The Alchemy of Staging SkyFin (formerly known as The Jetsons House)

I was always curious and amazed by the concept of Alchemy — a type of chemistry widely used in European countries during the Middle Ages. The German noble families were committed to discovering medicines that would cure ANY disease, and how to change ordinary metals into gold. They invested large sums of money supporting alchemists and their various experiments. It is interesting to note that such patronage can have far-reaching results. While they never turned iron into gold, findings of the alchemists became the foundation for medical development in Germany and the subsequent creation of many modern pharmaceutical practices.

Here is what I mean by alchemy in the final steps of development on a residential project. An architect is a type of alchemist. In our trade we understand that the architectural elements with their materials and proportions actually create a mix that can bring about beauty and well-being. It is a form of magic, touching all the senses when done correctly.

But designing and building the home is only the first step of the alchemy process.

The second step, in my view, is the carefully crafted connection elements between the inside of the house and the greater outdoors. In a single family home, I believe in having a strong relationship with the garden. This is accomplished through large, strategically placed glass doors and windows. The garden needs to be designed in a way that feels like an extension of the interior — like it is invited into the home.

A home is essentially a shell for life to happen, and life in a home is primarily human. Pets, uninvited birds, (iguanas in Miami), can be part of a home, but we aren’t addressing those right now lol.

People feel comfortable and joyful in a home that serves their lifestyle, which happens through furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E for short in my industry). FF&E items are the pieces not permanently attached to the building structure. Furniture: movable items including chairs, tables, sofas, and beds. Fixtures: items fastened to the building but removable without structural damage, such as lighting, artwork, display cases, and window treatments. Equipment: technology and machinery needed for daily operations, including appliances, computers, printers.

A house can be beautiful AND practical. Although both contain beauty, I don’t like to compare a house with a museum, because a museum does not serve a person’s 24 hour, day to day life. I have just a word about displaying art in a home. I strongly believe the depiction and meaning of the art selections should contain qualities of peace, inner joy, harmony, and order. Disruptive art can destroy the harmony of a room.

The success of Alchemy in a home is the achievement of beauty. It is accomplished by a combination of the architecture, the garden, and the interior design components. Therefore the third and final step of the alchemy process is the FF&E phase.

As a developer group, our goal is to put the house on the market. Most visitors (potential buyers) cannot envision living in a home unless the interior design is done, to pretty much the last detail (staging is the industry term).

This phase tends to make me uncomfortable. Perhaps it comes from a deeply rooted territorial feeling in me, but imagine my position. I designed the architecture of the house with great thought and care. I co-designed the garden and its interaction with the home. This makes me want to ask, “Who are these interior designers that want to “invade” all my work?”

I agree in general with Viennese Architect Adolf Loos, when he said, “Ornament is a crime!” He wrote a collection of essays on this topic around 1908. He argues that ornamentation is a sign of cultural and intellectual backwardness, a “crime” against progress, and a waste of resources.

But I could not live in a house strictly applying Adolf Loos’ philosophy. We could not sell a house with this philosophy either. This means I take it with a grain of salt. In addition, he didn’t have any children so he has no idea what they do to the pristine interiors of a house. LOL

STAGING

Staging is the act of styling or furnishing a property to enhance its attractiveness for potential buyers. It offers a vision of what the home will feel like to its potential user.

For Skyfin we hired a staging team based in Miami whose owner strives to capture the beauty of a Tropical lifestyle and apply it to their interiors. We interviewed many companies, but the work of this particular staging team resonated with the vision I had for Skyfin in everyday life.

I provided visualizations and renderings to the team. The plans (blueprints) were empty of furniture, but the visualizations were important because I had already found furniture styles that worked well with the futuristic interiors. In the design stage, I was constantly making sure the scale of FF&E was appropriate for the areas with low ceilings (existing house) and high ceilings (new Master wing).

Once the staging was done, Gabriela Liebert and her team gave a final approval. The next step was to invite the Sales Team and professional photographer for a walk through, offering very valuable input. In Skyfin, they felt we should add more color in the form of art and accessories. We asked the staging team to change out a few paintings and to add some colorful vases with flowers, decorative pillows and throws.

Finally, the house is ready to welcome potential buyers. We are thrilled with the hard-won results, making this home ready to host life once again. In the case of SkyFin, the alchemy didn’t change iron to gold, but it did change a deserted concrete structure into an impeccable, modern, comfortable home that you would swear is floating in the clouds. It also changed the overgrown, unkempt garden into a peaceful haven of green trees, orange birds of paradise, and a curved, crystalline blue pool. We feel the joy this home will bring to its owners is so much better than gold! Visit our website for more pictures, history, and information about SkyFin today.