Scout

We have been admiring the staged homes by Scout during the past few years, and were delighted with their work while selling our home last month.
Home staging, in the best of situations, can be a risky endeavor. By necessity, the contract is written in fairly broad terms (i.e. «daybed with wall art»). Scout, without exaggeration, transformed our 1924 bungalow into a page out of this year’s style with a nod to the past. It was both warm and inviting, yet open to the buyer’s intentions. The tapestry of décor encouraged the flow from room to room. The paint strategy complemented the native hues of the granite and two pre-​painted spaces.
Morgana’s vision and attitude reflected a calm confidence. When she suggested a fairly bold idea, she explained it in very logical terms. When my realtor asked for an additional light after the staging was performed, Morgana made it happen.
We are open house hobbyists, as in, we explore often. Scout’s work is superlative.
The house sold with multiple bid above asking price. Thank you, Scout!

Using Scout to stage your home in preparation for sale is one of the smartest things you can do. Love it or hate it, staging makes a big difference when selling your home in a competitive market.
Ryan came to do the walk-​through and determine what furnishings were needed. This big, traditional Berkeley brown shingle house is filled with original craftsman elements, and Ryan explained that it was important to use furnishings and art that would have a wide appeal, with an eclectic mix of traditional and modern so that the architectural elements would shine, but also so that folks could envision themselves and their own furnishings in it.
And then — he delivered just that.
Morgana and Ryan directed placement of furnishings, art, accessories, and did so efficiently and respectfully. The end result is stunning: opulent, layered, inviting, welcoming. The house looks like a wonderful, well-​loved, lived-​in space. I can’t say enough about their attention to small details, and their eye for balance. Here and there, the delight of a bright spot of whimsy among the rich and traditional is eye candy. The end result is spacious, cozy, light-​filled and happy.
They are dedicated, passionate, accessible, extremely knowledgable, and experienced. They are in high demand for a reason — they’re nothing short of fabulous. You won’t be disappointed or sorry if you use Scout for staging your home: others pale in comparison.
The entire process of staging is a leap of faith. You aren’t just renting furniture, you’re placing faith in the inspiration and vision of the designers. You can fully trust Scout to create a beautiful environment for you.

Scout’s staging SAVED my home sale. After the stager my realtor had recommended brought outdated, sun-​faded, UGLY, tacky old furniture into my home and then bailed on the contract rather than trying to fix her work, Scout swept in on short notice at a fantastic price to re-​stage my home pre-​sale. All of the furniture and décor was tasteful, neutral, and really used the space to its best advantage. Scout also brought several really unique and interesting little accessories, like an antique camera, an old map, and these little wooden shoe things that really drew me and (hopefully) my buyers through the house from room to room. The color palate and the style of the furniture and décor really made sense for each room too.
Like many professionals in design, Scott comes with a strong perspective of his own. There were a few details that I took it upon myself to add or alter, but the big picture was executed beautifully. In addition, one should keep in mind that not everything a stager brings in is going to be to your exact taste every time. The important thing is that it is all tasteful and that it fits the space so that your buyers can see how the space can be used best. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Scout to anyone.
Pro-​tip working with any stager: Have a variety of picture hangers available to ensure that the right size hole gets made in your wall and ensure that the staging crew uses your hardware and not theirs. Plan to touch up trim and wall paint where needed prior to the first showing, but after photography. Keep a dustbuster and swiffer-​type mop at the house. You are part of the team selling your house, and if you want the «best» result you have to pull your weight.

I’m a rental property manager. I use Scout for paint color consultation on apartments — Top quality, good rate, efficient, to the point, very professional. I’m jealous of his time management skills — he packs 2.5 days worth of work into every day. And he’s calm. Wow. His color choices have made my life easier: everyone admires the units, wants to rent them right away, & I get better rents.

We used these guys to stage our home during the sales process. The first thing you get from them is insufferable attitude.
They had us completely repaint the interior and put in new carpeting. Fine, although when Scott spent only about 10 mins deciding which colors to use, I got the feeling that the paint colors chosen were their standard palate. The carpet company they brought in was a disaster. They banged up the newly painted trim, did a poor install, and left a huge mess. It was super cheap carpet that showed dirt the moment anyone tried to walk across it. I found myself coming in and spot cleaning it all the time (we were living out of the house during the staging and sale process).
The furnishings they used again felt like the same set they always use. The house was cute when they were done but a lot of the stuff was banged up and showed wear. And it was made clear to us repeatedly that any damage would be charged to us. They hadn’t built up any trust with us so we became paranoid that they were going to shaft us, which gave us a lot of unneeded additional stress. In the end, there were no such issues and everything was fine. A warmer customer service process would have prevented a lot of tension.
Overall, they spent an absolute minimum amount of time planning and executing the staging of my home. The place looked good in the photos but made me wince up close. We needed the house staged and they did the job but I just don’t feel that their contribution was worth the price we paid.

Terrific place! I love eclectic stuff (I have a very contemporary house, but it’s filled with antiques, oriental rugs, unusual art, etc.) so this store is perfect for me. The styles are all over the map, so you can’t help but find something you like, whether it’s art, furniture, or just something to put on the coffee table. You’ll love it.

Was finally able to get in to buy the Mythic Paint I was looking for, good paint. Went back a second time for another color, their machine was down, couldn’t tell me when it would be up and running. Seriously? It’s like their ‘only’ product. Go to Eco Home Improvements on San Pablo instead. They have the same paint brand & more, better reliable hours and their machine works.

Interesting store, and I’ve purchased little gifts here (letters, matchboxes, etc.) as well as the BEST thank you cards in the world («You are a fucking rock star. Seriously.” – something awesome like that. Okay, you wouldn’t send that to you grandma but your bff probably would love it). I haven’t used the stage services or purchased any big ticket items – err, sorry, my decorating budget is well. I don’t really have one. Sigh.
I agree with many of the reviews about the staff being aloof; it’s been like that about half the time, the other times I have gotten a greeting/​offer of help. Overall, I do enjoy walking through here and checking out the furniture and beautiful objects, although it is admittedly more window shopping than anything.

Had an absolutely terrible experience working with this place. Please read my review before deciding to use them for staging, or patronizing their retail store, as it is run by the same people. I should have read the negative reviews before signing with them. My realtor suggested having a home staged that I was selling in Montclair. I was on a tight timeline and they happened to be the only place that could get us staged in time, so I went with them. I truly regret making this decision, as the frustration and expense lost on this excuse for a decent company was really not worth it.
Initially, the proposed staging was to be for 60 days at a cost of $ 4,850, with an option to extend for another 30 days at an additional cost of $ 350. When I received my credit card statement, I was charged $ 5,200. When my agent inquired about this, she was told that $ 350 was a discounted rate, and to receive it, you had to pay up first. We were clear that we only wished to pay for an extension if we needed it. Why would anyone want to «prepay» for an extension when the home may very well be sold in one week?
When the staging was installed, my wife and I were very disappointed with the quality of their objects. The furniture was all chipped and scratched. They delivered a patio set that would not stand up and they never replaced it. Everything was low end, contrary to what they had represented.
However, this was not even the biggest issue. About three weeks into the contract period, a few items turned up missing. The home was vacant, and I suspect things were stolen. The only people who had a key to the home were me, my agent, and Scout… Turned out to be missing a few hand towels, some small seashells, and a few decorative suitcases. Well, turns out Scout carries no type of insurance, and wanted to be re-​imbursed $ 1,000 for these items. I was shocked that they had no type of policy in place, other than to gouge their client for 10x the true replacement value of anything lost or damaged. I requested them provide me invoices or receipts to justify the expenses they were demanding and I was provided with a rude email by Laurie Argenti, the Project manager, stating, «We are sorry if you and your client do not have an appreciation for the vintage and other décor items SCOUT uses as part of staging… and for your edification and education we cannot find comparables… because they are SO VERY RARE.»
Before I ever agreed or even received a satisfactory reply, they charged my credit card for the missing items, citing that they have the right to do so according to the contract I signed.
These people are clearly crooks who have no business preying on the people of this community. I even had an email exchange with P Scott Silvera, the owner. He offered no help, other than to say that everything they did was within the terms of their contract. How about within the terms of morals and ethics?

By the second or third home you visit, you’ll recognize Scout Staging’s landscaping from blocks away – it really is that awful. My last two home visits (Oakland 54^th street) suggest that they are in league with the soulless real estate hucksters who feed on the desperation of Californians to own a home. I hope that from now on the sight of a Scout placard in the foyer will jar me back into reality – and remind me that shameless house flipping is in process.

Super cute!
Fancy candles in unusual scents like bonfire and boudoir, AMAZING vintage reproduction diner style clocks (really want to grab a red one for our kitchen!), and some of the cutest vintage inspired christmas ornaments around.
Finally made it in this last weekend and ended up shelling out a little over $ 100 for a xmas gift for my mom, and a couple of smaller gifts for extended family. Not terribly expensive, but not cheap either. I found the customer service to be not super warm & fuzzy, but not terrible either, just a bit standoffish. Granted there was only one employee and he may have just been trying to give me some space.
I pretty much want one of everything in the store although it’s really the kind of place where if you are purchasing something like a antiquated bedroom mirror, you can only make one purchase at a time.
Great for gifts although I was bummed they don’t do gift wrap, not even tissue paper in a cute Scout bag. :(
Next time I visit, If they offer to wrap my purchase and become a little more friendly I just may consider upping my review to 5 stars.

I was literally stopped in my tracks by a window design here and the items in it the other day.
I just want to decorate my house in this shop. I felt compelled to browse and spend all my money in there, good thing we had dinner plans near by and friends waiting.
Unique, fun, beautiful and interesting items await your purchase in this gem of a shop.

We strolled into Scout after getting a to-​go order from Bakesale Betty. With our three sandwiches in our box, we wandered into this store. I was a bit put off by the one staff; he didn’t greet us (or even really look up from his sweeping). That dust must have been very interesting and absorbing.
The store itself was very interesting. I saw a card catalogue that was the perfect mix of unique and useful. However, nothing really convinced me to dawdle and really explore this store. This MIGHT have more to do with the box of Bakesale Betty sandwiches than the actual displays in the store.
Therefore, I’m giving this place 3 stars and will be back to finalize the star count.

Well after the «Lady K» and I filled out pie holes up with a sweet treat from the Mixing Bowl down the block we had to do a little of walking to get the calories burning!
We hadn’t been in Scout before and found it to be a really nice home and the perfect gift store to add to our list of places to go. They kinda have a bit of everything. I mean we saw a typewriter (remember those?) for $ 125 as well as a reusable shopping bag (I think $ 8). They also had some home furnishings as well as greeting cards. So you can see, a bit of everything. Enjoy!

Wow, I really can’t get over how much I dislike this store. I mean, so much of me wants to like it — it’s in a cool neighborhood, has an interesting concept, and it carries a nice mix of vintage and modern home accessories. But jeez, this store seems to go out of it’s way to hire the most snobish hipsters I’ve ever seen. In my four visits, I’ve never been greeted or asked if I needed help. When I ask for help myself, I’m told that they’re busy — even when I’m the only one in the store. I even had an employee stop me mid-​sentence to answer his cell-​phone. Yikes.
But in the end, it’s a probably good thing that I haven’t had any positive experiences here. When you get over the cool concept, there’s really nothing there. The selection is mediocre, the prices are terrible and the exchange/​return policy is non-​existent (all sales final). With the economy the way it is, it’s nice to have a reason to save money. Thanks, Scout.

Love it! All sorts of fabulous little vintage and faux-​vintage tchotchkes. And some really snazzy xmas ornaments I would’ve bought if I hadn’t already procured my 2008 ornament.
Minus a star because they were out of G in all but one of the different kinds of letters they had. MORE G’S YO. Especially the big rhinestone-​studded wall-​hanging ones, I would’ve totally bought that.

A gorgeous mix of old and new, whimsical and elegant without being precious, Scout offers unique treasures for the home. I could easily picture Martha Stewart here, shopping for a mailbox, understated drapes, or novelty ornamental pull. She would definitely approve of the wall of crystal letters ($ 13 each).
Like your typical hardware store, this atypical hardware store offers paint services and they can cut spare keys. Most of the items are new but they have a retro feel and look. I spotted some small trophies, an umbrella stand made out of a hollowed out tree trunk, mirrors, black pillows with Edward Goreyesque figures, burlap bags, eco-​friendly cleaning supplies and Mythic brand non-​toxic paint. The selection is what you would call well-​edited — there isn’t much of it but every piece seems carefully chosen.

I don’t quite yet know what to make of this place. I’ll give Scout 3 Stars for now, with the promise that I’ll come back and explore this unique store some more.
The clever, original, attractive, and well considered displays in both the front windows and inside do draw you in and encourage you to linger and look around. The «Tool Shed» in the back is pretty cool too.
However, there doesn’t seem to be much here in terms of either clever tchotchkes that I want (but don’t need) or hardware that I can actually use. Regarding the former, that black French perpetual calendar does come close. And the prices appear to be set based on a unique design premise rather than a community hardware store model.
In some ways it reminds me of a more rustic version of the first Restoration Hardware that opened in Eureka, CA. And as far as stuff that works in old Oakland (or in my case Albany) homes, Pasttime Hardware in El Cerrito or a good Estate or block sale might be a better choice.

Super cute store in the ever expanding Temescal area.
I go into stores like this and think, «well, if I hunt and hunt at the Alameda flea market, estate sales, etc. and am very wise about how I arrange all the items, I could put together a look like this». Right. So realistically, Scout helps one cut corners if you don’t have the time or design sense. Or just walking around can give one some excellent ideas for when you finally do hit the antique market.

Yes SCOUT has moved. To an edgier roomier hipper place in the trendy Temescal area. Need a restoration for your hardware store? this is the place to shop for all your remodelling stuff from gloves to pretect one’s delicate hands to fabric for curtains, paint and siding to add that interesting touch to your last room. All thumbs when it comes to decorating? Fear not the Scout interior design crew can help set you right. on Telegraph Avenue at 51^st Street (just a few doors down from Bake Sale Betty).
Prominently displayed is the «Weapons of Mass Decoration» article that won them their 15 seconds in national headlines.
They served Moet Chandon champagne and Bake Sale Betty cupcakes — if that’s not fantastic gala opening style then check it out for yourself.
minus 1 star for being pretty expensive.