Interior Design Blog

From topics on seasonally fresh decor to how to sell your home faster, Karen Van Nort shares her experience and tips with readers here.

Fall tips for Homeowners

by Karen Van Nort | Oct 18, 2018 | Home Projects & Maintenance

Fall is the time to get your winter preparation done and keep up on essential maintenance for your home. Here's our top 7 items to include. 7 Fall Maintenance Tips for Homeowners Check windows and doors. This is one of the easiest ways to save on winter energy bills...

Color Inspiration: Blue + White

by Karen Van Nort | Sep 10, 2018 | Design Inspiration

September 10th, 2018. By Karen Van Nort, Interior Designer This months’ blog is about blue and white….a popular combination in catalogues and books these days but in northern Michigan where I live, it’s always popular. So this month I decided to talk about it a...

Decluttering your home

by Karen Van Nort | Jul 30, 2018 | Home Projects & Maintenance

Did you know that clutter increases stress hormones? Decluttering is a term we hear a lot about these days. It’s a new buzz word for cleaning and organizing the spaces in our home. Research by the UCLA’s Center on Everyday living found that clutter can lead to...

Potting Shed to Playhouse

by Karen Van Nort | Jul 12, 2018 | Design Inspiration, Leelanau County, Project Management

June 2018 Karen Van Nort of Staged™ to Sell/Live, did a fun and unique project recently, turning a Potting Shed into a girl's playhouse! Before & After of the interior: Welcome to Vivian's Playhouse! Little...

To Subway Tile or Not to Subway Tile?

by Raquel Jackson | May 15, 2018 | Design Inspiration

Article reposted here, from Home Advisor Is Subway Tile Out of Style? Classic, clean white subway tile has been a top kitchen and bath trend for years. Sometimes, even the classics demand a refresh. And subway tile — long favored for its practicality and clean...

Shades of Gray

by Karen Van Nort | Jan 22, 2018 | Color Consultation, Design Inspiration

Today gray is trending in all its many hues. Every catalogue and design website shows you homes with various shades of gray partnered with dark blue, coral, aqua and even yellow. Why gray? It’s a perfect neutral and pairs beautifully with lots of other colors and can...

Combining textures: soft, smooth + rough

by Karen Van Nort | Nov 13, 2017 | Design Inspiration

Combining textures: soft, smooth + rough We agree with editor and stylist Heather Bullard that soothing fabrics like Velvet (in upholstery, throws or pillows) paired with rough natural textures like reclaimed wood and woven baskets, combined with...

TIP: Displaying decorative Items

by Raquel Jackson | Aug 31, 2017 | Design Inspiration, repurposing

Design TIP: Displaying decorative Items ~ Don’t put everything out, rotate your items and you will enjoy them more.

Happy arranging!

Karen Van Nort, Staged to Sell/Live in Northern Michigan.

Remodeled Glen Lake house in Leelanau County

by Raquel Jackson | Aug 24, 2017 | Design Inspiration, Leelanau County, Project Management, Updating & Remodeling

Karen Van Nort specializes in managing projects for Homeowners who reside elsewhere and have second homes in Leelanau County. She manages the project from interior design to managing products and contractors from re-design to project completion. This renovated house...

How to plan your home remodeling projects

by Raquel Jackson | Mar 21, 2017 | Home Projects & Maintenance, Project Management, Updating & Remodeling

Getting ready to do some renovation or remodeling? Most of my jobs evolve around helping people with second homes manage their projects. Sharing with you some basic steps I hope will make your process a lot easier. First Make a complete list of what you hope to...

Fall for flooring!

by Raquel Jackson | Oct 20, 2016 | Design Inspiration, Home Projects & Maintenance, Leelanau County, Updating & Remodeling

Many of my clients are now thinking of remodeling projects and in particular new flooring. So, I thought it would be a good idea to talk about flooring this month. Did you know that 70% of the flooring purchased nationally is now luxury vinyl plank or tile?

Home Remodeling | Where to Start

by Raquel Jackson | Sep 15, 2016 | Home Projects & Maintenance, Project Management, Updating & Remodeling

Fall is a great time to begin home remodeling projects. Karen of Staged™ to Sell/Staged™ to Live outlines how to start. Make a list, research, hire a contractor and picture what you want.

End of Summer ~ Into Fall: Home project and color/de-cluttering Inspiration

by Raquel Jackson | Aug 9, 2016 | Color Consultation, Design Inspiration, Home Projects & Maintenance, Project Management, Updating & Remodeling

I can’t believe it! Summer is almost over and and soon school will be starting, athletic events and all the tailgate parties and events that spell Fall. Are you thinking ahead to projects around the home that you might be considering? I have some ideas about how...

Musical Furniture

by Raquel Jackson | Apr 4, 2016 | About Home Staging, Home Staging, repurposing, why do I want to stage my home?

Don’t be afraid to play musical furniture and transform a room, when you’re getting your home ready to sell. A staged home sells faster than a home that is not staged!

Tips to remodeling you kitchen

by Raquel Jackson | Feb 20, 2016 | Color Consultation, Design Inspiration, Home Projects & Maintenance, Leelanau County, Project Management, Updating & Remodeling

Karen Van Nort operates out of Leelanau County, serving as your next home remodel’s project consultant. Use these tips to make your next remodel successful.

Choosing Paint Colors

by Raquel Jackson | Feb 3, 2016 | Color Consultation, Home Projects & Maintenance, Updating & Remodeling

Choosing a paint color can be daunting and I’ve talked to friends who have stories about how they picked the perfect color but when it got on the wall they realized they chose the wrong color. So, that’s why I’m telling you that when you are choosing a paint, get a...

Staged homes sell faster

by Raquel Jackson | Dec 15, 2015 | About Home Staging, Home Projects & Maintenance, Home Staging, Leelanau County, Project Management, Updating & Remodeling, why do I want to stage my home?

Staged homes—those deliberately decorated with an eye toward enticing buyers—tend to sell in half the time that non-staged properties do.* With the home-selling season months away, now's a good time to plan for those home improvement projects and talk with a...