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This Wayzata home had much to offer, including a lower-level bedroom, bathroom and a family room with wood-burning fireplace.
But the decorating had too much "personality" and the furniture arrangement made the space seem cluttered and inaccessible.
"We didn't want potential buyers to focus on the wildlife-themed decor," said Lori Matzke of Centerstagehome.com. "We wanted them to focus on the fireplace and all that livable space around it."
Matzke said that collections and themes can be a turnoff for prospective buyers, particularly if it doesn't match their taste.
"You don't want anyone focusing on your style; you want them to pay attention to the space and positive features," she said.
To direct the buyer's attention to the fireplace and to make the room feel more livable, here's what Matzke did.
Removing clutter, including the duck collection, pictures and silk greenery over the windows, makes it easier to focus on the features and space.
The area rug over the carpet was rolled and stored because it breaks up the visual square footage of the room and tends to make buyers wonder what's hiding beneath.
A vintage copper boiler was positioned closer to the firebox to reflect light.
Matzke placed a table lamp in the far corner of the room and another behind the sofa to help light up the space (not shown).
Overhead spotlights were repositioned to highlight the bricks rather than the artwork to cast a warm glow over the fireplace.
A painting of an abandoned farmhouse and field replaced a bold painting above the mantel because the muted tones of the painting attract attention to the fireplace without becoming the center of attention.
Window screens were removed to bring in as much natural light as possible.
An armchair that was blocking the entry was placed at an angle near the fireplace and next to a small side table and wicker basket filled with reading material.
The sofa was placed on the opposite wall and the TV set was moved down to the far end of the same wall and angled in the corner (not shown). "We didn't want the dated sofa and TV to be a distraction," Matzke said.
Making this shift creates more balance in the room, too.
Taxidermy is becoming fashionable again, so Maztke used the stuffed pheasant to help soften the bricks.
A planter on the coffee table adds a little life to the space.
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