Market Ready

Preparing to put your home on the market isn’t always an easy task. It means taking inventory of your home, consulting a realtor or designer to see what needs to be done prior to listing, and sometimes it can mean work needs to occur in an effort to garner top dollar.

In the case of this 2005 Mesa del Sol golf course home, some updating was definitely needed. Builder grade oak cabinetry throughout, laminate kitchen countertops, tile flooring, and dated carpet were the main issues that needed to be tackled within this home. The layout was great and the bones were good, but the aesthetics were dated and in need of some fixing.

After discussing this with the homeowner (who also happens to be my mom), she was on board with the necessary changes and eager to get started.

Here are some before pictures.

Notice the yellowish paint color on the walls (ceiling and trim, too), not to mention the dated cabinetry.

There’s nothing like a good fireplace…except when it’s an ugly fireplace. In the case of this guy up above, he needed some help. Just a little facelift on this one feature would change the entire look of the home…and provide a serious return on investment.

The bathrooms weren’t much better. Not bad, but just outdated, you know? Nothing a little paint (or a lot) , and some new countertops couldn’t fix .

The first step in this remodel was changing out the countertop to quartz. Now, sometimes, with home improvements, things can go wrong. There’s a lot of wires that can get crossed and communication that can go South—fast. This was the case when it came to the countertop install. See the sample there on the left? That was what was selected. See the installed countertop underneath it? That is what was put in. Oy.

A lot busier with a lot more movement but it happens. And we were compensated for the mistake so we kept it. Still a nice choice (just not as nice as the sample we preferred).

Moving on. The walls were next. Every wall was treated with Sherwin William’s Agreeable Grey. It took that outdated yellowish hue (that was making the home look dingy), and kicked it up a notch. Check out my IG post a few weeks back:

It makes for a huge difference, just as the trimwork and baseboards being painted in Sherwin William’s Alabaster provided the perfect contrast between the two. Lighter and brighter

Next up came the painting of all the cabinetry throughout the home. Robert Reyes came in and sprayed those babies with the same Alabaster hue as the baseboards and trim work. A huge job but so worth it.

And what’s a white cabinet without sweet knobs and pulls to provide the finishing touches on them? Amazon always offers great deals on hardware, and these were no exception.

Ready for some after shots? These are always so fun! Oh, and thanks to SueAnn Harbolt of Room to Improve here in Yuma, AZ, this house is now perfectly staged and market ready.

Photo Courtesy of Craig Hieber/ERA Realty

Photo Courtesy of Craig Hieber/ERA Realty

Photo Courtesy of Craig Hieber/ERA Realty

Pretty cool, right? So many upgrades and such a beautiful transformation. And how about that fireplace? Kyle Hardin of Hardin Development did such a great job of creating a functional AND aesthetically pleasing unit for the new owners to enjoy.

Oh, and let’s not forget about that master bath too…

Photo Courtesy of Craig Hieber/ERA Realty

The light fixtures were raised and turned the correct way, paint was changed out, along with new countertops and hardware. So. Much. Better.

Know someone in the market for a home in the Foothills? Go get this one before it’s gone!

Love, J

The Details:

Paint: Sherwin William’s Agreeable Grey/Alabaster

Paint Labor: A Fresh Coat Yuma

Countertops: Quartz-Latte

Cabinetry: Sherwin William’s Alabaster

Cabinetry Labor: Robert Reyes

Fireplace: Kyle Hardin/Hardin Development

Room Staging: SueAnn Harbolt-Room to Improve (yuma, AZ)

Boho Chic Family Room

I love the “O” family. They’re just super fun and always a pleasure to work with. Last year I had the opportunity to create a neat play room for their boys, as well as a book nook complete with a wave wall mural (Hawaiian-themed), and this year I got to introduce the same type of vibe into their main living area.

Boho chic with some Hawaiian flair. So. Much. Fun!

This is where we started.

Originally built over twelve years ago, the “O” family was ready for a change. The tan walls were begging for a pop of color, just as the builder grade elements within their home needed some character.

Ready for the “after” pic?

Cool, right? Wanna know all the details? Keep reading.

When we met for our initial consultation, Mrs. “O” had already created her own design board (um, so awesome!) with a number of colors, textures, and elements she wanted to incorporate into this family space. Based off of her vision, I blended her ideas with mine to create the final design board for their living area.

Rich, cool colors fused with warm wood furniture and lots of textures and patterns to be found in the pillows and pouffs. And that rug?!! I couldn’t wait to pull all of these elements together.

But first? Paint. Deciding which color blue to select was the first task. The idea was to create a beautiful blue accent wall while painting the rest of the room a cool grey (a.k.a. Sherwin William’s Icy Avalanche).

Ultimately, the second option (Sherwin William’s Aqualuxe) won out and the painting was first on the list of things that needed to get done.

Fun color, right? Super bold and yes, beautiful. And look at that rug…and those pouffs! Items started rolling in as this room was begininning to come together. And the “O” boys were getting EXCITED!!!

The next major item to roll in was the brand new entertainment unit. Encompassing the whole wall, this piece is just plain pretty with bold, geometric finishes in place. Styling this unit involved a bit of brightening since this piece boasts a darker finish. Framed family pictures and sentimental mementos filled most of the space in this media hub.

Speaking of pictures, while remodeling was underway, the “O’s” fourth baby boy decided to make his entrance. New family pics were scheduled the first of June and once those beautiful images of this amazing family came in, canvas prints were ordered for the large wall next to the slider door.

New bamboo shades, Opalhouse drapes, and black hardware were added to the windows and slider to pull this whole room together. Throw pillows in deep blues, fun patterns, and textures were added in to pull the room together. Last but not least, new lighting fixtures and a ceiling fan (not pictured) were installed to complete the look of this room.

Next up? A brand new buffet In the space that leads from the dining to living room. I love the bold geometric pattern and beautiful finish. It’s a large, stout piece but man is it pretty. We repurposed a mirror that was already part of the decor prior to redecorating, and added just a few decor pieces to keep it simple. Remember, the “O” family has FOUR BOYS UNDER THE AGE OF EIGHT. The less breakables, the better. ;)

Last but not least: pillows and pouffs. Throw pillows can be a source of contention (or maybe that’s just in my home), but they also tie a room together and allow for more texture and color to come into a space. Pouffs offer additional seating as well—especially for kiddos. I know these kids love their pouffs and they add so much more character to the room, don’t they?

Fun, fresh, and functional. This place went from builder grade to Boho Chic. Swoon!

The Details:

Paint Colors: Sherwin William’s Icy Avalanche and Aqualuxe (accent wall)

Rug: Wayfair

Pouffs: Etsy

Bamboo Shades: Lowe’s

Drapes: Target (Opalhouse)

Rods: Amazon

Fan: Home Depot

Light Fixture (not pictured): Home Depot

Floor Lamp: Amazon

Throw Pillows: Target, Kirkland’s, Amazon

Media Unit: American Furniture Warehouse

Buffet: Ashley Home Furniture Store

Canvases: Easy Canvas Prints

Fig & Fiddle Tree: QVC

Love,J

A Hotel for Dogs (Part 2)

Wow! I was blown away by your response to the first four rooms at the new Hotel for Dogs! It’s such a neat space and sweet little niche for our canine companions, isn’t it? I so loved the opportunity to design and create these spaces and I have to tell you—the owners gave me full creative liberties when coming up with these rooms. Seriously, sweetest gig ever!

Okay, so how ‘bout sharing some more rooms? The next six (6) kennels are a tad smaller and structured differently in that I could only paint/decorate a small area. However, these are perfect rooms for small to medium-sized dogs and offer just as much cuteness and character. For reals.

Also? My apologies in advance for the quality of these pics. Lighting was an issue because with 100 degree temps, all doors were closed, and the AC was cranking. Spoiled pups. ;)

Okay, here we go:

1. Love Me Tender: I love Basset Hounds. Having one of my own (George), I desperately wanted to theme one of these rooms around this adorable breed. Not to mention the fact that Basset Hounds gained major notoriety/popularity after Elvis released his famous song, “Hound Dog.” So, after marrying the two together, here’s what I designed:

Love Me Tender

Sweet (!) artwork mixed with a rock n’ roll theme and the saddest puppy eyes ever…

And here is the result. Each of these amazing pieces was found on Etsy by some amazingly talented people. They literally make the whole space. George is so staying here! ;)

Hobby Lobby gets the assist on this one. Also? If you’re in need of really reasonable framing, make sure to visit Jason at the Yuma Hobby Lobby. He helped me frame everything on the cheap and in keeping with the theme of each room. Oh, and the musical note? It only came in black…nothing that a little metallic spray paint can’t fix. ;)

2. Oui Oui, Paris: Poodles and Paris. The two go hand in hand and when designing these rooms, it was a much needed theme. Besides, Paris is always a good idea, right? Shades of pink with accents of black and white mixed with some sweet artwork, make this room tres manufique!

Oui Oui, Paris

Pink, and black, and white all over. Mua!

Once again, Etsy for the win when it comes to the artwork, Wayfair for the bedding (how cute is that?!), and Hobby Lobby for all the frames and details. Whether you have a poodle or not, this room is super sweet.

3. The Regal Beagle: Doggies dressed to the nines in prestigious retro garb wearing monacles and top hats? Yes, please! With a deep blue backdrop, gold accents, and a sweet leather lounger, this room is sure to be a hit.

The Regal Beagle

Loyatly is Royalty!

4. Desert Oasis: I thought it would be fun to pay homage to our little neck of the woods here in AZ. With the desert as our backdrop and beautiful sunsets to look forward to each and every night, warm tones, cacti, and a little Route 66 nostalgia were a must for this space.

Desert Oasis

Get your kicks on Route 66

I know, I know—you’re tired of hearing it but Etsy and Hobby Lobby, and yes, Wayfair too is where all of these items were purchased.

5. Roughing It-The Cabin: Labradors and hunting, and fishing, and cabins all came to mind when designing this niche. And hey, this room is perfect for when you can’t take your hunting buddy with you on the next not-going-to-the-woods outing. Rustic for sure, comfy by far.

The Cabin

“Roughing It,”or should we say, “Ruffing It?”

How about that bed? How much fun is that?!! Combined with the decor and deep green backdrop, I know a lot of doggies who will look pretty sweet (and quite cozy) in these digs.

6. Play Ball: Last but definitely not least is our baseball themed room. Baseball is arguably America’s favorite pastime and dogs looove playing ball (except for my George). Mix the two and you’ve got one fun little space to leave your pup while you’re away.

Play Ball!

America’s favorite pastime and a dog’s favorite object to fetch.

Alabaster white paneling with red stitching detail, and the cutest Scottie artwork you ever did see (well, at least I think so). A super plush, cozy bed and this room is a dog-gone (I couldn’t resist) awesome!

Whew! A ton of work but a ton of fun, you guys. Such a treat to be able to share these with you, too. Now go book your favorite room before somebody else does. Special thanks to The Southwest Exchange/Pooch Parlor—such a great place for pups.

Love,

J