Maximizing Your Budget
& lessons in quiet luxury
Friday Feb. 27
On the Market
One featured local listing that stands out from all the rest.
1137 Teakwood Drive, Greenville, NC - Listed for $245,000
This is 1999-built home sits on just over half an acre, and I know at first glance it may not look like much, but it could be the perfect backdrop to a great modest makeover. Most of the charm and character is in the architectural details, but there’s room to add charm through flooring choices, paint colours, and other choices like new vanities, appliances, countertops, and light fixtures.
You can see more images and read the full listing here.
Room Study: Lessons from quiet luxury
Once a week I share an image from my private Pinterest board highlighting great design.
Why it works:
→ It uses juxtaposition. Traditional historic architecture doesn’t have to mean furniture choices are traditional and historic. The furniture and decor pieces here are decidedly contemporary.
→ It uses camouflage. The drapes, valance, radiator, and the pipe in the corner all match the wall colour and blend in. Use colour to hide the things you don’t want the eye to land on.
→ It is quiet. This is a luxurious space, but it doesn’t look flashy and loud. Not only has it been furnished sparingly, but even in how it was furnished, the focus is on the materials. No designer labeled fabrics or gilt mirrors or diamonds. Instead the money here has been spent on things that will really make a difference to the comfort and functionality of the space. Quiet luxury > loud luxury.
One Good Thing: Maximizing your budget
I’m sharing this as part of the renovation newsletter this week, but I think it will be valuable for you here too. It’s a tool to help you know how to distribute money in your budget.
Go down the following list in this exact order:
High touch: If you have to sit on it, touch it, walk on it, or interact with it physically in any other way, then you need to invest in getting something that feels good (not just looks good).
High impact: If it’s going to give you the greatest return on how the space looks, it’s worth spending on: think paint, flooring, and light fixtures.
High value: If it matters to you, it matters, even if it doesn’t matter to others (or is unlikely to be a big deal to others).
Everything else: Pay what you can afford to without compromising on quality on material, or morals and ethics.
Signing off for this week! If you’re looking for more, check out the blog, the podcast, or find us on Instagram and Pinterest.