New Town, New Career
Homeowner Deborah Harper is an engineer who is ready for a big change. She has decided to sell her suburban Washington, D.C. home, move to Florida and enroll in culinary school. The only thing holding her back is the sale of her four-bedroom home. It has been on the market for almost a year. Even host Shane Tallent can’t figure out why the 3,100-square-foot, colonial-style home hasn’t sold. Real estate specialist Shirley Mattam-Male stops by to see why the homeowner hasn't gotten any offers. From the outside, she doesn’t see any problems. She loves the style of the home and its location next to preserved wetlands. Inside, Mattam-Male likes the open floor plan, but the overly beige kitchen needs some help. There is way too much wallpaper, the countertops need updating and the florescent light fixture is filled with dead bugs. In the living room, Mattam-Male is not a big fan of the big ceiling fan, the stark white walls and the out-of-proportion furniture. Mattam-Male thinks the snake-skin wallpaper in the guest bedroom is dreadful and certainly isn't helping the house get sold.
Designer Taniya Nayak agrees with Mattam-Male’s critique and has a $2,000 design plan that will finally get this house sold.
Step 1: Add some contrasting color in the kitchen with new paint, countertops and backsplash.
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Step 2: Highlight the vaulted ceiling in the living room and give the space some personality.
Step 3: Cozy up the guest bedroom with a new color palette and updated furnishings.
Contractor Simon Ley and carpenter Lynn Kegan are the skilled craftsmen who will see each step through.
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