Flipping

Future Flipping Update

I know I've been starving you guys of flipping goodness for quite a while lately.  I've been starving for it too!  I haven't really dug my hands into a construction project since Dori ended but I can FINALLY tell you that all is not quiet on the flip front.  After almost 6 months of flip hunting, getting outbid more times than I kept track of, and a general lack of house inventory to even look at, we may actually have the next flip in the wings! (If you follow me on instagram/facebook this may not be new news) Massacusetts Ave Short Sale House

It's a short sale, so it's not 100% locked in really until the day we get keys.  We have an accepted offer although we still need bank approval for the short sale.  Since short sales are a long, drawn out process, best case scenario we'll have the keys sometime in October and we're walking away if we haven't closed by Thanksgiving.  I'm trying not to get my hopes up in case it falls through, but how could I not- it's an adorable house!  Having time to wait will give me plenty of time to think about the best style and renovations for this little gem.

It's got tons of character just waiting to be brought back to life!

massachusetts ave vintage details to be restored

 

I'm looking forward do doing some vintage-inspired spaces with a few funky elements thrown in.  Here's the direction I'm currently thinking for the house:

massachusetts ave design inspiration

 

sources: 1/2/3/4/5/6

My dilemma (assuming all goes well and we get the house), and it has nothing to do with design: what should we name it??  You may have noticed that we name our flips and if you've been around a while, you know we name them usually something to do with the street they're on.  Clark St was naturally "Clark", Franklin St was "Frankie", a blue house on Grove St naturally became "Grover", Midland St got nicknamed "Millie" by Hubby, and Dori got her name because the street name was the same name as the street my grandmother, Doris, lived at for over 50 years (albeit in another state).  Hubby and I are a bit stumped as to what to call this house.  It's street name doesn't lend itself easily to a specific name: it's on Massachusetts Ave.  I need your help!!  Leave your naming suggestions in the comments!

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Project Flashback: UP-Dated Built-in

built-in-styled-4.jpg

Without a flip going on currently, I'm really itching to build something.  I think I get a bit twitchy when I haven't touched power tools for too long.  For YEARS I've been talking about creating a built-in bookcase in my dining room, but I'm still mulling over ideas, gameplans for building it, and thinking about all the details.  The idea has been nagging at me lately, so when timehop popped up to remind me of a post from 2 years ago where I had a bit of fun with a built-in in one of the flips, I thought it would be fun to share again! Here's the original post from 2014 when I was working on the fliphouse Grover:

 

WARNING: long post ahead!  But don't worry- it'll be informative AND have a few pretty pictures!

When I'm coming up with my plans for my flips, there's a delicate balance between keeping original charm and getting rid of dated design features.

Exhibit A

Dated scalloped built in before

Built-in = original charm..... almost arm-deep = awkward......scallops = dated!

I think the scallops were the first thing I ripped out in the house.  I attempted to remove the fake wood paneling from all 3 sides of the shelves, but I just couldn't get in there without causing injury (even my attempts caused several bruises and band-aids).  For the past 4 months, the poor built-in has sat in this sorry state:

build-in-demo

build-in-demo-ceiling

But I had a plan for it!  And now, I think it's hitting all the right notes!

Dated built in after via year of serendipity

Original charm- CHECK

Fresh and clean-CHECK

Usable space-CHECK

Free of awkward and dated design features- CHECK CHECK!

Dated built in styled via year of serendipity

It surprisingly only took me a day to build.  Wood working projects are probably the most fun for me- that and tiling.  You see things come together right before your eyes.

Supplies:

2x4s for structure

thin plywood for the sides, back and 'ceiling' on the top shelf (I actually used materials left over from the bathroom paneling)

1x2 pine decorative trim

Screws and nails

Half of the work in projects like this is just the figuring out and planning what you want to do.  The other half is playing with power tools (fun AND fun!)

My first step to make my plans happen was to create a new structure with 2x4s to reduce the size of the shelves.  I pre-drilled screw holes using my Kreg jig, however, even the best laid plans don't always work out.

built-in-building

I forgot to take into account the size of the drill and it wouldn't fit in the 2 shorter shelves to allow me to use my carefully planned holes.  Womp womp.  Luckily, I was able to screw in the side and no one will be able to tell in the end.

When installing the 2x4s, I made sure to use my level so that each piece of the hidden structure would be straight.

built-in-structure

Next it was ply-wood's turn.

build-in-plywood

I put a piece of plywood on the new back as well as on both sides since the side walls were a bit damaged.  I'll admit, the back 'wall' between the 2x4s is a little bouncy, but since the back is purely decorative, I opted not to add additional structure.

build-in-plywood-done

Looking better already!  Next it was time for the finish trim.  This was the part that really modernized this project.  Sides first, then I measured in between.

built-in-trim1

To install the trim, I used my nail gun and 2" finish nails, to attach them both the the walls and the shelves.

built-in-trim2

To spare you additional boring pictures, I patched holes, primed, and then sanded before getting to caulking all the corners.  I used my go-to caulk method: a squeeze tube of caulk (easier to maneuver than a caulk gun), and a small bucket of water.  I use the bucket to both dunk my hand before wiping down a bead of caulk, but to also wash the caulk off my hand as I go- it get's very sticky otherwise.  The caulk magically filled all the gaps at the joints and gives it a professional, finished look.  In the pic below, just look at the contrast between the bottom, caulked shelf and the top uncaulked shelf.

built-in-caulk

Ta da!

built-in-sans-paint

Meanwhile across the room, the doors were getting fresh paint and new pulls.

built-in-paint-doors

Once all the caulk was dry, the built-in got several layers of white semi-gloss trim paint. I allowed the paint to dry overnight before I layered on the tchotchkes..... I mean styled it.

Updated built-in styled via year of serendipity

Updated built-in styled via year of Serendipity

Faux plants Dining room styled via year of serendipity

Just updating the built-in makes the entire open living/dining area look clean, fresh, and updated, but will still charm the pants off of any buyer.

Built-in styled and updated via year of serendipity

 

 

Even years later, that project makes me smile.  Such a small, inexpensive update, made a HUGE difference in the room.  Check out the entire space when it was done:

Grover-dining-kitchen-after-2

 

 

 

I'm hoping that building one in my own dining room will have a similar positive impact.  I'm such a sucker for dining room built-ins!

Have an awesome weekend!!

 

Save

Busy Week

It's only Wednesday, but this week has already been a big one in the Goodman household.  Aside from getting brandy new headshots for the new blog design (coming in May), several new design client consultations, and trading in my 20s girl convertible for a fun new Mini, Hubby decided to take a huge leap career-wise.  Very soon I will be married to a real estate agent!  It'll be a great move for this sales-addicted, budding real estate mogul, plus it won't be a bad move for our flipping business either.  Hubby gave his 2 weeks notice on Monday and since then, the reality of us both being self-employed is starting to sink in a bit.  I'm pretty sure we can handle it.  Wine will help.  So will kitten cuddles. Speaking of kittens, Daisy got some new head shots too.  She was shockingly cooperative during the photo shoot with Stephanie Rita.

daisy-headshot

I wouldn't be shocked if there were an equal number of shots taken of the cats as there were of me.  They were on their best and cutest behavior and I didn't even have to bribe them with treats!  Pop over to Stephanie's blog to see a preview of the human-focused part of the photo shoot.  These photos are going to look awesome on the new site!

Anyway, I'll be back on Friday with a REAL post!  And not just any post, a DIY post!  I'm just putting the finishing touches on Franken-Chair before it's big reveal.  It's long overdue!