Design Eye Candy: Window Seat Before and After

 Nothing improves the look or utility of an awkward bay like a well-designed window seat....

From extra seating and storage to visual interest... a huge YES, right?

Nenonen Project Time: Geometric Accent Wall

We have always allowed our boys creative-control of their own bedrooms, and our youngest has been busy this week. 

Give a teenage boy quarantine orders, creative freedom, and three weeks to kill before he leaves for college and what do you get? 

A fun bedroom makeover! I love the funky freestyle geometric wall design that Reed created. He was going for visually-interesting without being too loud.  I think he nailed it and managed powerful visual impact without the commitment of wallpaper or bold colors.  Now on to final touch-ups, new baseboards, area rug, and furnishings✨

Base Color:  "Simply White" (OC- 117) by Benjamin Moore
Top Color:    "On The Rocks" (SW-7671) by Sherwin Williams

While the bulk of our ongoing home projects can be found on my Instagram (in stories and highlights), see a few of our other Casa de Nenonen projects HERE.

Makeover Magic in the Laundry Room

Sunday funday, just because... 

A weekend sweat-equity project makes for a much more pleasant laundry experience. Envision your space and don’t be afraid of a little pattern or color, Homeowners!

Stock to STUNNING, just because...

I love a good bathroom transformation! Envision your space, Homeowners.

Let there be LIGHT!

Wow!  Rethink your space, Homeowners. Small changes can result in HUGE visual impact, particularly when you incorporate continuing lines and more natural light. Ceiling for days!

Staging Before and After

Which kitchen would you rather cook your family breakfast in? 

Easy answer.

SELLING TIP: Your home doesn’t have to be 100% updated to have a quick and profitable sale. That being said, whether original or brand spanking new... staging is EVERYTHING, friends. If your potential agent hasn’t discussed preparation strategy with you, I highly recommend getting a second opinion -STAT.

Bathroom Makeover...

From dark and crowded to light and bright...

A 2019 bathroom makeover done right visually increases the size of the space twofold with clean lines and bright finishes.  Great stuff, had to share. 

Don’t underestimate the transformative power of a fresh coat of paint!

𝗕𝗢𝗢! 🎃👻

One of my favorite things?

Seeing a house that I sold, all dressed up for Halloween! This Webster beauty has seen over a century’s worth of trick-or-treats. I love the spooky makeover!

Envision your space, Homeowners!

Small changes with a HUGE impact...

Paint, flooring, light fixture, removing the top cabinets in lieu of open shelving, and refacing the original bottom cabinets. Results? Amazing... I had to share! 

Foyer Makeover Magic...

Envision your space, Homeowners...

I love a good makeover! From stock to styling... it never ceases to amaze me what a little paint and wainscoting can do for a foyer?! 

Before and After: Small changes, huge impact!

The best renovations are usually not the most sizable...

Envision your space, Homeowners! It’s amazing how rethinking a space ever so slightly can make such an incredible impact on the overall appeal and utility!

Let there be LIGHT...

en·vi·sion
/ənˈviZHən/
verb
imagine as a future possibility; visualize.

While open concept isn’t the solution for every house,  what an incredible difference in this one. Let there be LIGHT!☀️ Envision your home, friends, and don’t be afraid to make a bold design move from time to time.

Staging matters- Laundry edition.

The same laundry room, a weekend of Seller sprucing distinguishes the two...

Which one would give a Buyer concern that there is not enough storage space and which one would result in Buyer love-at-first-sight?

Exactly.

Staging and preparation is everything, Sellers. A little bit of work can mean a lot more money at the closing table!

Have the Vision, Buyers!

Nothing beats a good kitchen makeover! Dark and dreary to cheery and inviting...

This is a gentle visual reminder to pay attention to the potential of the homes that you tour, if the 1st impression isn’t a good one. 💡

Who Doesn't Love A Good "Before and After"?

Want to vastly improve the arduous task of laundry, Homeowners?

A weekend makeover (and a little sweat equity) will do the trick, friends. Rethink your space! What a terrific low-cost transformation. I had to share!

Before And After: Visualize your Space

Be prepared to be inspired, Homeowners...

Personally, my mind is BLOWN. Talk about recognizing the potential in a space and elevating it?! A few architectural elements added, a new color palette, and strategic asteful decor.  Perfection! 

Amazing stuff from @onepiece_at_a_time_design on Instagram.

Homeowners- Pay attention to your curb appeal!

Sellers and Homeowners- when it comes to curb appeal, small changes make a HUGE difference...

A few hostas, garden stones, and annuals? WOW! Amazing before and after, right? 

Envision your space, friends!

Home Project: Built-in Desk Under The Stairs

Months ago, I shared my Pinterest inspiration photo for a new built-in basement work space in Casa de Nenonen...

We tore out the existing dark (and useless) closet in the journey towards a light and bright basement work space.  Here is a peek at the process, from start to finish, which included a serious staircase makeover from carpet to hardwood...

I am happy to report that the project is almost complete!  We are finishing up the last of the molding right now...

Not a finished staged photo, merely a quick iPhone snap, though what do you think? I am tickled pink!  

In venturing into this project, our contractor assured us that starting with foundation pieces would greatly increase utility while reducing cost.  We started with 3 basic foundation pieces...

1) The base (just didn't use the top):

Find HERE on Amazon.  I didn't know if I would, but I adore the open bookshelf that runs to the back wall as it provides an accessible yet somewhat hidden spot for our commercial-sized laser printer and shredder.

2) Behind the drawer system on the left:  

The IKEA Kallax provides support for the top, storage space, and the perfect depth to complete our "u shape".  Half runs behind the drawers so concealed, but we added the door option to the 2 remaining cubbies to provide more storage. Perfect for printer paper and supplies!

Find HERE on IKEA.

3) Shelf above:

Find HERE on IKEA.

 Our tips for using these pieces:

-The overall height of the system was determined by the Kallax shelf as it is taller and doesn't have legs or a removable base.  It is also the PERFECT desk height in my opinion.  I am 5'4" and my husband is 6'.  We added 2x2s to the bottom of the Amazon desk pieces and then encased everything in molding to create a seamless look.

-We created a custom top with wood and shoe molding from the hardware store.  We opted for 3 pieces which we carefully spackled and sanded for a seamless look, polished with 2 good coats of primer and then paint. 

UPDATE: I have received several inquiries about a few things in the room.  It always makes me giggle to discover what people notice in a photo and reach out about:   

• The chair was a Homegoods find.  
• The paint color is Sherwin Williams Repose Gray.
• We chose Pergo Outlast+ in Molasses for the flooring. It is a high quality laminate ideal for a finished basement space as it is easily mopped and is water-resistant on the top AND underside.  You never know what will happen in a basement as far as water goes.  Our basement walks out to the backyard.  With two teens and a large dog, it was a sensible yet attractive choice.
• The family name medallion came from a local St. Louis artisan...  

I absolutely adore it and get comments galore from everyone who walks in our basement.  It is solid and sizable at 24 inches in diameter of solid wood.  It was around $60. Her link:  https://www.facebook.com/scrapbookinabox

Streamline your laundry room with a commercial kitchen sink!

Per an earlier post, this winter we have committed to modernizing and elevating the aesthetics of our already-finished basement in the attempt to streamline the space and add storage.   In the midst of working with our laundry room space, we kept stumbling upon nothing but flimsy plastic laundry tubs (similar to what we already have).  Seeking something more sleek and sturdy, we opted for THIS commercial kitchen prep sink instead, found on Amazon...

I think it is a terrific solution, don't you?  I can't wait to install it this week!