Staged to Sell

The Renovation Generation

Just as the baby boomers are getting older and the millennials are getting techier, our homes are facing the renovation generation! For many of us, we purchased our homes over a decade ago. Time has passed quickly and right before our eyes, our used-to-be brand new homes are in desperate need of a face lift. While the structure is still fit, the cosmetics need some work.

The two rooms that see the most traffic in your home are most likely your kitchen and your bathroom. That is why it is so important to keep those spaces up-to-date and fresh. However, if that isn’t enough reason, it is a well known fact that updating your kitchen and bath will bring you the highest rate of return for your decorating dollar.

If your home is relatively new, say the past 8 to 10 years, then you may only have some minor updates to make. These improvements could include new appliances, new cabinet hardware or perhaps a new backsplash. But if your home is over 10 years old and had relatively few updates, an overhaul may be necessary.

The single biggest improvement you can make in a kitchen or bath is the addition of a new window or door. Natural light and an open floor plan are on everyone’s wish list. Also consider new countertops and cabinets. Textures and materials that look expensive usually are expensive. However, a consultation with an interior designer or other design professional can inform you of various options that can provide that custom look at a reasonable price.

Don’t forget about lighting! The use of light is one of the most dramatic yet underused tricks up a homeowner’s sleeve. Lighting can provide the illusion of space where there is none, or serve to highlight noteworthy places in your home.

No matter what age you are, if you find yourself in the renovation generation, it’s time to give your home the attention it deserves.

We put so much love and care (and time and money!) into our homes that we want to see the best come from it. So what is the best way to maximize? It is to neutralize! As counter intuitive as it seems, we need to remove all that love and care we invested. We need to remove the personal touches and the individual tastes that have built up over the years. By neutralizing, or making your home appealing to the masses, you will find yourself getting top dollar at a much quicker pace than the competition.

  Neutral, simple, and sophisticated Sells!

For the past 30 years as an interior designer, I have successfully created commercial and residential environments that reflect my clients’ personality and lifestyle. As a former realtor, I understand the real estate market and how to add value to any property. I distinguish myself as an interior designer not only by creatively transforming spaces, but by managing the entire construction process including vendors and budgets. As sole proprietor of my interior design and construction management firm, Refind Interiors, I have developed the business and project management skills that are crucial to the success of any space renovation. I personally oversee the construction process which includes: designing, purchasing, installing, negotiating, monitoring and reporting.

My client was looking for a fresh approach to his existing space. Through our conversations I learned he loved the original concept but wanted to bring his look to 2010. We stayed with the same color scheme but just made some modern updates. Extraordinary for this client meant subtle changes.

At first this task may seem too much to handle. But with the help of an interior designer, you can find your voice and get your home aligned with your personality. While your kids may play in every room of your home, it’s important to have rooms that feel adult too. Easier said than done! That’s a great reason why an outside, objective point of view can be helpful. A few simple steps such as decluttering and organizing can make a huge difference. Then think about how certain paint colors make you feel -  if a relaxed, slouchy couch fits your mood more than a sleek, modern one – or if a patterned rug distracts more than it adds.

Just remember, spring cleaning doesn’t have to mean just dishes and dust – it can also be about refreshing your house to feel like your home.

Art, Design and the Environment. This was a topic of our recent event held at the Jean Albano Gallery  in downtown Chicago. Ron Goldstein, Broker Associate, with Prudential Rubloff Real Estate and I spoke briefly about how all three affect our moods, our lives and our future. As an interior designer, I like to incorporate both art and the environment into my designs. I always take into account my client’s personality and lifestyle to customize their design needs; however there are a few standard items I always try and incorporate.

Sustainable Materials.

Designing an interior with sustainability in mind really boils down to choosing the right materials. Sustainable materials can be found in almost anything these days – from flooring to fabrics to the art pieces you hang on your wall. Using bamboo versus oak flooring is a perfect example. It takes 120 years to harvest oak versus the 3 years it takes to harvest bamboo. For fabrics and upholstery one could use organic cotton, hemp or modal. Today’s artists are using recycled and found materials more than ever to create interesting, earth-friendly art.

Color.

An eco-friendly technique you can use is to paint the walls a lighter color which will lighten the room and reflect more of the natural light that comes into the space during the day. But that doesn’t mean your home should be plain and boring. Light colors don’t mean off white and beige. Vanilla is out! Make sure to pair your lighter colored walls with bold colors and interesting patterns. Plan your color relationships in a systematic way. Look into the psychological impact of color, how to use color in a functional space and how to best choose color for your accessories.

Lighting.

We all know we should be using CFLs (compact fluorescent light bulbs) now instead of the old fashioned bulbs, but to add even more energy efficiency put motion sensors and/or dimmer switches on all light fixtures throughout the house. Not only does this create a warm ambiance, it saves on the electric bills too.                     

                                                                                                                                          
Water.

Water efficiency is another major factor to consider when you are creating a sustainable interior. Thankfully high-style and luxury does not have to be abandoned for the sake of water efficiency. Faucets and toilets are now being seen as artistic pieces in your home.  

Local.

In addition, always search for locally sourced and manufactured materials. This can save a lot of embodied energy used in the manufacturing, shipping and packaging of products and it supports your local eco-culture.

For the past 30 years as an interior designer, Jill has successfully created environments that reflect her clients’ personality and lifestyle. As a former realtor, she understands the real estate market and how to add value to any property. Jill distinguishes herself as an interior designer not only by creatively transforming spaces, but by managing the entire construction process including vendors and budgets. 
 

To learn more about Refind Interiors comprehensive services, go to www.refindinteriors.com Please email us at info@refindinteriors.com or call us at 773.348.7796.

before                                                        after

A recent Maritz survey said that 63% of buyers will pay more for move-in ready homes.

A quick affordable way for homeowners to make their homes appear move-in ready is through staging.  The Real Estate Staging Association survey proved that professionally staged occupied homes sold 46% faster in 2007, and 89% faster in 2008, while staged vacant homes previously on the market sold 68% faster in 2007, and 85% faster in 2008. By partnering with a professional Interior Designer, such as myself, you can increase the selling potential of your home with affordable and effective staging.

For over 30 years I have successfully created environments that reflect my Clients’ personalities and lifestyles. As a former Realtor I also understand, and am sensitive to the current real estate market and how to add value to any property, whether buying or selling. I distinguish myself as an interior designer not only by creatively transforming spaces, but by managing the entire process, including budgets and vendor relations, and amiable client relationships.

Staging is a cost-effective, quick and creative solution that allures buyers to your property. Without leaving the interior space to the imagination, savvy staging can attract buyers that otherwise might not consider your property.

To learn more about staging and our comprehensive design services please visit us at www.refindinteriors.com

While you might know it when you see it, transitional style is hard to pin down because it’s all about the mix. Let’s take a closer look at one example, a living room from a recently completed Refind Interiors project.

This apartment is situated in a vintage Chicago high rise along the city’s lakefront, where the owner was looking for a tailored, warm environment. He also asked that I incorporate family heirlooms into a simple aesthetic.

Here’s how we did it:

• We used furnishings, fabric, and finishes that are both contemporary and traditional throughout. No one element in any room is either one or the other. For example,the window is dressed with a tailored mohair cornice, a traditionally patterned silk drape and soft–but still masculine–neutral sheers.
• We mixed objects from different places, times and textures. In the corner, an antique lamp sits on a new dark wood table with clean lines next to a contemporary sofa in soft silk and chenille–all atop a lively, patterned Persian rug.
• Complementary tones like cool silver and blue and unite the details throughout. The quieter tones in the fabrics, wainscoting and molding, and on the home’s vintage radiator come alive with contrasting dark herringbone-patterned hardwood floors and the bold cornice.

The bottom line: to achieve a transitional look, remember that there is no one rule to follow. Just keep mixing up the items and looks you love!

• Keep it comfortable. There have been many new fangled introductions to the design world. It can be very confusing, and very UNcomfortable. However, I always look for the comfort factor. No matter what it looks like it is a personal choice that should be based on your own personal comfort factor. Before going out and spending excessively on the “latest and greatest” design fad, you might want to consider visiting various showrooms for a “test drive”, or, preferable, consulting with a Design Professional. Their knowledge and experience will save you from making costly, and UNcomfortable choices.
• Keep it simple. Simple lines, classic neutral (or bold) colors, and minimal clutter are the key to achieving a contemporary space. This goes for both home and office settings. Simple will allow you to do the work at hand in your home office, AND will provide you with the atmosphere you desire in your personal space at home. A dash of color and the simplicity of one central focal point is all you need to feel at home in your work space of personal space.
• Be Consistent. Be consistent with the materials, colors and lines of your design elements. For example, if you choose to use Bamboo flooring in your kitchen, you might want to consider using the same flooring in the adjoining hallway, and even in the nearby bathroom and family room. The consistency of the material will make your space appear larger, and give the it a sense of style as well as a seamless, contemporary feel. The sample principle applies to the use of color. Be consistent the the “lines” of your furnishings as well. If using simple flat slab doors on you kitchen cabinets, try to avoid curvy, round hardware. If the legs of your dining chairs are tapered, you might want to consider using the same, or similar, leg on furniture that is nearby.  Consistency pulls everything together, which in turn adds one more key factor for contemporary design.

The design of your space can and will affect the people around you. Keep this in mind when making your selections. You do not want things to clash and clutter your space, as this tends to be overwhelming to the senses. This is why modern contemporary design is so great. It allows for classic, aesthetically pleasing elements that give any room the sense of space and simplicity.

• Scheme a Theme: what do you want your space to “say?” What is your style? Choose one style per space and make sure that it flows with the themes of other rooms in the house. This may be done in various ways – maybe you have the same type of flooring, color scheme or window treatments in all the rooms that tie them together.
• Keep It Clean: when you have an uncluttered space, everything in it has more of an impact. Treasured objects have more significance in an uncluttered space. A piece that might get lost in a more cluttered space is suddenly a masterpiece or conversation starter.
• Consistency is Key: use colors, patterns and styles that complement each other. This does not mean things have to “match”, but should be harmonious.
• Keep Your Eyes on the Prize: in other words, it’s always good to have a focal point. This can be anything about the room that you love and want to build the rest of the room around – a fireplace, a great window, a painting, a group of photographs, etc. Be creative – there are no rules on what the focal point has to be. Choosing one will help you with all of the other steps of keeping it simple.
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