by admin March 17, 2020 0 Comments

How to Decorate with Green

Green is the colour of nature. Representing growth, harmony, and health, it is the most restful colour for the human eye.

In honour of St. Patrick’s Day, we are going to share 3 Easy Ways to Decorate with Green.

1. Accent Sofa

Green velvet sofa | Decorating with Green | Blog | Flow Smart Living + Interiors

An accent sofa is the simplest way to incorporate green into your living room. We love using our green velvet sofa in stagings to give a rom that instant ‘oomph’.

When selecting your shade of green, make sure the undertones don’t clash with your existing furniture, paint colours, and flooring. Typically, lighter greens give off a more fresh and youthful vibe, whereas darker greens represent ambition, safety, and lushness.

2. Indoor Plants

 

Home Staging by Flow Smart Living + Interiors

Studies have shown that indoor plants boost mood, productivity, and creativity. Plants clean indoor air by absorbing toxins, increasing humidity, and producing oxygen, helping us feel good both mentally and physically.

Don’t have a green thumb? Start with an easy plant like a succulent or cactus. Just make sure they get plenty of sunlight, rotate them frequently, and water sparingly. Overwatering is the easiest way to kill your succulent, so make sure you let the soil dry between waterings!

3. Artwork

Home Staging by Flow Smart Living + Interiors

This one’s pretty self explanatory. Since everyone’s style is different, and artwork is so personal, it’s hard for us to recommend specific pieces.

However, if you live in Greater Vancouver and want to pick up some quality artwork at reasonable prices, we recommend checking out the Flow Furniture Lounge. Open on Thursdays and Fridays from 12pm-5pm, and we are constantly bringing in new furniture, accessories, and artwork. We hope to see you soon!

Still unsure about how to decorate with green, or need help with selecting the perfect shade of green for your home?

We offer interior design and shopping & styling services! Give us a call at 604-674-8884, or email hello@flowsmartliving.com to get started.

Click here to view our Portfolio.

Interior Decorator vs. Interior Designer vs. Home Staging Specialist: What’s The Difference?

Interior Designer, Interior Decorator, Home Staging Specialist — this terminology can be quite confusing for somebody who’s not in the industry. These services sound very similar, but yet, are so different. Don’t worry — we’ll explain why!

Interior Decorator

Flow Smart Living Interior Design North Van Condo Living Room

An Interior Decorator uses fabrics, furnishings, and accessories to change the aesthetics and impressions of a space, while working within its functionality. After taking measurements, photos, and obtaining the floor plan, an interior decorator will create a design concept that can include fabrics, flooring, furnishing, lighting, fixtures, accessories, paint, and art.

Interior Designer

 

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An Interior Designer is someone who understands people’s behaviours and creates optimal functionality of interior spaces. Their job is to lay out walls and floor plans, while keeping the following in mind: local building codes, fire safety, accessibility, efficiency, functionality, and acoustics.

Interior Designers provide clients with concept drawings using AutoCAD and/or SketchUp, so the client can understand and review the concept. Interior Designers may also take on the role of a Interior Decorator after their floor plans have been reviewed by building representatives and implemented.

Working with contractors to create the best designs, Interior Designers can help design dream kitchens or bathrooms!

Home Staging Specialist

McGill Street | Home Staging by Flow Smart Living + Interiors

A Home Staging Specialist’s job is very similar to an Interior Decorator’s — they also use furnishings and accessories to change the aesthetics and impressions of a space, while working within its functionality. The major difference between a Home Staging Specialist and an Interior Decorator is the reason why they’re hired.

An Interior Decorator typically has full artistic control of their installations (with the approval of their client, of course) because they are hired by the client to help bring their vision to life.

On the other hand, Home Staging Specialists are hired by homeowners that are looking to sell their property. They are trained to design spaces that appeal to the homeowner’s target buyer, as well as the building and neighbourhood style. At the end of the day, homeowners are looking to sell their property quickly and for highest amount of money possible, so a Home Staging Specialist’s designs need appeal to a wide audience, and can’t be too specific.

 

 Did you know we offer all three services?

Whether you’re looking for an Interior Designer, Interior Decorator, or Home Staging Specialist, give us a call at 604-674-8884, or email hello@flowsmartliving.com!

Click here to view our Portfolio.

by admin February 6, 2020 0 Comments

We’re hiring a part-time Sales Associate/Assistant Stager!

Flow Smart Living + Interiors has been staging homes in the Greater Vancouver area since 2007. Approaching home staging with a waste-reducing mindset, we strongly believe reusing and recycling is the way of the future.

About 4 years ago, we opened our Furniture Lounge, where we sell floor model, designer-picked furniture at affordable prices. We are looking for a part-time Sales Associate/Assistant Stager to help run our store, and assist with staging related tasks from Wednesday-Friday.

 

Sales Associate Responsibilities

  • Provide exceptional customer service
  • Actively work to increase customer traffic and reach sales goals
  • Maintain store aesthetic by cleaning, stocking, organizing, and merchandising
  • Process and track credit card and cash payments
  • Take pictures of inventory and promote on Facebook Marketplace, Facebook groups, and Craigslist
  • Respond to inquiries via phone, email, Facebook, and Craigslist

Assistant Stager Responsibilities

  • Put new furniture together
  • Enter into inventory system
  • Tidy up warehouse
  • Pack/Unpack furniture
  • Clean furniture
  • Fix furniture if need be
  • Check supplies (ie tape, shrink wrap, Windex, etc)
  • Dispose of recycling and garbage
  • De-stage
  • Assist with staging

 

If youre a motivated self-starter with a passion for furniture and design, wed love to hear from you! This position will be based out of our Furniture Lounge/warehouse in Strathcona. To apply, please email hello@flowsmartliving.com with your resume and cover letter.

We thank all applicants in advance for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

by admin January 21, 2020 0 Comments

Why Flow? The Flow Difference

Have you ever stepped into a beautiful home but something just felt off?

Choosing a staging company is a big decision, and price shouldn’t be the only factor you’re considering. At the end of the day, in order to sell your properties quickly and for the highest price possible, you’ll need to market to the right buyers and make them fall in love!

Here at Flow, we take the time to listen to your needs before creating a custom staging plan based on who you are marketing to, and also the architecture of the property itself. With 13 years of experience, we’ve staged thousands of homes in the Greater Vancouver area. Our team of designers and warehouse full of quality furniture will ensure your property gets elevated. You won’t find cookie cutter designs here!

Before Staging by Flow Smart Living + Interiors

Before

After Staging by Flow Smart Living + Interiors

After

Are you ready to schedule a staging estimate/consultation? Give us a call at 604-674-8884, email hello@flowsmartliving.com, or send us a message!

by admin December 16, 2019 0 Comments

Best of 2019

We stage hundreds of residential and show homes every year, but here are our top 5 for 2019! Click on the image to see the full project.

by admin September 25, 2019 0 Comments

Welcome to our new website.

If you’re reading this… you’re on our new website! Yay!

We’ve been working on this new website for months, and we’re so stoked that it’s finally ready for you to see and use. We’d love to hear your feedback — What do you like? What do you not like? How can we improve the experience for you? How does this compare to our old website?

Here’s a picture of the old website to jog your memory:

Please leave us a comment below and let us know what you think. Thank you for your help!

by admin July 29, 2019 0 Comments

Top 5 Most Interesting Kitchen Design Features

Summer’s here, and entertaining and summer parties are on everyone’s minds. We all want to ‘wow’ our guests at the next get-together, but before you move forward with the kitchen upgrades, you’ll want to hear from our interior designer, Elisa Fox!

Elisa is sharing her top 5 most interesting kitchen design features (some that you may have never heard [or thought] of)!

1. Porcelain Countertops

“Instead of quartz or natural stone, opt for porcelain countertops instead! Porcelain is very dense and almost indestructible.”

2. Cabinets x Glass Walls

“Upper cabinets backing onto glass walls will open up the space, allows for a great view to the outside, and lets a lot of natural light in.”

3. Mirror Backsplash

“A mirror backsplash goes perfectly with small kitchens, as it creates the illusion of a larger space.”

4. Customized Cabinetry

“Work with your cabinet company and customize your interior drawers and cabinets. Anything — kitchen pots, utensils, even cutlery or spices — can be customized and made to fit.”

5. Drawers Drawers Drawers

“Always incorporate more drawers into the kitchen design. You can fit way more into a drawer, and your kitchen will stay more organized.”

Have we convinced you to move forward with the upgrades, or are you still on the fence? We’re here to help! Give us a call at 604-674-8884 or email hello@flowsmartliving.com to get started.

Designing The Perfect Accent Wall

Are you thinking about adding an accent wall to a room? Whether light and bright, or dark and dramatic, an accent wall is a simple and relatively inexpensive way to add a pop of colour, highlight a focal point, or to make a room feel more spacious and inviting.

Choosing your accent wall.

First, consider if there’s a focal point you want to accentuate (a fireplace, shelving, etc). The best wall to highlight is typically the “cleanest”, meaning it is the least amount of distractions.

Are paint or wallpaper my best options?

While paint and wallpaper are the most common ways to create an accent wall, there are plenty of other options. Decals, wall panelling, upholstered walls, accent lighting, and gallery walls also produce stunning results. In the end of the day, it really depends on your personal style, budget, and preferences.

Love the idea of an accent wall, but DIY’s not your thing? 

We can help! Give us a call at 604-674-8884 or email hello@flowsmartliving.com today. Get Started Now

FREE Interior Design Info Session For Homeowners (Feb 27 5-7pm)

You’ve read our latest blog post on the 10 Questions You Must Ask Before Hiring an Interior Designer, but still have more questions about contractors, logistics, and more? We’ve got you covered!

On Wednesday, February 27, 2019 from 5-7pm, we’ll be hosting a FREE information session right here at the Flow office (873 E Hastings St). If you’re planning a renovation but have no idea where to start, we encourage you to drop by.

Don’t worry – this will be a casual get-together (aka no boring PowerPoints). Elisa Fox, Flow’s interior designer, and Phil Van Drunen from Van Drunen Construction will be here to answer any questions you may have.

What are you waiting for? Click here to RSVP now! Drinks and light snacks will be provided.

Tips For Staging Outdoor Patios

Do you want to know how to showcase your property and appeal to the largest number of potential buyers?

When selling your property, it’s important to make sure your it shows its absolute maximum potential. For many home buyers, the outdoor area of a home is just as important as the interior. Staging your patio will definitely help you increase your chances of selling your property, specially now that spring is finally in Vancouver!

Here are a few tips for staging an outdoor area that will help you sell your home faster and for more money!

#1 – Keep it simple

You can get amazing results by adding a minimal amount of outdoor furniture, to make sure there is an easy traffic flow through the space. If you have a large outdoor area, you can set multiple areas, such dining area, living area or even an outdoor kitchen. This way, buyers will be able to see the possibilities of this space. However, keep it as much simple as possible. Too much furniture may have the opposite of the desired effect and make it seem small and overdo.

#2 – Give a little TLC

Cleaning up dead leaves and bugs, trimming trees and bushes, pressure-washing decks or floors, making some minor repairs, freshening up flower beds… You’d be surprised the difference that a nice little revamp can make to the outside! It will help to make the space look brand new and inviting.

#3 – Add an color accent

It’s the time to move all the toys, lawn ornaments, pet supplies and other stuff that you can have outdoor to the storage room and save them for your next home. Keep your largest furniture pieces neutral and color accent them by adding a few items such as potted plants, outdoor rugs, colorful pillows, and props such as refreshment trays.

Need more help to stage your property? If you are considering listing your home and are curious about staging, feel free to give the Flow Team a call at (604) 674-8884 or email us at hello@flowsmartliving.com. We’d be happy to answer your questions!