3 minute read
Hamptons interview with home-staging 'guru' Marie Macdowall
Marie MacDowall: Founder, 'Style & Stage'.
How did you start your Home Staging Business?
After moving to London six years ago, I quickly realised there was a gap in the interior market for staging services. Combining my decades of knowledge providing interior design services around the world- in Hong Kong, France and Sweden to name a few- and my experience with the benefits of staging properties, I founded Style and Stage in 2018.
Why do you recommend people selling their property to use Home Staging?
Residential Property or Home Staging is the art of dressing a property for sale or let. This shows the property in its best light and therefore maximises return on investment in the quickest timeframe possible. We’re helping potential buyers/renters to see themselves in that home, and we believe the statistics speak for themselves. 86% of Estate Agents agree that staging a property helps to sell up to three times faster. You simply get more traffic online, more viewings and more offers. 100% off Estate Agents say it helps the buyer to visualise the property as their future home. A surprising 94% of people cannot visualise furniture in an empty space, which is where we can help.
Is there difference between a lived-in property and an empty one?
Yes, generally speaking empty properties are staged solely with our furniture, accessories and artwork, however lived-in properties provide a different challenge. Using my 30 years of experience, I will give lived-in properties a new lease of life by decluttering and re-styling pieces that are already there, a small change can have a huge impact.
What have been your major influences and inspirations?
I have been fortunate enough to live, work and travel throughout Asia and Europe, which has undoubtedly influenced my work; I take huge inspiration from these experiences. My Swedish background means that Scandi and Japandi interiors are where I feel my personal style most aligns, however we are able to offer a range of styles to our clients, dependent on what the property calls for.
In developing a style for a client’s property who takes the lead or is it a collaborative effort?
In terms of home staging, we take full creative control of the project. We look at the big picture, considering the location of the property, the demographic for the area and who the property is most likely to attract and use this information to stage the space accordingly. When undertaking an interior design project, it is always a collaborative effort. We pride ourselves on combining our expertise with the clients personal taste to create the perfect space for them.
Is there a project you are most proud of?
A wonderful perk of working in this industry is that each project has its own rewards, so I wouldn’t say there is a particular project that we are most proud of. We take great pride in all of our work, and always leave feeling satisfied that we have done an excellent job. However, we also understand the importance of numbers within this industry, and after staging a property in Notting Hill which sold for 100k over the asking price, I was immensely proud.
