Just a few years in the past, dwelling design knowledgeable and actual property journalist Melissa Dittmann Tracey had a homeselling conundrum.

She and her husband each labored within the metropolis of Chicago, 45 minutes from their suburban dwelling. After they put the home up on the market, they wanted to determine how you can deal with two energetic canine throughout showings. Speeding dwelling each time a purchaser was considering a tour wasn’t sensible. Nor was having a pet sitter on name—or boarding their pets on daily basis.

So Tracey got here up with an ingenious answer.

She determined to stage her canine—shopping for them matching sweaters and inserting them behind a see-through barrier within the laundry room.

“Each day earlier than I left for work, I posted an indication inside our dwelling by the doorway,” says Tracey within the first episode of her new podcast, “The Housing Muse Podcast with Melissa Dittmann Tracey.” “The signal learn ‘Welcome to our dwelling. Pardon our barks. We’re Oscar and Bailey, and we’re excited you’re right here.’ ”

The Traceys obtained two provides on the home ensuing from showings when the canine have been current.

“The Housing Muse Podcast” is receiving rave evaluations on Apple Podcasts, and host Tracey—who can also be the creator of the favored weblog “Styled, Staged & Offered” and a daily contributor to REALTOR® Journal—provides a wealth of home staging suggestions for listeners.

Tracey additionally examines the most popular dwelling design traits on the podcast. Latest highlights embody paint decisions impressed by the Roaring ’20s, multifunctional furnishings for the house workplace, and the most recent choices for kitchen counter tops. And she or he takes a lighthearted have a look at some frequent DIY and design failures. Among the many not-so-hot traits that Tracey has singled out in latest episodes are millennial pink (particularly within the rest room) and “bushy” chairs—fake sheepskin chairs that may turn into matted. As Tracey says within the episode titled “Prime 10 Worst Residence Design Traits, 2021 Version,” “It is best to by no means, ever should comb your chair.”

Tradition Scan caught up with Melissa Dittmann Tracey not too long ago and obtained the within story on the favored podcast.

How did your love of dwelling design and staging develop?

Over time, I’ve moved from coast to coast and locations in between—all all through the U.S. I developed an appreciation for actual property and residential design after watching dwelling stagers in motion make over areas. Typically it’s only a few tweaks, and it could actually make all of the distinction to an area! It’s really exhibiting a house in its finest mild. It’s a disgrace that some owners don’t get to see that till they really put their home available on the market! I need to assist owners respect their dwelling extra whereas they’re nonetheless residing there.

How has your expertise as editor and producer on the “Sizzling or Not?” phase on NAR’s “Actual Property In the present day” radio present ready you to department out to your personal podcast?

NAR’s “Actual Property In the present day” podcast and radio present is a enjoyable weekly phase that provides an opportunity to place the most recent dwelling design traits to a take a look at in a quizlike format. White roofs—sizzling or not? Speckled granite—sizzling or not? Velvet sofas—sizzling or not? My responses are based mostly on what’s trending, factoring in dwelling designer enter, shopper and reworking surveys, and extra. “The Housing Muse Podcast” is my likelihood to go extra in-depth on these subjects and to interview specialists all through the housing trade.

Are you aware what stings? After I’m on a “Sizzling or Not?” episode and the host, Stephen Gasque, asks me a couple of pattern that I do know I’ve in my own residence—and I’ve to then say “not” (reminiscent of speckled granite within the kitchen!). That’s powerful. However hey, I’m right here to report on the traits; I don’t all the time observe them myself! Some are an excessive amount of for me—wallpaper on the ceiling?! Not an opportunity!

What’s your recording studio like? Have you ever skilled any work-from-home challenges when recording?

My dwelling workplace, which can also be my podcast studio, is light-filled with an enormous window, a crystal chandelier for some added bling, a tropical plant (as a result of I used to dwell within the desert), and a favourite piece of art work that I discovered at a boutique—rolled-up music lyrics that have been made right into a wreath.

One of many largest challenges of recording from my dwelling workplace is my canine (sure, the canine I staged!). My canine has separation nervousness, so if he’s not close to me, he howls. So I let him simply sleep at my ft whereas I’m recording. Nicely, I used to be doing an interview for the podcast when he begins to snore—loudly! I attempted to wake him, however he wasn’t budging. So on one of many episodes—I received’t say which—you may hear a canine loud night breathing faintly within the background!

You’re well-known because the creator of the favored “Styled, Staged & Offered” weblog. Can followers of the weblog stay up for an growth of a few of their favourite subjects on “The Housing Muse Podcast?”

Sure, undoubtedly! I discovered so many individuals have been reaching out to speak to me extra in regards to the traits on the weblog that I made a decision to begin a podcast to do precisely that—discuss them.

One in all my favourite podcast episodes was impressed by a latest “Styled, Staged & Offered” weblog put up, “4 Easy Methods to Present Off the Kitchen.” I had dwelling stager and designer Krisztina Bell on “The Housing Muse Podcast” to speak extra about these kitchen traits … is granite actually heading out? Will fashionable grey or blue cupboards stand the take a look at of the time? The weblog was the proper place to highlight the traits and present them, and the podcast gave me the possibility to listen to extra from Krisztina in regards to the endurance of those traits and their worth from an actual property perspective.

What do you hope listeners will come away with after streaming an episode of “The Housing Muse Podcast”?

I hope they will achieve new, sensible concepts for their very own dwelling. Your house is a mirrored image of you. It may be a helpful asset, too. So let’s make it look good, and never let it get outdated or neglected. You don’t should lay our a fortune to do it, both.

“The Housing Muse Podcast” is a chance to share the “better of” tales and insights from the true property and residential design industries. And I hope after every episode, you’re taking away a brand new design concept, a brand new appreciation to your dwelling, or a tip that helps you purchase or promote smarter.

“The Housing Muse Podcast with Melissa Dittmann Tracey” is obtainable on iTunes, iCoronary heart, Spotify, Amazon, Audible, and Deezer.