Ted Wight's St. Louis Style

SOLD- 3051 Thornbury, Town and Country...also some good Before and After shots

Yesterday my Seller closed on the sale of her lovely home located at 3051 Thornbury in Town and Country.  The home was on the market for about a year with another agent. I hate to brag, though I took over the listing and sold it in a week!  I took new pictures that better highlighted the home, we did a little painting and boom...it sold!  I know some of it may have been luck, though I am getting a good track record of being able to sell homes that have lingered on the market.

If you are thinking about selling your home in the coming months.  Now is the perfect time to meet with me to discuss a marketing plan.

Here are some pictures to compare:

Mine

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Mine- after changing the 90's red Dining Room to something more current

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Mine-kitchen shot from a more appealing angle

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Mine- Lower Level office decluttered and painted (Oops I just notice the box in the picture) Also notice that the stained woodwork was painted white.

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Stunning Before and After Images of Sun Theatre Redefine The “Feasible” Project

Anything is possible!

This has always been one of my favorite derelict buildings that I always hoped would be brought back to life ( it had a tree growing out of the roof at one point). I am absolutely thrilled to see it becoming a beautiful, useful space to help educate and spread the beauty of knowledge!

You can find the original post, along with a detailed account of the history of this theater HERE.

As always, comment what you think, and like+share if you enjoyed the post!

Making the Best of What You Have

On one hand we have a University of Michigan student who is fed up with $800-a-month rent on campus, so he builds his own tiny house and uses solar power and compost toilet to live off the grid – and saves himself $6,000. He spent around $13,000 on the 'house' and is happy with his decision. 
What is your take on this? Leave a comment below!

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A Dilapidated Bank Turned Stunning Cultural Center Opens in Chicago’s South Side

On the other hand, and somewhat unrelated, we have Theaster Gates an artist, urban planner, and professor and director at the University of Chicago’s Arts and Public Life who believes in a culturally driven approach to urban redevelopment.

"It’s part of an evolving way of reimagining that culture should be central to the way our cities and neighborhoods work."

Which do you like more?

Original article on Slate

"Work with what you've got!"

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Have you seen this beauty in Benton Park?

Sometimes, when you work with what you've got, you end up with something fabulous like this home.

"These days Ray and his partner, Mel Pashea (pronounced paa-SHAY), gain access to their mini-compound — complete with landscaped and fenced-in courtyard, saltwater-filled swimming pool and a second, smaller building for sleeping, dressing and doing laundry — through a new side door that leads into the larger building’s newly created foyer."

Not only does this home look fantastic, but it still encompasses the history of the building, with a more contemporary twist. I personally love seeing people transform homes like this one. If you know of any, please send me pictures of it, I'd love to see it, and maybe I'll post about it!

Read the whole story in the St Louis Post Dispatch site:  HERE

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Please Like and Share on Facebook!

Story by Susan Fadem; Photos by Cristina M. Fletes

Before and After- A Grand Transformation with Paint and Staging!

People frequently over look the importance of staging and painting a home before listing a property. Such a quick fix and change everything for buyers coming to look at the property. Look at the vast difference paint and staging did for this property located at 11445 Conway Rd. 

$1,395,000

See more pictures and get more information on this lovely home HERE

Listed by Marcia Harris, Dielmann Sotheby's International Realty, 314-725-0009

 

Dining Room Rug...Before and After

Halbert Rug Company located at 4733 McPherson in the CWE is having a moving sale.  I took the opportunity to get a new rug for my Dining Room.  My old one was dark and too small.  What do you think?

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After

Before and After: Shades of Blue

Everyone one loves Before and After features.  Check out Shades of Blue blog.  I am told that she is in St. Louis and would love to redo your furniture!

Before and After: The Back Patio is Done!

My back patio is finally done!  I added some teak love seats and a coffee table from Restoration Hardware's Leagrave Collection. They are on sale now.....you can also find some at the Chesterfield Outlet store, though not all of the pieces.  The original Bernoudy wall cabinets were restored. I am ready for some Fall entertaining.

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Before & After: My Bernoudy Home- Exterior Wall Cabinets- Renovated

I recently had my two exterior wall cabinets removed and shipped to Custom Furniture Works to have them refinished. The veneer was warping and they were getting tired. The renovated version is supposed to be close to the original colors....they are brighter! I think I like them now, though it just takes getting used to them.

 

Here is a before picture

My Living Room....almost done!

After 10 months....my living room is almost done. Check out the new Stark rug, McCobb cocktail table and the the two side chairs that were transformed. Thank you to my furniture procurer and designer- David Deatherage.

Earlier this year

Now

Here is what the side chairs looked like before they were transformed by Custom Furniture Works.

Before and After- Painted Brick Ranch

I have a new listing that will be coming on the market this Summer. In looking at the house's exterior, I thought that it needed a little help. I know that many people think it is a no no to paint brick, though in this case, I really like the outcome. It looks fresh and cute!

Before

After

Closet Transformation

I had a dingy closet in my kitchen which was not very useful. The snow day Sunday gave me an opportunity to paint it with 3 coats of paint and California Closets came in this morning to finish it off.  I can't wait to go to the Container Store to get some bins to put in it for organization. Progress!

Before

The Evolution of My Living Room

I still have some things to finish in my Living Room, though it is coming together.  I have ordered an Asian-motif rug from Stark and an going to have two side chairs redone...oh and I almost forgot....my designer, David Deatherage of Century Design tracked down a wonderful Paul McCobb cocktail table in Pittsburgh that is making its way to St. Louis for me.

The pictures below show the evolution of this room.  

This is an early picture of this room when William Bernoudy was a bachelor and his mother was living with him.

This is the picture from the Bernoudy book and was taken after Bill Bernoudy had passed away and his wife, Gertrude, commissioned the book to be written.

And here is present day with my influence.

Before and After- My old house

I just ran across a picture of my old house in University City when I bought it back in 2002.

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After

Fornasetti Malachite Wallpaper

My Fornasetti Malachite Wallpaper was just hung in one of my bathrooms.  I am so excited to have soome progress.  The paper was designed by Piero Fornasetti. This is a vintage print that goes well with my MCM Bernoudy home.  When I am in this bathroom, I feel like I am in an elegantly-wrapped gift.

See more HERE

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After

Quinta Maria Cortez- Before and After

Check out the picture of our place in Puerto Vallarta from the 50's and now. They just kept building up. Lovely. I would call it shabby Mexican chic!

Ladue Isadore Shank Home- For Sale

Yesterday I finally went through the stylish Isadore Shank home located at 7 Graybridge. It is listed for $499,000.  See more HERE.  A couple of Isadore's sons joined me and shared some pictures of the house when it was first finished.  The style was very international/ art deco. Check out my pictures of the house today compared to the original style.  Very cool!  I hope someone restores it!  The home backs to 5 acres of common ground.

Before and After- Ames Place, University City

I drove by a house that I assisted some clients purchase back in 2011 located in lovely Ames Place. Look how fresh and stylish the landscaping looks now! I can't wait to see what they did with the interior.

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After

Ladue News Decorator's Show House 2012; Before and After; The Lower Level

Everyone's favorite store and design team, Niche, did wonders with the Lower Level of this stunning Bernoudy home in Town and Country.

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Ladue News Decorator's Show House 2012 Before and After Pictures- The Foyer

Arlene Lilie was assigned to decorate one the more dramatic spaces in this Bernoudy home. Her room looked out to an enclosed courtyard featuring a stunning Ernest T. Trova sculpture. The Trova Project, part of Ivey Selkirk, generously loaned close to 100 pieces from their gallery to help the decorators transform their spaces. It was fun to see the different phases of Ernie Trova's work throughout the house.

Before

After

Ladue News Decorator's Show House- Before and After Part VI The Guest Suite

I.O. Metro, located near Crate and Barrel off Brentwood, turned one of the upstairs bedrooms into a cool pad.

Did you know you can buy this lovely home....find out more HERE. 

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After

Ladue News Decorator's Show House- Before an After Part V The Family Room

Karen Pepper of Edwin Pepper Interiors decorated the Family Room at the lovely Bernoudy home on Conway Rd in Town and Country that was recently transformed by St. Louis's Top Decorators.

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After

 

Before and After: My new street numbers!

Part of the benefit of buying my parent's house was getting my late father's workshop.  I actually made this sign myself....I did buy the letters at Home Depot. Now people can actually find me!

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After

Ladue News Decorator's Show House- Before and After Part IV, The Living Room

Alan Brainerd of Alan E. Brainerd Interiors was selected to decorate the Living Room of the 2012 Ladue News Decorator's Show House- a stunning Bernoudy on 18 acres in Town & County. At last year's Show House, Alan decorated the Dining Room at my listing- 15 Washington Terrace. 

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After

Ladue News Decorator's Show House- Before and After Part lll The Dining Room

Carolyn Grove of C.V.Grove Interiors took on the Dining Room at the 2012 Ladue News Decorator's Show House. I am wild about the Clarence House wallpaper she used for one alcove.

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After

Ladue News Show House, Before and After Part II

Last year when Ken Stuckenschneider did the Master Suite in the 2011 Ladue News Decorator's Show House at 15 Washington Terrace....I was immediately a fan!  This year he transformed the Master Bedroom of the stunning Bernoudy home on Conway Rd into something special. 

Check out the before pictures....twin beds...some people call that Catholic birth control...after 7 kids for the original owners, I think it was a necessity.

Before

After

 

Ladue News Show House- Before and After Part 1

David Deatherage of Century Design took on the "men's study" which was once one of the boy's bedrooms.  The family that built the house had 7 kids....2 boys and 5 girls. David used Custom Furniture Works to transform the standard paneling into a visual delight. He also had them turn the closets into bookshelves. David is helping me with a few items at my new Bernoudy home.

Before

After!

And David even had a Bernoudy-design planter

U City MCM Home Before and After

I helped the owners buy this fun MCM home in U City. We bought it off the market. It has a California or Florida feel about it. Look what they have done to the garden outside their Dining Room. There is nothing more fun than home improvements and Before and After shots!  HERE is a link to more pics of this home.

Before and After- My Kitchen

As you know, my own person house is for sale. I always tell my clients to invest some money in their house to get it ready for sale. Price reductions come at about $10,000 a pop....it is better to invest $10,000 in your house and get it moved quickly at a better price. I redid my kitchen over the last couple of months.

I probably spend more on the kitchen than I had to, though it does look nice! I could have gone with a cheaper floor tile, though I liked the travertine. I used Absolute Tile and Stone for the tile, floor and counters. Voss Spray Painting to redo the cabinets.

Travertine Floor  $4,745

Subway Tile Backsplash $1,382

Granite Counters $2,683

Spray-paining cabinets $2,075

Painting wall and woodwork $450

Total  $11,335

I should replace the fridge and oven with stainless steel, though it looks pretty nice!

http://8719westkingsbury.canbyours.com

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After

Mid-century Renovation

Last Summer I worked with a nice couple who snatched up this special home in the Ladue School District off of Spoede. The home was sold by the original owners. For you Mid-century and contemporary buyers, look what you can do to transform a house!

Front before...notice the Home Depot Front door

Mid-century (MCM) Creve Coeur Make-over Before and After

Last Summer I sold a nice family a large Mid-century home in Creve Coeur that only had one owner. The home had great bones, though needed a lot of "freshening". The new owners are finally finished and shared this picture with me. Those are walnut floors!

Vintage Picture of 507 Mapleview- University City

A friend sent me this vintage picture of this International-styled house I had listed a while back located at 507 Mapleview in University City.  It was built by Robert Hinkson in 1937.  Sometime in the late 80's or early 90's a second story was added.

Now

15 Washington Terrace, Ladue News Decorator's Showcase- The Living Room

C.J, Knapp and Carol Snyder of Edwin Pepper Interiors decorated the Living Room for the Ladue News Decorators Showcase @ 15 Washington Terrace. The Living Room opens to the grand foyer, a terrace and the solarium. It is truly one of the most gracious rooms in the city!

15 Washington Terrace is for sale for $825,000.  Find out more HERE.

Before picture

Details

15 Washington Terrace- Ladue News Decorator's Showcase...the Dining Room

Alan Brainerd decorated the lovely Dining Room for the Ladue News Decorator's Showcase that just finished. He chose an asian theme for this gorgeous room.  Notice the Before and After pictures...what a difference a good decorator can make! 15 Washington Terrace is for sale for $825,000.  Find out more HERE.

A special thank you to Alan for coming up with the concept to have the Ladue News dive into their first decorator's showcase. I know the design community is happy since the St. Louis Symphony stopped their regular showcases.

 

Before & After

My listing on North and South in University City has had a complete paint-job and a nice price change from $615,000 to $599,000. Take a look at the pictures! The After pictures are professional, though you can still see the dramatic change. Open Sunday, Sept. 25th 1-3 PM

http://541northandsouth.canbyours.com/

After

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