Debra Ostrus is the owner of Spaces Streamlined Staging and Styling, a home enhancement company based in Gig Harbor Washington. Debra is an HSR certified home stager, redesigner and professional organizer and proud member of the Real Estate Staging Association. Debra created her business in 2009 with a desire to help people create a beautiful and calm environment for themselves and their families and also to help them sell their homes for the best price possible with her home staging services.

Learn More About Debra

Who is your role model and why?

My mom has always been my role model as she works hard, is strong and smart, kind, gracious in every situation and treats everyone around her with respect.

What part of owning your own business is the least enjoyable for you and why?

After all this time owning my business I am still uncomfortable with trying to “sell” to people…

When you are in a rut creatively where do you go or what do you do to get out of it?

I love to browse Pinterest and Houzz for beautiful spaces for inspiration.

What do you think about when you’re alone in your car? 

I am usually thinking about what on my list of a million things to do needs to be done next and planning how to accomplish it!

If you could only keep five possessions, what would they be?

My bed (it’s so comfortable!), my Suburban (can’t work without it!) my laptop, photo album of my beautiful daughter when she was a baby and my box filled with the cards my husband has written to me over the years.

Why did you choose home staging?

Like most home stagers the reason I became interested in staging was I love everything “home”, and am happiest while creatively working on making spaces beautiful and thought owning a staging business would allow me to work with my passion every day!

What does a perfect day look like to you?

A perfect work day is when all the pieces of a project come together just the way I planned and the homeowner and realtor are thrilled with the result! A perfect relaxing day would be sitting in the sun by the water, visiting and laughing with my family.

What project are you really excited about right now and why?

I just finished staging a midcentury modern house that had some dramatic spaces I really enjoyed enhancing. I had recently purchased a large piece of blue, white and gold framed abstract art that looked fantastic hung on the face of a tall white brick fireplace and pulled those colors into the room with accessories. The house itself had new paint and carpet but needs renovating and I think the staging will really help buyers imagine the possibilities the home holds.

Favorite meal after a long day of staging?

A big chicken or taco salad and glass of wine.

Would you rather stage an occupied listing or vacant?

Vacants are easier in that everything I’m working with is chosen by me so the entire home can be given a cohesive design- but doing a quick Use What You Have kind of staging for an occupied home and seeing the dramatic difference that can be made in just a few hours is really fun and satisfying too!

You can find out more about Debra and her company by visiting her website www.spacesstreamlined.com

Originally posted on the Home Staging Newswire.