Model Home Makeover: Project Reveal

When the model home isn’t your dream home

There are some great benefits to buying a model home in a neighborhood. They come with tons of upgrades and features that the builder wants to showcase, and you usually have the opportunity to buy the furniture that already fits nicely in the space. Sometimes though, those “upgrades” result in flashy paint colors, ornate light fixtures and elaborate finishes that you might not have chosen yourself.

That was the case for this family who knew they loved this particular neighborhood and the floor plan, but the model home was a bit over-the-top for them. That is when they enlisted our help.

The Power of Paint

There were many changes that the family wanted to make, but we started with painting the entire interior of the home a little over a year ago. It really is the most bang for your buck when it comes to providing some dramatic results. When I do paint consultations, one of the first questions I ask is if the client knows their current paint colors. This is for several reasons, including: creating flow, matching undertones and in case we need to color-match anything down the road. Lucky for us, this client still had the paint schedule from the builder.

I am not exaggerating when I tell you that just about every room in the house had a different wall color, ceiling color and trim color. (See the before gallery below.) Needless to say, our goal was to create lighter, brighter and consistent spaces, but also add a little drama.

With the exception of the kids’ rooms, we used Benjamin Moore White Dove (one of our go-to warm whites) on the trim, ceilings and walls throughout the house, and incorporated a little drama in the formal dining room and office with Benjamin Moore’s Racoon Fur.

The paint alone made this house feel like a new home, but we definitely had more work to do.

Pre-Paint Photos

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Let There be Light

The previous light fixtures in the house were, in one word, ornate. They were heavy, detailed, and gave off a strong Farmhouse vibe – practically the opposite of their casual California style. From the island pendants to the hallways and bedrooms, we changed out just about every light fixture in the house with more transitional and modern pieces.

Finishing Touches

While the paint and lighting updates alone provided a fresh new foundation for this home, as we all know, the devil is in the details. Our final scope of work for this project was to help furnish some of their spaces, including furniture for the master bedroom, rugs, custom window treatments and decor that we layered in with their existing furniture.

Where this model home once felt a bit overwhelming and over-the-top, it is now this sweet family’s haven that is light, bright and uniquely suited just for them.

Are you looking to make your house feel more like your HOME? If so, inquire here to see how we can help!