Preparing a house for sale... money well spent

This client wanted to update her kitchen. She is preparing her house for sale and wanted a more neutral palate to better sell her home. My advice is to spend most of your budget on the kitchen and master suit when designing a home. You'll get a better return on your investment when your ready for resale. We pulled out the countertops and replaced them with poured concrete. Concrete can come in a variety of colors and we choose an off-white color. Her cabinets were originally painted in greens and reds and we choose a creamy off-white color to compliment the counter tops. This gives a clean, crisp look to the kitchen and also looked great with her slate floor.

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We choose slip covered chairs in the same color palette and I think the fabric soften the room. It's great to use a slip cover because you can always through it in the wash and it will always look and stay clean and fresh.

The client choose the blue wall paint and it pairs nicely with the back splash. Instead of covering the entire back splash we only tiled over the sink and stove. This was a way to add a bit of flare to the room and was also cost effective.

My client already had the hand painted tiles installed for the island top....they are just beautiful and show off her personality and add charm to the room. I always encourage my clients to leave little bits of their personality in each room. A collections of items that they love, a great piece of art ...anything that tells your guest a little bit about you.

I thinks the kitchen came out great...and the house is still for sale! Contact Gigi Burke of Burke Reality for more information at 504-416-2263

We also freshen her den furniture. My client is not afraid of color. She originally had a beautiful black Oushak rug with a busy pattern. I encouraged her to again go netural. A simple sisal rug will allow for the bold new orange fabric for the sofa and a fun green patten for the love seats. This room can handle that kind of color because her walls and floors provide a neutral base to play off of. That neutral base invites bold color in her fabric and art.

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Art In Bloom 2010

Art In Bloom is a fundraiser for New Orleans Museum of Art and is one of my favorite events. The theme this year was "Green" and could be interpreted as eco-friendly or just plan green. There are local artists, designers, area schools and garden clubs that participate and showcase their creative spirit.

My category was Tablescapes. I selected a natural fiber called jute (otherwise know as burlap) for my table skirt. It was tan in color and trimmed in a green pleat around the bottom. I wanted tailored look for such a casual fabric.

I used my Mother's Lenox china, Gorham silver and Waterford crystal for the place setting. I shook up these traditional pieces with Annie Glass for the chargers, and and funky water glass with a green and gold design.

I used sheet moss for the place mates, filled the berry bowls with beautiful mums, the tea cups with rye grass and the water glasses with bamboo sticks tied with raffia.

Kim Weir, the floral designer at The Plant Gallery helped me design the centerpiece. I used my Mother's Soup Terrain for the centerpiece and I wanted the floral arrangement to translate to the Soup Terrain. I asked Kim to use Kail in the arrangement (Yes, Kail is a relative of the cabbage family)...I've had cabbage soup before, have you? HA! Kim suggested incorporating the roses to give the display an air of elegance and to balance out the earthiness of the Kail.

The chairs and napkins came from Home & Garden. Notice the chairs are Aiden Grey and the back of the chair is covered in burlap; a great compliment to the table skirt. I love that store. They have everything from perfumed soap, bed linens to sofas and other fine furniture items. I always encourage my clients to start there when designing a room.

It was wonderful evening! I hope to participate again next year!