We recently connected with Kristen Shipman and have shared our conversation below.
Kristen , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about a time you helped a customer really get an amazing result through their work with you.
I met my dear client Jade, through a window coverings designer that I knew, several years back. The other designer brought me in to help the client make changes that would elevate her home and update it. Jade had lost her amazing husband a few years prior and their home was just the way it had been, before the long cancer battle. She loved her home and the memories it held, but she wanted to move forward with happier times and a renewed sense of who she was now, after such a heartbreaking loss. Jade knew that she wanted to start with the furnishings and decor that she already had, but wanted it all to feel different. My approach to design starts with what a client already has. One of the most important elements of home design is that it needs to tell the story of the people who live there. Jade and her husband had collected so many special pieces of art and decor throughout their travels together. These were all representations of the love and memories that they shared.
I worked with Jade over a period of months. We started in her living room and entry area. Together we talked about what was important to her and how she wanted her house to feel and look as she entered this new chapter of her life. Side by side, we worked to edit, rearrange and add items as necessary, to design a space that felt like home for Jade. As she started to see and feel the changes in her home, Jade wanted to continue throughout the house. We moved on to her bedroom, her office and finally her dining room, resetting each room and creating a warm sanctuary where she could feel refreshed as she rebuilt her life.
The note I received from Jade afterwards is the reason I do what I do and am so passionate about my work…..” Good morning Kristen, I wanted you to know that when I woke this morning in my “new” home I felt such peace. The first in a very long time. Thank you for all that you’ve done and are doing, you truly do change lives with your talents!”
Kristen , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Hi…..I am Kristen. I am the Owner/Founder & Stylist for Reset Home Styling, LLC. Originally from Connecticut, I have lived in Reno, Nevada for the past 29 years. Surrounded by the majestic Sierra Nevadas we have loved taking advantage of all our area has to offer. As a young girl, I was always fascinated by color and drawn to the simplicity and beauty of colorful clothing. This passion continued to evolve as my parents moved our family to the SF Bay Area. As a teenager, I worked in fashion retail and alongside a prominent personal color consultant. It was there that my love for color and design really took root, setting the stage for my future passion and career.
As an adult, my focus shifted from fashion to home styling. My husband and I have moved our family several times, buying and selling a number of homes along the way. Each time, I always worked to make our home presentable and more marketable. I had never heard of staging before, but instinctively I knew that this was the process, and it worked! We sold each home quickly and for a nice profit. In 2016, after becoming burned out in small corporate administrative jobs, and being encouraged by our realtor, I discovered I might be able to make a career out of refreshing homes for homeowners to sell or dwell in. Along with my oldest daughter, I founded a vacant home staging company after we had both received our certification in home staging and redesign. This certification, awarded by the Home Staging Resource. equipped us with a thorough understanding of professional staging techniques and industry standards, which greatly contributed to our success. The properties we staged consistently sold swiftly, often above the asking price, leading to a fruitful partnership with another local staging company.
However, my true passions lies in working directly with homeowners, which led me to specialize in occupied staging. I help clients utilize existing furniture and decor to either prepare their home for the market, or simply refresh and reset their living environment. Furthering my training, I studied under Bobbie McGrath, a globally recognized leader in Occupied Staging, and earned my Occupied Consultation Specialist (TM) certification.
At Reset Home Styling, what sets us apart is that we are committed to the idea that great design doesn’t have to break the bank. By creatively utilizing what you already own we can transform your space into a stylish and functional home that fits your budget and timeline. We listen to the client’s story and the story of the home and curate surroundings that bring function, flow and those stories to life. Additionally, we understand the importance of effectively staging your home to enhance it’s marketability and maximize your return on investment. We can also assist with choosing interior/exterior paint colors and materials, or photo styling right before the photographer comes in to take those listing photos, offering assistance to clients and their own particular needs.
My mission as a home stylist is to ensure that each of my clients feels confident and proud, whether they are enjoying a refreshed personalized living space, or preparing their property for a successful sale.
Your home is your largest asset, it shapes the lives of the family members inside. A home can bring clarity and support or chaos and turmoil. Being invited into someone’s home and personal space reflects a high level of trust and is a privilege I do not take lightly. For me, the most meaningful part of my work is when a client tells me that they finally feel happy and at peace in their home. Knowing I helped create that feeling, is the biggest honor and why I love what I do!
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
On of the lessons I have had to unlearn is that I was not skilled enough to do what I do as a home stylist. I hoped I was intelligent enough and maybe had talent, but I filled my own head with self doubt and questions about my abilities. I got certified, I set up my business the proper way. I had clients early on who believed in me and thankfully my work as a home stager and stylist helped them sell their homes quickly, or gave them the peaceful and beautiful home they dreamed of. But, I always felt like I was less than…..less than qualified, less than experienced, less than creative enough. With each client experience has come wisdom over the last seven years. I have made sure that I have constantly updated my staging and styling education. I keep up with the latest design trend knowledge. I seek out product knowledge for home materials. I network, I talk to other vendors about their areas of expertise. Most importantly, I always give my client’s the best possible styling service and experience possible. Once I started showing up as my authentic self and thinking about ways I could enhance my services, I started feeling more professional, more in-tune to my clients. The result has been more confidence, less of the “imposter syndrome”. I had to re-write my own script to bring about the positive changes I wanted to see as a first time small business owner.
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
The best source of new clients for me has always been referrals. Clients who have experienced my services and can speak to others who might be on the fence about using a home stylist to refresh their homes, or get them ready to sell. Most people think they know what staging and styling is and that anyone can add some pretty decor and voila! The clients I have worked with have seen, first hand, how my processes have given them direction, a plan, and saved them time and money as they refresh their homes.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.resethomestyling.com
Image Credits
Head shot: Photo credit- Alita Rey, AmariRey Productions
All other photos: Photo credit- Reset Home Styling, LLC