HGTV star Tarek El Moussa is best known for his stylish house flips on "Flip or Flop." So what does his own home look like?
Source: realtor.com
HGTVJenny and Dave Marrs of âFixer to Fabulousâ are always busy making over other peopleâs homes, but in the latest episode, they get personalâturning their efforts toward renovating their own rental property.
In the Season 2 episode âBoring Turns Into Boho-Chic,â Dave and Jenny learn that their friends JâAaron Merchant and Jasmine Hudson are moving from New Jersey back to northwest Arkansas. The Marrses decide to fix up their rental property so Hudson and Merchant can move in.
The problem: This rental needs a lot of work, and with only $95,000 and four weeks to finish the project, it’s going to take a ton of clever solutions to get this home fixed up in time.
To make things worse, Jenny and Dave run into issues when they have to decide whether to renovate the house to their rentersâ boho tastes (in the hope of encouraging them to stay for a long time) or to give it a more classic look to try to appeal to other renters in the future.
Read on to learn how the Marrses renovate their rental property, and learn how to create a great space for any guest, no matter how long or short their stay.
No cash for real terrazzo? Make your own
HGTV
The Marrses are determined to polish up the first impression of this home, so they refresh the exterior with white paint and new windows.
These improvements make the house look fantastic, but when it’s time to work on the front walkway, they aren’t sure what to do. Jenny wants to install a terrazzo walkway, but knows they donât have the budget for such a pricey material.
HGTV
So they decide to craft their own makeshift terrazzo out of spare pieces of marble.
âWeâre gonna take this marble, break it into teeny little pieces, then put it in concrete to create terrazzo steps,â Jenny says.
The terrazzo look-alike has tons of character and gives a unique look to the front of the house.
Lose the closet to make room for a bar
HGTV
Jenny knows that this homeâs entrance is disappointing. The front door opens right into a small coat closetâand while a closet may be functional, it doesnât give guests that âWow!â factor.
Instead, she comes up with an idea to turn this closet into an arched minibar area where they can display pretty drinkware on open shelving, while a cabinet below provides useful storage.
âIt’s a built-in thatâs functional and really pretty,â she says.
Dave builds the bar area, and when itâs finished, it looks amazing. The wood shelves look perfect, and the beautiful blue-green cabinet really makes the feature stand out.
With a rental, it’s OK to take small risks for the sake of style
HGTV
Jenny wants to give this house a boho-chic look, starting with the fireplace.
âImagine if the tile had a little bit of these blush tones in it,â she suggests.
Right away, Dave disapproves, objecting that it’s too risky. He feels the design should be a little safer, to ensure that future renters will enjoy the look as well.
HGTV
Still, Jenny decides to go for the blush tile, which is installed from floor to ceiling over the fireplace.
In the end, it looks greatâthe look is definitely boho and definitely feminine, but itâs not so wild that a future renter wouldnât want to live in this space.
Try some flashy fabric at the breakfast bar
HGTV
Jenny and Dave redo the kitchen with fun colors and a fresh, youthful feel, so when it comes time to design a breakfast table, they want the style to match. Jenny decides to add a fun, flashy fabric to give the space some sizzle.
âI want this dining nook to be a little bit different,â Jenny says. âI want the bench to have a cushion, and then I have a back bolster cushion as well.â
She chooses a blush material for the bolster pillow and a bolder, black-and-white pattern for the seat. Itâs a great combo that makes this dining nook stand out.
Repurpose a garage as a workspace by adding a glass door
HGTV
Jenny knows that Hudson and Merchant both need workspaces at home. While theyâre able to turn the third bedroom into an office for Merchant, they also need an art studio for Hudson.
So, Jenny gets an idea to turn the garage into a studio. Itâs an easy swap, as long as she can change one feature: the garage door.
âWeâre going to replace this garage door,â Jenny says, looking at the old, worn-out door. âInstead of replacing it with just a normal garage door, what if we replace it with a glass garage door, so that it lets in natural light and this becomes her studio?â
While a glass garage door can be expensive, Jenny and Dave spring for the update and are able to give Hudson a stunning studio.
It’s the perfect solution for anyone who needs a home office but who has assumed that the garage would be a no-go because of the lack of light.
The post ‘Fixer to Fabulous’ Reveals Where a Home Office Could Be Hiding in Your Home appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
Source: realtor.com
Bathrooms can be one of the best rooms to bring in a big ROI, so updating it is important â but it doesn't have to be expensive.
The post How to Remodel your Bathroom for Under $1000 appeared first on Homes.com.
Source: homes.com
Open houses may be staged to look like a home decor dream, but donât let that distract you from the real reason youâre there: to potentially buy a home. Make sure you can look past the neatly arranged furniture and focus solely on whether the house would be a good fit for you and your family. To help, hereâs a home buyerâs checklist of things you might have missed at first glance.
Windows â Look specifically if they are facing the right direction to let sunlight in, and whether they open to a nice view (versus directly toward another neighborâs window).
Under the Sink Cabinets â Check for possible signs of water damage due to leaky plumbing.
Electrical Outlets â Make sure there are enough outlets for the appliances and other electronics youâll be using. If not, you can decide if thatâs a renovation youâd like to make.
Storage Space â Donât just look to see if thereâs enough closet space, but look for closet placement. Also check that the storage is in a convenient location.
Appliances â If theyâre included in the house, make sure theyâre in good condition. They should be on and working while youâre there.
Under the Rugs â Lift up any rugs to check the condition of the floor underneath.
Floor Level â Check to see if the floors are level. Place a marble or another small, round object on the floor and see if it rolls consistently in one direction.
Attic â If the house has one, make sure itâs well insulated.
Water Spouts â Runoff from the gutters should be pointed away from the house, so take a step outside to see if this is the case.
This list isnât all-inclusive, but itâs a good place to start. Talk to a CENTURY 21 ® agent to see what else he or she might add.
The post Home Buyer Checklist: What to Look for in an Open House first appeared on Century 21®.
Source: century21.com