The renowned interior design firm PBF Homes brings expertise, high-end inventory and an understanding of Boston’s marketplace to luxury staging.
A recently staged dining room in a Needham home
Many people hire an interior designer after they buy a place, but in-the-know realtors hire PBF Homes (pbfhomes.com) to work with homeowners when they’re selling. The firm, helmed by Pam Forman, offers clients luxury staging through the unique lens of designers who bring expertise, high-end inventory, attention to detail and a deep understanding of Boston’s marketplace to every project. Instead of simply moving in new furnishings, the team consults with homeowners on everything from the wall colors to wallpaper to the items displayed on shelves, elevating the home into a holistically styled space.
Principal Pamela Brown Forman
Rae McCalmont, the director of staging, draws on a multifaceted background in the business that includes styling, buying and merchandising. “The point of staging is for people to envision their life in a home. Some homes are brand-new builds that need the warmth of furniture, some feature tricky floor plans that a buyer needs to see furnished to understand. What sets our staging business apart is that we don’t just put down furniture. We bring in layers with pillows and accessories so buyers walk into a wow moment,” says McCalmont.
She considers the home’s location and architecture before she begins. A condo in the Seaport will look different than a Tudor in Wellesley or a seaside Cape home. But ultimately, the overall aesthetic has to reflect Forman and PBF Homes.
Another styled nook in the Needham home.
The luxury staging business works in tandem with the design firm. Forman is everpresent, overseeing the creative direction and strategic vision of each project. She is the one to lead the consultations with homeowners about the small renovations that could better sell their home. Forman can easily o er to wallpaper a powder room or complete a small tile job at a reasonable cost because she has the resources and backstock.
Many times, a staged home attracts a new design client. “We’ve had quite a few clients call us to do full interior designs after seeing how we staged their old home,” says McCalmont. New clients also come in the form of open house attendees and buyers who hire PBF Homes to design their new place. “Sometimes when we stage a home, the new buyer will ask to purchase our pieces. We have over 6000 pieces of furnishings in our warehouse, so we can do that too,” says McCalmont.
The only danger working with PBF Homes? Your house might look so good staged that you’ll reconsider selling.
