Why Choose the Academy
From the moment you walk through our doors, you will immediately feel at home and like you are already part of the family – because you are! We believe in you and your future in the design arena. You might notice we do things a little differently around here. For one thing, our first order on the agenda is all about you and your vision for your new business so that we can best coach you throughout the training. We believe that learning how to design should be a hands-on process supported with coaching to exponentially expand your new skillset quickly.
As established designers with decades of experience, we did a lot of soul searching to create this unique platform with all the key factors of standardized training plus we’ve added in all the support and collaboration we wish we had the opportunity to experience when we were first starting. Its so amazing students want to stay forever, but our programs are immersive and fast so that you can get started designing homes upon completing the course. We hope you will join us soon – we can’t wait to meet you and get started! Check out what else we offer:
- Hands-on programs that engage, train and hone your design skillsets in record time
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The only Advanced Home Staging Certification available for novices that includes not only design training but business start-up instruction in a hands-on environment.
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The only Interior Design Certificate available in a 1-week live format
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Limited class size (9 maximum students) to provide you with personalized instruction.
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All our Advanced Certified instructors are leaders in the Staging/Interior Design Industry, who incorporate real life examples, suggestions, advice and ideas in each training class.
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Student and Instructor experience together, apply and discuss all solutions and approaches for all areas of the design and business aspects to a Home Staging or Interior Design Business.
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Student discovery and questions are encouraged in every session.
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We will give you the documents and the support you need to get your business started in just 30 days upon successful completion of the class, and passing the Certification exam at the end of the class.
- Easy payment plans at low rates – easily earn in one appointment what it costs to finance the course each month.
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Committed to the success of every student that comes to The Academy of Home Staging, through our exclusive VIP coaching program that includes one free month of business development coaching, plus private Alumni Facebook group to keep you connected.
HOME STAGING COURSE DISCOUNTS:
- Sign up more than 60 days in advance and pay in full to receive $200 off.
- Partners receive $200 off each seat.
- Groups of 3 or more receive $350 off each seat.
- One discount per person. All members of a group discount must register together. Call in to receive partner or group discounts at 800-574-5576.
INTERIOR DESIGN COURSE DISCOUNTS:
- Sign up more than 90 days in advance and pay in full to receive $300 off.
- Partners receive $300 off each seat.
- Groups of 3 or more receive $500 off each seat.
- One discount per person. All members of a group discount must register together. Call in to receive partner or group discounts at 800-574-5576.
Meet Our Instructors
Kim Kapellusch
Founder & Designer
Kim started her career as a set designer for multiple, nationally recognized clients. During this time, she was first introduced to Home Staging. Kim pursued training and started her business, Style My Space. Today, Style My Space works with hundreds of clients a year and grosses close to 7 figures.
Kim wanted to share the creative life she enjoyed with others, so she used her education and experience to create, The Academy of Home Staging and Design. Over a decade later, Kim’s mission hasn’t changed: To prepare people who are passionate about design with creative insight, business essentials and professional confidence to start a creative and lucrative career in Home Staging & Design.
Wanda Colón
Co-Founder & Designer
Wanda Colón was the Interior Design host on TLC’s Home Made Simple for 6 seasons, and HGTV’s 24 Hour Design for 4 seasons. During that time she was endorsed by many brands including Febreze and Lowe’s. She also was a constant face on KCET public tv fund raisers. She hosted many infomercials including Body by Jake’s Shadow Boxer. Hosting shows was a blast but her true passion has always been working one on one with clients transforming their spaces. She brought her 10 years + design experience to Style My Space in 2011, where she partnered with founder Kim Kapellusch to develop the Interior Design department of the already successful Home Staging company. Wanda has had many projects large and small, but some of her favorite clients are Paul Stanley, from KISS and Kelsey Grammer. She says that because they are also artists, they gave her the creative freedom to do something special.
Wanda has been an instructor at The Academy of Home Staging since 2012. She developed and is the co-founder of The Academy of Interior Design. She is passionate about teaching and sharing her knowledge of Interior Design while helping to maintain the idealistic level of our industries standard. Wanda is also on the board of the Home Design Council whose main goal is to provide resources and educational services to new designers. Wanda is from Puerto Rican dissent and is in charge of developing and teaching the bi-lingual classes of The Academy. The Academy will be launching Spanish Home Staging & Interior Design classes in the fall of 2023.
Kara Woods
Professional Homestager & Instructor
In 2007, Kara Woods founded Staged to Move, one of the first professional home staging companies in Northern Fairfield County, Connecticut. The North Eastern regional vice president of the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) and an AHSC Certified Approved Staging Instructor. Other awards and honors:
- RESA- NE Regional Vice President
- NAPW 2010/11 Staging and Design Woman Of the Year
- 2013 “International TOP 100” Magazine’s Staging and Design Recipient
- 2014-RESA’s United States TOP 10 Real Estate Stager
- 2016-RESA’s United States TOP 10 Finalist- Interior Designer
- 2016- RESA’s United States STAGER OF THE YEAR- Occupied Category
- 2017/2018 Boston Globe Home Staging Correspondent