A Beautiful Home Renovation Makes Big Bucks For The Sellers

It’s a happy day when I see a home renovation where the owners did everything right.

And they didn’t listen to the hackneyed advice on HGTV.

Indeed, I’ve written about HGTV’s home staging shows before. And I bemoaned how they have gotten an entire industry thinking that the way to sell a home is to strip it of any vestige of originality or character.

But is that how to make money on a home sale?

Okay, fair enough. It’s surely better than some shlocked up mess. Oh, BTW, there is no listing for that apartment. And no record of a recent sale either which makes me think that they took it off the market. Hopefully, to renovate it. :]

But I need to get off this negative train because for the rest of the post, I have only nice things to say.

Some of you may remember this recent post about a beautiful new home that I had the privilege of being a part of the furnishings and design!

And you might’ve recalled that I got that gig because I had helped her folks out with a little advice and a brief paint consult when I was doing paint consults. (Sorry, I’m no longer doing them.)

I did get this email from them after they had painted and finished their renovation.

Laurel,

Just a quick note….the Cotton Balls is AMAZING.  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!

We will send you pics after we move!!  Plus we took your recommendation on the Green Cast on the ceiling, painted that in our bedroom…..GORGEOUS!

THANKS!

Patti

That was in September 2015.

Well… I didn’t get the photos until a few days ago when Patti sent another kind email.

And they had just sold their home in this gorgeous Kentucky landmark building built in 1928!

Hello Laurel!

Jessie’s mother here, Pat.  Chris and I have been LABORING in this condo for over a year. And thanks to you, it looks amazing!!! We’re just about completed and I must share!!! Everyone loved the wall colors!!!!  It made it!!!  

We bought the 6th floor condo (1500 sq ft, 2 beds, 2 full baths) for $140,000, put in $56,000. Sold it this past weekend in 9 hours with four other offers. We got full price, $265,000.

🏼🏼🏼🏼🏼🏼🏼🏼🏼

They made $69,000!!!

Holy Crap! I did a happy dance right along with her! That is an awesome return on their investment–especially after such a short time in the home.

Let it be known, that I only advised them on the wall color and maybe a couple other things, but the rest they did on their own.

Here is the apartment before the renovation

Great bones for sure and the color is okay but Patti and Chris didn’t care for it. She had an idea to paint it a few different shades of white and I said that I thought that one shade would be even better, to unify the space.

She also felt that there were too many wall mouldings and I agree. While I love applied wall mouldings, in this case with all of the arched doorways and other architectural features, it made sense to remove some of them.

Before I show you the after… Remember the open concept apartment where they destroyed the place? (BTW, it is still on the market and had another price reduction a few weeks ago. I think they are renting the place out now.)

Well… Guess what?

Patti and Chris’ place is open concept, but it is open concept done right.

One other thing. These are real estate photos and usually I’m not too fond of them because they are often distorted and over-exposed. And they turn on the lights which distorts things further. These are only a little distorted and over-exposed. Please note, however, that the wall color looks a little brighter than Cotton Balls really is.

This is the real cotton balls, above.

And here is the beautiful home renovation and beautiful staging.

We enter the two-bedroom apartment through a gracious hallway.

And arrive in the fresh living and dining area.

The floor plan is open, yes, but there are still walls and much beautiful architectural detailing. I’m not sure if the openings are part of the original architecture, but I think it all flows beautifully and certainly looks like it was always like that.

I love the slight retro feel that’s so in keeping with the building built in the 1920’s or 1930’s.

That is a cool fan!

Love all of the windows!

The apartment is clean, uncluttered, but does have the personal touches that make it feel like home. No wonder it sold in just a few hours!

Their contractor did a fabulous job of stripping the moulding, thus keeping them crisp and gorgeous! Nothing worse than gloppy mouldings!

A view into the new kitchen. Or rather, I should say Unkitchen!

And yes, I was wondering too. There is a door over the washer/dryer. Oh, how I wish I could have that, but they are not allowed in my building.

There is plenty of storage and counter space.

Love this graceful faucet. I don’t usually like all-in-one faucets but this one is awesome!

Patti and Chris recycled part of the old kitchen with the cabinet in the background.

I think that it looks terrific!

A set of built in cabinets adorned with wonderful hardware.

It’s those small touches that make this place a knockout!

Patti said that she painted the small bathroom wall black (or navy, not sure) after reading this post about using black as a wall color.

The color looks a little distorted here.

This is Benjamin Moore Van Deusen Blue.

(Please share on pinterest)

And there it is! A beautiful home renovation! Bravo to Patti and Chris!

Both Cotton Balls and Van Deusen Blue are part of the Laurel Home Essential Paint Color Collection.

If you missed it, part II of The Paint Collection, the Paint Palette Collection is coming out November 2nd.

And don’t forget that there will be a price increase on November 14th.

For more information click here. (the info is at the end of the post)

Someone had a question about the rolodex update. If you own Laurel’s Rolodex, you will automatically receive the new updated rolodex on November 2nd. And if you don’t have one but order it now, you will also receive the new updated rolodex and lock in the current price.

xo,