Soon-To-Be Sold

Laura and Jim Day want to sell their current home so they can move into a larger one out of state. But they can't do it on their own. They have enlisted the Designed to Sell team of experts to ensure that they get top dollar for their home sale.

Real estate expert Shannon Freeman is the first team member to take a look at the house. She is at once impressed with the curb appeal, remarking that it is exactly how a house should look when it's on the market. Once inside, however, she is sorely disappointed in each of the major rooms.

Designer Lisa LaPorta arrives next and agrees with Freeman's assessment, laying out a three-step plan to wake up the Day house. The focus will be on the living room, kitchen and guest room.

Step 1: Tap into it. Remove clutter to uncover the home's hidden potential and show of its size.

Step 2: Let there be light. Brighten dark areas and make the house shine for buyers to see.

Step 3: Stir it up. Use color to bring drab areas to life and inspire a sale.

As always, contractor Jim Collins and carpenter Brad Haviland sign on to work with the homeowners and make LaPorta's ideas a reality. See for yourself how they did.

Living Room

Before

The large furniture camouflaged valuable square footage in the living room. The shutters made it too dark, and the coffee table blocked a major selling feature: the fireplace.

After

Now it is bright and warm, thanks to additional natural light from the windows, smaller furniture in a smarter arrangement, a spruced-up fireplace and new accessories.

Kitchen

Before

The kitchen should be the heart of the home, but this one wasn't even beating. It was monochromatic and uninviting, and the table shoved in the corner facing the wall was awkwardly placed and unused.

After

Now it's lively and vibrant, thanks to the new French door, window treatments and accessories and warm wall paint. But the real value is in the new counter and cabinet space that replaced that awkward table.

Guest Room

Before

The small guest room appears even smaller because there is not enough natural light coming in, the bookcase is cluttered, and the furniture is too big. The large bookcase was a jumbled mess and made the room look that much smaller.

After

The day bed adds class and comfort to the guest room. New window treatments brighten the space, and loads of new accessories add finishing touches. Now the bookcase is painted a crisp white and filled with decorative pieces that add drama and flair.

Cost breakdown for this project:

accessories $522
bed and bedding $593
window treatments $326
French door $261
cabinet and counter $183
paint and supplies $70

Total: $1,955

Products from The Coaster Company of America:

sleigh bed frame, 3976
trundle for bed, 3960
twin mattress for office, 1140

Products from Lowe's:

red plant for living room, 96201
two semi-flush ceiling light fixtures for kitchen, 170582
deadbolt and handle for kitchen door, 173960 and 3884
planted flowers for kitchen, 51813
wall-mounted light fixture and shade for office, 42143 and 158682
desk lamp and shade for office, 52878 and 158680
floor lamp and shade for office, 199735 and 202809
Valspar paint for kitchen walls, Cliveden Sandstone 94-3B
Valspar paint for office walls, Cincinnati Hotel Briggs Beige 3008-10A
Behr paint for office trim and bookshelf, Swiss Coffee

Products from Marshalls:

chenille throw for living room, 01654962
planter for living room, 016640276
statue for living room, 016523573
red plate for living room, 005989452
Green vase, 003710795
Lemon bottle, 016663091
Yellow plate, 015188814
two framed art pieces for kitchen, 005878727
rooster plate, 00507856
two wall-mounted candleholders, 015802172
Red candles for office, 05278305

Products from The Home Depot:

French door for kitchen, 723647371516
fireplace treatment, Jasco Tile Gloss and Seal, 567737

Products from The Great Indoors:

draperies and matching bolster pillow for living room, Hamlet by Sheridan
draperies and matching bolster pillow for office, Nottingham by Sheridan

Products from Big Lots:

iron curtain rods, 1453400131983
two candleholders, 1463500166151
framed mirror, 1453400127593
leather vase, 1453400120259
art for office, 2133450082364

Products from IKEA:

tree for living room, Ravenea
baskets for kitchen, Bastant
Yellow pot for kitchen, Plommon

Products from Ross Dress for Less:

living-room clock, 406406403597
Yellow ceramic acorn for kitchen, 406405536258

Products from The Linen Outlet:

bed coverlet, 823897
chenille throw, 830988
two chenille pillows for office, 829671

Products from Transworld Tile Inc.:

kitchen counter, Daltile 8100 and D100