Although Erika's expertise seemed to be in designing and staging houses for sale, I needed someone to help me set up a couple of long-term vacation rentals, so I thought I'd give her a call to see if she could assist. I'm so glad I did because she was incredibly easy to work with and helped me design and purchase the appropriate furniture, decor, and housewares for the rental units I wanted to establish. While setting up long-term vacation rentals differs from staging a house for sale, her experience shone through as she tailored the design to accommodate those who would be living in the homes temporarily. I highly recommend her for any design or renovation project you might have. It was a truly enjoyable experience working with her! read more

Awaken Designs - Home Staging Near Me - San Francisco, California

It is said that Staging makes the difference when selling your home. We took a leap of fate and interviewed several staging companies. Erika from Awaken Designs immediately embraced our home, even though there were a couple of spaces in the home that were a bit of a challenge. Her creative vision turned the property into a master piece! Every room was more inviting than the next!! With great pride we put our home on the market!! There was a huge turnout for the open house. It soon became the desire of many a bidder! SOLD! So is staging a good investment??... if it's with Erika at Awaken Designs, it certainly is!!! Thank you, Erika! read more

See all

Erika has staged two of our multi-family properties after we completed interior remodels on both. She came as a recommendation from a friend in the industry, and we couldn't be any happier with the product! She staged one of our properties in Hayward (3BR/2BA) as well as a property in San Francisco (2BR/1BA). For each, she was able to take our modern finishes (paint color, floor color, cabinets, etc) and accentuate them with color, warmth, and elegance. Everyone, from our photographer, to investors, to future tenants, all raved at her staging work. Erika even helped us with the design process. Upon an initial site visit, Erika had made a recommendation to move a closet (and walls) to create more of an open floor plan. We took her advice, moved a wall and closet, and the outcome was incredible. Not only does she really know her interior design, but she's incredible at visualizing a floor plan and designing/creating a more appealing living space. Erika's pricing is competitive, and she is incredibly flexible and easy to work with. I'd highly recommend her, and would not hesitate in calling her again for future projects. read more

Awaken Designs - Home Staging Near Me - San Francisco, California

i had a listing that needed to be staged ASAP. all stagers were booked out for weeks. i was in a major bind. but erika squeezed me in between jobs despite her packed schedule. she's a doll! the day of installation, unbeknownst to us, another person was moving in and monopolized the front parking load area as well as the elevator! other stagers would have just quit and come back another day ( and charged me client more i'm sure!) but ericka took it all with stride and figured out how to unload her stuff quickly with her crew and somehow managed to use the elevator to ferret her items to my listing. i was wildly impressed. she was determined to get the job done. she understood my deadline and urgency. i trusted her immediately and left her to do her magic. i came back later in the day, she finished early too! i was floored. it looks utterly fabulous and more importantly my seller was impressed which makes me look good too. thanks erika!!! PS: she is just really nice person too. not snooty like some designers. real down to earth read more

Awaken Designs - lower nob hill , staggering views. great decor! - Home Staging Near Me - San Francisco, California

Awaken Designs not only creates beautiful designs through Staging and Feng Shui, but Erika really gets to understand the people that she is working with and tailors her suggestions based on what her clients really need. I felt like she really got to know me when we first worked together, and she brought her own expertise and ideas to what I was looking for. I have worked with Erika over the years again and again, and have been wow'ed by the fresh perspective, and beauty that she brings to every project that she is a part of. I highly recommend Erika and Awaken Designs for you home needs! read more

I'm a Realtor in San Francisco - Awaken Designs & Erika are my staging Dream Team! I make an appointment for Erika to come and preview each home and once she steps through the front door, I can immediately see her motor working - she makes great suggestions for paint colors, appropriate lighting design features, and then she takes accounting of the space and how she can maximize the flow and appeal of the home through her top quality and aesthetically pleasing staging pieces. Every listing that she has staged for you me has not only blown away every buyer that walked through the door, but has totally impressed the sellers that were selling these homes. Sellers even joke with me that the home now looks so gorgeous that they no longer want to sell!! Of course, when they see the sky high offering prices that Awaken Designs helps generate, then the decision is easy and they are so grateful for Erika's staging expertise. Thank you Erika and Awaken Designs for assisting in creating my listing masterpieces and at a competitive fee. Oh and when the home has been sold, Erika's team makes sure the furniture is removed neatly and the place is left sparkling. That's 5 star service!!! -Tim Fong of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage read more

See all

I have worked with Erika Lam on a number of projects in the Bay Area over several years now. The results speak for themselves - the projects look great, the people love them, and the houses sell right away. What's not to love? Erika is also a clear-headed, honest, pleasant and straightforward person to work with. Her pricing is right, her timing is good, and she does what she promises. I have every intention of working with Erika Lam again. read more

I was looking for a stager for my upcoming condo listing last month. I didn't have the best experience with the last stager I used - she was pretty scattered, seemed to not have time for my clients and the items she brought to stage the place just didn't fit and some of it seemed cheap (and this was a high-end condo). In my quest for a new stager, I contacted a few people from my company's "preferred vendor" list and didn't find anyone I felt was the right fit for my client. I knew he didn't want to spend much money to market his place but I also knew it was crucial to have the condo staged as it was a studio - basically one big room - and without staging it would have looked terrible in pictures. I actually found Erika/Awaken Designs on Yelp! I was very impressed with her work. She offered the most reasonably priced quote, was available when I needed her (with pretty short notice) and she definitely delivered. I didn't give her any direction or advice on what I was looking for. I just let her work her magic. The condo was transformed from a bland empty studio to a hip and cozy home. She chose vibrant colors for things like pillows and throws that really popped which worked great in the photography. Condos in this particular complex had been taking a few weeks to sometimes a couple months to get into contract (hard to believe that in SF right now, but it's true!) and I had 3 offers SIX DAYS after I posted the property on MLS. It sold for well over asking and I know a big reason is how great it looked with Erika's staging. Another thing - she was able to get add'l things done like have a chandelier installed by a handyman she uses. The owner had to pay for it but it was refreshing for her to offer to handle extras like this as I would have normally had to take the time to arrange it, meet the vendor, etc. Erika is great at what she does. On top of that, she's a nice, friendly person and is accountable. I never had to worry she wasn't going to come through. You won't be disappointed in using her for your home staging needs! read more

See all

Erika of Awaken Designs is amazing and very professional. As Realtors managing multiple projects with critical deadlines, such as haulers, painters, hardwood floor refinishers, and photographers, here's what's important: Is Erica responsive? Yes, via phone, email and text. Is she organized? Yes. Is she on schedule? Yes. And most importantly, are our clients impressed by her product? Absolutely! If you are a Realtor in the Bay Area, you definitely need to include Erika of Awaken Designs on your team of specialists. Your clients will love you for it! read more

Thank you Erika & Awaken Designs for all of your staging help with my past listings. Erika is very professional, as well as friendly and down to earth. She is very responsive, and always in good communication. She helps guide my clients through the whole process of getting their homes ready for sale since most home sellers are not familiar with Home Staging. Her team is efficient, respectful and detail-oriented, installing their beautiful staging design within a few days. In our last listing, the owners were amazed at how Erika was able to open up the space, to make it warm and inviting without overwhelming the rooms with furniture and accessories. She creates a flow in the home in which the buyers can walk through the house and feel really comfortable. My clients were thoroughly pleased as their home sold for above the listing price, in less than 30 days, and with numerous offers. They agreed that the staging cost was money worth investing, as the return on the investment was so great. Thank you again for your wonderful staging work read more

I have recommended Awaken Designs for staging to several of my clients who express 100% satisfaction. I refer Erika and her crew with confidence that the interior design will compliment the home, load-in + and removal of furnishings will be timely and the pricing is competitive. Further enhancing my decision to use Awaken is that realtors who view my listings compliment the staging. read more

I needed staging done last minute, and Erika was one of the few that actually answered her phone. She staged my 2bd/2.5ba condo in a short time crunch, and pulled it together perfectly. The furniture is amazing and made my property look beautiful. I highly recommend her, as she was very professional and accommodating. read more

Erika is the best! She shows up when she says she will and she does absolutely everything she can to make the process of staging as easy as possible. She has excellent taste and I am sure that she helped us get multiple offers on a home we recently sold. Look no further than Awaken Designs if you want amazing results! read more

Thank you Erika for an amazing job. You are friendly, responsive and professional. I am also a real estate agent. Erika's staging was key to the marketing of the property. Her wonderful accents in each room and making the overall look come together really shone through. I really enjoy the clean look she created. She knows how to high light the positive features of a space. Erika, you are a joy to work with. I will call on you to help me again and again, as well as refer you to my friends, clients and colleagues. Thank you so much Erika. read more

Erika was a gem to work with. We really felt that she was able to capture the essence of our home and get the most aesthetic value for our prospective buyer. Her choice of colors, fabric, and decoration created a sense of peace, order and playfulness we were looking for. Thank you for making our modestly sized condo look elegant and spacious to the discerning eye! I highly recommend Awaken Designs for your home staging needs! Katie and Erik read more

I wanted to get my condo on the market ASAP and Erika was able to squeeze me in AND offer me the most competitive price. She was very professional and I absolutely LOVE the job she did - very modern and sleek and people told me if definitely made my place look bigger. Thanks so much, Erika!! read more

I have nothing but great compliments for Awaken Designs!! And, to clarify, I rarely write reviews or provide testimonials, but I feel compiled to offer my high regards for Erika Lam and her team. I could write a book about how well her design looked in the condo space, but I first want to mention how great it was to work with her. She was so quick to reply to my first contact, and so efficient on her first visit. Then, she came out again to ensure her design would fit the space appropriately, and to confirm her furnishings would optimize the condo layout. I need to mention that my condo floorplan is not ideal, and so I give Awaken Designs extra kudos for creating such a nice "flow" in the space. To provide further details on her interior staging, I still cannot fully describe how amazing the staging looks!! I was (and still am) speechless!! When I first walked in to the space, I was blown away by all the great furnishings. Not only the large pieces, but also the fine details and the finishing touches. For example, the beautiful blanket/throw on the couch with colors that perfectly complimented the rest of the room. Or the recipe book that was opened on the kitchen counter to showcase the cooking area. The entire space looked so great, each room was staged appropriately, and ultimately all rooms tied together perfectly to boost the aesthetic appeal. I hope my comments provide the magnitude of appreciation I have for Awaken Designs. The work was so well done and the final product setup was so efficient and organized. I cannot thank Erika and her team enough. I am a very satisfied and happy customer!! read more

I am a realtor in SF and I needed a condo to be staged pronto and on a budget. I had several other stagers come in with bids and schedules, but ended up choosing Awaken Designs. They were fast and efficient, did a great job at staging the place and fit in with the budget we needed. Very accommodating! Erika was a pleasure to work with and I will definitely refer her out and use her for the next house that we stage. Thanks Erika! read more

Erika is a dream. She came to advise me on a home I'll be living in temporarily. Her knowledge of Feng Shui is expansive and practical. With a few adjustments it not only feels more enjoyable to live in but I also have more work and am feeling more spacious and creative. I'm having fun carrying out many of her suggestions and seeing instant results. Can't wait to hire her to help me with my permanent home. read more

We recently used Erika and her company to stage our condo in San Francisco. Overall, we have had a pleasant experience. She was friendly, on-time to the first meeting, and was willing to work with our budget. Her estimate was the most reasonable we got, and she made our apartment look welcoming, anonymous, and tranquil. Per the realtor, many buyers and agents complimented the aesthetic of the staging. We had offers within days of listing, and would definitely recommend her to other sellers looking to stage their homes. read more

Okay, I am a real estate broker in the East Bay area but once in a while I will have a listing in San Francisco. Recently, I had a listing in SF near Mission and 280, and we were in a time crunch to stage the home within seven (7) days. I called every referral and google listing for home stager, and those who returned my call were booked several weeks out. I called Erika at Awaken, and she ANSWERED. It may seem trivial, but that impressed me. Sure, Erika was booked as well for the next few weeks, but she found a way to squeeze our project in 6 days. I am so grateful. The design was also excellent. Thank you Erika. read more

Erika did an amazing job making our loft ready for sale. Oftentimes, staging is either simple and doesn't build a vision for the buyer; and sometimes it's silly, creating spaces that no one would really use. Erika did neither of these. She created a design that showed off how spacious our loft can be, created an interior that looked amazing both during the day and at night and, at the same time, designed a space that seemed realistic and livable. I could not be more impressed! read more

Erika staged our condo beautifully! She knew exactly what style to give the place in order to draw in the maximum amount of prospective buyers and we got of flurry of them! She even saved us money by giving us a few tips on the remodeling. This was a rush job and Erika made it happen within our timeline. She even helped us with a payment plan since we were a little short on cash before the sell. And most importantly, Erika was a joy to work with. Thanks so much, Erika! read more

No words can describe Erikas professionalism, talent and experience....how refreshing to work with a designer/stager that takes the reigns and puts you at ease. Having used Tracy Banks in the past, I was extremely dissatisfied with the dull and tasteless furnishings coupled with the 'attitude' I had to endure from this person. I HIGHLY recommend speaking to Erkia first. She is responsive, professional and very SWEET to work with...less the attitude! read more

I was looking for a stager for my home last month. I thought I should consider Awaken Designs since they had some good reviews on Yelp. However, I emailed Erika of Awaken Designs and she never wrote me back... I've also tried calling her and left her a voicemail, and she never even bothered to give me the courtesy of a phone call back... I'm not sure why she has such high reviews on Yelp, but her lack of response is definitely unprofessional and undesired in a business.I can not rate how her staging skills are because she didn't give me a chance to work with her. read more

If I could give Erika from Awaken Designs more than 5 stars, I would. I needed to rent a couch at the last minute for an event. I called multiple rental agencies as well as stagers and most didn't even return my calls (eventhough I didn't leave the reason on the voice mails). Erika was responsive and went completely out of her way to help me. She worked late on her Birthday and arranged a last minute delivery of a beautiful couch. She was extremely responsive over text and phone. I would highly recommend her to anyone needing a staging of their home, or a last minute furniture rental. I really can't thank her enough for her hard work and dedication. read more

Erika beautifully staged a 1bed/1bath, Mediterranean condo listing for me and my client on relatively short notice, and she was nothing but professional and courteous throughout the process. Any prospective buyer who saw the unit and made a comment about the staging only had great things to say about the design and choice of furniture. In fact, a big-name, high-end San Francisco designer took a look at the unit, and commented that, "the stager did an excellent job." I'm confident that Erika's work helped me sell this unit quickly. read more

I just sold our second house staged by Awaken Designs. The first one was totally remolded, which was not in the best neighborhood in SF, so I had no second thought having Erika stage it, which I received multiple offers in less than 8 days. For the second house we recently sold, it was in a popular neighborhood, so I doubted whether staging will help that much in bringing up the price. Erika spent the time and walk through the house with me and explained how it would be better if it's staged. She suggested we re-painted the house with the color she chose. After she set up the furniture, I almost couldn't recognize my own house. It's so much more appealing. I got an offer in less than 10 days way over our offer price. On top of her nice furniture, she is really good on creating the small touch, which helps to draw focus from the buyer to where you want them to see. I also like the color mix Erika use, which distinct her work from other competitors. read more

Erika is truly the best stager I have ever come across! She helped me stage a home for a very popular television show I was producing, and she went above and beyond, going out of her way to make the home look incredible. She is also a lovely person to work with and has the most amazing taste. She put together the most amazing pieces in such a short amount of time. I have nothing but amazing things to say about Awaken Designs. read more

After trying a number of different furniture rental options in San Francisco, I had a great success with awaken design. In fact, Erika was the only person willing to help me out with a short-term furniture rental. She was professional, courteous, and even generous. I will go to her first for future needs. read more

We used Erika when we were selling our SOMA loft. We actually had another stager scheduled, but when that other stager turned out not to have their moving company insurance in order, our building wouldn't allow them to work on the premises. Supposedly everything happens in life for a reason. We wound up meeting Erika. Erika was EXCEPTIONAL. Would any staging company brought in modern art and furniture--sure. I presume so. What was special about Erika did is she really balanced the feminine and the masculine in her design, so a professional man OR woman, OR a couple, could really envision a life in our condo for themselves. The design was both spacious (appropriate to a loft), but also cozy -- lots of soft blankets, soft couches, soft rugs ... and the colors were just spot on. Not too warm, not too cool. The condo property management company loved Erika's moving company -- insurance paperwork came in the same day, and they were fully insured by a reputable company. I'm certain staging increased our sales price. Totally worth every penny. I am also calling Erika to help design my new place -- I would love to have her eye to make my next home just as cozy as she made my old loft. read more