I don't see the link....

At that price point, if someone has absolutely no ability to see different furnishings, they'd be looking at the house with a designer. But I suppose showing it with choices online ups the odds of someone who is totally imagination impaired being willing to go look.

Perhaps trying to showcase versatility?

This is a perfect example of how decorating according to the style and vintage of a house usually gives better results. In almost every choice, I preferred the traditional.

I’ve been looking at so many listings lately, mostly staged, some IRL and some virtually, and they are all starting to look alike. To the point where I can’t remember which ones I liked, unless they showed a floor plan with a particularly rmarkable feature. I’m looking with my brother for vintage condos, and the presence and location of outdoor space seems to be the only thing I can keep track of in my head. It doesn’t help when virtual decor adds or deletes features like built-ins and islands.

They use the same style of furniture all the time, and everything is painted light grey, real or virtual. Condos, houses, and the house style and price point don’t seem to matter. This is why I think they should put the floor plan at the beginning.

I think it's very confusing to have two photos. Nope, I don't like it. Anyone with the money for this place doesn't need the 'help'.

Nini,I agree. The stager has replaced beautiful oriental rugs with Wayfair quality and basically turned everything white and gray.

Yeah, the original looks much better to me. I'm sick to death of the ubiquitous bland, lifeless staging/simulations.

In houses like the one in the link here, I prefer the more traditional decor, too. From my own personal aesthetic, I think it takes a very skilled eye to be able to effectively use modern finishings in older, traditional homes. Otherwise, to borrow from Dedtired's reference, it looks completely Wayfaired. (That's a new phrase I'm adopting... the house looks Wayfaired.)

I've driven past that house (years ago when we were looking to move we went to see a house on Crestmont, around the corner). What offends me most about the virtual staging is that they got rid of the books in the library. Philistines!

Judging by the staging, the new owner would rather play golf than read.

All that gray--how depressing!! The staging shows no creativity just fad fad fad latest drab boring go tos. Thank goodness it is only VIRTUAL...how awful to think someone grayed out all the richness before you got a chance to love it in all it's glory.

I sure hope the next owner doesn’t paint the lovely woodwork. That would be sad..

I saw this sort of virtual update done recently on an upscale listing in my area. I think we need to remember that some of the potential buyers are decades younger than most of us and have no interest in home decor other than to have it look like every celebrity Instagram shot they see. In fact, some of the potential buyers are offshore investers who might never visit the property in person, but need an idea of how it can be made appealing to a lessee.

The first puctures are what is there now the second versions are to peak younger buyers‘ HGTV ”imaginations. It is common in more expensive as is properties where I live.

At one point, I thought the Canadian ambassador/diplomat lived there. Not sure because it was so long ago. I know I was in the house, but can't remember why-must have been with a friend who was a friend...hop, skip. and a jump from our house.

Cyn, maybe you knew some of the younger siblings?

Ded, I don't think so, but possible. I did know someone who lived next door (back yard backed up to this one) on that "new" cul-de-sac on left after turning onto Lafayette from Conshohocken State. I wish my memory were better. Sigh. I also hope new owners do not ruin it! Those virtual imaginings are just awful.

I'd never seen the two versions virtual staging. It's AMAZING to me to see what-can-be-done with a space. I really enjoyed it! And....I hate olefin rugs/Wayfair. I won't put one in my kitchen either. But.....I like seeing the staging changes. wow wow wow Loved it!

FYI I'd rather go jogging than read. 🐰Time to go play!

I have a feeling there is going to be someone who looks at the house in person and will want to know where the second (grey) stairhall is.

Ha ha, pal. Thats funny.

Cyn, i think that’s the same street Bookwoman mentioned above. Small world, or it is around here. P.S.justgot back from an event at the library..

To me it's a little scary, the importance of graying out all the character from the home . . . I have been perusing the real estate ads in nearby towns a little more upscale, and this trend is very depressing to me. I like natural colors. The newer versions look like prison decor . . . just MHO.

Oh, and the reason painted woodwork is all the rage nowdays is it is a way to use fake wood, composite or cheap wood and make it look the same as something of real quality. So why a person would want to paint something that says expense and taste and solid high quality is beyond me. Buy a newer McMansion with the fake paper stuff if that's what you like, plenty of options to chose from there.

I could understand virtually staging a property with digital furniture and accessories since a well-staged home is helpful with realestate photos. But it really bothers me to see them digitally remodeling the property (new kitchen countertops and backsplash, painting out the beautiful woodwork, etc). I understand that it's supposed to inspire ideas, but it seems like false advertising to me. The house should be listed as it is, not as it could be.

Oh my gosh, what a cool idea! I agree with pricklypearcactus though. It's a good idea to show people the potential (so many people have terrible imaginations), but they need to make it crystal clear that certain finishes are not real, so don't expect it to be there when you see it IRL.

It should have to say "Virtual Staging" right on the photograph, so people don't miss it, assuming they know how to read.

I know someone who did a commercial job and the client was not happy with the end result because the real thing had such inconvenient and non-stylish things as HVAC vents, light switches, emergency lighting and Exit signs, none of which the renderings had. If if were old school and an artistic rendering, there may have been some understanding that the drawings were not the entire reality and there would be some actual Infrastructure not shown in the virtual. But the virtual was so realistic otherwise that the client assumed the look would be 100% identical. Maybe.

I did a presentation once of a lobby renovation and I had actual photographs of the existing as well as the rendered version of what I was suggesting. I presented to a condo board. One guy who thought he was smarter than everyone else, proven by when he said " I may not be the smartest person in the room but I do not understand what I am looking at in this drawing, right here."

He pointed at the ceiling.

"And why is it brown and striped?"

It was brown and striped because the ceiling was clad in wood.

I said "That is the ceiling and it is wood"

And then he said "Again, I may not be very smart or design savvy, but...does anyone else thing it is um, a good idea to put wood on the ceiling?" And he kind of looked around and smirked.

I just stood there, waiting.

Finally somebody said. "That is the ceiling and it is drawn as wood because That is what is Already There and it is not in the budget to cover it" (And there was also a photograph of the existing on the same presentation board).

"Really?" he said "The ceiling is wood? I guess I didn't know that." And had to go out and look.

This was somebody on a design review committee for a condo. I was glad they decided to do nothing.

Yes, ded, that is the road. It is a tad shocking to me that the road and houses on Crestmont were built more than 50 years ago. Sigh. I am ancient.

I thought it was interesting but found myself toggling back and forth to see what was real and what was photoshopped. The primary bath was an awful example with the tiny mirror in one view and the huge overstuffed chair in another. Who would actually do that? I too preferred the softer more traditional views in general. And the we got some shocking deep colors that gave the house a too-dark feel.

ha, and of course I prefer the modern variations of all of these. including the library painted black. I wouldn't do that to real wood trim, but I like how it looked in the mockup. either way, it does really give a good idea of what kind of potential the house has, for people who have a hard time imagining it.

that movie theater was hideous, and I'm pretty sure not photoshopped. I kind of wish they did, it was so bad.