DESIGN TUTORIALS

When renovating kitchens and bathrooms for clients we often toy with innovative back-splash ideas, but the reality is, when putting a house on the market, the best option is usually the more neutral one. However, this hasn't stopped us looking at creative approaches, transforming the classic tile back-splash into the focal point of a room.

We found a selection of super fun, innovative backsplashes that re-use discarded materials, pattern, natural resources, bright pops of color and wallpaper. 

A new back-splash doesn't have to be expensive or permanent. In fact, as I looked for ideas I stumbled across many blog posts and websites dedicated to providing back-splash ideas on a budget, tailored for renters in particular. Apartment Therapy has some

As of yesterday, 9003 Sudbury Road is live on the market, but it was no easy feat getting there! This grand Colonial is a fab house in a great location, filled with abundant natural light throughout, great living spaces including a bonus den/library with floor-to-ceiling shelves and multiple outdoor entertaining spaces including a screen porch, deck, patio and huge backyard. However, as the before photos illustrate, the house was in serious need of updating to bring it into a modern day context to make it desirable to prospective buyers. 

The design team had their work cut out for them with this one, having just two weeks to gather estimates, budget, update, paint, install, replace and stage this house to perfection for the first open house.

Did you ever wonder what it takes to stage a house? We'll tell you what it takes! Staging a house is not just fluffing pillows and adding vases of fresh flowers to make it look pretty for the open house. When it comes to staging, the Pure Energy design team covers every base, providing everything needed, from furniture, area rugs and window treatments, to linens, wall art, chotchkies and lamps.

We use our interior design talent to transform spaces, creating immediate positive reactions from potential buyers, which helps them form an emotional connection to your home. We have an inventory of thousands of items that we draw from to create warm and appealing accents that coordinate with your existing furniture or to completely outfit a vacant property.

JUST LISTED! 10603 Inwood Avenue, Silver Spring

When I first walked into this Colonial for a design appointment a couple of weeks ago, it was clear that the house had plenty of charm, but was in need of some updates to transform it into a SUPER charming house that would grab the attention of prospective buyers.

Many of the Colonials in the Chestnut Hills neighborhood of Silver Spring have a smaller footprint- the majority having two levels and no basement. Because of house size, it is important that the interior spaces are well thought out, staged in a functional manner and the presentation is top notch. 

The old half sized oven and lack of counter space made reconfiguring the kitchen a main priority. We maximized the kitchen space by moving the

The Pure Energy design team frequently post photo galleries and inspirational color palettes for various rooms of the house, but I was beginning to notice that these features seems to geared toward the adults, so this week's design blog is 100% for the kids, specifically the boys! Here's why...

I have been noticing for a while now, that in every category of furniture, lighting, bedding and cushions offered for kids, the options offered for girls far outweighs the boys. A recent trip through the kids section at Target emphasized this point. Why is it that boys have slimmer pickings when it comes to interior decor? 

As I began researching the aforementioned items, it became even more apparent that the boys range available is rather limited. For

This patio set had certainly seen its better days.  Chipping paint leads to rusted metal leads to this: ICK!

 
I set off with our trusty mouse sander and some coarse grain sand paper to get as much of the flaking paint and rust off as possible. Between the rust and the lattice work metal and detailing, I used a TON of sandpaper. *Always wear a dust mask. You never know how old paint is or if it contains lead.

I managed to get most of the rust and smooth out all the chipping paint.  To get it all off given the detailing of this set would have taken ages.  Afterwards I began priming with Rustoleum primer in black. I used 4 cans of primer total for the set.  TIPS:Save your hand, wear a glove when spraying! AND wait until the primer is dry and

As avid thrift store shoppers, we often come across fabulous old lamps that are no longer in working condition, or may work, but the wiring looks a bit dodgy. These great finds can be salvaged by simply rewiring them- trust us, it isn't as intimidating as it sounds!

This post gives step by step instructions, along with an easy to follow video, so you can try this at home for yourself.

Materials Required:

• An old lamp
• Screwdriver
• Wire cutters
• Electrical tape
• Wire Strippers
• Rewiring kit, including a new cord and quick clamp plug (take the lamp with you into a hardware store and consult a professional if you are unsure of what type of rewiring kit to purchase)

*Read before beginning: ALWAYS unplug the lamp before attempting to

Unfortunately, It's hard to tell in this picture just how beat up these chairs were. The paint was stained and chipped from years of use and the fabric is faded and badly stained. Here is a step by step tutorial on rejuvenating these handy little chairs.

One of the chairs was coming apart at the bottom leg, a little wood glue and a clamp gets the job done!

 
I started by lightly sanding the chairs to smooth out any cracked or chipping paint. Since I will be painting the chairs white again, there is no reason to go overboard with the sanding. *Its ALWAYS a good idea to wear a dust mask when sanding, especially paint. You never know how old it is or if it contains lead. 

Once the sanding is done, wipe the chairs down with tack

This dresser is among one of many in our inventory that had seen better days... 

The stain, finish, hardware and overall condition of this dresser really dates it. Below is a step by step tutorial for bringing this (or your) dresser back to life!

Materials for Phase 1: Rubber gloves, plastic scraper, paint brush and water based paint/varnish stripper - this stuff is non-toxic,  I've been told the super chemically stuff is nasty and dangerous and opted away from that. You should still wear gloves. 

Apply furniture stripper VERY liberally... I mean really glop it on with a paint brush.  Have paper towesl handy for splashes and drips. Make sure you are working over a drop cloth. I didnt at first and only made more work for myself cleaning up.

UNDER CONTRACT IN 10 DAYS, FULL PRICE WITH MULTIPLE OFFERS!! There is a good reason 9409 Worth Avenue caught the attention of multiple prospective buyers, who after viewing the house, quickly make an offer.

By choosing Pure Energy as their realtor, the homeowners had the immediate benefit of a professional design team (a complimentary service offered to all of our clients), to make recommendations and guide them through the process of preparing their home for sale. Investing in updating light fixtures, fresh paint, landscaping and new patio and deck additions made the difference between the house sitting on the market and a speedy sale. In addition to these improvements, complimentary home staging by the design team ensured that the vacant house was