See the progression of five pieces of molding we found and a salvage yard and how they were transformed by faux finishing and custom shadow boxes, into fantastic personal artifacts for an Id Evolution client. The cost from beginning to end was about $425. Pretty reasonable for completely unique pieces. Faux finishing handiwork was provided by Denise Chamberlain of Magic Brush Arts.
Can you tell which one is real? Faux flowers and plants have made a huge improvements in their appearance. Orchids are one of my favorites. Though not all fake flowers are created equal. Look for plants with silky flowers and natural looking stems and leaves. Avoid the plastic looking stems with unnatural colors. Keep it to a few well placed plants for dramatic effect but avoid overdoing it. You don’t need them in every room or covering every blank surface. And the best part is no watering required!
| Staging Before & After | |||
| Main Floor Before | Main Floor After | ||
|
|
 |
Because these areas are all within an open floor plan, staging them helps the potential buyer to visualize how they can separate each space without it looking crowded or cluttered. The picture above shows how you can still add seating in a tight space. Accent pillows bring color to the space and adding bins under a table helps with storage. It’s also a good way to display decorative items. Placing rugs on the floor help divide and create designated spaces within an open plan. Here, we put a rug in the living room to separate it from the dining room | |
 |
 |
||
| Bathroom Before | Bathroom After | ||
|
Bedroom Loft Before
|
Bedroom Loft After
|
|
|
|
|
We created a bedroom that also allowed for a seating and office area
|
||
|
|
|||
Design Tips to Consider…
We used several design techniques to enhance the visual aesthetics of the space:
-White walls called for colorful accents. We chose red to spice up the neutral color scheme.
-Fabric covered canvas makes a great flexible art piece
-Empty spaces underneath furniture can be filled with trunks, stools, baskets, or pillows to bring more interest
Using these tips can transform an empty space to feel more like a home.
| Living Room Before | ||
 |
 |
|
| Living Room After | ||
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
-Use smaller chairs when seating space is limited. Add cushions for comfort
-Throw pillows and blankets add color -Fill corners with decorative grasses -Use rugs to cozy up hard wood flooring |
| Dining Room Before | Dining Room After | |
 |
 |
 |
I wanted to share my kitchen update to show how you can easily transform your kitchen relatively inexpensively.
| Painting the Cabinetry… | ||
|
|
 |
This was the original color of the cabinetsIt’s important to sketch out your kitchen and label each cabinet. Don’t forget to label the hardware to match the cabinet numbers so that you can replace each door & drawer easily.
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Once all the cabinets are labeled and taken off, you can begin the painting process.
|
| Priming the cabinets… | ||
 |
 |
Start by giving the cabinets a light sanding. In this case I used a tinted primer to go under the darker paint. Two coats of primer were needed. |
Painting the cabinets…  |
|
|
 |
The doors & drawers were sprayed and the frames were rolled. The first can of paint was mixed incorrectly and came out purple instead of black. Lesson learned- test your paint! We wound up doing four coats of paint. |
Now that the cabinets have been painted and each door and drawer is put back where it belongs, it’s time to pick countertops. The original cabinets are a grey laminate and will be replaced with granite. |
| Countertops | ||
 |
 |
 |
|
After choosing the stone, size, cut, and finish, we are ready for installation! Here is my new kitchen…
|
Still to come… hardware, decor, and backsplash! |
Are you thinking of purchasing new appliances for your kitchen? If you are, there are some tips you can fallow to increase the aesthetics of the space and create a cohesive design within your kitchen. First, consider the finishes you already have within the kitchen. Are your cabinets in a dark or light finish? What color are the countertops and backsplash?
Second, what kind of appliance style do you prefer-stainless steel, or black and white finished appliances?
Our advice is to match the appliances to your cabinets and countertops. The goal is to hide the appliances, not make them stand out. By doing this you, create a more visually pleasing kitchen space.
If you have black cabinets, go with black appliances
White cabinets- white appliances
You can never go wrong with stainless steel because it tends to recede and blend in with most cabinetry and countertops. Stainless steel is also great for kitchens with more of an adventurous color scheme.
Here are some examples of kitchen/appliance don’ts:
Here are some great examples of kitchen/appliance do’s:
White cabinets with white appliances…
Black cabinets with black appliances…
Stainless Steel…
Trays are not for just eating TV diners or breakfast in bed. Trays have become a wonderful design element to incorporate into any space.
They provide storage, help to keep you organized, de-clutter messy areas, and will enhance the design of even the smallest thing, like the coffee station in your kitchen.
Below are some examples of great ways to use trays in your home.
 |
|||
| In the Bathroom | |||
 |
|
Great for bath tubs and storing your favorite products |
|
| In the Kitchen | |||
 |
 |
 |
|
| Trays Incorporated into Furniture | |||
 |
 |
 |
|
| Other Ideas | |||
 |
 |
 |
Trays don’t have to be square
-You can have initials etched into your trays
-Great for outdoor entertainment!
These are photos of a newly staged home in Boulder, CO for sale through RE/MAX of Boulder. This quaint home has been remodeled to embrace a more contemporary style.
We decided to use furniture and accessories that reflected the contemporary remodel, to ensure a cohesive design throughout the space.
| Before | After |
 |
Fireplace and living room |
|
Showcase your favorite decorative items on the mantle. This fills up empty space within the room and brings more interest to the fireplace as a focal point. Throw pillows and blankets will add color to the room. Add plants to your home to bring the outdoors in and to fill in awkward corners and nooks. |
 |
|
Dining room |
|
 |
 |
Here are some examples of our favorite pieces from Allen+Roth collections- provided to you by Lowe’s. They have great items to spruce up any backyard, patio, or deck. Hope this gives you some ideas for your home- spring is upon us!
Vasant Collection
Four stools with wicker seats and square bistro table
Kenmont Collection
Hand-woven wicker stackable chairs
River stone planters
Dellinger Collection
Quick drying upholstered chairs, choice of three table sizes
Oh Boy oh boy oh boy! Tis the season to go shopping. Now is a good time to get your shop on for furniture and bedding. January is a traditional time for sales on may of the things we need in our homes. This months can be one of the best for furniture deals. For example Cost Plus World Market has up to 50% off most of their furniture in the store and on-line. You can save hundreds so get out there and save. While your out, check out The Great Indoors (at Flatiron mall) they have some new furniture lines that look amazing. There are French, English, and Indian inspired pieces that are not “traditional Colorado”. Plus they have a huge new selection of rugs.
Please share with us any amazing deals you find this month.
