Design Metamorphosis

Spring is the season of change and so it’s fitting that my business is going through a bit of a metamorphosis. My focus has changed and therefore my clients have changed. Instead of helping realtors and clients with virtual staging and e-design I will now be helping interior designers build the businesses of their dreams! I am very excited about this new adventure and change in my life. Working in the industry I’ve seen a real need for experienced interior design industry experienced virtual assistants to help busy interior designers grow and maintain their businesses. So when I found myself working with more interior designers and less with design clients I knew I needed to make a change. I’ve been fortunate to work with some amazing design VAs and I’m excited to start matching them with interior designers that can use their services.

At Elite Design Assistants we are offering a wide variety of services including:

1. Marketing

2. Social media

3. Blog copy and posting

4. Rendering

5. Client management

6. Vendor management

7. Affiliate management

8. Graphic design

9. Lead funnels

10. Floor planning

11. Virtual staging

12. Mood boards

13. Email blasts

14. SEO

15. Bookkeeping

16. And so much more!

What set’s Elite Design Assistants apart from other virtual assistant firms? We are specific to the interior design industry. We understand all the moving pieces in an interior design business and we understand that deadlines, customer service and professionalism are key.

If you are an interior designer looking for help, please feel free to contact me! I’d love to work with you! I can be reached at danae@elitedesignassistants.com or 515.309.2838. There will be so much more fun things to come!

It’s the season of change and change is good!

Hot New Looks For Less!

2019 is fast approaching and design experts are already talking about the hottest new trends for the upcoming year. You’ll see more color, more comfort and more mixing of design styles and elements that create a truly unique design that reflects the personality of the homeowners and their families.

What I love to do is find those hot items that everyone loves but find them for less! Let’s be honest, decorating your home isn’t always cheap but it doesn’t have to break the bank. Below you’ll find the expensive version of hot items you’ll see in the new year and a similar item that you can buy for less!

Bar carts might just be the hottest new accessory. They are versatile, glamorous and can be used to entertain or to create vignettes.

The bar cart here is $1,298.00 from Serena & Lily

or get one on Overstock for $151.19

We will see changes in furniture this year with the addition off curved sofas, more four-poster beds and acrylic furniture. Acrylic furniture doesn’t appear to take up space and complement a neutral or bold palette.

Shades of Light Coffee Table $1,199.00

Lamps Plus Coffee Table $599.99

Some design experts are saying that matte black will be the new grey. You’ll find matte black on everything from furniture, accessories and pendant lighting.

Matte Black Pendant Light from Rejuvenation $449.00

Matte Black Pendant Light from Build.com $65.90

Bold patterns are going to be on everything from bedding to throw pillows, wall paper and rugs.

5′ x 7’6″ Rug from Payless Rugs $417.60

5′ x 7’6″ Rug from Overstock for $197.37

Along with more bold patterns you’ll see less monochromatic kitchens are more pattern and color in kitchens including cabinets, appliances, darker counter tops and graphic back splashes.

Graphic tile from The Builder Depot $18.45 sq. ft.

Graphic tile from Overstock $9.04 sq. ft.

Just remember, design trends are ever changing but the one thing that’s always in style is exactly what you love. Design your home with the pieces you love and value most. Decorate with what makes you happy and your home will be a place you cherish for years to come!

Unique Home Offices

I love working from home and I love interior design. It’s a scientific fact that you are more inspired, motivated and productive when you are working in a space that you enjoy spending time in. Unfortunately at times our home offices can be the last thought we put into our careers or business. They can be dark and stuffy and disorganized. They can be a crazy disaster that cause us to roll our eyes or sigh every time we step foot in them. In an effort to inspire some creative home office design for the new year I thought it would be fun to research unique home office designs. This is what I came up with!

Don’t have enough space in your home for your home office? Take your home office outside. These home offices are made out of garden sheds and other unique outdoor structures.

Archipod – an eco-friendly home office that takes up minimal space and is semi-portable.

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Sheryl’s She Shed makes a great option, too!

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This is a very unique, portable option as well.

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Aren’t able to have an outdoor structure and still no room in your home? These are closet offices!

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Need more space saving ideas? Put a library in your ceiling.

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You can use literally anything to create a unique office space.

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Some people have a treadmill in their office, others have a hammock for napping!

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If these home offices don’t inspire how about more traditional home offices? Below are a few I designed on my computer. You can be creative in a traditional office space without being too over the top. Either way have fun with your office space. It’s most likely the one space you have in your home that offers you the creative freedom to do whatever you want.

Need help deciding how to redesign your space? Shoot me an email – I'd love to help you create the office of your dreams. When you feel good about the space you’re in – you work harder and have more fun!

Home Office Décor

I absolutely love helping clients design home offices! It’s the one space in a home that a person can truly have the creative freedom to make it exactly what they want. A home office should be a space that inspires, motivates and energizes. You should be excited to work in your home office. Today, it’s very common for most people to either work part-time or full-time from home and the trend is growing fast.

Working remotely is highly desired and so is a home office.

Decorating a home office should reflect your goals, ambitions and personality. There are endless possibilities and depending on your style there are various price ranges. You can outfit your entire office in a budget that suites you. Below are just a few examples of price ranges for just a couple of pieces.

*Some of the links below are affiliate links.

Modern Black Desk at Target for $429.99

Executive Desk at Wayfair for $1,479.99

File Cabinet at Target $123.99

File Cabinet at Wayfair $677.38

The beauty about the home office is you can decorate it however you want! A modern black desk with a zebra rug, a large starburst pendant light and a teal blue file cabinet. Or you could have a farmhouse desk with a large candelabra, a fluffy neutral rug and a navy blue file cabinet. The possibilities are endless. Stay tuned next week when I share some of the most unique home office designs out there.

If you are interested in working with an e-designer on your home office design, please feel free to contact me at bvstaging@gmail.com. There are a lot of fun things coming, my website and social media will be updating soon! www.danaebransondesign.com.

Rugs, Gorgeous Rugs!

I love rugs! You can have a neutral palette in a room and instantly had color and pattern with a rug. Or you can have pattern and color in a room and add a solid neutral or color with a rug. Rugs are versatile and can be used in dining rooms, living rooms, hallways, entry ways,  bedrooms, offices and more! You can layer rugs, hang them on the wall for decor or switch them out for a simple refresh in your design. If you are looking for a new rug or even just some inspiration for your home decor, I've included some of my favorite rugs below. These are affiliate links, so if you click the link and make a purchase I do make a small commission. I appreciate your support!

I love blue, so naturally I LOVE this rug. It's gorgeous and affordable!

Chelsea Rug

When you want to add color to a room this Harput rug is my absolute favorite! It comes in many shapes and sizes to fit any space in your home.

Harput Rug

Everyone needs a neutral option and here is an elegant rug that can be dressed up or dressed down depending on your style.

Jute Bleached Rug

Black & white works with a variety of styles as well. This beautiful rug is classic and fun.

Elaziz Rug

This rug reminds me of a rug you'd see in a mansion. It's colorful, ornate and absolutely gorgeous.

Alchemy Rug

If you are still on the hunt for an amazing rug at an affordable price try Boutique Rugs. They've got an amazing selection and everyone I know that has purchased from them has been thrilled with their new rugs.

If you need some simple help with your interior design, check out my website at www.danaebransondesign.com.

Unique Lighting-Chandeliers

I absolutely love lighting! There are so many cool and unique lighting sources out there and I truly feel that lighting can make or break a design.

When designing a space many designers like to start with lighting first and draw inspiration from there. Lighting fixtures catch the eye and if all you do is update your lighting you’ll be amazed at how much of a difference it will make in your home.

Since there are so many lighting options out there today I'm sharing some of my favorite chandeliers based on design styles.

Scandinavian - This starburst is gorgeous and will draw instant attraction from all that see it. It instantly classes up your design.

Coastal - This beauty would look amazing in any classic coastal home.

Rustic - Need a chandelier for a cabin or mountain home? This one is amazing!

Glam - This chandelier will make heads turn. Crystals, crystals and more crystals!

French Country - If this chandelier doesn't speak to the marriage of elegance and rustic that is French Country I don't know what does!

Mid-Century Modern - This fun chandelier is unique and would be an excellent fixture above a table in a mid-century mod home.

Danae Branson is an interior designer working with clients online helping them design the spaces of their dreams. For more information please checkout www.danaebransondesign.com.

Working With An Interior Designer Just Got A Whole Lot Easier!

Have you ever dreamed of working with an interior designer to refresh your home? It seems that there’s a misconception that interior designers only do new construction or home remodels, but what about smaller projects? There are some amazing interior designers out there that do take smaller projects. In fact, with technology, there is a new way to work online with a designer without them even having to come to your home. They are often called e-designers because they work entirely online.

What does an e-designer do?

Whether you need an entire home refresh or just a corner of a room, e-designers are able to assist.  They typically communicate via email, skype or phone and work with you online to create a space that you love. Depending on the e-designer who chose to work with they do offer different services. Some offer consulting services where they’ll help you choose design elements such as lighting, furniture, paint colors or décor. Others may offer mood boards and rendering services where they can show you what your finished project will look like after you’ve implemented their design ideas. Depending on the level of service you need, determines the cost of the services.

Kitchen Before - Actual Photo

Kitchen After - 3D Render

How do I find an e-designer?

Check your local listings for interior designers. Some interior designers have added e-design to their list of services. Ask friends or family if they know of anyone. Or search the web for an e-designer that you think would be great to work with.

How do I know if working with an e-designer versus an in-person designer is for me?

If you prefer to implement your own design and just need ideas and advice, e-design is for you.

If you need someone to manage the project and hire contractors to implement the design for you, then you should work with a local in-person interior designer.

Anything else I should know about e-design?

E-designers often have quicker turn around time because they do everything online. They also may be able to work with an in-home designer if you need both services and your in-home designer doesn’t offer e-design. Check with your e-designer regarding the types of products and services they offer. Some e-designers off a lot of services and other, such as myself, only offer online consultations and virtual staging.

Before Living & Dining - Actual Photo of a Vacant Listing

Before Living & Dining - Virtually Staged Listing

For more information on Danae Branson Virtual Staging & Design, please feel free to shoot me an email at bvstaging@gmail.com.

 For more information on Danae Branson Virtual Staging & Design, please feel free to shoot me an email at bvstaging@gmail.com.

The Future of Virtual Staging & Design

Right now, real estate is hot! Flipping houses is hot! Interior design is hot! As HGTV is talking over homes across the United States the real estate, construction and interior design markets are profiting from the huge success of shows like Flip or Flop, Fixer Upper and Property Brothers.

Real estate agents are working harder than ever to sell properties and part of that is having access to tools that allow prospective buyers to visualize a space as it could be. Home staging is an effective tool to make a home appear more welcoming and stylish. Today there is an alternative to home staging known as virtual staging where furniture and décor are digitally imported into the photos. Not only is this a cost-effective alternative at sometimes 90% less than physical staging, the turn around time on virtual staging is typically less than 24 hours depending on the firm you use.

Virtual home staging's success is not only due to the cost and turn around time but due to the capabilities it has to offer. With virtual staging and design you can now show your clients what a home could look like with a wall removed, a different paint color on the wall, different cabinets in the kitchen, etc.

Actual kitchen photo

[caption id="attachment_96" align="alignnone" width="1248"] 3D virtual rendering of what the kitchen could look like[/caption]

Think of how easy it would be sell a home when a prospective buyer can actually see the potential in the property. The future will be in this technology and working with professionals who can show buyers what could be.

We all know technology is a powerful tool, so use it! Consider partnering with a virtual staging and design professional as a value add to your real estate business and watch your sales grow!

Designer On Demand

There are a lot of people today who absolutely love doing their own home design. They want to create a space that's beautiful, meaningful, practical and happy. However, often times when you dive into the design of your own home you find yourself with a lot of questions. For instance, what paint color should I choose for the living room? What wall decor would look great above the sofa? What sort of lighting should I choose for the open living, kitchen and dining area? Where can I source my furniture and decor so it's fits my budget?

Those are all popular questions DIYers ask themselves and what they ask me. Are you curious about the proper way to hang curtains? Or how big the chandelier above your dining table should be? Most people don't realize it until they get started and that's why I'm here to help!

I specialize in helping people from all over the country with their design needs. You can hire me as your Designer on Demand and email me up to 5 questions per week for only $99 per week. Hire me for one week or as many weeks as you like and I will help you choose the design elements that are right for you!

While working with me you may also discover things you like that you didn't even realize. The other day while working with a client on her lighting plan she thought she liked a more industrial lighting option but after working together for a little bit I realized that she always leaned more towards lighting that was either glam or farmhouse. She didn't realize that she loved Farmhouse Glam! Knowing her design style helped her make more decisions moving forward.

If you are interested in learning more about my services, please check out my website at www.danaebransondesign.com or email me at bvstaging@gmail.com.

Design Ideas For Realtors

Selling a home isn’t always as easy as you’d like it to be especially when that home has some questionable design elements working against it.

There are tons of articles out there on staging and preparing a home for showing but the trends are changing and as more and more people are online so are the real estate and design industries.

Virtual design and staging are becoming growing trends in the industry. So what exactly are the two and how can they be used to help sell a home?

Virtual staging is where furniture is digitally imported into a photograph of the home. A virtual stager can work with a furnished or unfurnished home to give the prospective buyers a visual of what a home could look like furnished or furnished differently.

Below you will find an example of a before and after of a vacant room that has been virtually staged and a before and after of a furnished room that has been virtually staged

Virtual design is where the existing home is virtually redesigned to give prospective buyers an idea of what that home could look like if they changed paint color, cabinets, counter tops, flooring and lighting. Many buyers can’t visualize the potential a property has and having someone virtually design that potential could be a game changer in the industry of selling a home.

Below is an example of a before and after of a kitchen that has been virtually designed.

Virtual design and staging are very cost-effective ways to sell a home. Working with a reputable virtual designer and stager is always a great value-added service to your real estate business. Many people purchase a home and want to make it their own. If you offer them the opportunity to work with a virtual designer who can make their house into the home of their dreams they would be thrilled.

For more information on our virtual staging and design services please visit www.bransonvirtualstaging.com.