Condo Conversion

When Mael Bolore met Saskia Volkers, she had been living in this 850-square-foot condo for nearly five years. Now recently married, the couple wants to sell the one-bedroom condo so they can buy a bigger place of their own. Built in the 1920s, the vintage, brick building sits on a quiet tree-lined street. But, before the couple put the place up for sale, the Designed to Sell team has some work for them to do.

Real estate expert Brandie Malay pays a visit to uncover the necessary improvements they’ll need to make. She loves the location, which is near the park and in a good neighborhood. Upon entering the home, she gives a thumbs up to the living room and antique fireplace but has two words for the dining room: rummage sale. She thinks it looks like a storage locker that desperately needs to be cleared out and decluttered. Malay's comments for the bathroom are even worse. She says she has seen nicer bathrooms in a bus station! The three dressers and excess furniture in the bedroom makes it feel it cramped and crowded. Malay says this will tell buyers there is not enough storage or closet space.

Designer Monica Pedersen agrees with Malay’s statements and has a vintage-meets-modern design plan that will transform this home into a showplace.

Step 1: Declutter the dining room and make it look like a true, formal dining room.

Step 2: Maximize the space in the bedroom by downsizing the furniture and creating a cohesive look.

Step 3: Give the bathroom a new vanity and drywall, and give the vintage subway tile a facelift.

Carpenters Robert North and Chad Lopez are charged up and ready to get to work.

Potential buyers may not be able to visualize how great the dining room could be, so the homeowners will have to do that for them. Turning this space back into the grand dining room it was meant to be is sure to boost the bottom line.