Short Term Stay, Long Term Investment
Margaret has done a great job of integrating modern furnishings into a classic home.
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I have rented a few apartments over the years and even before I was designer it was pretty frustrating when it came to decorating. I had lots of wonderful ideas on how to fix them up but I knew upon exit I would be expected to patch all the holes, paint the walls white and take down the window treatments. So as a result I kept things pretty simple. I didn’t have the money to spare nor did not want to get emotionally attached to a space that was just an in-betweener.
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According to the article, "She remodeled the bathroom, painting walls melon, laying a yellow Marmoleum floor, installing a modern medicine cabinet, repainting the claw-foot tub and adding a glass doorknob from Anthropologie."
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So that’s why a recent article I read in the Washington Post really made me wonder…The article is about designer, Margaret Carter, who moved from Colorado to DC. She had earmarked her savings to start a new design practice and therefore did not have the money to spend on the down-payment for a home. But she needed a nice size space for her business and to showcase her talents. She found a lovely rental home that dated back to 1919 with good bones and a gorgeous wrap-around porch but it needed a bit of TLC. She was able to negotiate with the owner on the lease and agreed to do some upgrades to the house. Painting, cleaning, upgrading the bathroom. Most of it was cosmetic but it amounted to $12,000!
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The color palette in the living room is crisp and bright but notice no window treatments!
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Long story short, the house is lovely and just what she needs for now. But she does not know how long she will be there. I really could not picture myself making this kind of an investment in a rental home.
So tell me what YOU think. What changes you have made and how far you were willing to go to put your stamp on a place you did not own? Do you think it’s realistic to negotiate with a landlord to make such improvements? I want to hear from you!
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Tags: Inspiration Online
January 22nd, 2010 at 2:47 pm
OK, since you asked… I personally would not have spent that kind of money on a rental, but it’s because I do not have her needs. I write blogs, do some woodworking, am looking to start a picture framing business, already own a home that suits me, live in a city I love with a wife I adore. I’m not going anywhere.
But. This lady wanted to move to a different city and use her home for a showplace for her interior decorating skills. Different story altogether.
One of the thoughts I have had is that the remodeling I have been doing on our home over the years might one day turn into a cabinetmaking business. If so, I would use my own home for a showplace. “Here’s my kitchen, my bathrooms, my home theater, etc.” And to the extent that I can simply show people around the house and impress them (if I can!), I can then expect a fair amount of business.
This lady means to do the same, and on that basis, her decision makes every bit of sense to me. But even if it made no sense at all to me, it makes sense to her, and she’s the one who has to live with that decision.
January 23rd, 2010 at 9:33 am
Hi Joe,
Thanks for making some very good points. When I have friends over to my home, I know they are taking it all in and seeing it as a showcase of my talent. I purchased my home furnished many years ago and it was all peach and black laquer. I could not afford to redecorate all at once so I often made a disclaimer as soon as peopel walked in the room!
You website is really great. Those Vitruvit Sinks are something else! http://cft411.com/2010/01/21/vitruvit-sinks/
Lorrie