake #4 Problem: Purchasing furniture that is too big or too small for a particular space Solution: As basic as this may sound, so many people fail to measure and even loosely create a floor plan before purchasing furniture. I can not tell you how many times I have walked into rooms overstuffed with furniture..or pieces that are just to large or too small for a particular space. I suggest that before shopping always create some sort of floor plan even roughly on graph paper ..counting the squares in order to create your own scale, so that you know in advance whether or not a particular piece of furniture will fit.
Mistake #5 Problem: Purchasing “sets” of furniture Solution: I find that purchasing the “5-piece” set, seldom results in a successful interior design solution. Purchasing sets tends to make a space look like a showroom instead of a home. I believe beyond bedroom sets, in which I tend to suggest clients purchase only lets say a bed, nightstands and perhaps (1) case good such as a dresser, purchasing “sets” are a no no. I believe it is a far better option to purchase one main primary, solid quality, well designed piece of furniture, and create a design scheme around it.
Q: How essential is quality home staging when putting a house on the market?
A staged home has great appeal, enticing buyers inside, where they will see the best view of each room and the best traffic pattern throughout the home. Further, a staged home is also in its best showcase, mint condition, so that it sells at the best possible price in the shortest possible time, an un-staged home does not.
Staging before placing the house on the market, even before the “broker tour,” is ideal because realtors, as much as potential buyers, want to be “wowed”, and will be! A staged house will stand out from the competition. Realtors will want to show it to their clients, increasing traffic to your listing and speeding its sale.
Q: We love your Design Recipes! What inspired the idea?
Thank you! I invented Design Recipes based on my overwhelming desire to make my designs approachable and affordable. I was inspired to become an interior designer based on the fact that when I was a young reporter coming up I was virtually making no money. I shopped in thrift stores and at flea markets and would go on wonderful treasure hunts for furniture and accessories! I would have loved to be able to have the advice or tips from a professional designer without the big price tag. That’s what design recipes is all about providing practical, affordable tips that any design enthusiast can apply to their own home. Design Recipes feature a room on the front with the “ingredients” of how the room came together, similar to recipe instructions and on the back is all of the resource information! Design Recipes the website www.design-recipes.com has also expanded to include free recipes, a blog, design tips, videos and will soon feature podcasts. More than 300 recipes are available on the website.
