Goodbye, Bachelor Pad

Designed to Sell : Episode HDTS-107 -- More Projects »
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Terie and Eric Ishibashi are ready to leave their 2,000-square-foot home for a larger one. It had been Eric's bachelor pad for 10 years before Terie moved in, and he is sentimental about letting it go. But he realizes that there simply isn't enough room anymore, especially since the birth of their daughter, Madeline.

The house is not ready to go on the market yet. That's where the Designed to Sell team comes into play. They will be charged with implementing all the changes real estate expert Donna Freeman and resident designer Lisa LaPorta recommend to get it ready to sell.

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The living room is cold and impersonal, but nothing new paint, furniture and accessories can't fix.
The main problem with the Ishibashi home is not an unusual one--too much clutter. Every room is filled with the stuff, especially the living room. It's so full of toys it could be a playroom, rather than a gathering place for family. It's a nicely sized room, but there's nothing that makes it personal.

Other areas of concern are the outdated bathrooms, dining room and master bedroom. LaPorta has put together a three-step plan to breathe life into this house:

Step 1: Cut the clutter.

Step 2: Bring in a highlighter. Highlighting the room's focal point adds character.

Step 3: Put it on "warm." Add special touches to make potential home buyers feel comfortable.

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The master bedroom doesn't look like one, according to real estate expert Donna Freeman. It is full of clutter, and the only hint of personality is in the colorful bedspread.
The homeowners and team of experts get to work clearing away the clutter and stripping wallpaper in preparation for the transformation. They run into a few obstacles in the master bedroom, where there is not one, but two, holes in the ceiling that need to be repaired. Paneling was also discovered underneath all that wallpaper, so they'll have to put up beadboard instead of adding paint to get the room done in time for the open house.

How did everything turn out?

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The bedroom now looks like someone actually lives in it.

The new and improved master bedroom is refreshed with warm paint on top of the beadboard as well as window treatments that complement the existing bedding. The rest of the furniture is the same, but rearranged to open up the room.
Next on the list is the dining room. It's a wonderful size, but again, there is nothing of interest on the walls, the window is dirty, and the window treatment is dated, according to Freeman.
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Before: It is clear that this room has never been used for its intended purpose. The focal point--as well as a great selling point--should be the fireplace (at left behind the box), but it is virtually ignored.
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After: Contractor Jim Collins created custom molding to dress up the fireplace. It's definitely an attention getter now. Fresh paint and new window treatments and light fixtures complete the look.
The last major transformation happened in the living room. Amazing what new paint and accessories can do to improve a room.
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Now that the old couch is gone, and new, smaller pieces have been brought in, the living room looks warm and inviting. There's even a print on the wall.
Nearly half of the $2,000 budget was spent on special projects. Here's the breakdown:

beadboard $390
front door $329
mantel $224
window treatments $411
lighting $331
accessories and hardware $295
paint and supplies $160

Total: $1989

The open house was a success--so much so that the Ishibashis had to take the house off the market while they continued searching for a new home of their own.

Products from The Home Depot:

36" x 80" exterior slab door
brushed nickel exterior wall lantern
bathroom paint, Ralph Lauren's Tangier Island;
master bedroom beadboard and moldings, 4' x 8'
master bedroom paint, Ralph Lauren's Manilla

Products from Lowe's:

exterior-door hardware, Satin Nickel Chelsea Laurel set
three exterior door hinges, brushed nickel
living-room paint, Frazee's Caper Tree
dining-room paint, Frazee's Olive Sprig
three Lite Chrome bathroom wall sconces with Alabaster shades
15" Chrome bathroom-light fixture with Alabaster ceiling light
bathroom valance, Chintz
master bedroom valance rods, White

Products from The Great Indoors:

six living-room valances, Blouson
living-room pillows: neckroll 9644672900 and two rayon velvet 18" corded pillows, Burgundy
dining-room light fixture 34-09511

Products from Superior Moulding Inc.:

dining-room mantel supplies--17" HC 39-33, two pieces 3077, 36" PCO 4-6, two pieces EE Maple

Products from Anna's Linens:

dining-room window treatments, Jacquard 84" panels with Boullion fringe

Products from Linens 'n Things:

master bedroom window treatments, four purple panels of Hampton draperies

Resources
building materials--The Home Depot
The Home Depot U.S.A. Inc.
Website: www.homedepot.com

wall paint
The Home Depot U.S.A. Inc.
Website: www.homedepot.com

decorative project materials
Lowe's
Website: www.lowes.com

decorative project materials
The Great Indoors
Website: www.thegreatindoors.com

decorative project materials
Superior Moulding, Inc.
Website: www.superiormoulding.com


decorative project materials
Anna's Linens
Website: www.annaslinens.com

decorative project materials
Linens 'n Things
Website: www.lnt.com
Guests
Donna Freeman
Real Estate Expert
Website: www.donna-shannon.com

Lisa LaPorta
Interior Designer, Lisa LaPorta Design
E-mail: dts@pietown.tv

Jim Collins
Contractor
Information Not Available

Brad Haviland
Carpenter
E-mail: haviandro@aol.com
Also in this Episode