Beyond Face Value

Beyond

Face Value

Great Bone Structure Lures Buyers

By Tracy Ellison

As appealing as décor and objets d’art can be at an open house, home buyers are still

savvy enough to know that your decorative accessories will leave with you. They’ll be looking for what stays as the frame for their own design sensibilities. Architectural and aesthetic

elements can play a big part in sealing the deal of a home. If you’re planning to put your home on the market, consider some of these simple yet much-sought-after room accents

that make a powerful impact when prepping for selling – structural nuances can tip the sale in your favor.

The Divine Is in the Details The finishing touch, the pièce de résistance, the cherry on top in any room is all-important molding – it may not stand out and shout, but it

surely leaves an impression on a well-appointed room. Used smartly and creatively, molding not only hides little imperfections and seams, it also adds a clean, finished touch. Whether

we’re talking crown, band or dentil molding, and whether it’s capping the walls, rimming the baseboards or framing the windows, molding is a relatively inexpensive feature that quickly and easily adds an indefinable elegance. a complementary nod to your existing wall color by adding a few drops of white paint and

What’s Underfoot? Peek at what’s hiding beneath gloomy old carpeting and linoleum – you might hit the

flooring lottery and discover a treasure trove of natural hardwood just waiting to be revealed. Pull up tired and dated surfaces to expose the gleaming gorgeousness of timeless maple, oak

or pine. Easily restored to their former glory, hardwoods never go out of style and represent quality craftsmanship home buyers seek. You can never go wrong going natural.

Heads Up Within your room’s four walls there is a fifth opportunity for design – on your ceiling. If you’re

a ravenous redecorator and have run out of places to primp, look up to this often-forgotten blank canvas. Expect to create different moods with different hues above. Surprisingly, dark

ceilings open up a room, giving the illusion of infinity, like the night sky. Lighter colors create visual interest and lend brightness. Give take it up a notch or two for the ceiling tone. Or perhaps a moody monochromatic scene is more your vibe for an enveloping feel that wraps you in single-tone serenity from walls to

ceiling. Whichever way you turn the contrast dial, know that paint is an instant game changer and a transformative tool readily found in your DIY book of great ideas. Once you put paint

to ceiling, you’ll inevitably get necks cranking in awe of your ingenuity.

A Hit Below the Belt

Drum up some drama with wainscoted walls. This classic, lower-half wall detail, originally designed to protect and provide extra insulation, now lends texture and a touch of civility to an

otherwise uneventful surface. In the dining room, wainscoting serves up sophistication; in the living room it adds extra interest. Think about introducing this simple yet impactful

design element to any room in the house and leave ho-hum wallflowers behind.

Dig Deep

Go beyond surface materials and expose the structural elements of your home. Brick walls and wooden ceiling beams steal the show and become main features when coaxed out of their shells.

Whether stripped to their original state or accented with a layer of revitalizing paint, these workhorses of construction are golden tickets to unique interior design and should be flaunted for all to admire.

Explore whether there are any standout architectural gems built into the integrity of your home or upgrades you can easily introduce. After all, great bone structure is an undeniable feature of a good-looking home and irresistibly charming to home buyers.