Lori's Remodels
Page 2
Sun City Home (on Hampshire), Palm Desert, CA
2010-2011
Sun City Home
Declutter and ‘Remix’ Project
Before: Kitchen Clutter
After: Kitchen Decluttered
Before: Dining Area Unappetizing
After: Dining Area Cheerful
Before: Small Guest Bath Lacked Storage
After: Small Guest Bath with Added Cabinet
Before: Piano Nook - Tangled Wires
After: Piano Nook Detangled
Before: Master Bedroom Crowded with Furniture - No Lamps
After: Master Bedroom
After: Master Bedroom
After: Computer Center
Before: Guest Bedroom Plain - Access Crowded by Chair
After: Guest Bedroom
Before: Living Room Outdated
After: Living Room Slightly Updated
Before: Near Front Entry- Non-Functional Furniture + Picture Disproportionate
After: Picture Eye-Level and Better Size
and Cabinet Moved From Traffic Area
Now Holds TV in Master Bedroom
Before: Furnace-AC Filter Dirty
After: Furnace-AC Filter New
The charming 93 year old Owner-Landlord of this home collected various figurines and knick-knacks which were displayed not only in her curio cabinet but also atop her kitchen cabinets and counters, as well as on every surface in the home. When I leased the "turnkey" furnished home, the challenge was not only to declutter but also to move existing large furnishings that crowded the rooms and traffic areas in a cohesive manner, by mostly rearranging existing furnishings which the Owner wished to retain, while avoiding a large cash outlay.
My first task was to declutter -- by safely storing the knicknacks, multiple sets of dinnerware, cookware and a multitude of kitchen items that crowded the only two upper cabinets, pantry, lower cabinets, drawers, and counter tops in the kitchen -- All went to the garage storage cabinets. The French Provincial "fainting couch" and matching bench that had crowded the Master Bedroom and did not match the colonial style furnishings, were stored in the garage and a floral upholstered wing chair that had crowded the smaller Guest Bedroom was moved to the Master Bedroom along with a framed painting that complimented the other items in the room. Other framed paintings throughout the home were switched for better balance of color and size proportionate to furniture. A shelf that was too close to overhead cabinets in the garage and could serve no purpose replaced a half-shelf of same type in the Master walk-in closet, adding reachable storage space. An unfinished 2-shelf bookcase in the garage serves as a spacious shoe rack/storage in the Master Bedroom's walk-in closet. One of the Owner's 4 oak tv tables was repaired and,along with 2 more matching tables purchased, provided a Computer Work Area along a large blank wall in the kitchen-dining area; this resolved the problem of having no other practical place with access to to Cable and electrical outlets, and adequate lighting,without taking up much space.
For just under $100, 10 needed items were added, several of which were found in thrift stores: (1) a pair of table lamps for the Living Room, in keeping with today's preferred low lamp height (and the very tall white lamps with "cupid" carvings were moved to the Master Bedroom along with a white ceramic "cupid" bust which became the centerpiece on the dark wood colonial style triple dresser); (2) a pair of small framed prints of cherubic children which are centered over the colonial style 4-poster bed; (3) a closely matching nightstand was added to the single nightstand in the Master Bedroom; (4) a nightstand for the Guest Bedroom; (5) a fringed Victorian-style lamp for the Guest Bedroom; (6) a small framed floral print for over the Guest Room 4-poster bed; (7) a full-length wall mirror, similar to one in the Master Bedroom, for the Guest Bedroom that has no other mirrors; (8) a charming small white Wall Cabinet for the Guest Bath, similar to one in the Master Bath, to compensate for lack of drawers; (9) one new chrome Towel Ring for the Master Bath that matches one in the Guest Bath; (10) a new clear shower curtain liner; and lots of clothes hangers.
The result is an "updated" home with the charm of an earlier period.
