Amy Bartlam
Inspiration for a transitional living room remodel in Los Angeles

R. B. Shwarz contractors built an addition onto a lovely white home. They added a master suite with bedroom and bathroom, outdoor fireplace, deck, outdoor storage under the deck, and a beautiful white staircase and railings. This is the front door decorated for Christmas. Photo Credit: Marc Golub

Bobbie McGrath/Successful Staging
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional medium tone wood floor and brown floor hallway remodel in Raleigh with beige walls

Natalia Robert
Study room - mid-sized craftsman freestanding desk light wood floor study room idea in San Diego with beige walls

Nothing makes a cabin more successful than plenty of guest sleeping areas. These bunks, small but perfectly cozy, were made by the homeowner and daughters using left over lumber.

Photographer: Natalia Robert- Full Circle Images
Bedroom - mid-sized transitional guest medium tone wood floor bedroom idea in San Diego with white walls

Staging should never overshadow the unique features of a house. Careful editing of the landing keeps the space warn and inviting but, more importantly, allows the unique storage feature to steal the show! Bobbie McGrath/Successful Staging

Mid-sized beach style open concept dark wood floor living room photo in San Diego with white walls

Photo Credit: Glen Farrell, UpNClose. Styled by Cheryl Trudell of HS4S.
Example of a small trendy carpeted and brown floor home office library design with a two-sided fireplace and a tile fireplace

The finishes of this gorgeous bath demanded simplicity in the Staging. Strong colors would have overwhelmed the classic details. Photo by Marilyn Peryer

Every home improvement project can feel like going into battle, but the sweet taste of victory is enough to make it worthwhile. If you ever feel intimidated by homes and gardens in magazines, don’t fret – you can turn your home into a beautiful beacon with easy curb appeal updates! Kevin and Annette Klingel are some of our favorite weekend warriors, and their latest project proves that anything is possible when it comes to dressing up your front garden. The Klingels recently gave their home and front garden a major renovation and entered their photos in the Window Box Contest. When we saw the gorgeous before and after pictures, we knew we had to get the inside scoop on their process and uncover their best curb appeal ideas. Curb Appeal – Before and After Before the renovation, the Klingels had a charming South Bend, Indiana rambler that was tidy and traditional, if a little unassuming. Deciding it was time for a much-needed update, the Klingels replaced their old green roof with a black barrel roof to match the style of their home. They also made a needed replacement and changed out the sidewalk and front stoop to a new version in classic black. After those dramatic changes, the Klingels just couldn’t stop! Loving the contrast between the new black roof and stoop and their cream house, they painted their shutters black. And here’s where we come in – Annette wanted to incorporate her love of flowers into the new home design and found the perfect planters and window boxes to match the shutters. They purchased ten black window boxes in a classic and chic design to put around their outside windows. The Klingels also used tall black planters around the entrance to the house. The window boxes and planters each received the same plant treatment – red, yellow, and orange impatiens with flowing ferns for a bright punch of color. Paired with hanging baskets and a few other accents, the Klingels house is now a masterpiece. From Drab to Fab The Klingels love their warm and inviting new front entrance, and the neighbors do too. Instead of getting overlooked, their house now stands out and is the star of their busy street, where it is seen by lots of people everyday. They have received tons of compliments about their new look – a crisp and clean front garden that stays true to the style of the home and neighborhood. The Klingels’ curb appeal update wasn’t without its challenges, but the end product is amazing, and as Annette says, definitely worth the time. The Klingels recommend starting with the necessary replacements and finding beautiful matching pieces to add curb appeal. With a little patience, elbow grease, and the help of a great garden supply store like Hooks & Lattice, you too can have the home of your dreams. Photos: Kevin & Annette Klingel

Example of a classic kitchen design in New York

After being staged, the kitchen allures buyers, helping them visualize themselves cooking and entertaining in this beautiful space!
Kitchen - transitional kitchen idea in Louisville with white cabinets, granite countertops, stone tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Kitty Dadi

Donna Griffith for House and Home Magazine
Example of a small classic enclosed dark wood floor living room design in Toronto with blue walls and a projector screen

Patio - farmhouse backyard patio idea in New York with a pergola and a bbq area

Mudrooms can be beautiful, too! We recommended some editing,a bit of the art of disguise (the phone modem and all those wires are still there!), and then added the magic of black and white photos to their cute memo board. Using what THEY ALREADY HAD was key to making this another Successful Staging! Bobbie McGrath/Successful Staging

Photos are by Kyle Santee Media.
Staircase - traditional wooden curved metal railing staircase idea in Raleigh with painted risers

Inspiration for a transitional bedroom remodel in San Francisco with beige walls