HOME STAGING FOR THE HOLIDAYS

It’s not the busiest time of the year for real estate but there’s still a segment of buyers venturing out to look for a hot deal in cold weather. Since staging a home during the holidays can be quite different than the rest of the year─we’ve cobbled together this list of helpful tips for staging your home this holiday season:

Keep it classy. Though tempting─’tis not the time of the year to erect an 8’ inflatable Frosty the Snowman in the yard (sorry Frosty). Avoid anything overdone or garish; for example, choose simple swatches of mistletoe over those thick strands of neon blue garland.

Keep the mantel clear. In general, the mantel should uncluttered and de-personalized. Remove any family holiday photos and greeting cards. You want your buyers to visualize their own stockings hanging from the fireplace mantel so refrain from hanging stockings adorned with family and pet names.

Keep it non-denominational. Avoid anything overtly religious. Showing your religious preference can be a real turn off to potential buyers. Buyers can be quickly swayed (oftentimes subconsciously) in either positive or negative direction.

Keep it de-personalized. Like the fireplace mantel keep the rest of the decorating similarly anonymous. Resist the urge of displaying those Christmas Carol figurines that your family has been collecting for generations. Such things can be very distracting. You want to keep the buyer focused on the positive qualities of the house─not on Maw Maw’s collection of holiday plates.

Keep the lighting simple. When it comes to lighting it’s especially important to keep it simple. Neutrality is key. Lights can be very distracting─especially colored ones. A simple string of white lights positioned just so to highlight your home’s architectural features is ample.

Keep it to a minimum. Avoid the tendency to over-decorate. A sash here and there is plenty. It’s very important to edit every decorating decision when staging for the holidays. Ask yourself, “Could this decorating choice possibly distract from the inherent quality of my home?” If the answer is “yes”─just put down the glue gun.

Keep it fresh. Science tells us that humans respond positively to anything sensory and earth-centric. A stove pot of simmering cinnamon sticks or a bowl of pine cones centered on the kitchen table are the discreet touches that can tap into the buyer’s visceral tendencies. Creating this warm and inviting holiday feeling will last long after the potential buyers leave the premises. After all, effecting the buyers with a positive and lingering impression is the first step toward the ultimate goal of selling your home.

WIDE OPEN SPACES-LEVEL CRAFT TREND WATCH 2015

We have to thank the numerous home renovation shows for exposing TV watchers to the benefits of wide open spaces. “We really want an open floorplan,” the couple says in hand-holding unison. Well, we happen to agree. We love making 100% of our spaces usable. A great example is our most recent build-out pictured here. Notice how everyone, anywhere, in this open-plan room can still be part of the same conversation.

Many of the homes we renovate have original and wonderful “bones.” They may also have an abundance of rooms, hallways, and doorways that make the space feel choppy and disconnected. In order to transform the home into a more suitable place for living we need to open up the layout while keeping the old bones intact.

Even more traditional designs are leaning toward a “modern” layout in which one or more large rooms function as a shared space. An open concept floorplan reduces the number of tiny rooms and wasted spaces. Typically the kitchen opens up to a den and dining area. The combination of these now fused “rooms” creates a more usable, sentient space. The uninterrupted lines of sight are a bonus for both family and entertaining. Dad can keep an eye on the grandkids or watch the game while chopping up veggies for dinner. Guests can gather in the main space while others flow with ease from area to area in and out of conversations. Over all the shared space provides more connectedness and fluidity.

Suddenly the home feels larger. Removing walls and halls also unblocks natural light from previously eclipsed windows and makes even smallish homes feel more gracious. Also opening up vaulted and specialty ceilings can make the space look and feel more expansive. Adding a window or two will allow even a greater flow of natural light. Using natural sunlight in design always creates a wonderful effect throughout the interior by augment interior colors and bathing the space in nature’s healthy glow. Open floor plans are a uniting force─connecting the spaces and the lives of the people living within them. Because of this-we’re confident that open floor plans are here to stay.

A PENCHANT FOR PENDANTS-LEVEL CRAFT TREND WATCH 2015

We can’t help but notice the uptick in the use of pendant lighting in home renovation.  We’ve actually had a penchant for pendants for many years.  In terms of both form and function pendant lights are an iconic choice.  Functionally speaking they’re the ultimate task-master offering multiple types of illumination (for chore, decorative, and general lighting).  In terms of form they range widely from traditional and transitional to uber-modern and back again.  Though pendant lights are typically placed over a kitchen island, dining room table or billiard table-we like utilizing pendant lighting in additional areas of the homes.

A pendant fixture in the foyer, den, or stairwell can create warmth and beauty.  The casting shadows create a dramatic play off the ceiling and walls.  The example posted below is from one of our recently renovated homes in Winnona Park.  We love the way the light plays off the light, warm wood creating an incandescent glow. The light created the exact effect we were gunning for.

The next photo is from the same renovation-this time the kitchen pendant lights lend a hint of elegance to the artisan functionality of this “Modern Farmhouse” kitchen.  The re-purposed decking boards used in lieu of plywood keep the down-home-feel front and center.

Next is a triptych of smoky glass pendant lights suspended over a granite kitchen island that creates a clean, symmetrical look embodying the aesthetically modern and elegant kitchen.

The photo below illustrates the playful elegance of pendant lights hanging in the mint-colored children’s room.  The lighting in the children’s room echoes the Moroccan undertones of the fixture hanging in the home’s foyer (final photo below).

MIDTOWN CUSTOM BUNGALOW RENOVATION

PHOTO BY JOSH VICK

Gutted to the studs and built back by Level Craft in keeping with classic 1920’s bungalow charm—this one and a half story, 4 bedroom 4 bath bungalow is a real gem nestled in one Atlanta’s most livable, desirable neighborhoods. The modern elements provide a contemporary twist on a real classic. Shadow Stone Carrara marble on kitchen island is a sleek touch in the European-influenced kitchen featuring high end chef’s amenities. Wet bar with mitered laminated 3″ edge for extra beefy contemporary look. An über-modern 58” Sculptural George Kovac fan hangs in the foyer’s coffered ceiling.  Deluxe screened in back porch with original rescued heart pine floors and breathtaking Midtown views is one of the many plusses of this home. The original fireplace is a true brick classic flanked by original built-in book shelves and newly crafted entertainment cabinet. Hidden pocket doors lead to cloistered office. Mobile custom closet compartments for storage convenience and adaptability. Abundant natural lighting along with additional sculptural, recessed, LED and halogen lighting. Overall ambient tone of open, airy, lightness. Red oak floors stained with rich ebony and contrasting dove white walls evoke thoughts of Italy in the heart of Midtown.  This custom renovation is an ideal example of what we can do for you and your project.  Please contact us on our contact page or directly 404.704.7350 to discuss your renovation idea.

See all images from this home by clicking on the link: http://www.houzz.com/projects/709210/midtown-bungalow

BLENDING EXPERIENCE WITH STYLE

PHOTO BY JOSH VICK

Henry Ford said “Experience is thing of supreme value.” We agree. An advantage of two decades of experience is a well-honed design instinct. Simply put—we trust our guts. Looking back at our work we can’t help but notice that whenever we put our heads together the result is always a seamless blend of a few favorite styles.

Virginia grew up in Coastal South Carolina so it’s easy to trace her Low Country design sense in many of her architectural and design choices. The simplicity of Asian design has always appealed to me—the balance and reference to nature not only draws me in visually but also provides a compass for the direction in which I aspire to live my personal life. Above all we both love the form and functionality of Scandinavian design.

This photo illustrates what we’re talking about. Even though this space might be considered somewhat deep in terms of footage we still managed to create an open Zen-like space. Of course fans are typical in Low Country dwellings. Here, the choice of dark wood is an Asian reference as are the simple natural branches in clear, simple vases. The rattan baskets are another coastal element as are the Asian-silhouetted whicker chairs. The throw pillow with Moroccan pattern is an easterly nod. The prioritization of functional separate spaces for sitting, dining, etc. is the overall essence of Scandinavian design.

Having deciphered our Coastal-Asian-Scandinavian design sense immensely simplifies our process. More importantly, our clients are always pleased the results of our blended styles.

LEVEL CRAFT WOMEN HIGHLIGHT WOMEN’S EQUALITY DAY

Since August 26th is Women’s Equality Day we wanted to highlight some facts related to women who, like us, work in “non-traditional jobs.” We’ve been working in the home renovation business for nearly a decade and we absolutely love what we do and consider ourselves very lucky to wake up every day eager to tackle the day’s challenges. Along with a truck load of tools we pack our brains AND our brawn every day. After a long day our families are accustomed to us arriving home with mud-caked boots and coffee-stained blue prints. After all, it’s just part of the job. We highly recommend any girl out there tinkering with the idea of a non-traditional occupation to seriously consider home renovation. Heck, we’ll even teach you gals how to swing a hammer. That’s how inspired we are about this business for girls and women. Anyway, here are the most recent statistics available from the United States Department of Labor regarding women in non-traditional occupations. We hope you find it as interesting as we do:

MODERN VICTORIAN STEPS AWAY FROM OAKHURST VILLAGE

Just a short walk to Oakhurst Village—this Modern Victorian truly shines with turn of the century character and modern amenities. Gingerbread wood detailing, pointed turrets, and ornamental windows are some of the more classic Victorian exterior details. With 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms there’s plenty of space for the entire family and weekend guests. The placement of two-car car port is also period-appropriate allowing the main house to be the real showpiece. Inside, a salvaged fireplace mantelpiece from a 1900 Candler Park Victorian bungalow is repurposed. Tiffany-style stained glass, a custom red oak spindled staircase and a hidden kitchen pantry are also some of the more noted features.   One of our favorite elements is the reclaimed barn doors hung on a wrought iron frame that add an extra layer of privacy to the guest suite. Outside, granite columns and lime green window sashes embellish the gracious front porch. Currently we have a healthy budget for back yard landscaping and envision a chortling Zen fountain. But the choice is yours. We’re gearing up for the final phase of construction and looking forward to finding the right owner for this very special property.  Photos by Luis Mendoza.

S CANDLER ST-NEW INTERPRETATION OF A BY-GONE ERA

In 1822 a town named after naval hero Stephen Decatur was established just south of the heavily industrialized Atlanta. Decatur’s first business district was kickstarted in 1913 by Joseph Hugley’s drug store located on the corner of East College and S Candler. Trolleys would continue to whiz back and forth from Decatur to Atlanta and foster both residential and commercial growth. Fortunately for Decaturites, the small town was far enough from the big city bustle to stave off its growing noise and pollution. Decatur, it seemed, was the perfect oasis for new families and start up shops.

One of our newest properties, 828 S Candler St was built in 1941 during this developmental boom particularly in the Oakhurst and Winnona Park Districts.   This exact plot of land was included in a larger larger land parcel orginally owned by Clay Van and Carl Busch. A local worker for the Republic Steel Corporation Idwal Owen owned the home for two decades until his death in 1965. At that time his widow, Mildred, became the sole owner. In the 70’s the Bell family assumed ownership. With a rich military history and deep roots in the community the Bell family resided in the home until 2014 at which time it was acquired by PowerHouse Properties/Level Craft Construction.

Level Craft Construction is breathing new life into this very historic location. We’re transforming this depression era home into a stunning and sleek 5 bedroom, 4.5 luxury home complete with present-day southern charm and modern amenities. Located on nearly a half an acre in the much sought after neighborhood of Winnona Park—the with two car garage, open floorplan and exterior sitting and grilling porches; this home is Level Craft’s wonderfully modern interpretation of a by-gone era.

WORK IN PROGRESS PHOTOS: