Local styling

MOSES LAKE — DeeDee Clune is looking to make sure locals have their homes set up in a way that works for them and wants homebuyers to see what living in the homes they shop for might look like. That’s the point of being an interior designer, and why she operates Restyle Home Staging & Design.

“Some people have vision that they can (bring) into a space and imagine what it would look like (to live there), but many people don’t,” Clune said. “So, to be able to set up a space where people go, ‘Oh! That’s what I can do in this small living room,’ or whatever the case may be. Really, you know, not just talk about it, but help them get the vision of how that space can be used.”

That isn’t just an issue for those who are shopping for a home. It’s also a concern for people that have a home they’ve lived in for a while but they’re frustrated with the layout. Often, that can be a situation with the homeowners’ current furniture collection not working for the space or the place needing a bit of a refresh, Clune said. That isn’t necessarily a full remodel of the home, but doing smaller projects like replacing backsplashes, painting a room, rearranging furniture and getting new accessories. It doesn’t have to break the bank to make a difference. Not everything has to be a full remodel with walls being torn down and an architect getting involved.

“Often, people don't have the budget to — or just don’t want to — spend the money on that kind of remodel,” she said. 

Older homes often have things that add a bit of charm and people want to preserve that, but they want a situation that works better for them in the existing layout. Clune said she can help with that and can look at ways to stay within a budget while aligning the home with the homeowners’ tastes. 

The first step, she said, is to find out what is and isn’t working well for the client. Identifying their particular needs with a home is important. If someone has mobility issues, finding an arrangement that makes the home work better for them is key, as an example. Other problems might include unmatched furnishings, the decor not aligning with the resident’s tastes or storage not being set up the way a client might need. 

Clune said she then has to see what it is that her interior design clients like. Do they want a cottage feel? Do they want easy flow of traffic through the house? Is there a certain feel they’re looking for, like midcentury modern or farmhouse chic? Asking for examples of what the client likes and bringing all of that together in a unified vision is key.

After needs and preferences are established, it’s a matter of putting a vision together to make it so the client can live comfortably in the home in a way that improves their quality of life. 

For clients who are trying to sell their homes and want to set up something that shows potential buyers what living in a particular home with its unique space layout can be, Clune also does staging. 

The idea of staging came about after Clune and her husband moved from Western Washington to be closer to family and friends — and a more rural lifestyle. Clune had been in marketing for years and had only done interior design as a side job, occasionally working with her mother. Interior design wasn’t her full-time gig.

“When we moved here, I kept trying to do my day job, which required a lot of travel — like, multistate travel and flying and lots of challenges trying to get from here to there when you live in a more remote area,” Clune said. “And I really wanted to find something that I could do locally and started looking into home staging. There wasn’t anybody doing it.” 

The area in and around Moses Lake is unique, though, and most people don’t stage homes for sale, or if they do, the buyers often want the furniture to come with the home. Considering that, Restyle has evolved to be both interior design and staging and Clune said she doesn’t do the staging in the traditional way.

“The traditional way is, assemble a warehouse of furniture and then when a realtor or a homeowner calls wanting to sell their home, you kind of bring in your supply and make it look as good as you can,” she said.

That didn’t work in this market, she said, so she adjusted and set it up so that the furniture is owned by the home’s seller and can be included in the sale of the home. That’s been a successful customization of her services and she feels it’s beneficial to her clients by allowing them to have a custom vision that suits the homebuyers they’re trying to court. 

“I purchase on (their) behalf. (They) own the furniture and can either sell the house with the furniture or use it on another, future project,” Clune said. 

Working on older homes with some challenges with convenience is one of her favorite types of jobs, Clune said. She recently helped a family in an older farmhouse set up their home to accommodate a wheelchair. She could tell it helped their quality of life and just made their overall situation better, she said, which was the ultimate reward for her as a designer.

“That was just so rewarding because every once in a while I would get a text (with) the whole family enjoying the new space,” she said. 

R. Hans “Rob” Miller may be reached at editor@columbiabasinherald.com.  

Restyle Staging & Design

Moses Lake
www.restyle.design
425-444-0510
DeeDee@restyle.design 

    A well-designed space isn’t just comfortable and functional, it’s visually appealing with coordinated colors and spaces set up to serve the needs of the person living in the home. In this living room, the television can be easily viewed but the space around the coffee table makes it easy for people to converse.
  

    Hallways don’t have to be boring. Adding a few select pieces of art and a bit of storage can add functionality and make the home more inviting as a whole.
  

    Bedrooms should have colors that create a restful environment, not just for sleep but also to provide a sanctuary and privacy. A few extra pillows that can be easily moved out of the way at night can make a bedroom into a comfortable lounge.