Issue link: http://southshoremagazine.uberflip.com/i/165447
house & home Setting the Space star yo u are the of his stage by Maurajane Rogers Photography by Susan Hagstrom The volatility and unpredictability of the current real estate market demands an uncommon approach to selling property. Enter Blair Hamaty, stage right, Accredited Stage Professional, member of International Association of Home Staging Professionals, President of B.I.R.C. (Boston International Regional Chapter of Home Stagers) and owner of the world's (yes, the world's) largest home staging company. On a commanding block in America's Hometown lay a world of untold treasures and collections for your home, your workspace, your man cave or perhaps your art studio. Whatever the space you possess—whether selling or staying, posting or hosting—Blair Hamaty and his innovative team will execute a staging using a mixture of your hopes, their vision and thousands of style choices to fill the need. A self-taught entrepreneur with experience in both business and design, Hamaty was determined to captain his own ship and sought an arena that fit his desire for artistic and personal freedom. His insistence that his work bring happiness and joy to others led him to incorporate his background in retail, furniture and home decor with his natural eye for fashion trends and it was there he was introduced to the world of home staging. Since the inception of Setting the Space nearly 8 years ago, a natural joie de vivre and inclination towards all things spectacular has rocketed Hamaty to the top of his game. Indeed, Hamaty dons many hats: those of buyer, designer, executive, personal shopper, guidance counselor, DJ, mixologist and more. Assisting Hamaty in the success of Setting the Space are Creative Director, Will Hayward and Lead Designer, Sue Shockley. This powerhouse triumvirate brings a vision to the world of home staging and interior design that knocks the socks off all competitors. The adage "when you love what you do it shows" applies to Hamaty as he is on a veritable mission from God to bring people happiness through accoutrement of many kinds. This mission is validated and completed tenfold daily, as was evidenced by the manner in which he moved throughout his showroom one recent chilly Saturday morning. Greeting customers, engaging them personally, offering assistance without every being overbearing, always available, never suffocating—these are some of the basic tenets of his business model. 18 Hamaty explains that, "most buyers, over 90% in fact, cannot envision living in a space not properly staged." With experience on the national stage, an eye focused on trends beyond the borders and international scouting from Europe to Africa to the Far East, Setting the Space "works for homeowners, builders, developers and realtors to produce effective home sales." Beyond that, Setting the Space is for the everyday man and woman, looking for anything and everything to make their surroundings and daily existence beyond the mundane. With two warehouses, a three-story showroom and an interior design studio, Setting the Space will provide you with endless original options. Whether you are on a bungalow budget or a mind-boggling amount of penthouse pennies, Setting the Space will set you straight without being narrow-minded. Soup-to-nuts services range from consulting to full-blown execution of readying your home for presentation and sale. Two warehouses well stocked with "inventory ready to be placed in your space," are easily accessible and open to the public. More importantly, they are free for browsing at your pace without an oppressive sales force ruining your enjoyment of the furniture, notions and provisions skillfully displayed for consideration. Hamaty understands this need—that of the time to consider, digest and envision—when a client enters the warehouses or sister