As realtors, we wind up wearing many hats. We joke that we can play a range of roles from realtor, friend, matchmaker, interior designer and therapist to marriage counselor. With a process as emotionally charged as buying or selling a home, we need to be able to be empathic listeners, advisors (when solicited), and fonts of information about whom to call about which question or issue.
I spent an hour with a long standing client the other day, looking at a charming house from 1790. We were fantasizing about the many ways she could take a charmingly awkward space, and transform it into a usable space for her, without losing the charm of the era which drew her to the house in the first place. There are few things I find as enticing as a great "before and after" design story in a magazine or design blog. Or, even better, to see a home transformed by talented designer, architect or builder.
I was perusing the Apartment Therapy blog today, and came across a fun story about the transformation of an awkward space into an attractive and functional closet, on an Ikea budget nonetheless! I felt compelled to share it here on our blog.
Before & After: IKEA to the Rescue for a Sloped-Ceiling Closet
Brit realizes she's lucky to have decent-sized closets in her 1924 Seattle home, but the walk-in closet in the master still felt tiny and cramped because of the very sloped ceiling. She really wanted to retain the old house charm but to bring the organization into this century.
Wow, that is one stunning space. Here's how it all came together.
From Brit:
We decided to use two layers of storage - one for off-season clothes in the deepest part of the eaves and the other for in-season clothes hanging in front. We hacked some Ikea Besta bookcases to create all of our built-in storage. We also added shiny white beadboard on the wall, ceiling, and slope to unify the space and to keep with the time period. To make the closet even brighter, we painted the original wood floors white and added a multi-colored kilim rug. To give the room more depth and drama, we updated the window trim and painted it shiny black. Now the space is much more functional while retaining much of the 1920s character.
See more at House Updated.
Thank you Brit!