Costa Mesa Room Makeover – After

Costa Mesa Room Makeover

Room makeovers are exciting and people often think they are pricey. However, they can be done on a budget. Inspired by an article in Better Homes & Gardens Magazine where a designer did a room makeover for $350, we put ourselves to the same challenge. We held a contest and selected a winner who wanted their master bedroom to get a makeover. Here’s the result and their reaction:

 

 

 

 

AFTER

 

How We Did It

First of all we want to give a big thank you to Yong with Crystal Painting and  Diane Gray Concialdi with DC Redesign Real Estate Staging & Conceptual Design.

Yong donated paint and and painted a neutral, beige accent wall that complements the furnishings and is a tasteful color in case the couple ever decides to sell their home in the future. (Home staging 101 – Neutral colors are best!) We call upon Yong’s painting team all the time when we are preparing homes.

Diane assisted with picking out the decor, helping us find amazing discounts through her contacts at Macy’s, and the final arrangements on the ‘Reveal’ day. Her company can help with staging for any budget and also uses the latest technologies to conceptualize how a room would look if remodeled.

A special thanks to Macy’s. Since the winners, Julieta & Ryan, had nice furniture, we were able to keep what they had in place and redecorate to fit their space. We focused on their bedding, which we got at a major discount thanks to the help of our friends at Macy’s. By shopping great sales you can save major bucks. In fact the comforter set and pillows we bought were discounted from $350 to $134.99. Plus the bluish-green color of the comforter is a very hot color this season and it’s also very peaceful and relaxing for a master bedroom retreat.

The euro sham pillows were bought at IKEA.  Since they are for show and not going to be used they really dress up the room for very little cost. Each one was only $6.99!

The curtains were found at Target and matched the bedspead perfectly. They are a blue-green sheer stripe that irons easily and helps create a light, airy feeling rather than a dark, weighed down one like the former ruby curtains created. Over by the bathroom, we decided to use matching curtains but used 2 to create a symmetrical look and then bought some traditional gold tassels to tie them back.

BEFORE

AFTER

We moved some pieces around to add more space and create a cleaner look in the room. For instance we moved the hamper and glider from the room to make it feel larger.

Also, we borrowed a photo of the happy couple that was in the hallway and put it next to the bed. They were thrilled when they saw it! It added a little of their spirit to the room.

Thanks so much to Julieta & Ryan for letting us help them!

Final Tally:

Macy’s Comforter set: (Originally $350) $134.99

Macy’s Sheets: (Originally $120) $79.99

IKEA 2 Euro Sham pillows: 13.98

Target Curtains (2 for the windows, 2 for the bathroom doorway): 59.96 each

Target 2 Gold Tassel Tiebacks: $5.98

Plus various taxes…

Grand Total: $325.70

About Torelli Realty: Torelli Realty is proud to represent Costa Mesa real estate. We’ve been meeting the needs of Costa Mesa home buyers & sellers since 1984. Torelli Realty deals with Costa Mesa homes, Costa Mesa apartments, Costa Mesa rentals, Costa Mesa property management, and offers home improvement and home staging tips to help your home’s value throughout Costa Mesa and in Mesa Verde. We also have an expert on staff, Holly Schwartz, who came to us as a producer from Home and Garden Television (HGTV) and extensively studied the most effective home staging techniques, as well as home values and markets locally and nationally. Torelli Realty is also an expert in Costa Mesa short sales and Orange County short sales. Feel free to contact Torelli Realty for a consultation and for all your real estate needs.

WEBSITE
SHORT SALE WEBSITE
TWITTER  – FACEBOOK - COMPANY BLOG - NEW: 365 Things to do in Costa Mesa

Company License #: 00878443 – Valerie Torelli License #: 00668297

Decorating Tips for Fall

Decorating for fall is something a lot of people look forward to, even in Sunny Southern California. Here are a few tips, some of which are from one of our favorite design websites, Freshome, that will work whether you are decorating for the season or home staging for a real estate sale. 

Photo by Suat Eman

1. Artwork that depicts autumn foliage, scenes – great in common areas like the foyer, living room, dining room.
2. Centerpieces for dining table/coffee table – red or yellow apples are nice touch. Or pumpkins.
3. Dress up the mantle with pumpkins, candles (pumpkin spice is a suitable fit now)
4. Delicious fall scents like apple pies, simmering apple cider, cinnamon sticks, and chestnuts roasting on an open fire.
5. Pick autumn colors to accessorize your pillows, throw blankets (for those chilly nights), area rugs, towels.

Do you have any other tips you’d like to share to dress up your home for autumn? Please share your comments and photos.

About Torelli Realty: Torelli Realty is proud to represent Costa Mesa real estate. We’ve been meeting the needs of Costa Mesa home buyers & sellers since 1984. Torelli Realty deals with Costa Mesa homes, Costa Mesa apartments, Costa Mesa rentals, Costa Mesa property management, and offers home improvement and home staging tips to help your home’s value throughout Costa Mesa and in Mesa Verde. We also have an expert on staff, Holly Schwartz, who came to us as a producer from Home and Garden Television (HGTV) and extensively studied the most effective home staging techniques, as well as home values and markets locally and nationally. Torelli Realty is also an expert in Costa Mesa short sales and Orange County short sales. Feel free to contact Torelli Realty for a consultation and for all your real estate needs. 

WEBSITE
SHORT SALE WEBSITE
TWITTER  – FACEBOOK - COMPANY BLOG - 365 THINGS TO DO IN COSTA MESA 

Company License #: 00878443  Valerie Torelli License #: 00668297

Kitchen Trends of the Moment

Kitchens are considered to be one of the most important rooms in a home and that’s especially true in real estate. Buyers choose homes based on the kitchen – Is it big enough? Is it the right style? Is it functional? Does it need upgrading? So what’s hot now in kitchens now? According to Joaquin Erzao, here’s a few kitchen trends you should know about, also seen in one of our favorite blogs, Styled, Staged & Sold.

Photo by Michelle Meiklejohn

1. Our personal favorite & a sign of the times – high-tech kitchens! Besides just faster and more efficient appliances, there are now refrigerators and range hoods that feature built-in TV’s and DVD players!
2. Going green in the kitchen. More and more people are choosing sustainable materials. There are a variety of cabinetry, countertop, flooring items and more that can be considered ‘green.’ Also, buying products locally is another way to be eco-conscious. There are a number of local options we can help you locate.
3. Sinks are getting fancier & supersized.  Have you ever had trouble filing a large pot? Larger sinks are here to help solve that problem. Also as we grow more water-conscious, especially in Southern California, water-conserving faucets are becoming more popular. Another cool feature of a trendy sink – a cutting board. Brilliant way to get those cutting boards cleaned!
4. Neutral colors are home in your kitchen too.  In terms of real estate we often advise sellers to paint rooms a neutral color. Neutral colors don’t have to be boring. Neutral colors allow you to decorate in a way that can allow your décor to pop! This is also helpful for sellers because if their décor is taste specific, it is easy to tone it down when showing the home to potential buyers.

Do you follow any of these trends? Do you think they are here to stay? Please post a comment below!

About Torelli Realty: Torelli Realty is proud to represent Costa Mesa real estate. We’ve been meeting the needs of Costa Mesa home buyers & sellers since 1984. Torelli Realty deals with Costa Mesa homes, Costa Mesa apartments, Costa Mesa rentals, Costa Mesa property management, and offers home improvement and home staging tips to help your home’s value throughout Costa Mesa and in Mesa Verde. We also have an expert on staff, Holly Schwartz, who came to us as a producer from Home and Garden Television (HGTV) and extensively studied the most effective home staging techniques, as well as home values and markets locally and nationally. Torelli Realty is also an expert in Costa Mesa short sales and Orange County short sales. Feel free to contact Torelli Realty for a consultation and for all your real estate needs.

WEBSITE
SHORT SALE WEBSITE
TWITTER  – FACEBOOK - COMPANY BLOG - 365 THINGS TO DO IN COSTA MESA

Company License #: 00878443

Valerie Torelli License #: 00668297

Congrats to the Room Makeover Contest Winners!

Congratulations to Julieta & Ryan for winning the first ever Room Makeover Contest by Torelli Realty. They’ve asked for help transforming their master bedroom into a more complete space. We met with them recently to see their current bedroom and find out what they like about the current room and what things they would like to change. The couple is very open to a fresh set of eyes and are excited about the process.

Julieta & Ryan

Interior design and home staging are great ways to enhance the quality of life and look of a house. As Realtors, we enjoy helping people make the most of their home and we use these methods to help people when they put their homes up for sale. Why? They help in the presentation.

Make sure to check in for updates on the remodel. We’re excited for you to see the before and after. Thanks to everyone for participating – the contest got a huge response!

About Torelli Realty: Torelli Realty is proud to represent Costa Mesa real estate. We’ve been meeting the needs of Costa Mesa home buyers & sellers since 1984. Torelli Realty deals with Costa Mesa homes, Costa Mesa apartments, Costa Mesa rentals, Costa Mesa property management, and offers home improvement and home staging tips to help your home’s value throughout Costa Mesa and in Mesa Verde. We also have an expert on staff, Holly Schwartz, who came to us as a producer from Home and Garden Television (HGTV) and extensively studied the most effective home staging techniques, as well as home values and markets locally and nationally. Torelli Realty is also an expert in Costa Mesa short sales and Orange County short sales. Feel free to contact Torelli Realty for a consultation and for all your real estate needs.

WEBSITE
SHORT SALE WEBSITE
TWITTER  – FACEBOOK - COMPANY BLOG - 365 THINGS TO DO IN COSTA MESA

Company License #: 00878443

Valerie Torelli License #: 00668297

Win!!! Costa Mesa Homes – Design A Room and Star In Your Own Video!

Costa Mesa real estate company Torelli Realty is offering 1 lucky winner a chance to win a $350 makeover of one room/area of their house. “Whether you are selling your home or plan to live there forever it’s easy to get a picture perfect look and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune,” says Holly Schwartz, former HGTV producer of House Hunters, Designers’ Challenge, and My House Is Worth What? Small changes can make a big impact in Costa Mesa homes and Costa Mesa condos.

(This Mesa Verde Costa Mesa home is currently on the market for $995,000 – see more info here.)

The team at Torelli Realty sees this everyday when they look at Costa Mesa homes for sale. The contest was inspired by the July 2010  issue of Better Homes & Gardens magazine, which featured a $350 room makeover.

We will also offer 25 additional people the chance to be in their own video that will be featured on our website, youtube, and blog about Costa Mesa life. Talk about your favorite shop, restaurant, neighborhood, anything community related and represent the city of Costa Mesa proudly.

If you wish to be considered for the contest, please email minimakeover@torellirealty.com with your contact info or fill out the form HERE.

A lucky winner will be selected on August 15, 2010 as will the runnners up.

Only homes in Costa Mesa, CA will be considered for the contest. Winner will be selected randomly. Winner must be willing to let Torelli Realty take photographs before and after the mini-makeover, which will be used in their marketing materials. Renters are eligible as well however we will only be able to accessorize if you rent in Costa Mesa.

About Torelli Realty: Torelli Realty is proud to represent Costa Mesa real estate. We’ve been meeting the needs of Costa Mesa home buyers & sellers since 1984. Torelli Realty deals with Costa Mesa homes, Costa Mesa apartments, Costa Mesa rentals, Costa Mesa property management, and offers home improvement and home staging tips to help your home’s value throughout Costa Mesa and in Mesa Verde. We also have an expert on staff, Holly Schwartz, who came to us as a producer from Home and Garden Television (HGTV) and extensively studied the most effective home staging techniques, as well as home values and markets locally and nationally. Torelli Realty is also an expert in Costa Mesa short sales and Orange County short sales. Feel free to contact Torelli Realty for a consultation and for all your real estate needs.

WEBSITE
SHORT SALE WEBSITE
TWITTER  – FACEBOOK - COMPANY BLOG