Kelly Burris Design

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Kelly Burris Design Professional Home Stager & Architect, specializing in Occupied Home Staging in Dallas, TX and surrounding areas. Use what you have to make buyer's fall in love!

10/02/2026

Plaid is a Christmas classic—but the way you use it can completely change the look.

For this edition of Holiday Designer’s Notes, I’m looking at traditional style through plaid—from classic tartans to the rich brown plaids that feel especially beautiful right now.

One of my favorite looks has that unmistakable Ralph Lauren-inspired feel: brown plaid, luxurious ribbon, leather, greenery and layers of warm texture. It feels collected, comfortable and elevated without losing the nostalgia we love about traditional Christmas.

The designer trick? Don’t let the plaid do all the work.

Pair it with:
• solids to give the eye a place to rest
• velvet, leather and natural textures for depth
• greenery for contrast
• ribbon in varying widths and finishes for another layer of interest

It’s also a beautiful example of how this year’s brown trend can work in a very traditional holiday setting.

Save this for your Christmas decorating inspiration—and tell me: classic red tartan or rich brown plaid?

And if you would@like help bring this magic to your home or office, message me so we can get you on the calendar.

09/28/2026

The staging plan changed.

This home started with a light stage—art, accessories and finishing touches to help it feel more polished and photo-ready.

Then, just two days before staging day, the agent asked if we could add a little furniture. It was a goid strategic move by agent Mollie French Hancock.

Absolutely.

Rather than fully furnishing the home, we focused on the spaces where a few key pieces could make the biggest difference—helping define the rooms, add warmth and give buyers a better sense of how the home could live. The agent brought a navy couch, and the sellers left their entertainment center, which was repurposed to create a console and bookshelves. We filled in with the rest.

It was a strategic enhancement to the staging already in place—not starting over, just adding what the home needed to create a strong first impression.

The home went under contract in 20 days, compared with the 57-day average market time in Garland, according to Realtor.com.

Sometimes staging isn’t about doing more everywhere. It’s about knowing where a little more can make a difference.

09/25/2026

Sometimes a listing needs a fresh start.

This home had previously spent more than a year on the market without selling and was eventually rented. When the seller decided it was time to sell again, it came back to market with a new strategy—including staging.

And it had some serious competition.

Located in a neighborhood where buyers can still purchase new construction, this home wasn’t just competing with other resale properties. It was competing with brand-new homes and builder incentives.

The goal was to give buyers a fresh experience of the home—highlighting its features, creating connection and helping them envision themselves living there.

Now, it’s under contract.

A fresh presentation can’t change the market or the competition—but it can change the way buyers experience a home.

Congratulations to the sellers and to agent Jessie Rittenhouse for a strong marketing strategy that helped get this beautiful house sold!

Staging with strategy and style.

09/19/2026

Who says Christmas has to be red and green? 🎄

One of the most interesting holiday trends I’m seeing this year is the freedom to choose a Christmas palette that feels at home in your home.

Black and white for a graphic, contemporary interior. Cocoa paired with blush for something warm and unexpected. Gold with soft blue for a lighter, elegant look. And yes—even a completely pink tree.

One of my favorites takes it even further: glass ornaments in shades of soft pink, amber and brown, accented by a beautiful gold-leaf spray that sweeps around the tree. It’s light, airy and completely non-traditional—but incredibly eye-catching.

The common thread isn’t one particular color. It’s permission to rethink what “Christmas colors” can be.

Your holiday décor can complement the colors and personality of your home while still creating all the magic of the season.

Which unexpected palette would you try?

And if you’d rather have someone bring your holiday vision together for you, holiday decorating appointments are now open. Send me a message to start planning your Christmas Decorating appointment.

09/15/2026

The house didn’t change. The way buyers experience it did. ✨

A few before-and-afters from our recent North Dallas staging.

Strategic staging helps buyers understand the space—where furniture belongs, how rooms function and how the home could feel once they’re living there.

For this one, we focused on creating defined spaces, improving the visual flow and adding the layers that help each room photograph beautifully and feel more inviting in person.

I had a little help on this one with my intern, Vanessa Stumpf and it all came together beautifully!

Take a look at the before + afters and tell me—which transformation made the biggest difference?

Presented by: Jackie M Villegas
Home Staging: Kelly Burris Design

09/10/2026

Staging day in North Dallas! ✨

Today I had some extra help getting this home market-ready—and I’m excited to introduce my assistant, Vanessa. She’s been working alongside me behind the scenes, helping with everything from steaming bedding, styling all the bathrooms, and helping to make sure all those finishing details come together on staging day. I’m so glad to have her as part of Kelly Burris Design!

We’re working with Jackie M Villegas to bring this North Dallas home to life, creating defined spaces, stronger photos, and a clear vision for buyers.

Can’t wait for you to see how this one turned out. Stay tuned for the reveal!

09/09/2026

Now on the market—and recently staged.

Occupied staging doesn’t mean starting over. For this 4-bedroom home, we focused on the first-floor spaces buyers would experience most, working with the homeowners’ existing furnishings and strategically adding what was needed.

A dining table helped define the dining area. A different rug better anchored the living room. Art, plants and accessories added warmth and cohesion. And in the primary suite, a headboard, bed frame and layered bedding created a strong focal point and a more polished presentation.

Keep what works. Add what’s missing. And help buyers see the home at its best.

Now ready for its next chapter.

Listed by: Adam Bouaazzi, Compass RE LLC-Park Cities
Home Staging: Kelly Burris Design

09/06/2026

Now on the market—and recently staged.

This 3-bedroom, 2-bath home was all about making every square foot count. What began as an accessory stage expanded to include the main living area, where we worked with some of the seller’s existing pieces and added just what was needed to create a more complete, welcoming space.

With a smaller footprint and a floor plan that required some thoughtful decisions, we focused on defining the living area, creating comfortable conversation space and showing buyers the potential of the eat-in kitchen.

The result is a home that feels intentional, inviting and easy to understand.

Because staging isn’t about filling a house with furniture. It’s about helping buyers see how the space can work for them.

Smart edits. Strategic enhancements.

09/03/2026

Christmas is getting brighter. 💗🎄

While some of this year’s holiday trends are soft and understated, we’re also seeing Christmas décor move in a much more colorful direction.

Some palettes are light, airy and almost translucent. Others go all in with unexpected brights like hot pink and lime green. And garden-inspired trees filled with pink florals bring an entirely different kind of Christmas magic.

What ties them together? A willingness to have a little more fun with color.

It’s playful, fresh and a great reminder that your Christmas décor doesn’t have to follow the traditional red-and-green rules.

Which would you choose—soft and whimsical or bold and bright?

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