Matthew Finlason

The Mansion

Luxurious

This was our most ambitious project on The Stagers. We had only five days and a limited budget to transform a massive 8,000 square-foot mansion in a very upscale neighborhood. By bringing luxurious furnishings, rich carpets and well-appointed accessories, we clearly defined vignettes that turned a cold, empty space into a warm, comfortable home.

The owner, a British house-flipping maverick, had royal expectations and a penchant for second-guessing other people’s work. As if that wasn't enough pressure, I found out that Dekora's other hot shot stager, Jay Hodgins, had started the job and picked out many of the furnishings. Working with another designer can get ugly fast. Jay's talent is second to none when it comes to high-end traditional extravagance and I wasn't about to be bullied. My first impression of Jay was his vintage Mercedes Benz, which rolled up to my vintage BMW. It was a showdown: The schooled 'Interior Design Veteran' vs. 'The Cocky Maverick Know-It-All'.

What began as one trying to out-do the other, quickly became creative synergy. We still refer to it as "The Dream Team."

Photos courtesy of HGTV and Walter Ledaca

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