My Trip to Italy

My trip to Italy, so far has been one amazing day after another. I feel like I have been here forever, and realized it has not even been a week... I love that, because usually trips go by and you feel like you just got there. In the short time we have been here, we have seen some incredible sites, learned a new perspective on history, and have enjoyed a lot of amazing food. It is such a beautiful country. I had forgotten a little, too, how much I enjoy being around different cultures. I really miss it, and am envious of my sister that gets to stay here through December.

We arrived on Saturday, after a fiasco of flights... we finally got to Milano. Our bags unfortunately, did not, and we did not receive them until Monday. We walked and walked and our first time on the metro here, we came up the escalator and out of the darkness into a square right in the middle of the city... what an amazing first impression! We couldn't have picked a better station to stop at, and of course it was by accident. We went to the Duomo, went up on the rooftop for amazing views, the Monet Exhibit, many caffe's, the university my sister is going to, the fortress/castle... then we hopped on an early train to Roma.

Rome, is where we have been for the past 3 days. It is nothing like Milan... This, is where the history is... this is what I think of when I think Italy. Everywhere you turn, there are the most amazing sculptures, historic relics, architecture, basillica's, monuments, galleries, piazzas, fountains... it is never ending. You could spend your entire life here I think and still see something new each day. They are still finding ruins and have archaeological digs/sites that are right in the middle of everyday life. Of course, none of it is everyday life to us, as tourists, but I could imagine myself here. I wish I could let Just Perfect! run itself for a year while I stayed here. (Of course I would miss home and my family and friends too much, and don't know what I'd do without work. haha) I sometimes think staging is still not well known to everyone in Wilmington and other areas, but imagine explaining what I do to someone here, with them understanding little English. It happened once, when my mom accidentally brought it up not thinking about how to explain. It was quite interesting... ended up with "something in real estate" haha.

I don't have much access to internet here, and this may be the last time for a while. It is very expensive where we've found it, except we lucked out with our hotel here in Rome providing it gratuito ?(free). If you would like to follow our travels... you can see the photos in my galleries. www.gallery.me.com/just.j You can click on public galleries of Milan, Roma, and soon Venice and Verona once we go there.

I hope you enjoy, and will be back in Wilmington before you know it!

Ciao!

Off to my roots....

My sister, who is studying in Milan this fall, is giving my family an opportunity/excuse to visit our heritage. I have always wanted to go to Italy. A, because it is such a beautiful, cultured country, but also, because that's where my Dad's family is from. I was supposed to go several years ago, but plans had to change. I am very fortunate and excited to have this opportunity come up again. I am so excited!!! I have talked to so many people that have given great advice from experience on places to go, things to see and do and how to do it. I must say I am going into this with it as a surprise... my sister and parents planned the whole trip and I am excited to be going along for the ride :)

I just found out our flight time tomorrow if that tells you anything as to my knowledge of plans. When so many things are going on, it is hard to get excited ahead of time because I don't even realize it is so close. I think I realized it yesterday and was thrilled. Then today was crazy tying things up with Just Perfect!, Chloe, and everything in Wilmington, then bringing my car down to Greensboro to have some work done... now, after packing, getting the final emails sent out, and newsletters scheduled...I am getting anxious! I am hoping now that I'll be able to sleep (this is often a problem when the next day holds an exciting event) as we have an early morning and a long day of traveling ahead.

We will be landing in Milan, where Rebecca will be living. After spending a few days there, we will take the train to Rome...then Venice, Verona, and ending up back in Milan. Ahhh.... the food, the art, the architecture... I really cannot even imagine the experiences we are about to encounter. I know that the books do not do it justice. The photos of my parents previous trip were beautiful, but I am sure not able to be compared to the actual experience. I can't wait and will of course, take lots and lots of photos and will share when I return.

If you need to speak with us at Just Perfect, you can email and call our main numbers and will be directed to the contact information of our Interior Specialist, Rebecca Mickler.

I will try to twitter/facebook when I can, so follow me if you want to keep up! Twitter: Just_Perfect; facebook fan page: Just Perfect!

I'll see you back here in a couple weeks!

Staging Sells!! 2 Palmetto Creek Town Homes Sold Since Staged in June

SOLD x2! This townhome had been decorated for a while, but we were called in to STAGE it in June. We used furnishings that were already there, and edited a lot out... rearranging everything to turn focus on to the home's unique attributes. Exact stats to come soon, but the important thing to know is that it wasn't selling. After we staged it, it CLOSED within 60 days... After we un-staged that house, we staged an identical reverse floor plan June 30 that had been sitting vacant, and it is now under contract (as of Sat. August 8).

Here are a few of the BEFORE photos... notice how you tend to notice the "stuff" more than the layout and features of the house? Compare to photos above.

My Experience With One Tree Hill-Part 2

So... you probably heard me make mention last month that we were going to be "As Seen On TV" haha in a sense, and were getting a fabulous opportunity to work with the Set Designer at One Tree Hill. It was an amazing, exciting, and very challenging and different project, so I thought I'd share.

The voicemail I couldn't get over in Part 1 was from Matt S., the Set Designer, for One Tree Hill. He said they were thinking about shooting at the Busby (my client) house, but didn't know if that would work out and they were looking at other locations. They loved the way we staged that house though, and it was just perfect for the character and set they were looking at a location for. He asked if I could meet with him to discuss staging that set for them once they choose a location. SERIOUSLY!!! hahaha SO EXCITING! So if you have ever worked in the film industry, you would probably think no big deal, but for me.... BIG DEAL! I never dreamed I would do something like that!

We met the following Tuesday, and he told me they thought they had another location but contracts hadn't been signed yet, could we stage the set by the next Monday. Well, it was interesting because to go on site, all their contracts had to be signed, and I was going out of town on Wednesday afternoon for training workshops down in Charleston and would be gone through the weekend. So we were talking no planning time and we'd have to have everything moved in Tuesday at the latest because photo shoots were Wednesday and filming began on Thursday! CRAziness! but of course I said SURE... That's great! So when I left for Charleston, a location still hadn't been set... finally on Friday, I got a call that a location was secured in Topsail Beach. Rebecca M, our interior specialist, met them to get a feel for the place so she could start pulling inventory. I later got a call that the filming had been pushed back a week, which was a big relief for us.s

We had several things in inventory, but had to purchase others... we had discussed a look, and then some other things were discussed with Rebecca while I was out of town, so we regrouped...We were told not to bring artwork because they have to get copyright approval or something since it's being filmed... and we couldn't bring mirrors, because of reflection. They said they would provide all the towels, bedding etc. because it had to be used by the actors and constantly changed. It's amazing the things that you have to think about, which while logical, seemed kinda foreign to me since I wasn't used to working in the industry. It was challenging in a good way. Matt needed to create a vision that he knew a lot more about then I did, and so he needed to see the options. I tried to narrow down and then had the warehouse pull the piece to shoot a photo over to him. Things changed constantly it felt like. Plus it was hectic anyway because we were working on several other homes that had already been on the schedule for another client. In the end, I guess I got a dose of my own medicine. My sister, who worked with me said that it's sometimes hard for her because I have an idea of how something should look in my head (like Matt did) but often don't get it out completely and clearly to those helping out. I just see it. And, I know I change my mind a lot too. All in all, it was a lot of fun though shopping for the set and adding to our inventory (and can't say i didn't secretly really enjoy telling the vendors I work with a lot what I was working on/with! of course they all had worked with them too, but still!)

The day of the staging, we got out there at 12:00 so we could go ahead and get the accessories and stuff unpacked and photographed before the movers got their around 1:00/2:00. We met several people working there, and they were all so nice. 1:00 rolled around and the crew started heading out for lunch, so we decided to go out as well. The movers were running late from a previous job. Then we get a call they went the wrong way and couldn't find us... everyone at the house is pacing. I'm standing outside biting my nails. This had to be finished that day because filming began in the morning. Whether they were or not, I felt like everyone was waiting on us. The movers finally get there and we moved like crazy to bust it out, getting everything put together and set up. It was again, a new position for me, because Matt basically knew how he wanted everything, so my team and I just assisted him in getting it into place. I'm not used to being the assistant, but that's always a good role to play. It's great to watch another person's vision take shape. As we were moving the sofa around in the living room, I realized

the built in book shelves that were there before lunch, had disappeared! It's amazing what they do for their sets! 7:00 approached quickly and everyone was ready to get out because they had to run around and get back to Wilmington to film at Mayfaire at midnight, unbelievable-they're non-stop! I was trying to hurry though for them, so I didn't get the best photos. Also, it's going to look so much different on tv because all of the bedding etc. will be added. I will share what I have as soon as I get permission though (coming soon! hopefully). In the end, it all came together and Matt said "Everyone loved the set! It really looks great."

Having the opportunity to work with the film industry and One Tree Hill was exciting, challenging, and I learned a lot... like:

- deadlines are constantly changing

- ideas are constantly changing

- everyone involved performs very much at a moment's notice

- they move furniture around with pulley systems outside of the building- crazy and fabulous time saver!

- it is amazing what they do to a location to turn it into what they need - in this house, it looks like they sheetrocked and painted over the built-in bookshelves while we were at lunch!

- the team that works to get things ready is awesome

- there are many things you have to take into consideration because of the cameras and the fact it will be on tv

- need approval from artist for artwork

- can't use mirrors because of reflection

- can't use glass tables because of reflection

- things to be smaller than you may normally think because cameramen need to be able to move around the scene

- i thought i worked around the clock...these guys work around the clock!

- + More!

I am so grateful for this opportunity, and perhaps we will have the chance to work with them again in the future. It was a great experience, and I really enjoyed working with Matt and his team. I am excited to watch, as the season premiers SEPTEMBER 14 8/7c. (We may be planning a party for it, so stay tuned!)