Overcoming Oversaturation

Wow! It's been a while since I've posted -- we've been really busy. The upside though is that I have lots of Before & After photos to share with you.

I'd like to start with one of my favorite transformations of the year. I'm fond of it for many reasons. First, the client trusted us and she worked super hard to execute our suggestions. Secondly, the results illustrate concepts that we preach to sellers all the time: 1.) Keep it neutral, 2.) Turn up the light, 3.)Clear surfaces & declutter, and 4.) Use fewer, but bigger accessories. Mostly, I love this project because it sold really quickly.

By far, the biggest change we got the owner to make in this project was painting. I wish I could convince every client to paint when they need to, but so many dig their heels in and let dark, saturated colors turn off buyer after buyer. Fortunately, this client was able to detach from her preference for bright, desert colors and offer buyers a soothing neutral color palette. Take a look . . .

 

The very first room we saw upon entering the home was the dining room. It was an alarmingly bright, saturated yellow-orange color -- hard not to notice it. The color was so strong that it caused the furniture and art to appear dark and red; almost muddy looking. It was just an unflattering color choice. We feared that buyers would see this right off the bat and make one of two choices. Either they would mark the home off their list of possibilities entirely -- OR -- they would see the room as a big project and start deducting from their offer. With twelve other rooms still to see, we couldn't have buyers lowering their offers at the front door. It was essential to neutralize the color.

 

 

We suggested the homeowner neutralize the interior with Sherwin Williams' Ramie paint color (SW 6156). Ramie is a really dynamic color. It is neutral, yet it is constantly changing. In the bright light, it is soft and soothing, but in the evening it becomes a deeper, more dramatic tone. Plus, it works well with most any wood, metal, or art choice.

 

We also had the owner paint the wainscoting in a traditional, all-white treatment. In doing so, the room actually seems larger . . . and buyers LOVE large spaces. Cha-ching!

 

In the family room we found similar issues -- saturated wall color and low light. We also saw an abundance of little accessories, photos, and gigantic furniture. At no time did we notice the spaciousness of the room. We were so distracted by the stuff in the room, that we couldn't see its potential.

 

 

Like in the dining, we asked the owner to paint in the soft Ramie color. Then we removed the photos, leaving only one grouping above the sofa. We moved the furniture just a few inches, and actually added LARGER end tables. Then we accessorized with large/chunky accessories, green plants, and lighter pillows. What a difference. The room looks larger, warmer, and coordinated.

 

 

In the master suite, we again found dark oranges and low light. A coat of Ramie paint, new pillows, and a little art swap brought the room in balance; offering buyers a peaceful retreat.

 

 

The master bath was also in need of a cohesive color scheme.

 

 

We started by having the owner bring the Ramie paint on into the bath; eliminating the multi-colored walls. Then we asked her to replace the zebra print shower curtain with a pair of light-colored curtain panels (hung as close to the ceiling as possible). In the baths, white/light colored linens help to achieve a fresh, clean, spa-like look, so the dark rug was removed and loads of white rolled towels (not pictured) were added. Even the art's magnolia blossom helped to incorporated the soft white scheme.

 

 

The uber-saturated color trend continued on the second floor of the home. In the massive upper-master bedroom, the walls were painted in one of the deepest purples I've ever seen. It may be perfect for a teen suite, but when trying to appeal to a wide range of buyers, maybe it's not such a great choice.

 

To appease buyers AND the teens who live there, we suggested lightening the look with a soft lilac. Then we highlighted the spaciousness of the room by simplifying the art & bedding, and improving the lighting with a new, very feminine, acrylic lamp.

 

If you're planning to sell your home, or if it just feels as though you're living in perpetual chaos, try softening your wall colors. A simple, cohesive paint scheme will help give your home continuity and simplicity.

 

If you'd like a color consultation for your home, send me an email (bradford(dot)house(at)comcast(dot)net) and we'll put you on the schedule today!

 

 

 

Bring It On!

It happened again! Another client called needing our help with a vacant home. Only this time, the home isn't really what I'd call vacant. In fact, I can think of plenty descriptive terms for it, but vacant isn't one. I guess I'd call this home a challenge, but that's not quite right either. It's more like -- Our Biggest Challenge Ever!

 

So here's the deal: The owners built another home nearby and moved into it months ago. Their new home is completely furnished and decorated. All the stuff remaining in this "vacant" home is what they didn't need or want in the new home. Some rooms are just as they were the day the family moved out, others are full of boxes and unwanted items.

Our challenge

The challenge was to take all that stuff - a hodgepodge of unbelievably bright colors, mismatched furniture, and unusual accessories -- and turn it into a look befitting a million dollar lakefront listing. Did I mention that we had to do so without painting a single wall or adding any staging accessories whatsoever?  We said - BRING IT ON!

 

Our first room to tackle was the kitchen. Essentially, it remained in exactly the same condition as the day they moved out. With uber bright yellow walls and massive amounts of kitsch tacked to every surface, the look just wasn't working. So we removed nearly everything. Then we staged it with only simple, solid colored, and neutral items to counterbalance the strong wall color.

 

 

One more thing about the kitchen & breakfast area that I must mention is the tablecloth. Wow! It's something, isn't it? Normally we'd just remove it and move on to the next thing, but in this case that solution wasn't possible. The owners took the kitchen table with them when they left. What you see now is their somewhat clever attempt to disguise a folding table as a kitchen table.

 

Like I said, our initial thought was to just remove the hotspot altogether, but without the table beneath, the low-hanging chandelier would be a hazard to prospective buyers touring the property. The table had to remain. We scoured every inch of the home seeking an alternative to the harsh harlequin pattern on the tablecloth. The best we could do to neutralize it was to throw a solid café square over it. It's not ideal, but it is certainly easier on the eyes.

 

Like the kitchen, the living room presented similar issues -- bright colors & lots of knick knacks. We also had to cope with clutter and furniture placement problems. The room itself was also a challenge. Essentially we had a big room, big furniture, but very little wall space. Floating the large sofa between the columns or facing the windows was considered, but we ultimately decided against that option because showing off the space was top priority. In the end, we positioned the recliner near the sofa, offering buyers a fully open living area. Take a look . . .

 

 

 

 

 

The dining room was my favorite transformation of the day. First we removed the all of the clutter blocking the entrance to the room and that heavy, light-thieving valance. Next we separated and moved the oddly paired bookcase ends that were hiding the alcove. From there we moved on to decluttering and editing accessories. We also placed all the chairs around the table to eliminate the number of items scattered about the room. But what made the room spring to life was adding that gorgeous piece of statement art under the recessed spotlights in the alcove. The result is amazing!

 

 

 

 

 

In this bath, we were once again faced with the unchangeable yellow wall color. Actually the color can be great when the art and accessories work in its favor, but when accessories are in such an abundance that your eyes dart back and forth from accessory to color, it can overwhelm the senses. To make a really saturated wall color work, it is best to let the color be the accessory. Keep everything else soft and simple.

 

 

 

The master bedroom and bath was another of my favorite changes of this project. When we arrived the master suite was a narrow alleyway chopped in half by a dated, and very odd fireplace. Leaving the room empty was NOT an option because you CANT. STOP. STARING. AT. THE. FIREPLACE.

 

Near the master suite we noticed a very small bedroom that was crammed full of furniture. We decided that it would be far better for a small bedroom to sit empty than the master suite. So we borrowed from the small bedroom to show off the potential of the master.

 

Take a look at the Master Suite transformation sponsored by a neighboring bedroom . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just as we did in other rooms, we addressed the issue of bright paint and kitsch in the master bath by decluttering, editing, and adding some powerful & coordinated art. The changes make for a much more pleasing appearance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don't Pack Up The Personality

The first rule of preparing a home for sale is to DECLUTTER! I've said it here about a million times and I'm pretty confident that you've heard it elsewhere too. That's because along with deep cleaning, the best thing you can do to get your home ready to sell is to clear out the clutter. Unfortunately, some of you don't know when to stop.

When I tell you we deal in extremes, I am not kidding. Clients don't often ask for our help with neat, functional, and well-styled homes. When we get a call, it's usually to help cull a home owner who has gone too far; either by creating a hoarder's haven or decluttering themselves into total starkness.

Last week we helped out with a home that was full of extremes. For starters, the furniture was huge and the home wasn't. Although we don't typically label furniture as "clutter," the scale was such that it simply swallowed the space. Rooms appeared cluttered even though they were not. So we had to "declutter" the furniture to show off the true size of the rooms.

The biggest challenge we faced though, was that the home had been over-decluttered. In preparation for our arrival, the family had removed EVERYTHING except the furniture. They stored all pictures, art, accessories, and bedding -- all the things that make a home feel like a home. In an effort to declutter, they actually packed up the personality and the result was disastrous.

Living Room - BEFORE

Here you can see the living room as it was when we arrived. The furniture overwhelmed the space, hid the interesting shape and architecture of the room, and created a traffic flow nightmare. You cannot tell from the photo, but just behind the sofa is a wall and part of the kitchen counter. There was hardly any room to walk between the sofa and the wall/counter.

The other problem was that the room had no accessories or art of any kind to charm buyers. It was dull, unimpressive and B-O-R-I-N-G.  But look at it now; so much more spacious and inviting. To get this result, we merely removed one of the bulky end tables and that gargantuan entertainment unit. Then we moved the couch away from the wall and counter and shifted the chair to the other side of the room. But what brought the room to life was the addition of a few simple accessories.


Living Room - AFTER

Here's another angle. . . .
 

Living Room - BEFORE

And after . . .


Living Room - AFTER

 

In the bonus room, we thankfully didn't have to deal with removing huge pieces of furniture. Instead we found a long, empty, lackluster room. Once again, the personality had been packed away.

Bonus Room - BEFORE

Fortunately, we had some extra furniture on hand thanks to a mammoth workstation from the dining room. It worked so much better separated into two units in the bonus room. With a few pieces of art, a television, and a rug, buyers can now envision the room as real bonus.

Bonus Room - AFTER

Even injecting a little personality into often forgotten spaces like a powder room can offer big rewards. See how Plain Jane the powder room looked when we arrived . . .

 

Powder Room - BEFORE

Just adding two simple framed pictures, removing cleaning items, and closing the toilet lid made a substantial impact on the appeal of this bath.

 

Powder Room - AFTER

 

Bottom line: Decluttering is imperative to preparing your home for the real estate market. Just be sure that you don't declutter so much that you sacrifice your home's personality and appeal. Buyers need to be wooed. They have to fall in love with a home before they make an offer. Art, accessories, proper furniture scale and placement are the keys to getting a buyer say "I do."

 

We pumped up this home's personality with art and accessories and put the furniture on a diet. And by doing so, within two days the agent had received two full-price offers.