Designing a House to Sell

The first team member to see the house is real estate expert Donna Freeman, who is impressed with the exterior. The paint color is really nice and will appeal to a large number of buyers, she says.

Though a decent size, the kitchen needs a breath of fresh air.

What she sees on the inside isn't as favorable. The kitchen is droopy and dated, the master bedroom is too pink, and the small guest bathroom needs to be finished. The Danons began a makeover on it and never completed the task.

The master bedroom is entirely too pink. Keeping rooms neutral is key when selling a home.

Before

Those three areas are what designer Lisa LaPorta makes her focus. She lays out her three-step plan for taking this house from drab to fab:

Step 1: De-droop. Update unappealing and dated areas to dazzle house hunters.

Step 2: Balance the bold. Tone down and neutralize features to attract more buyers.

Step 3: Go the distance. Finish incomplete projects to make the home a winner on the market.

As usual, contractor Jim Collins and carpenter Brad Haviland are up to the challenge.

Faux finishing the cabinets and wainscoting and spray painting the hardware was an inexpensive way to update the kitchen. The recessed lighting and decorative fixtures take it from droopy to dramatic.

After

The Designed to Sell team has done it again. The house is a hit with the open-house visitors.

Cost breakdown:

lighting projects $701
bedding $349
furniture $546
paint and accessories $206
window treatments $75
shower door and towels $100

Total: $1,977

The master bedroom is now a warm retreat, accented by a stylish light fixture in the center of the room as well as luxurious new bedding, end tables, lamps and a comfy chair (far left).

Products from The Coaster Company of America:

table, 7485
glass top, CB42RD
dining-room chairs, 7486
two bed tables, 7262
two lamps, 1799
bedroom chairs, 5637

Products from Lamps Plus:

two decorative pendant lights for kitchen, 88169
ceiling pendant light for bedroom, 20687

A new, more contemporary round table and chairs help create the illusion of a larger space. Fresh window treatments bring in great natural light and top off the sophisticated look.

Products from The Home Depot:

recessed lighting cans and installation parts for kitchen, 046335810228, 662400130390 and 662400300359
bedroom chandelier, Burnished Chestnut, 478339
shower door, Sterling
can light in shower, 046335833388
cabinet handles in kitchen, Rustoleum's Brushed Nickel
paint for master bedroom, Behr's Classic Taupe
paint for bathroom, Ralph Lauren's Fairy Wren

Products from Lowe's:

window valance rods for kitchen and bathroom, 215644
paint for walls and cabinets in kitchen, Olympic's Toasted Almond
valance for bathroom, 25944 Waverly Ascot Country Life, black and white toile
curtain rod for bathroom, 215644
cabinet handles for bedroom Lowe's brand Inspiration Pulls, 15178

Products from The Linen Outlet:

window valances for kitchen, Westchester Burgundy, 822847
bedding for bedroom, Napoli duvet, 828610, Dupioni silk bedskirt, 821650
pillows for bedroom 823560, 823558 and 823557
shams, 828613 and 821646

Products from Expo Design Center:

shower curtain, Waverly toile tab top panel, black and white, 082327934466

Products from Target:

decorative throw, 067100068
decorative mirror for bedroom, 074110058
towel for bathroom, 064120242