"It was a pleasure to act as Josie’s contractor and builder in the renovation of her home in Mission Canyon. Her interior design skills are unsurpassed. She knew exactly what she wanted and had a real knack for finding the quality she wanted at affordable prices. Her home is one of my projects in
Santa Barbara that I am most proud of." - Colin Quintal, Hayward Design Center

BEFORE / AFTER
This living room had some nice pieces but was very cluttered with nowhere for the eye to rest. I convinced the client to take a set of unnecessary table and chairs out of the room, which opened it up considerably. I separated mismatched arm chairs so that each worked on its own. I added red accents to give the room a pop of color. The result is a spacious and serene living room that welcomed prospective buyers.

BEFORE / AFTER
I moved the lone unattractive office desk under the far windows to minimize it and brought in the extra table from the living room to create a warm and inviting office that would appeal to both men and women. I leaned a painting on the wall to hide the outlet with plugs and added books and a vase of flowers to complete the room.

BEFORE / AFTER
All I had to work with in this bedroom were two twin mattresses. I put them together to create a luxurious king sized bed. I found bedcovers hidden in a closet, moved in a lamp that was mismatched in another room, added a chair, a lovely small table and a fragrant candle.

BEFORE / AFTER
A dining table should always be set as if the prospective buyer was invited for dinner. I created an elegant yet casual dining setup using a selection of the clients dishes, brought in white napkins, a serving bowl and artificial grass to create an oriental feel.

" My clients were looking for a more affordable approach to staging their home for sale. Luckily, they had beautiful furnishings and accessories to begin with. They just needed someone with creative vision to pull it all together. Josie was just the person to do it. Some of her solutions to decorative challenges were really ingenious. Most thought the home had been completely “staged”. " - Dale McCaskey, Berkshire Hathaway

BEFORE / AFTER
The foyer of this house was impossible to get to with one of the two swinging front doors blocked by a cacophony  of clutter. By removing all the clutter, adding artwork that portends the western ranch style of the house, opening both doors and adding a welcome mat, I was able to make an inviting entrance to this home.

Before / After
The sofa was blocking the window and the beautiful original wood floor so I moved it to the opposite wall. The carpet was dark and dirty and had to go but when I rolled it up I realized the back of the carpet was light, clean and lovely so I just turned it over. I added new accent pillows, found a beautiful pewter bowl and filled it with persimmons that were in the pantry. Artwork found in the garage and other accent pieces gave the now light-filled room a real personality.
 

Before / After
Another dinner party ready to start as prospective buyers enter the dining room. I removed the mismatched pillows, found a lovely set of dishes in the garage and added fresh greenery. I angled the hutch, making the room appear larger and reorganized it.

Before / After
When there's no budget to paint the front door, the addition of a seasonal wreath welcomes buyers who see the bright wreath, not the chips in the door.

Before / After
The front door and window were blocked as a means to create a "hallway". I unblocked this, replaced it with a low credenza that delineates the spaces without blocking the view. Look at this gorgeous basket I found in the garage and made a focal point with it. The small plant on the floor adds a touch of greenery and hides an unsightly outlet box.

" It was a true pleasure working with Josie Skyler. She has impeccable taste, and it shows in her work. She listens and adds her ideas, making for a great experience. I will use her expertise again, and highly, highly recommend." - Rafael Vera Jr, Keller Williams Realty