MAY 2018 | 5280 | (^105)
Clockwise from top left: Courtesy of Anthropologie; Courtesy of Proven Winners; Courtesy of HGTV (2); Courtesy of Control4; iStock (2)
Given the down payment you just dropped, it
might be awhile before your bank account recov-
ers enough to take on the full remodel your fixer
upper so desperately needs. In the meantime,
these relatively easy-on-the-wallet projects can turn
your ho-hum house into a 10—or at least a solid
seven—depending on your DIY skill level. —JL
I
SAW
FIXER UPPER
ON HGTV...
ONCE.
I
OWN
A TOOLBOX...
I JUST NEED TO
FIND IT.
FUNK IN THE TUB Embrace that oh-
so-’50s pastel pink/green/blue tile in
your bathroom by painting the walls
a clean white and picking up funky
accessories. “Anthropologie and Urban
Outfitters are always great resources
for shower curtains that make it look
like the bohemian vibe was intentional,”
says designer Megan Kane of Denver’s
Megan Kane Interiors.
GREEN LIVING
Annie Huston—
owner of both
the garden store
Birdsall & Co. and
Columbine Design,
a landscaping
company—advises
starting outside with
a thorough cleanup
(remove weeds, rake debris, prune shrubs and trees).
Then add large pots planted with hardy, low-maintenance
perennials, such as coral bells, lavender, or hostas, that
can overwinter in Colorado.
LET THERE BE (BETTER)
LIGHT Replace discolored,
gunk-encrusted plastic outlet
covers and light switches with
decorative metal versions. Or
go even further by swapping
out tired light fixtures for
inexpensive pendants or
chandeliers, suggests Cassy
Kicklighter Poole, owner of Denver’s Kaleidoscope
Design, whose go-to ceiling-bling shop is Baker’s
Fusion Light and Design.HOLDING PATTERN
Until you have the
budget to refinish
beat-up wood floors,
Jennifer DesJardin,
principal of Motif
Design Solutions in
Denver, recommends
this temporary
design fix: Remove
any finish; apply an
oil-based primer;
draw a pattern
(think: chevrons or a
checkerboard); and
alternate paint colors
in the shapes you
have created. EVERYTHING BUT THE
KITCHEN SINK The truly
handy should consider
washing existing kitchen
cabinets with degreaser
before giving them a light
sand and a fresh coat of paint. Another
easy upgrade for the canteen? Replace
existing knobs and drawer pulls with
on-trend hardware (hello, brass!) from
Lowes or Home Depot.LESS THAN $500,000
COUNTER OFFER
Re/Max’s Kerron Stokes suggests
upgrading countertops from
laminate to granite, which can run
$1,000 to $15,000, depending on
kitchen size and material quality.
ROI: Up to $2 for every $1 spent$500,000 TO $900,000
GEAR UP
In areas with alley access, Stokes
says, sellers can boost their values
by erecting one- or two-car garages
($18,000 to $30,000)—or, as we call
them in Colorado, gear closets.
ROI: Up to $2 for every $1 spent$1 MILLION AND UP
GET TECHY
Local dealer Envision Enterprises can
install a fully automated system from
outfitter Control4—complete with
lighting, HVAC, and entertainment
controls—starting at $15,000.
ROI: Up to $3 for every $1 spent mMORE MONEY,
NO PROBLEM
Last year, 39.5 percent of all Denver homes sold for above asking price. Still, if
more is good, even more is better: Sellers, no matter your property’s price tag,
these upgrades can boost your profits. (Feeling guilty yet? We didn’t think so.)REAL
E S TAT E
2018
SWEAT
EQUITY