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Curb Appeal for next years listings
It is almost Christmas and while most folks are getting ready for family and friends, some of you out there are starting the plan of putting your house up for sale in the spring.
So many steps to include: fixing and repairs, painting, organizing, packing, setting things out that will be left for the Stagers and last but not least…..as a matter a fact a very important part of staging your house is the OUTSIDE CURB APPEAL…..
Curb appeal to those that are confused by what it means and why you need it: It is a very important part of staging that will bring attention to your house and help bring potential buyers into your house to view as their next home. It’s an important step to organizing, cleaning, trimming, mulching and fixing shutters, painting…etc. Making your entrance an invitation to come on in and look around.
I ran across this breakdown of curb appeal from https://www.openlistings.com/blog/getting-real-with-curb-appeal/
It is an interesting blog post explaining the steps to curb appeal and what it really means. I hope you find it as useful as I do with my clients.
Merry Christmas and please take time to breath and enjoy the season. Once Jan. 1st comes along, get busy on organizing and getting that house ready for the new buyer!
Happy to answer any questions you may have, drop me a line.
Deborah Lutz, Interior Designer, Landscape Design, Stager
Curb appeal
My clients work hard to keep their design looking grand…Yard of the month!
after photo
Seeing RED
RED
The color red has always fascinated me. In the past I had a color analysis in Feng Shui and found out that Red is my power color. Red is also the symbols for fire signs (I’m a Leo) and a #9 in numerology; again Red……Hmmm? I also found out that green and brown are my grounding colors. Which means it takes earth elements to calm me down. Knowing that tid bit of information about myself, I now understand career choices, passions, my love of gardening and the color Red. Blue reds to be exact…..Orange reds not so good with my skin tone.
One year I decided I was going to get rid of all my red Christmas decorations…it didn’t last but for a hot minute. What was I thinking? It quickly came right back into the design each year with a new piece here and there. This year I added just a splash of red to each room and I’m so happy with how it all turned out. Next year will prove to be MORE RED purchases. Photo’s of our homes Christmas decorating this year below, after you view wish photos for next years wintery scene. My personal style for our home is French cottage (hence the french blue) with a touch of DIY (creative mind) and put your feet up anywhere (we entertain a lot)!
My love of Red has me seeing it everywhere this holiday season and it seems others have the same love of Red as I do. Even our lovely First Lady Melania Trump. Even if you do not see eye to eye politically you have to admit her decorations this year in the White House are stunning. After seeing her post on FLOTUS it inspired this post.
I’m sharing a few photos I’m swooning over this year and I’m so putting this into my décor next year. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
Photos I’m swooning over this year of exquisite Red Christmas décor Interior and exterior….first 12.
U&I Christmas décor 2018 next 8, comfy with a splash of bling and tinge of RED (next year more RED) can you say after Christmas SALE SHOPPING. My husband would say “Look how much money you saved us!” hahaha love ya honey.
We here at U&I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,
Deborah
Giant baubles
Prettiest entrance
Giant Topiaries
Merry Christmas
Berries of bright
This is a must have
Melania’s red trees
Urn with berries
Baubles of all sizes Love
White house 2018
white gold and red wedding theme
simply elegant embroidery
U&I Welcomes
U&I exterior lights
U&I Just a touch of red
U&I our fur babies 2018
U&I guest room
Snowmen and greenery
Mr. and Mrs. Claus
pencil tree in white with red bow
Farmhouse Chic redesign
Our latest project for U&I was a lovely gal named Shanda who has a designers eye but needed some professional design help with demo, placement, and a whole new kitchen design. She handled the rest of the house remodel in living room, dining room, and bedrooms with a small amount of guidance on how to’s on DIY to save on the budget. Love that aspect of clients that want to do things themselves but need professional guidance….I’m glad to help. We are there anyway so why not! I love the Get it girl attitude and #girlswithtools are sexy
She was interested in two listing and gave her real estate agent with REMAX realty a call for a showing. Visiting properties with clients is something I have been doing for a while to discuss options of redesign as they go.
I, (Deborah Lutz, Interior Designer for U&I Decorate) visited both properties and gave design options for each redesign and a quick monetary value of each upgrade as we went…..she let me know as we walked the properties what her needs were and of course several pages of wants.
It didn’t take her long to make a decision and closed on the house she wanted. She called us up at U&I and said let’s get started.
One month later, lots of meetings and notes we were ready for demo and hard work. My subcontractors were scheduled ahead of time and ready to get to work. We finished with a beautiful product to hand over to our happy client. It was amazing working with Shanda. I loved doing the Farmhouse Chic design. We used a great stove hood from Houzz.com with a white subway tile from Home Depot. It turned out spectacular. Vinyl plank flooring from Mannington was used for a 100% waterproof floor and we matched the color and style to existing hardwood oak floors in dining room.
Main objective in the kitchen redesign budget was to use existing cabinets and do a larger layout by adding additional cabinets and painting them all white with an oil based paint from Sherwin Williams. Shanda took care of the window treatments through Home Depot with their Bali line of roman shades.
A special thanks to my crew, for I could not do what I do without them, hence the name U&I:
Bates Construction, Dixon Custom Paints, Nick’s Plumbing, McKown Heating and Cooling, Gaskins Tile, Prosource, Ashley Home Store, Kirkland’s, Absolute Kitchen and bath for countertops, and Home Depot
I will be happy to share our Sherwin Williams color palette and products used….just drop me a line.
A mind for refresh, reuse, rethink, redesign,
Deborah
We of course were happy to help…..
Before U&I
Kitchen after U&I decorates redesign
Here is a link to view the full project #farmhousechick design
While your there you can view other movies of our past projects!
New Year and New Look for U&I
We have shortened our name and revised some of our services.
We are excited to get into 2018 specializing in Interior Design and Decorating. We also still offer Commercial staging with Builders and Developers in their amenities areas and Models.
We look forward to serving the Hampton Roads area and continue to strive to stay on budget and on time!
20th wedding anniversary
We had an amazing time celebrating with friends and family at the Holiday Travel Park Campgrounds in Virginia Beach. Camping, Sugar skulls and Halloween are a perfect match. Just like Chris and I.
Thank you to all who joined us.
Deborah and Chris
Photos from Bob at our 20th anniversary party
Southern Charm on the Chesapeake Bay
Beauty that sits on the water
Hampton VA before
This beautiful Colonial Revival home sits across from an amazing view of the Chesapeake bay. The home had character and charm but needed a little something extra to help her have the regal appeal she deserved to match the view she looks over each day.
Beginning in the cold months of January we had our challenges of working on a breezy waterfront property, but will power and vision of what was to be revealed kept us going.
She now sits proud, regal and beautiful with new windows and lead stained glass doors to let in sunlight. A gorgeous midnight blue plank siding gives her the color of the deep sea. Let’s not forget those amazing porches with outdoor ceiling fans and comfortable sitting, allow you to experience the true Southern charm of a warm breeze over the Chesapeake Bay.
Landscape foundation plants surround the lower porch and will grow tall around the edges to reach up to the new porch roof line. Hopefully to be followed by a circle drive later on in the next project.
I truly love what I do for a living. I get to help beautiful things become more beautiful and I am grateful.
Thank you for reading and keeping up with U&I’s latest projects.
January 2015
2015 Thoughts for self
January 2015 has become a great starting point for a fabulous year….3 projects, 3 proposals and a new home to decorate and landscape. I am so grateful that I stuck to my dream in 2000 and started working for myself. Since then I have walked the walk and talked the talk of learning what owning your own business has to offer.
It has been a long road but a marvelous one. I look forward to building and claiming more success for U&I in 2015.
Thank you too Lynda Field for creating 10 New Year’s Resolutions. I plan to read it each day. http://www.lyndafield.com/content/home
See you in the drawing room!
Deborah
East Ocean View Community Garden Watermelon Festival 2014
Please come join us at the East Ocean View Community Garden Watermelon Festival located at 18th Bay Street and Pleasant Ave Norfolk VA Saturday July 12th from 10-1.
The Rainbow Puppets will be joining us as well as a DJ….come join the fun!
Por favor, únase a nosotros en la East Ocean View Jardín Comunitario Sandía Festival Bahía ubicada en Calle 18 y Avenida agradable Norfolk VA sábado 12 julio de 10-1.
El Arco Iris Los títeres se unirán a nosotros, así como un DJ … vienen a unirse a la diversión!
East Ocean View Community Garden
Our community garden in East Ocean View has been a work in progress for 5 years….here is a video and peek into our lovely gem in the neighborhood.
I am very proud to be a part of such an amazing accomplishment. Thank you Christina and Leon of Lancaster Farms for getting the video to us! Fabulous job!!!!
Also to Bon Secours Joanne Merinar who has been a staple in getting us funding and volunteers….not to mention Operation Blessing and all the Community Members that have given a hand.
Please take a minute to watch our video and give it a like! https://vimeo.com/99668999
Deborah Lutz