Here is our latest Real Estate merchandising project in the heart of Waikiki, Hawaii. We replaced most of the lighting, installed Berber carpeting, laminate floors(bamboo), replaced the kitchen counter-top, replaced the kitchen sink, repainted the cabinets, inside and out, replaced bathroom vanity, refurbished the furniture, and staged the property.
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JDS Consulting- Staging Hawaii nei! Providing Real Estate Merchandising services including: Home Staging, Interior Decor, Turn Key, Landscaping, Remodeling, & Open House Hosting. Visit our Blog: Questions for Kimo: Decor Design & all things Hawaiian- www.RealEstateDesignOnLine.com tel.+1.808.344.1264 Kimo Stowell Copyright ©2009
What a wonderful transformation Kimo! What a difference you made in the kitchen. Excellent color choice!
Just curious, is there a reason you didn't replace the stove with stainless? That is what buyers seem to really want in Texas.
Great job Kimo! The bathroom is my favorite transformation. Thanks for sharing your work.
That looks beautiful Kimo, great job! Love the slideshow you created as well.
Your work is beautiful. Love the colors and textures. The bathroom walls are a lovely color and I love the art prints in the hallway. The chairs in the living are my favorite!
Aloha Michele, thank you. The kitchen was original to the property (1971). Unfortunately, many investor clients tend not to schedule regular updating to maintain their properties and this property had a few minor updates but desperately needed more. It actually went under contract but the inspection sent the buyers packing and that's when they called us in.
Aloha Beverly, mahalo for your most excellent question. There are several reasons we didn't use Stainless Steel which is a popular choice here in Hawaii, as well. The first is we were on a tight budget that required us first to replace the flooring in the entire 1200 sq ft apartment including the lanai's, replace the kitchen counter top, sink,vanity in the bathroom, and a number of inspection issues. So the budget wasn't there. The frig was replaced last year and was in good condition and is white. I always try to match appliance's so stainless was out. Also when you live near the ocean stainless steel rusts quickly unless you maintain it. Since this particular property is an investment property, tenants are not exactly in the mind set for maintaining stainless steel. As merchandisers we pay close attention to durability and easy maintenance so as to reduce the capital required to maintain the property over time.
Aloha Lori, Thanks for visiting. Replacing the vanity added some valuable square footage to the room making it appear much more spacious.
Aloha Chris, I've finally got around to using the slide show for marketing properties. It's a whole lot more engaging than just photos. Mahalo for stopping by!
Aloha Kathy, The art prints are photos of flora from my yard when I lived in Makaha. The chairs I refurbished; they were a dingy off-white originaly and I stumbled upon the pillows, that matched perfectly, while shopping for a slip cover for the sofa. I had very little money to stage the property so I had to be very creative with what I had.
Kimo very creative and clever staging with your limited budget. I paste wax my stainless appliances (and almost everything else for that matter) on almost every visit to Hawaii. Is that a cork floor I spy in the kitchen? Have you used it before with sand issues. I have cork in my kitchen here but no sand issues. Eventually I would like to replace the tile in my Hawaii kitchen to something softer underfoot but since this is also a rental I'm apprehensive. Any thoughts?
The tatami "headboard" is my favorite along with the new bath! Love the paint color.
Awapuhe
Fabulous! Looks like a million bucks! My favorite is the bathroom...what a difference! Nice job on the slide show too!
Aloha Awapuhe, Yes keeping the stainless from oxidizing is a constant, I like using stainless steel cleaner or pledge which works well in cleaning granite too. No cork used in the flooring just laminate with a bamboo pattern. I've yet to work with cork so I don't have any advice on the sand situation. There are great vinyl products that are soft and super durable but if your looking for the warmth and the eco friendliness that cork provides I'd get a sample and test it out. The palm matting head board was re-purposed, it was the previous tenants beach mat. The paint in the Bath is Lotus Blossom by Behr.
Aloha Sharon, mahalo for the positive feed back. The bathroom is such a money maker it has got to look Fab.
You are very talented repurposing the chairs-they look very chic and expensive Kimo! I would have never know the art prints were from your own yard. Beautiful Kimo!!
NOW I know why you tweeted, "Some where under the sea...somewhere, waiting for me..." Sing it with me! I LOVE what you did in the bathroom, love-love-love that headboard you made for the master bedroom (out of a beach mat) and isn't it amazing what a little paint and new flooring can do for a kitchen!? Also recognized some of your fab photography in there as well ;-)
& you know me, I LOVE Smilebox (they are also great as an alternative to "news letters" to let clients and Realtors know about your latest projects and successes). You're right: they are much more engaging than just "pictures".
Fab...transformation. Love looking at the originality of your work Kimo, a true pro. Thanks for sharing.
Love the smile box, also the happy music there will make me have happy feet today, thanks.
Aloha Cathy, mahalo nui loa! It's amazing what paint can accomplish.
Aloha Connie, thanks it was fun wearing the re-purposing hat in this project. When we finally figured out how much money would go to staging I was a little worried, but it all worked out in the end.
Aloha Terrylynn, thank you, you are too kind.
Aloha Mary, a very happy footed day to you and thanks for visiting.
Aloha Kimo, love the bathroom transformation. It just speaks to me, very relaxing and inviting. Interesting to hear about the ocean issue and stainless steel, something I won't have to deal with here in Ontario but we all have our bug a boos to deal with.
I have tried smile box too, without much luck. Anyone that knows me, knows my trials and tribulations with anything technical. I did have the help of a stager with Publisher and managed to create a newsletter. I like your idea much better to showcase before and afters to Realtors. You have inspired me to give it another try.
Aloha Michelle, you have the bitter cold to deal with for months at a time, I would gladly trade cold for a little oxidation any day. There are many REAs here in Hawaii who think staging is a waist of money, shocking I know but provential attitudes abound in our archipelago.