12 minute read
Country Home Makeover
MAKEOVER
A HOME IN THE COUNTRY
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GETS A Makeover
DR. SONYA MERRIMAN AND HER HUSBAND MARK PLEASANTS ARE NOW EMPTY-NESTERS AND DECIDED A MAKEOVER FOR THEIR HOME IS JUST WHAT THEY NEEDED.
AA house can be bought in a moment, but establishing a home is a process that takes time, much thought, and planning.
Dr. Sonya Merriman and her husband, Mark Pleasants, found such a house in the country over 16 years ago. They knew it was the place they wanted to raise their two girls, escape the busyness of life with plenty of room for their horses to roam, and begin making memories in this new abode.
The house, on Old State Road, was built in 1996 by its original owners. Unlike most homes built during this period, it had higher ceilings, spacious rooms, and an open floor plan concept for the main living areas. What seemed to persuade them to purchase the property was the beautiful, genteel setting with plenty of yards and southern pasture.
BEFORE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY THE GEORGIA PHOTOGRAPHY FANATIC
After years of calling it home, Dr. Merriman decided it was time for an update so she called local designer, Dana Perry, to assist in the process. Upon the initial consultation, Dana quickly recognized the great bones of the space and knew that the area just needed a facelift rather than structural changes.
While their daughters, Sara and Katie, have recently left home, Sonya and Mark are not your typical empty nesters. She is running a busy medical practice, and Mark keeps a demanding schedule in the OR as a nurse anesthetist and runs the farm, so their lives are wide open. Because of this, Dana recommended a very neutral, calming, monochromatic color palette for the overall design, one that creates a relaxed and slower ambiance than their fast-paced lives offer.
Like their home's setting, Sonja and Mark have a genteel spirit that graciously welcomes people in and makes you want to stay awhile. If you visit, you will find that their door is always open, and you are eagerly greeted by one of their beloved four-legged friends. The relaxed and inviting feel they and their home provides is one reason it is a gathering place for their friends and family.
THE FLOOR PLAN
“While most families desire open floor plans for many reasons, often with a vast open space, it can feel disjointed and lack definition for the rooms. Cohesiveness is important, so I used shiplap on the walls to create continuity in the open space and to achieve more definition for the area. The result was a pleasing open area that brought order and created an ambiance that it had always belonged.
The large open space consisted of a breakfast room, kitchen, and relaxed living area with timeless clad windows that allowed for a lot of natural light and beautiful views of the outdoor space that Dr. Merriman and Mark fell in love with initially.
Fortunately, the house had beautiful custom millwork that we wanted to preserve, so they used thin boards for a reasonably seamless application that allowed for all the trim to stay in place while applying the shiplap.”
Dana decided not to enclose the bookcases with doors but rather allow it to showcase a collection of antique landscapes, leather books, and antique boxes paired with family photos. A library light was added to bring focus to the bookcase.
GREAT ROOM
“The TV was moved from the bookcase to over the mantle, which offered a more inviting seating arrangement allowing the fireplace and entertainment to be the focal point for gathering rather than being divided between the two locations. The mantle was more ornate than the direction the design plan was heading, so I designed a custom mantel to replace it.
The rugs are layered with a custom oversized indoor/outdoor rug on the bottom, so little worry is required. I topped it with a hand-knotted rug that highlights the soothing color palette of the upholstery.
Natural woven shades, which filter light and privacy as needed, accent beautifully with the custom drapery panels made of a lightweight Heather Chadduck linen.
The upholstery by CR Laine, ordered locally from Mizell Floor Covering, has a relaxed and inviting feel with performance fabrics chosen for their beloved three dogs and four grand dogs that often visit.”
- Dana Perry
BREAKFAST ROOM
“The breakfast room before featured a busy, colorful floral wallpaper that was popular in the '90s. Sonya and I both loved the idea of replacing the wallpaper. I chose a timeless and simple Sister Parrish paper that provides an aesthetically pleasing backdrop.”
- Dana Perry
BEFORE
KITCHEN
“Dr. Merriman's only request for the entire project was to keep the existing kitchen cabinets. It was an easy request to oblige because they were well built, well-positioned, and functioned well for the two cooks. So, they got a facelift with a fresh coat of paint, new hardware, new quartz countertops, and backsplash.
While double islands are the rage in a lot of new construction, this home already had this feature which we highlighted by adding oversized lanterns over the larger island. The open space had only recessed lighting, which was updated and wired for more decorative lighting.”
DETAILS
“I love incorporating a mixture of old and new pieces in each room. The bridging of time with antiques and contemporary pieces never seems to be a bad idea. Over this hutch, original artwork that accentuates the soothing color palette is flanked by beautiful antique English drabware….a true envy for real china collectors. An architectural mirror makes a statement in the stairwell.”
MAKING YOUR HOUSE a Home
By STEPHANIE MIZELL Photography by LESLIE HOWELL PHOTOGRAPHY
THIS LAST YEAR HAS TAUGHT US more than ever the comfort and security our homes give us. Our personal spaces should be a reflection of who we are and what we love. We understand the importance of that special place where the family gathers to rest, reflect, and re-energize.
In order for a space to take on the comforts of home, we love to layer with elements that add depth, character, texture, and personality.
At Mizell’s, we offer design services that evoke the intimacy of home by mixing the old with the new. Family collectibles blended with new pieces that will one day be passed down to become tomorrow's antiques. We like to build the style of each room with a base of neutrals with large rugs and upholstery, bringing in color through layered rugs, drapes, pillows, artwork, and lamps.
Today's wallpaper is more beautiful than ever. The classic patterns are a wonderful way to add color and personality to a room.
Timeless blue and white pottery has seen a resurgence in popularity, an ideal opportunity to mix vintage pieces from family treasures with newer ones in different sizes and shapes.
Our team is committed to creating a warm and inviting space for you and your family. Give our family the opportunity to help you make your house a home.
The spring home-selling season is here and has quickly picked up momentum! Our latest survey findings indicate that this already hot real estate market is roaring into this decade, as one in five homeowners (20%) plans to sell in the next 12 months.
We know that selling a home can be stressful, especially for first-time home sellers, so I am going to offer my best tips for getting the most out of selling your home.
Coldwell Banker-affiliated agents are a vital aspect in any home selling experience – especially in this fast-paced seller’s market, in which sellers need the most trusted guidance in the industry to help them navigate this new normal. Trust our agents to help YOU navigate the home selling process and receive the best offers on your home!
Be Informed: Know Your Market
Being informed and knowing your local market results in successfully selling your home. It’s important to do your own research to have an understanding of the market, but don’t feel like you need to know everything about real estate prior to meeting with an agent.
Our agents love making sure clients are well informed from start to finish in order to make the process less overwhelming. Our network of agents can help you understand the terminology, local trends, pricing, and what buyers are looking for.
We also stress the importance of knowing the local buyers, noting that buyers can often tell when a home listing is overpriced, which can lead to little or no offers on a home. Instead, if a home is priced fairly the first time it hits the market, there’s a better chance of getting an offer of equal or greater value to the listed asking price.
Closing costs – should you cover them? It depends. Before immediately rejecting a buyer's request to cover closing costs, he advises considering if you received assistance from the previous seller during your buying process, plus asking your agent if it's common in your market for closing costs to be covered by the seller. REAL ESTATE
IT’S A SELLER’S MARKET AFTER ALL:
Tips for First-Time Home Sellers Directly from the Experts
Prepare Your Home for Listing
When you're ready to sell your current home, the most important thing to do is to prepare it for listing. Take a step back and look at it from the eyes of a potential buyer.
We understand that preparing the home for showing can be the biggest hurdle to overcome when selling. The process is made more difficult because of COVID-19 – if your whole family is always home, when do you clean, organize and do minor repairs? For this reason, we try to help sellers overcome any anxieties by doing what they can to maximize the sale.
The days and weeks leading up to listing are what's really important. The effort placed into organizing, staging, and marketing the home in those weeks is essential and will set the home apart for a successful listing on the market.
We are big on helping sellers set up their homes for success on the market. Remember, as a seller, "you only get one first impression." For this reason, we will help you properly prepare by setting up staging, professional photography/ videography, and posting it on social media so your beloved home will "shine like the star it's meant to be."
There are two key terms to keep in mind: buyer value and return value.
Buyer value is when you improve your property, but it might not show you any signs of financial return. For example, curb appeal, which cannot be added to a listing price, helps buyers fall in love with the property upon driving up to it and can ultimately influence their decision to purchase the home.
On the other hand, return value means we can actually make upgrades to add value and improve the listing price. Renovated kitchens or bathrooms are a perfect example of return value as they can be included in the listing and can help raise the price of a home on the market. Trust Your Agent and Take Advantage of the Current Market
Real estate agents are always available to help you along the home selling process. Coldwell Banker-affiliated agents, in particular, are the best prepared and have the most experience to answer any questions you may have.
My most important tip? Understand the value of your real estate agent because an agent’s job starts way before the offers roll in. They help you understand the process, help with inspections, negotiate repair requests, communicate with the lender for loan approval, and coordinate with the title officer to ensure a closing date is set.
Trust your agent’s guidance and advice but know that ultimately, you will be the one making decisions. Once the home is listed, you can relax and trust that your agent will handle the process while keeping you informed and finding the best offers for your home!
As for finding the right time to sell, I advise that right now is a great time to take advantage of selling since there is low inventory and low-interest rates in our current market. With limited inventory, finding a new home after the sale is a pain point that may keep many want-to-be sellers on the sidelines. There are options and strategies to help you jump that hurdle. Don't let fear keep you from having the home of your dreams. Trust your agent to work for you.
No one is better suited to help you on your home-selling journey than a Coldwell Banker agent. After all, we’re the only real estate company that’s been guiding people home for 115 years! | VM
Tom Call, Broker Premier Real Estate VALDOSTA, GA tomcall@valdostarealtors.com
8 TIPS FOR
CHOOSING THE perfect SOFA!
{BEFORE SHOPPING}
DECORATING TIPS FROM DAVID BROOKS VALDOSTA FURNITURE & MATTRESS
• Consider your lifestyle. • Determine orientation of sofa in the room. • Measure, then measure again.
{WHILE SHOPPING}
• Be selective with upholstery fabric/leather type. • Pick color that coordinates with other pieces in your space. • Choose a style that suits your home and personal tastes. • Be mindful of arm style. • Test cushions for preferred firmness level.
Most of all, HAVE FUN, and come see our designers to assist you.
