River Point Portsmouth VA Staging

April 15, 2014April 15, 2014Leave a comment

U&I Home Decorating and Staging completed a beautiful home staging in River Point Portsmouth VA. Take a quick stroll through a 5000 sq. ft. home that comes equipped with all furnishings. We had a lovely time helping the clients get her ready for your viewing. If your interested in this property let me know and I will give you the agent contact information. Coastal colors, Transitional styling, 5 bedrooms, wonderful yard, completely furnished, new carpet, cathedral ceilings, formal dining room, family room, open floor plan, Fantastic Game/Party room, ready for you to move right in!

Deborah

: Cathedral ceilings

: Entrance Foyer

: Dining room

: Party room

: Game room

: Family room

: Open floor plan

: Portsmouth VA River Point

: Master Bedroom

Mini Schnauzers for sale

January 20, 2014January 28, 20146 Comments

PUPPIES HAVE BEEN TAKEN OFF OF THE FOR SALE LIST. HUBBY SAYS WE CAN’T SELL PART OF THE FAMILY. ;’)

Mini Schnauzer puppies 9 weeks old 1/18/14, one black with white chest and small amount on beard and all 4 paws, one liver with a very tiny bit of white on his chest. Parents on premises and both are 10 lbs. These beautiful fella’s are $600 and have the sweetest personality’s. Contact Deborah if you are interested in making them a part of your home. Contact via form on website https://uandihomedecoratingandstaging.com/contact-u-and-i-home-decorating/

Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus

January 18, 20141 Comment

Mr. and Mrs. Claus

An article in Jan. 2014 East Ocean View Civic League Newsletter http://www.livingeov.com/tells the Community about the wonderful time had by all that attended the Christmas Festival. It was held in the East Ocean View Community Garden this past December and was a huge success .

Deborah and Chris Lutz, Owners of U&I Home Decorating and Staging, played Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus in the Christmas Festival. They were extremely touched by the requests of the children and all who volunteered to make it a success.

A young brother and Sister just wanted to be reunited with their family, and another little girl just wanted to be loved. It makes you stop and think how valuable a simple smile and a kind word truly is today……Reach out and touch your Community! Giving Back is the easiest way to help.

Color of the year from Sherwin Williams Exclusive Plum (SW 6263)

December 10, 2013December 10, 20131 Comment

Color of the year from Sherwin Williams Exclusive Plum (SW 6263)

SW 6263 Exclusive plum

Plum colors can be energetic or relaxing. You can use them in any location. We had a master bath painted a muted purple in my last home…it was called mesmerized and everyone loved it. I paired it with bright white bead board and trim, chrome metals, antique claw foot tub, antique milk glass sconces that were hand rubbed with silver, and a hand rubbed silver polish on an old antique piece I used for the vanity. Finishing it off with an onyx vanity top, teak wood floor and a ceiling painted like the sky WITH a sky light….smashing success. I miss that claw foot tub!

old antique vanity rethink, reuse, refresh

Master Bath Bayview

rethink, reuse, refresh U&I Motto

Check out Sherwin Williams site for great ideas on how to use Exclusive Plum

http://www.sherwin-williams.com/painting-contractors/color/color-forecast/2014-color-forecast/color-of-the-year/?WT.mc_id=OPT%20December%2031%202013%20SW%20Painting%20Contractors%2Color%20Of%20Year

Cape May

September 12, 2013January 10, 2014Leave a comment

If you have the chance, check out this little town and linger long enough to do a wine tasting at the Cape May Winery and Vineyards. They are pet friendly so our wonderful companions Beau and Lucy enjoyed the ferry ride and a walk through the vineyards with us. We love that!!!! Pet friendly environments will always get our business.

If you are coming from the Eastern Shore we recommend the ferry ride Lewes/Cape May, http://www.capemaylewesferry.com/

It was a beautiful sunny day and the breeze from the ferry ride was spectacular.

We made a stop by the Cape May Winery and Vineyards and enjoyed a wonderful tasting of their wines. Our favorites were the cool crisp Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

http://capemaywinery.com/ I must say we didn’t have enough time and will re-visit.

Added a few snapshots for you to enjoy with us.

Beau and Lucy at the vineyard in Cape May

Beau and Lucy at the Cape May Vineyard

View from the Lewes/Cape May ferry

Cape May Winery and Vineyard

Enjoying the gardens at the winery

Wine tasting at the Vineyard

Pet friendly interior and exterior

Enjoying a walk through the Cape May Vineyards

Love it or List it by U&I

August 15, 2013August 20, 2013Leave a comment

Love it or List it project:

Our new clients called Judy Boone Realty regarding the decision to list their home or fix it up. Judy called U&I Home Decorating and Staging because she knows we specialize in several options for staging and remodeling.

We discussed options and budget with the client and they decided to go with remodeling to a certain point and then decide if they were going to List it or Love it.

Plans began in Oct. 2012, finalized in Dec. 2012 and began in Jan. 2013. Several completions points where made in the remodeling projects along the way to create a listing option for the client or a re-evaluation point for them. At each point they wanted U&I to continue.

THEY LOVE IT. With the help of our supporting sub contractors, U&I have given the client a beautiful home on their waterfront property to love for many years to come.

Projects completed for the client consists of a new HVAC system with all duct work complete with gas lines, weather proofing all over, new siding and gutters, new windows, new kitchen with an open wall concept, custom table top built into cabinetry, custom radiator covers, new flooring throughout downstairs in wood and porcelain tile, new leather furnishings, lighting, art work, accessories, Karastan wool rugs, ancient marble wall color from Sherwin Williams, new Kettle sun room furnishings, Bali faux wood blinds throughout, all new closet system shelving, upholstered dining chairs in a Ikat fabric from Second Yard with matching pillows for sofa, new ceilings, a makeover to the both bathrooms; the downstairs a complete remodel, and a clean up and face lift to the landscaping; which is still in progress.

Thank you Judy Boone of Judy Boone Realty for offering U&I the role creating a complete new living environment for the happy owners.

U&I like to support LOCAL Hampton Roads employment, and offer our thanks to all of our supporting Sub Contractors: Construction with Robert Bates Construction with Bobby Bates, Larry Dudack and Michael, PSD with Shawn Ford, Mike Jagow, Mickey and Cindy with MC Bryd Flooring, Dixon Paints with Jason and the Boys, Tile work with Alan Gaskins and Chris, Electrical with Wade Casto and Floyd, WT Anderson (gutters), Sea-thru Windows, Decorum furniture, Mark Gonsenhauser (Diane Samareh), HVAC Warehouse, Lowes, Home Depot, Second Yard, Innerspace Closets, Boo butcher block, The Kellisons for miscellanous labor, and my wonderful and supporting husband Christopher Lutz for all sorts of areas in this process.

Thank You Ladies and Gents for all that you have contributed to this project and bringing my Design to life for the client.

Deborah Lutz, Owner

Before U&I Home Decorating and Staging

After U&I Home Decorating and Staging

Here is a link to the after photos in a slideshow https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=72B48645312C2A44!702

Paying it forward in the Community

April 20, 2013August 20, 2013Leave a comment

We have a community garden here in East Ocean View and yesterday was a clean up day….Thank you to everyone that came out to help…..Suzie and Mike Kellison, Chris Lutz, Dan with Operation Blessing (thanks for the photos), Steve Zollos, JoAnne Merinar of Bon Secours, Dave, lots of neighbors and others from the community. Thanks to those of Operation Blessing that came but their names slip my mind….(forgive me)…You are appreciated. It truly is a blessing to give back. Lots of smiles and laughs….It really is what life is all about! Helping others at U&I Home Decorating and Staging, Deborah

Who says white is boring?

March 25, 2013Leave a comment

Who ever said white is boring, has never thought of it as a background for all other colors.
My completed project in Newport News is a success. The client wanted everything modern and slick with color added through furniture, art and accessories…..
She wanted to surprise her son with a makeover for his new condo. We met in November while she was visiting Virginia, to discuss design and budget.

I sent many suggestions from November to January until we had it complete, down to the light fixtures all being changed out with new modern style shades.
January to March was filled with on-line shopping, e-mails and phone calls. U&I Home Decorating and Staging had everything delivered to their office and stored all the items awaiting the day of install in March.
My client is thrilled and I couldn’t be happier for her and her son. I think we all need a Mama like her don’t you agree!

The day in the life of a Project Managing Decorator

March 9, 20131 Comment

The day in the life of a Project Managing Decorator…..

When people ask me what I do I will say “I’m an Interior Decorator”

“I’m a Landscape Designer”

I also do Home Staging with Custom Art thrown in

I hear “How exciting, I always wanted to do that for a career”

It is a rewarding career choice for me and I have to change constantly to stay up with all the new styles and ideas. Which I like that about my job.

There are some aspects of my job that people do not know and that is the Project Management side.

It is tedious, meticulous, constant, 24-7, hands on, different types of sub-contractors in one day, several location and car travel daily. Changes to the designs never fail.

It’s good thing that I am the Decorating Designer on the job to quickly approve the changes and keep the ball rolling.

The job sites must be touched in some way each day via hands on visit or phone calls to Subs, making sure everyone is showing up for work and if they are not call them to find why when and where?????

I have great set of guys that Sub Contract for me (I refer to them as THE BOYS) and even then there are always delays that can not be helped from UNFORESEENS (always). Schedules get pushed back, jobs then get pushed back, and before you know it one small cabinet not being hinged correctly has put a kink in the whole month’s schedule.

BUT that is why clients hire me….I am paid to be the calm one that presents to them solutions instead of problems, answers instead of questions, time schedules instead of delays…it’s what I do and I love it.

To my own demise at times being up all hours of the night figuring out jobs and what else needs to be done that may have slipped by me.

I am a huge note taker and have sticky notes everywhere, voice mails to myself to stay on top.

All in all it is about the client and I do my very best to give them their home back as soon as possible. All polished and new just as they imagined it Sometimes that is not the easiest part of my job…but I wouldn’t want to do anything else.

Loving’ my career choice and I’m getting paid to do what I love!!!! Dream big and work hard…that is the way to have success in your life.

Deborah

5 Important Staging Do’s and Don’ts

January 31, 2013January 31, 2013Leave a comment

You only have a few seconds to make a positive impression on potential buyers. This mean you need to make sure that the interior and exterior are spectacular. The process of taking a lived-in home and converting it to a show-worthy house is called home staging. Here are some do’s and don’ts that you can apply to any staging project. Continue reading →