A-list celebrity stager Meridith Baer, Founder and CEO of Meridith Baer Home, has a knack for presenting homes in their best light before they hit the real estate market. She has spent over two decades making properties shine from office locations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, the Hamptons and Miami. Actor Bradley Cooper retained Baer when listing his circa 1921 Venice Beach bungalow last year, relying on her proven talents to stage his home. The property ultimately sold in a few short weeks at a price six figures above the asking. So, what’s Baer’s secret to staging a home? She says it’s all about making sure they don’t look like they’ve been staged.
The bungalow’s coastal California vibe is characterized by vaulted ceilings clad in reclaimed wood, a combination of smooth concrete and wide plank wood flooring, and an effortless indoor-outdoor connection achieved via retractable window walls and glass doors. Some of Bradley Cooper’s own furnishings were used for the staging, including the center island bar stools. “The goal was to blend our Meridith Baer inventory to what Bradley already had in the house,” Baer said. “We wanted it to feel welcoming and warm.”
Many areas in the two bedroom layout overlook sumptuous views of the private backyard featuring a vine-covered pergola, fire pit, built-in barbecue, hot tub and sheltered areas for dining and lounging. “The house sits behind beautiful hedges and feels like you are in a private oasis,” Baer commented, an aspect of the home the actor appreciated during his downtime.
Cooper moved into the bungalow in 2004, a significant investment since it was the first home he ever bought. Its open-concept living spaces and completely sheltered backyard were important selling points, although Baer pointed out that every home has a unique spirit. “We like to feel the bones of the house before staging, we love to enhance whatever style the house is. Sometimes it’s a clean austere feel with minimalist touches, and other times it’s a historical home in the Hollywood Hills that gets lots of color and vintage pieces,” she explained.
Mantled in planks of rustic wood, the living area’s fireplace creates a warmth-generating focal point on chilly evenings. Meridith Baer Home is also a full-service interior design studio, work which differs from staging a home for a seller. “Both are equally important parts of our company, but a homeowner may have more of a connection or personal attachment to the house when staging,” Baer said. “A real estate agent may have different priorities for staging, such as making sure the space flows and that it’s not cluttered. A homeowner may not feel as comfortable detaching from personal effects,” whether staging or renovating.
Collaborating closely with Cooper’s real estate agent, the staging team highlighted the home’s existing appeal of light-filled rooms in a storybook setting surrounded by greenery. “The house has an eclectic feel, so we matched that style,” Baer noted. “It was a pleasure (to stage), one of the most favorite projects we have worked on.”
Photography by The Lux Level.
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