It’s no lie, most of us are visual people. We are constantly snapping pictures to capture moments; to remember places, people, or ideas. Our current age of technology only amplifies this desire. It’s almost as though we are each a walking paparazzi snapping away- no one is safe! 😉 Our visual nature is the driving force behind concepts such as Pinterest, and truth be told, it’s the driving force behind the success of our own business….vision. Not everyone can walk into an empty house, or a dated home and see it’s future potential. That’s where designers come in- we can provide the vision and hence bridge the connections to emotion.
My personal love of photos is quite apparent…they’re proudly displayed all over our home, and I especially love the old family photos. My gallery wall on our staircase is one of my favorite spots, and I love explaining the history behind the pictures to guests and often find myself stopping to reminisce although I see the photos daily.
As a matter of fact, when planning our wedding I booked our photographer first- to me that was one of the most important details- I mean they’re in charge of capturing our most important day!!! This love of photos that I have is a stark juxtaposition to the advice I have to dish out to homeowners who hire us to help them get their homes market-ready. Even though I know, and advocate for removing personal photos when selling your home, it’s always hard advice for me to give as I love them so much! (I would have lots of removing to do if we move!)
Well, where am I going with all this photo talk you might ask? I’ve been toying with the idea of running a contest for Casa de Lazo for a minute, but wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do. Ideas hit you in the strangest of places- my mind is usually running 90-to nothing and I often find inspiration in odd places. A few weeks ago, I had one of those kind of days. The girls and I went to have lunch with my aunt in Athens, and we stopped into a fun vintage store afterwards….among the funky vintage treasures, we discovered this gem:
I was immediately captivated! The sheer joy on this little boy’s face, and the hilarity of the photo inspired something in me! I had to have it. While I thought it might make a debut in one of our staged homes (and it still might), I think I’m going to have to keep it for myself. Anyways, the photo also made me think of fun vintage photos from my own family, and I thought- what a fun contest this could be. Let’s have people share their own funny/unique photos, and the one with the most “likes” will win a free Casa de Lazo design consultation. Who knows, maybe we can even help you create your own “gallery wall!”
So here’s how it works:
- Upload a family photo (the more awkward/unique the better) to Facebook or Instagram
- Tag Casa de Lazo in the Photo
- The photo that generates the most “likes” wins….that simple. The winner will receive a free consultation with Casa de Lazo. If you’re in the Atlanta area- the consultation will be in person, but if you live afar- no worries- we can provide a virtual consultation.
****The contest will begin today, Tuesday August 8, 2017and run through Friday, Sept. 1st. 2017 (Eastern Standard Time)****Winner will be announced Saturday, Sept. 2nd 2017.
The Rules: yes, yes- we have to play fair 😉
- You have to follow our Casa de Lazo page on Facebook and/or Instagram to enter
- Tag Casa de Lazo in the photo, so we know that you’re entering
- Photo must be your own, must not be under copyright, and you must have permission to use said photo.
- Photo must NOT be explicit (keep it clean and fun y’all!)
The fine print and legal jargon:
-NO purchase necessary
-Must be 18 to enter
-Contest is not sponsored by Facebook, Instagram, or any other entity (other than Casa de Lazo)
-By entering and tagging Casa de Lazo in a photo, you agree to the above rules.
-By entering and tagging Casa de Lazo in a photo, you authorize Casa de Lazo, LLC to use said photo for social media purposes, promotions, and or future designs.
-Casa de Lazo, LLC is not liable for the content that you post, and no legal action may be taken against Casa de Lazo, LLC for participating in this contest.
Change…you either embrace it, fear it, or most likely a little of both. I’ll never forget in high-school and adolescence (yes, I can still remember that far back 😉 that people would tout change as if it were a bad thing….”you’ve changed.” Ooooooh- and it would seem to hurt down to the core. Seems silly now- especially for those times- of course you change. Every.Single.Day!!! Change is growth, evolution, and as long as the changes are positive, I think they should be embraced.
Personally, I think people fear change because they fear the unknown. We thrive on consistency, especially as children. Actually, I think one of our most important attributes as human beings is our adaptability. Sometimes we have to push through our fears in order to grow and ultimately reach our better potential.
Sometimes our changes are forced….forced adventures I call them. I’ve experienced lots of change in my personal life the past 2 years….stage 3 breast cancer diagnosis, dietary changes, work changes….all together life changes, and you know what???? I feel they’ve all been very positive changes (not the actual cancer itself of course), despite how scary they may have been.
What on earth does all of this have to do with design and real estate? Well, lots!
I love my job! I absolutely love watching spaces transform and love helping people find and or create spaces they adore. Seriously, it’s so fun to walk into otherwise unappealing homes with clients and paint a vision for them of what they “could” be! Most things have potential…yes, I might even be known to have picked up a few roadside castaways in my day…and a little vision- they’re good as new!
Additionally, the home staging allows me to constantly re-decorate my own space. I’m often asked: “Where do you store all your furniture?” Yup- new business guys- grassroots…right here at home! Fortunately for us, we have lots of storage space that allows us to do so. That being said, I’m constantly moving furniture, swapping accessories and I’m enjoying it. It gives spaces a renewed energy! My design advice would be to keep your larger furniture items more neutral. That way you can always reinvent a space with pillows, window treatments, rugs and accessories all in a budget friendly manner.
A view inside my pillow/linen closet: pretty apparent that I like fringe! lol.
We’re currently in the midst of a “forced adventure” in our own home as we speak. A roof leak has led to much more damage than we thought…new porch roof, wood flooring in a bedroom, tile in the master bath, paint, trim, etc. As I sit here listening to the hammering and pounding, I’m reminding myself that this is a great opportunity for change ;).
Spring is coming (despite the impending winter storms) which is synonymous with change. People start spring-cleaning, change-up clothing and sometimes get the itch to re-decorate. Whatever your goals, don’t be afraid to change it up! Renew that energy! If those goals are home and or design related and you need some vision or help- Give us a call! Happy Changing, y’all! 🙂
Well, I must say- staging this cute little cottage was quite a delight! As you’ve all guessed by now…..I like branches….what can I say!??? Branches are such a natural, cost effective way to add both visual interest and texture to a space. I’ve incorporated them many times within my own space: an art gallery (twig bulletin board) to display my kid’s latest creative masterpieces, photo frames, holiday decor…..you name it. In this particular home, I debuted my latest fave…..the twiggy peace sign!!! I truly love it! Y’all know I’ve got a little bohemian hippie in me…..okay, okay….lots of bohemian hippie 😉 If I can put feathers, fringe and fur into a project….then I’m IN!!!! In fact, I was also able to debut my latest obsession……the fabulous furry chairs in the living room. Totally.Not.Kidding……keeping them post staging! (sorry Mario… not sorry!) Ahhh- come to think of it… this space actually DOES have all my faves…feathers, fringe, AND FUR (faux of course!!!) Yay! Happy Dance! I digress….annnnnnyhooooo….Hope you enjoy the pics and the space as much as I enjoyed staging it. I’ve incorporated lots of vintage and quirky pieces into each room (not to mention a few subliminal statements….(flag cups under peace sign!?) 🙂 Hope you enjoy the creative chaos!
Note the rustic sconces with bling….truly a sight in person with the vintage bulbs! Also loving the fun bedding from Sabrina Soto!
Not even kidding….this table was a castaway….tossed to the street. A little sanding and chalk paint….voila! 🙂
This table really is an antique farm table. The rug is actually made from recycled bottles!
Truly an eclectic space….from the twiggy art installation above the couch (complete with vintage Mexican prints), old school desk painted gold as a side table, AHHHMAAAzing furry chairs, and lots of fun texture!
My Hippie Corner! Want to snuggle up and read a book here!
- Vintage fan….another treasure from Grandma’s attic!
Another vintage piece from Grandma…the trunk! Made it all the way over from France post-WWII. A little white paint gave it new life! PS- Fleetwood Mac playing….No Mistake!!! 😉
Here’s a look into our latest renovation project. The work actually began 7 years ago when we first bought the property. We initially renovated it, and have been renting it since. We decided to sell it this year, and renovated it even further. I just recently got my real estate license, and thus, this home is my first listing. Woot, Woot!!!! Mario and I are so pleased with how this house turned out! We incorporated some of our favorite design elements including: beams, plank ceilings, farm doors, a feature stone wall with a cedar beam mantle and more! Take a look around…..
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