Redesigned Spaces ~ Cynthia Bartch ~ Home Staging Blog in Georgia

Butterflies, fish, flippers, and one colorful bum = fun in the sun in Destin, Florida

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:23:44 -0600

Got a few minutes? Go get your cup of tea or coffee I'll wait. Ok now, let's take a photo journey and you'll see some fish that were tickling my feet, butterflies that were providing the fall color display, dancing birds, one very colorful bum, beyond gorgeous sunsets and don't forget about those flippers!

The hustle and bustle of the prime season had passed and the beaches were still warm and welcoming the first week in October.

Let's get up early and catch a glorious sunrise before heading down to the beach ok? I was lucky to catch a bird soaring overhead in this shot. This mornings sunrise wasn't as spectacular as the previous day shown below but it's still great to get up early and catch a sunrise!

Humm...looks like someone was here before us.

Maybe it was this guy???

Ahhh...to swim like a fish with these baby's on! As youngsters we would lightly pinch tap a foot or leg while swimming underwater while the counterpart watches the victim person from afar, the water is way too clear here for that type of fun.

These guys were tickling my feet! I saw a crab to scurrying on the bottom and watched as he buried himself as I was approaching, then when I was digging around him, he raised and opened his claws while his body stayed buried. That was cool to see! If only I had an underwater camera you could have seen it too!

The butterflies photographed above were kind that were flying over the azure blue water as I was relaxing on a raft and the fuzzy Oleander caterpillar was munching on lunch. Life is good!

You do it like this...you put your right foot in and take your left foot out... ok stop, that girl is watching us again!

How peaceful...another perfect ending to a fun day!

I see you Mr. Moon peeking out of those clouds!

There he is!

Well this is the end of this little holiday and I gotta get back to work so I'll leave you with the colorful bum I promised in the title. Not what you expected??? Tsk, tsk on you!

Redesigned Spaces www.redesigned-spaces.net

Specializing in Owner Occupied Homes, Floral Design, Custom Art Work, Display Work

Cynthia Bartch ~ cell: 404.509.6046

Alpharetta, Buford, Cumming, Dacula, Duluth, Gainesville, Lawrenceville, Sugar Hill & Suwanee, Georgia

Don't see your area listed...give me a call

if you want to use a photo or some copy just email me... more than likely we can work it out

Barnsley Gardens in GA...the Ruins, the Romance, it's the perfect getaway!

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:01:11 -0500

A visit to Barnsley Gardens nestled in the foothills in Adairsville, GA is the perfect getaway for romance & relaxation. The grounds are absolutely breathtaking, the manor ruins and surrounding grounds are steeped rich in history. This place is no ordinary retreat but a magical serene setting to celebrate something special or to get away from it all and relax!

This is the approach to the homestead ruins affectionately called the 'Woodlands' built by Godfrey Barnsley in the mid 1800's located in Northern Georgia. The manor style was clearly built outside of the the typical Southern 'Greek Revival' architecture. Godfrey Barnsley was a disciple of Andrew Jackson Downing and the manor reflected Gothic and Italianate design, very different from the standards at the time.

Daytime inside the manor ruins. Weddings, parties and intimate concerts are still held here. In the evening it must look magical with all the candles lit!

The large boxwood parterre was geometrical in design with serpentine walkways that wound through large flowering border beds.

The heirloom gardens Godfrey Barnsley planted and built for his beloved Julia are what first
attracted me to visit this extraordinary resort. It contained many exotic species at the time including this China Fir tree. When planted it was as nearly as tall as the mansion!

Above is a very small sampling of the magnificent gardens here at Barnsley Gardens. These are the true colors of the flowers, no color adjustments were made. The flower gardens were spectacular to see in person and the spacious cottages had their own unique garden and landscaping!

This photo was taken from a different angle of the ruins at dusk which was previously posted here. In the maze of boxwood is a replica of the fountain Godfrey had built for his wife. After her death he tried to find solace wandering the gardens and it's here he stated she came to him in an apparition. The manor was not finished yet and she encouraged him to finish building their 'Woodlands' homestead dream.

This photo on the left was taken standing inside the front foyer looking out at the formal boxwood parterre. The next picture is of my husband standing by the arbor and side perennial bed and path that leads down to the bog pond.

Barnsley Gardens Resort has it all for you to enjoy in lush setting. Whether you want to enjoy a ride through the hills on horseback, spend an afternoon clay shooting, master a round of golf, learn to fly fish, hike through the trail, take a magical walk through the manor ruins and heirloom gardens, cool off with a dip in the pool, fancy a spa visit or treat yourself to fabulous meals it’s all here waiting for you! If you decide to visit, check their monthy specials on line.

The service was impeccable and if you happen to need a special touch they have a fairy godmother there to make it happen for you. When checking in she had her wand there by the desk hanging on the wall. If only I had gotten a photo of it!

For more information about a visit to Barnsley Gardens located in Adairsville, Georgia click here.

Redesigned Spaces www.redesigned-spaces.net

Specializing in Owner Occupied Homes, Floral Design, Custom Art Work, Display Work

Cynthia Bartch ~ cell: 404.509.6046

Alpharetta, Buford, Cumming, Dacula, Duluth, Gainesville, Lawrenceville, Sugar Hill & Suwanee, Georgia

Don't see your area listed...give me a call

if you want to use a photo or some copy just email me... more than likely we can work it out

Wordless Wednesday...The Ruins at dusk

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 10:44:09 -0500

Redesigned Spaces www.redesigned-spaces.net

Specializing in Owner Occupied Homes, Floral Design, Custom Art Work, Display Work

Cynthia Bartch ~ cell: 404.509.6046

Alpharetta, Buford, Cumming, Dacula, Duluth, Gainesville, Lawrenceville, Sugar Hill & Suwanee, Georgia

Don't see your area listed...give me a call

if you want to use a photo or some copy just email me... more than likely we can work it out

Buyer's are looking at your home sans pants.....got curb appeal?

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:01:32 -0500

Yep, those buyers are snuggled in the comfort of their own dwelling cruising the Internet right now sans pants looking at your home. They have the convenience to view all those homes without having to hit the road. Potential buyers are checking out your property with intent to make a purchase.

Is your home show ready?

You as the seller need to appeal to one of the most powerful senses, the sense of, “I want it and I want now!” I’m pretty darn sure that’s one of the five senses. Yep, pretty sure!

Is the first welcome photo of the exterior of your property click-able and enticing? Does that photo illustrate the value that lay inside the home? If so congratulations you got them to stay a while and linger for a look around, their interest is peaked and they want more.

You’ve got it baby and it is called ‘curb appeal, sweet!

If not, uh-oh your home is off their list then it’s on to the next property, lickity split. You’ve lost them to that well maintained beauty down the street. You know the type, well trimmed lawns, splashes of eye catching color in the garden, fresh coat of paint, no twinkling Christmas lights in the dead of summer, attractive welcoming face err… I mean front entrance.

No matter the price range of your property, the outside appearance of your home is an important step to tempt the home-buyer to see the goodies you’ve got behind your front door. By creating that all important curb appeal you will have those drive by home-buyers screeching their brakes to sneak a peek. Take advantage of the current season to create opportunities for the best first impression for your home.

Give that front door a fresh coat of paint.
Shine up or replace the lighting, kick plate and doorbell.
Need color by the door? Add a stylish wreath or basket to the front door. Maybe a new welcome mat will do the trick. Use decorative planters with greenery or colorful flowers to anchor the front door.
Spruce up those outdoor flower beds by mulching, weeding and for heavens sake if Aunt Martha’s prized hybrid flower she gave you died…give it a proper funeral!
Power wash that moss & gunk off the porch and home.
Pick up the kiddies’ toys scattered through the yard.
Leave no evidence of your beloved ‘Bandit’ on the lawn, scoop up the poop, pronto!

Illustrate the value that lay behind your font door by maintaining the outside and tempt that potential buyer to click through and see what else your home has to offer them. Once you've accomplished that, your home will have showing appointments in no time!

Need more tips? Give your local home stager a call and they will be glad to help your home get those lingering looks!

Redesigned Spaces www.redesigned-spaces.net

Specializing in Owner Occupied Homes, Floral Design, Custom Art Work, Display Work

Cynthia Bartch ~ cell: 404.509.6046

Alpharetta, Buford, Cumming, Dacula, Duluth, Gainesville, Lawrenceville, Sugar Hill & Suwanee, Georgia

Don't see your area listed...give me a call

if you want to use a photo or some copy just email me... more than likely we can work it out

Goodbye to my yummy friends...I will miss you!

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 11:50:39 -0500

Well it's time to say goodbye to my very yummy friends!

Sniff, sniff. I will miss them terribly when I go make my homemade pizza, salsa and mile high sandwiches on homemade bread. They made my food mouth-watering this summer with their crisp fresh taste that only homegrown veggies and herbs can deliver.

What a tasty and delectable way to add some vital nutrients the old fashioned way, through your food! If you haven't tried growing your own favorite foods this year give it try next year you won't be sorry, neither will your belly. Besides they look so colorful and pretty in the garden bed. Below are just a few types of veggies I grew this year. I grew many more but was too busy munching away to snap their delicious photo!

Then once you nurture and grow them you will be rewarded by using them in your favorite foods. One of my favorite food groups is pizza. Pizza is a food group right? I'm sure of it!

Ok, ok, My name is Cyndee and I'm a pizzaholic. There I've said it and I'm proud of it!

I must leave you now to go eat that one slice of left over pizza :D

Redesigned Spaces www.redesigned-spaces.net

Specializing in Owner Occupied Homes, Floral Design, Custom Art Work, Display Work

Cynthia Bartch ~ cell: 404.509.6046

Alpharetta, Buford, Cumming, Dacula, Duluth, Gainesville, Lawrenceville, Sugar Hill & Suwanee, Georgia

Don't see your area listed...give me a call

if you want to use a photo or some copy just email me... more than likely we can work it out

it tickled and i liked it...my butterfly hitchhiker

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 10:06:51 -0500

I was walking along the trail with Ted my husband when I felt a tiny brush upon my shoulder thinking it was him tickling me with a blade of grass. Oh that Ted of mine is a playful soul! I looked down and much to my surprise I saw a butterfly, so with camera in hand I quickly took a snap but only got a shot of the ground behind me.

Hey the butterfly was till there! Ted took the camera and shot the next two photos of my lovely hitchhiker. Guess what? This charming creature stayed there for around 5 minutes while we traveled the trail, it tickled and I liked it!

Say hello to my new little friend!

It tickled and I liked it!

We had passed a flowering bush a few minutes earlier and three butterflies landed on my belly, they were pretty fast fluttering around and this gal wasn't fast enough to capture the moment.

Looking back at these photos brings me back to that peaceful mindset I had that day! I can't help but smile when I get a chance to view them again.

When you are having a not so good day do you have something that brings you back into focus?

Maybe it even tickled you!

Redesigned Spaces www.redesigned-spaces.net

Specializing in Owner Occupied Homes, Floral Design, Custom Art Work, Display Work

Cynthia Bartch ~ cell: 404.509.6046

Alpharetta, Buford, Cumming, Dacula, Duluth, Gainesville, Lawrenceville, Sugar Hill & Suwanee, Georgia

Don't see your area listed...give me a call

if you want to use a photo or some copy just email me... more than likely we can work it out

I've got my Monday Motivational feet on today...Woo-Hoo!

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 09:55:23 -0500

Yep those feet of mine feel pretty motivational to me this morning! I am a person who loves Mondays. The fresh anticipation of what can be, how I will make my day unfold.

No matter what happens today I've got this image (pictured below) in my mind that may not look motivational but instead relaxing, kicking back, doing zilch. Hey I did something to get me there right?

I'm the creative type whose mind is typically running in that inspired mode. It's great to have all these productive thoughts in my mind saving them for later, yet be able to kickback at the same time.

I hope you can do the same, enjoying what's right in front of you. Relish being in the moment, focusing your full attention on who's and what's in front of you right now. Take in every last delicious detail, and saving them for an inspired moment in your life.

Yes these are my feet, no use of a foot model was used as you may view them again in this blog.

This photo reminds me to make the best of the time I’ve got here. I hope you do the same today!

Redesigned Spaces www.redesigned-spaces.net

Specializing in Owner Occupied Homes, Floral Design, Custom Art Work, Display Work

Cynthia Bartch ~ cell: 404.509.6046

Alpharetta, Buford, Cumming, Dacula, Duluth, Gainesville, Lawrenceville, Sugar Hill & Suwanee, Georgia

Don't see your area listed...give me a call

if you want to use a photo or some copy just email me... more than likely we can work it out

Love was in the air in the North Georgia Mountains

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:01:55 -0500

While motoring around in North Georgia Mountains I spotted this cloud formation that was quite lovely!

I popped my head through the sunroof and quickly snapped these two photos before the clouds drifted away. Can you spot the bright heart formation in the photos or is it just me and my dreamy nature? Life is sure good in the North Georgia Mountains, oh yeah!

Can you see it?...it's dead center in the above photo.

In this photo the heart shaped cloud drifted to the left.

This how the clouds & skyline really look here in beautiful Georgia...no image adjustments in the photos.

Redesigned Spaces www.redesigned-spaces.net

Specializing in Owner Occupied Homes, Floral Design, Custom Art Work, Display Work

Cynthia Bartch ~ cell: 404.509.6046

Alpharetta, Buford, Cumming, Dacula, Duluth, Gainesville, Lawrenceville, Sugar Hill & Suwanee, Georgia

Don't see your area listed...give me a call

if you want to use a photo or some copy just email me... more than likely we can work it out

Recycled Chair Project ~ So easy even I can do it!

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 17:08:30 -0500

Do You Have An Old Chair That Needs A Little Spruce Up Or Some TLC?

Well thanks to my fellow stagers here on Active Rain for inspiring me to tackle this project I now have a new chair for my room. I now can share how easy this for my clients too! So thank you Ginger Foust, Sharon Tara, Terry Haugen & other creative stagers that so generously share your ideas here on Active Rain.

This was pretty easy so if you have an old chair or maybe a frame of a chair give it a go! I had two identical chairs but only one had a seat that was kaput.

Good Chair Kaput Chair

Well when I undid the cane seating all that was left was a frame of seat with a big ol' hole in the middle. So I bought some thick plywood and had my husband cut out a template of the frame (I'm not quite there yet w/ all the power tools).

I then purchased the following; 1- batting, 2- thick foam for the extra cushioning & 3- quality material to cover the wood base.

1- I first used a spray adhesive to center the thick foam on top of the wood board.

2- Then I pulled the batting up & over the bottom of the wood board on the center of one side, stapling once. Then repeat this process on the other sides, continuing to pull the batting firmly and stapling around the base of the seat. Cut away any excess batting.

3- Next center your fabric over the seat. Be sure to center any major design element or line up the stripes as it was in this case. Repeat pulling & stapling to secure the fabric. Cut away any excess fabric.

4- Then turn your chair over and screw the seat in place through the chair's frame. The holes will be there from the previous seat.

Finished Chair The Recycled Chair in a Room

* The striped fabric looks a little wiggly in the picture but it's not in person or should I say in chair!

Redesigned Spaces www.redesigned-spaces.net

Specializing in Owner Occupied Homes, Floral Design, Custom Art Work, Display Work

Cynthia Bartch ~ cell: 404.509.6046

Alpharetta, Buford, Cumming, Dacula, Duluth, Gainesville, Lawrenceville, Sugar Hill & Suwanee, Georgia

Don't see your area listed...give me a call

if you want to use a photo or some copy just email me... more than likely we can work it out

What fun I had designing with a new friend! ( Lots of Photos )

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 19:14:25 -0600

I've had the pleasure to tap into another skill set these past few months when Sharon Norris owner of Synergy in Silk located in Buford, GA asked me to join her design team this past holiday season!

What a fabulous chance this was to work with other talented floral designers and expand on my design skills, all the while doing something I love!

Synergy in Silk had a huge 3 day home show which showcased commercial holiday designs along with everyday residential pieces. My new friend Sharon had me stage her extravaganza and it was huge success! There were theme rooms of traditional reds & burgundy sprinkled with gold, another room with filled with natural pods, birds, feathers in which the designs were more organic in nature.

Below are just a few pictures of what has been keeping me away from AR. Unfortunately my pictures don't capture all the sparkle & detail of the designs. But my good friend Ginger Foust here on AR encouraged me to share, so here they are. I hope you enjoy them!

We worked on quite a few commercial designs, here are few that were installed in and around the Atlanta area.

Copper bronze & gleaming gold!

Below are designs in black, white, sparkly silver and platinum. These were so chic & modern!

Below is a winter wonderland theme with frosty silver, white and baby blues!

Here was local business that wanted a winter theme, no Christmas sparkle. Well that was no problem!

Here are a few designs I did for a local Medical center.

If you got a chance to visit the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce this holiday season you no doubt saw Synergy in Silks beautiful designs on display!

I had such a great time working with Sharon @ Synergy in Silk and her talented designers. Everyone would collaborate with one another and it felt great working like a team!

Do you fancy something sparkly or more of a natural design?

Staging the home show, wow what fun!

Redesigned Spaces www.redesigned-spaces.net

Specializing in Owner Occupied Homes, Floral Design, Custom Art Work, Display Work

Cynthia Bartch ~ cell: 404.509.6046

Alpharetta, Buford, Cumming, Dacula, Duluth, Gainesville, Lawrenceville, Sugar Hill & Suwanee, Georgia

Don't see your area listed...give me a call

if you want to use a photo or some copy just email me... more than likely we can work it out

Nature's Zantac

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:35:26 -0500

After a hectic day sometimes there's nothing like good ol' Mother Nature to make you stop, slow the pace and appreciate the scenery.

I'm always amazed at the gorgeous skylines we get to gaze on here in Georgia. This was shot sitting on my deck and I was lucky enough to capture those clouds and that dazzling sun right before it slipped away.

Redesigned Spaces www.redesigned-spaces.net

Specializing in Owner Occupied Homes, Floral Design, Custom Art Work, Display Work

Cynthia Bartch ~ cell: 404.509.6046

Alpharetta, Buford, Cumming, Dacula, Duluth, Gainesville, Lawrenceville, Sugar Hill & Suwanee, Georgia

Don't see your area listed...give me a call

if you want to use a photo or some copy just email me... more than likely we can work it out

I Like Playing In The Sand With My Succulents...How About You? (photos)

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 15:15:01 -0500

Need a small bit of greenery in an area that doesn't have a lot of space? No problem.

Have no fear about putting these ideas together in a flash, you can do this! No design experience, no glue gun, no foam needed nor green thumb... these are faux plants! These designs are very popular in a man's office, bathrooms and contemporary settings. All you need is the following items;

Sand of course! Make sure it is sterilized because you don't want little creatures running around uninvited. Play around with different colors even layering it for a special look.
Cool looking rocks or shells if you want a different texture at the top.
A container of your choice, I chose the clear ones because they show off the color of the sand.
A quality grade faux succulent plant should be used. Most of these are found in floral wholesale houses.

This design has a clear square container, black sand, 2 different plants & 1 special shinny shell!

This is a taller container, white sand, 3 different plants and small green beaded balls pushed in the center. Close up view below.

This container was recycled from a burned out candle, beige and rust layer sand, 2 different plants, black & rust colored rocks on the top.

Here is a design that is so simple, rust sand, multi color rocks and a plant stuck in the middle. How easy!

If you use high quality faux succulent plants these designs will look very real!

Redesigned Spaces www.redesigned-spaces.net

Specializing in Owner Occupied Homes, Floral Design, Custom Art Work, Display Work

Cynthia Bartch ~ cell: 404.509.6046

Alpharetta, Buford, Cumming, Dacula, Duluth, Gainesville, Lawrenceville, Sugar Hill & Suwanee, Georgia

Don't see your area listed...give me a call

if you want to use a photo or some copy just email me... more than likely we can work it out

Dang it! Are you or your client hesitant about removing family photos lining the walls?

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 14:44:07 -0500

It's usually because they don't want to go through the trouble of patching then repainting the holes. It's a necessary pain in the bum that needs to be done. The rewards by completing the task will outway the inconvenience twofold, heck maybe even a billonfold. Is that even a word? I'm going with it anyway even though the spellchecker disagrees.

Here is an idea for the homeowner who doesn't want to go through the trouble nixes the idea to remove the family photo wall. I recommend removing the photo, then add a swatch of textured fabric that coordinates with the area. I got the idea from Leslie Hoyt who recommended using scrapbook paper in inexpensive frames for clients that didn't have wall art.

I needed to tweek her idea because of the price range of homes I've been in. I used a high quality matted frame. Frames that are alike by color or finish will have the best result. If they aren't, try to nudge the client to invest in new ones!

Worried about the cost? Just get yourself on the email list at your local hobby or craft store and you will be up on and all over those sales while getting valuable coupons at the same time.

The sample I've included here may not look dazzling to you but this fabric matched my decor and worked perfectly. I got the fabric at no charge to myself from a friend, scraps can be had cheap when you use a remnant! The total fame cost was under $30 for all three.

Here is close up of the textured fabric. The top one is a shiny green nubby textured Dupioni silk.

This fabric is a rough textured gold fabric with green, grey and cream stripes of varying width.

I'm fond of using triptychs because well... I just like them period! The same fabric was used in the top and bottom running it in two different directions for added interest.

Here's the finished project in a home setting on a narrow wall.

Most homeowners are still not aware of a product called Hercules Hooks. Billy Mays sold the heck out of this product. What a terrific pitchman he was.

Too bad because they are easy to use and leave a tiny hole to patch when removing a framed photo or a piece of art.

Redesigned Spaces www.redesigned-spaces.net

Specializing in Owner Occupied Homes, Floral Design, Custom Art Work, Display Work

Cynthia Bartch ~ cell: 404.509.6046

Alpharetta, Buford, Cumming, Dacula, Duluth, Gainesville, Lawrenceville, Sugar Hill & Suwanee, Georgia

Don't see your area listed...give me a call

if you want to use a photo or some copy just email me... more than likely we can work it out

Making Trash (literally)into a Treasure:before and after photos

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:20:49 -0500

This is great blog by an extremely talented mural artist named Susan Gonzalez located in the Atlanta area. I thought this table turned out so well and just think, it was in the neighbor's throw away pile!

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! That's why I'm posting it to groups it wasn't posted in originally.

Via Susan Gonzalez Faux painting murals atlanta (Marietta Mural & Wall Design):

How many times do we drive by a pile of trash and say to yourself.."With a little fixing up, that could be a nice piece".

Well, my sister had the eye that day for a table in her next door neighbor's trash pile. She asked if she could take it (proper trash etiquette)and brought it home. It sat for a year until this past week when I made a trip to redecorate her kitchen (please look for that blog later--it was amazing!)

I immediately saw the potential!

This was the table before:

The legs were cracked and had been painted dozens of times, and the top was marred and had stains on it. This was an old metal table top. It had a metal tag on the side where the drawer was. Looks like about 1940's.

With furniture, I like to work from the top down.

The first step was to sand the top with a coarse sanding block. Then I applied a Faux Effects product called "Prime Etch". This is a wonderful water-like products that makes any surface paint-able (even glass)

After the prime etch was set (about 2 hours) I painted it with zinser bin primer using a foam roller to get a nice smooth finish

When that was dry, I sanded the surface using a fine grit sanding block (you could also use 220 sandpaper) I prefer the blocks because they are easy to hold and they form to any surface because they are foam inside

The right side is etched and primed

After a second coat of priming and sanding, I painted the top with 2 coats of white latex paint. The lower sheens grab the paint better than gloss. I used Benjamin Moore's eggshell finish, which is bit duller than other eggshell finishes elsewhere.

After painting I decided to decorate the top with some nice nature designs. I found a modello which is a wonderful, sticky-backed, stencil-like product that comes in a plethora of designs. I went with a dandelion and painted some splatter with latex colored paint before I applied the modello.

After the design was applied, I top coated with Faux Effect's Aquathane polyurethane. This was applied with a foam roller as well. Two light coats work well and will protect from any tabletop use (even cutting) Let the coats dry about 2 hours between them.

The table legs were sanded with a coarse block, two coats of primer, and two coats of black latex paint. the legs were sealed as well like the top with 2 coats of Aquathane.

The finished product was a treasure! My sister was thrilled, and her neighbor was jealous!

Please see my web site for more ideas

Redesigned Spaces www.redesigned-spaces.net

Specializing in Owner Occupied Homes, Floral Design, Custom Art Work, Display Work

Cynthia Bartch ~ cell: 404.509.6046

Alpharetta, Buford, Cumming, Dacula, Duluth, Gainesville, Lawrenceville, Sugar Hill & Suwanee, Georgia

Don't see your area listed...give me a call

if you want to use a photo or some copy just email me... more than likely we can work it out

I exposed myself to a new crowd...and there's photos to prove it!

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:25:05 -0500

No, not that way silly...

When my friend Sharon Norris owner of Synergy in Silk Floral Designs told me she was going to do a 'Lunch & Learn' seminar about tablescapes I begged asked her if she wanted any help. She was gracious enough to let me help and I was thrilled because I love creating tablescapes!

Well to tell you the truth my friend is always helping me to expand my SOI (sphere of influence) and I'm grateful to her for helping me to expose myself to more potential clients.

The luncheon event was held at the lovely 1818 Club located atop the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce building. After the crowd had their bellies full Sharon introduced me and my business Redesigned Spaces Home Staging and Peggy also a floral designer (friend of ours) and her business, Grandma's Garden.

We picked three fun themes to illustrate how you can make your guests feel extra special as soon as they walk through the door.

Beach Theme ~ You say you don't live near the beach... No worries mate!

We used fancy shells, starfish, succulent plants nestled in pearlized shells, tiny paper umbrellas and mermaids hanging on the rim of the glass for dear life!

Here you can see the sparkly silver mesh netting, colorful plates, napkins, glass pebbles looking like water droplets, votive citronella candles in rustic pots and sand in a metal tub completed the look.

English Garden Theme ~ Perfect for a bridal shower!

Do not let Peggy who looks pretty in pink fool you, she is a little vixen! She said something witty while holding that champagne glass, I laughed and my eyes closed in the photo.

I figured I'd give myself a pretty party hat and shades rather than look like a goof with my eyes shut.

I don't mess with Peg cause she used to be a sheriff in upstate NY and I'm not sure if she still packs heat!

So here we are left to right... Cyn, Peggy, and the lovely Sharon who is the brains of the outfit.

On the table we draped lavender fabric, preserved boxwood w/ purple tulips tied with a satin bows, summer floral design in a basket, garden bust adorned with boxwood and butterflies and small painted garden pots filled w/ dragonflies, humming birds, shrooms and a birds nest.

Close up of the painted pots, used as party favors. The hummingbird design was snapped up before I could get a picture.

A Fun & Festive Tropical Theme, hey now...where did that parrot go?

WOW, Sharon out-did herself on the design, this was absolutely beautiful! The crowd ooh-ed and aah-ed when we were putting this theme together.

With the presentation finished the audience swarmed the tablescapes asking us for all kinds of advice. It's a wonder I was able to snap any pictures because many pieces from the tablescape were purchased before I could take pictures...we weren't expecting that!

It was a big hit! She was asked back on the spot to do another holiday tablescape theme in October. Hummm...maybe she'll let me tag along again.

Sharon designed all the fabulous floral arrangements except for the small painted garden pots in the English Garden theme which she let me contribute.

All our business cards were gone and I was able to meet another stager and Realtor who attended the event. Will business will come from this? Who knows, but a day helping Sharon & hanging with Peggy is a good one in my eyes!

Exposing myself to new potential clients, now this could get addictive!

Redesigned Spaces www.redesigned-spaces.net

Specializing in Owner Occupied Homes, Floral Design, Custom Art Work, Display Work

Cynthia Bartch ~ cell: 404.509.6046

Alpharetta, Buford, Cumming, Dacula, Duluth, Gainesville, Lawrenceville, Sugar Hill & Suwanee, Georgia

Don't see your area listed...give me a call

if you want to use a photo or some copy just email me... more than likely we can work it out