Bye-Bye 'Burbs

Bored in the Burbs
Former urbanites Andy and Sarah Kahlenberg don’t care for the suburbs. A few years ago they thought they would like it, so they bought themselves a cute house out in the bucolic burbs. But, after two years, they are bored and want to get back to the exciting city life. Before they can return to their urban lifestyle, the couple is going to have to sell their 2,000-square-foot home.

Real estate expert Brandie Malay stops by to offer her expertise on the home’s selling potential. She is impressed by the exterior — the brick work and nice landscaping provide wonderful curb appeal. The living room and dining room are modern, clean and simple, where as the kitchen cabinets are so outdated it looks like granny lives here. Malay finds the guest bedroom overwhelmingly blue, too much of one color can be shocking. Malay says the backyard is a classic example of an asset that is just not being played up. People moving from the city to the suburbs are going to be looking for outdoor space, so this patio needs to stand out.

Designer Monica Pedersen agrees with Malay’s statements and has a $2,000 design plan that will update the old, highlight the positives and eliminate the blues.

Step 1: Modernize the kitchen by refinishing the granny-style cabinets and replacing the dated hardware.

Step 2: Transform the backyard into a festive, outdoor entertaining area.

Step 3: In the guest bedroom, replace the blue color scheme with a buyer-friendly, neutral palette.

Carpenters Robert North and Chad Lopez are on hand with all the right skills and tools to get the job done.