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Invest in Curb Appeal

Invest in Curb Appeal

by | Sep 24, 2015 | October 2015, Retreat, Stuff

Investing in curb appeal can pay off big time.

Whether it’s a large project like exterior painting or something smaller like landscaping, painting your front door or adding outdoor lighting, you can’t go wrong in this market.

Christina and Jeff Lovern spent $8,000 on their Five Points home, fixing deteriorating siding and updating the exterior paint color to replace a combo of colors they didn’t like.

“The Loverns have easily added $20,000 to $30,000 of value to their home,” says Jordan Lee, a realtor with Lee 3 Team Real Estate. “They took a tacky, dated, unappealing home in a great location, invested and chose wisely and gave it a classic look that will appeal to any buyer in the market.”

But the Loverns aren’t selling anytime soon. Their investment was both practical and emotional.

“Our house needed a fresh coat of paint and rotten boards replaced,” says Christina. “We loved our house so instead of just keeping the same colors, we wanted to change them to reflect our sense of style, update the exterior and put our mark on our home.”

 

Considering a big renovation?

Keep a few things in mind. “The goal should be to maximize the return, while limiting the size of the investment and ensure it’s in line with what the market will support,” says Lee. The best places to invest are kitchens, bathrooms and exterior curb appeal.

And keep it neutral.

“Sellers should be mindful anytime they’re doing something highly personalized to their home,” says Lee. “There is value and something to be said for making your home what you want, but it doesn’t always make for the wisest investment from a resale standpoint.”

 

And think about this . . . Curb appeal ROI

A new garage door can bring you an 88 percent return on investment.

A new front door can bring you a 101 percent return on investment.

Stone veneer can bring you a 92 percent return on investment.

 

Got Bookshelves?

Got Bookshelves?

by | Sep 24, 2015 | October 2015, Retreat, Stuff

Bookshelves can be prime real estate indoors.

Everyone wants to show off the little things they love, and a bookshelf is the perfect platform. Interior designers have a handful of tricks to create the perfect “vignette” (fancy-speak for grouping objects). And cramming your stuff onto your bookshelves (anybody guilty?) isn’t one of them.

 

 

Bookshelf decorating tips

1. Decorate with what you love. “Decorating from the heart with family photos and travel treasures allows your bookcases to tell your story,” says Dena Vore, owner of Dena’s Designs.

2. Use books as building blocks. Stack or lean them to add dimension to your shelves. Add objects on top of them or beside them to create different elevations. Bonus points: use old books with character.

3. Give the inside of your bookshelf a makeover. Incorporate a contrasting paint color. Don’t be afraid to go bold, use a dark color or even add wallpaper. That pop of color excites the eye.

4. Use texture. Add decorative plants or baskets to add warmth and color.bookcase-not-to-do1

5. Leave enough space. You want to layer and stack, but space ensures the eye has time to rest, so don’t overcrowd. Less really is more on a bookshelf.

 

 

Now that you know how to spruce up your bookshelves, maybe your literary collection is lacking. Here, a few of our favorite local bookstores:

Reader’s Corner: 3201 Hillsborough Street—cool atmosphere, helpful people.

Stevens Book Shop: 6700 Old Wake Forest Road—get lost sifting through shelves of used books. Quail Ridge Books & Music: Wade Avenue—featuring many local writers and workshops.

Looking for vintage books with leather covers and gold embossing? Try the Raleigh Flea Market (1025 Blue Ridge Road).

Room Envy: Traditional Decorating with a Twist

Room Envy: Traditional Decorating with a Twist

by | Sep 24, 2015 | October 2015, Retreat, Stuff

This beautiful living room showcases old family treasures from around the world with modern designer fabrics and wall coverings. Designer Tula Summerford worked with homeowners Karl & Michele Ruppert to create a traditional decorating with a twist look for their home at The Barony that reflects their love of the past and present.

 

Items in the room

Large frame on left wall is from Flink’s Fine Art.

White console table against left wall is from Hunt & Gather Fine Estate Furnishings on Glenwood.

White Herend bowl on coffee table in front of couch is from Bailey’s Fine Jewelry.

Gilded coffee table is from Design by Tula.

Fabric in alcove on left wall also is from Design by Tula.

Building (and Selling) in Raleigh

Building (and Selling) in Raleigh

by | Aug 21, 2015 | Retreat, September 2015, Stuff

Molly Logan and her husband used to pass by this empty lot on Drewry Lane and wish someone would buy it and build on it.

Until 2009, the half-acre lot featured a ranch-style house typical of the 60s and 70s, but the previous owners moved the existing house to Garner, and the lot was taken over by the bank.

ranch-style house

The lot before

In December 2013, the Logans decided to take matters into their own hands, buying the lot for $179,500 and starting construction on a 4,000-square-foot home with four bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths.

Their timing was perfect. Finished in December, it sold in February 2015 for $775,000, listed by Realtor Bryan Moore of Bryan Moore Realty Group.

“Inside the Beltline in Raleigh is one of the hottest markets in the country,” says Moore. “Homes priced correctly usually have multiple offers and go for or above list price. Other homes that need work are being donated or torn down and new construction taking its place.”

It wasn’t the Logans first time building on a hunch. They’ve built three homes on spec with builder Randall Shirley, including their own. This project was their most recent.

 

Real estate snap shot

Overall sales price increase: 6%

Total inventory: Down 14%

Average days on market: 52

Average closing price: $273,600

Triangle stats, reported June 2015 compared to June 2014.

Space-Saving Furniture

Space-Saving Furniture

by | Aug 21, 2015 | Retreat, September 2015, Stuff

Feeling cramped? Check out these space-saving furniture solutions in different prices ranges.

Bring a “dead” space back to life

Adding a window seat with storage utilizes that dead space, making it functional.

Problem . . .

Raleigh resident Molly Logan was concerned about kitchen storage as well as her kids always banging the kitchen chairs into the walls and windows.

Solved.

Nisbet and Logan came up with the idea to add bench seating to the corner of the kitchen. Nisbet had custom cushions made with Teflon-coated fabric to repel spills. Later, Logan added tile to the wall to prevent sticky fingerprints, and Nisbet incorporated soft-close doors to the extra storage compartments.

Indoor/outdoor pillows from Ballard Designs add a nice touch, made with a sturdy fabric that’s easy to clean. A wood pedestal table from Greenfront Interiors adds a different texture to the space. Mixing custom-made items with store-bought creates both interest and depth.

 

Built in window seat (pictured above)

Designer: Kate Nisbet

Materials/labor: $1,300

Custom cushions: $1,200

Throw pillows: $200

Sticker price: $2,700

 

Bed1A stow-away bed for guests

A bed that folds down out of the wall? Of course; remember Mork & Mindy? But Murphy Beds aren’t just for Hollywood. It’s a great way to have a fully functional space for your daily life and still accommodate guests when needed. Think of it as a room-swap without moving any furniture. Our own Retreat section editor Sarah Fallows figured it out.

Problem . . .

After having a second baby, Fallows had to give up her guest room, but she and husband Eric hated not being able to have a designated space for guests. They had a playroom for the kids and considered trying to fit a bed but it felt cramped.

Solved.

By adding a Murphy Bed (they found the spring mechanism online), they now have the best of Bed2both worlds. “The room still doubles as our playroom and guest room,” says Fallows. “We’re really surprised at how it just blends into the wall and doesn’t take up much space at all.”

 

Murphy bed mechanism (rockler.com)

Vertical mount hardware kit: $350

Materials: $250

Labor: $600-$2,000 (DIY vs. hired labor)

Sticker price: $1,200-2,600

 

T.J. Maxx storage ottomanStorage ottoman

Storage ottomans are the perfect solution for stashing those things you can’t ever seem to find a spot for—books, magazines, blankets and toys (or dog bones!). Most tops lift up or come completely off, making it easy to store things out of sight. They do double duty as footrests and coffee tables. Another idea: Corner shelving.

Corner shelves, bookcases and cabinets build up instead of out. Find them in all price ranges at yard sales, flea markets, boutiques and antique stores.

Storage ottoman

From: T.J. Maxx

Sticker price: $39.99