Increasing Your Bay Area Curb Appeal

Increasing Your Bay Area Curb Appeal

As bay area home owners and interior design aficionados, we spend so much time focusing on the interior of our home that often times we utterly neglect the outdoors. For most, it’s just a small design faux paw, but when trying to sell a home, this can make or break a sale. A chic, well-lit and decorated home exterior not only boosts curb appeal, but can actually translate into increased profit. Here in the competitive Bay Area market, every detail is important!

 Here are a few tips on how to spruce up your home exterior:

1. Start with the Basics

Ok, let’s start sweating the small stuff. Make sure to fix any cracks or uneven sections in your pathways and driveway. Nobody wants to invest time and money on a property with ugly flaws. Remember, first impressions matter, so take the time to ensure you’ll be remembered for your impeccable style.

2. Accent your Door

Front doors are surprisingly overlooked. Make your home stand-out and add a “wow” factor with a unique color. A medium sized can of paint should be enough. Its’ one of the easiest, and most dramatic changes you can make to your home. 

3. Plants!

They not only provide vibrant color, but are an amazing way to add a calm, green, earth-friendly vibe that the Bay Area is loved for. Flowers are dainty and sophisticated, while large palms are exciting and adventurous. Trees provide a great framework for your lawn. The key to amazing landscaping is color scheme and simplicity. You want your flora to compliment your home, not hide it or make it look like an untamed jungle!

4. Outdoor Furniture 

A few key pieces will add a homey, chic feel to your outdoor area. If you are making the investment in a stager, putting a few carefully curated items on your porch is an awesome way to make the house feel like a home.

 

Stay Inspired!

Kelly Tivey

Kelly Tivey Interior Design

East Bay Interior Design: Bringing the Beach Home

East Bay Interior Design: Bringing the Beach Home

I work with a lot of professionals here in the Bay Area, specially the East Bay. For many, especially those making the daily trek to the city, having a peaceful respite from work is key to staying sane. We may not get the perks of “seafaring life” here in the East Bay, but here are some tips on using creative decorating to turn your East Bay home into a beachy haven! 

Try to choose a tone that mixes your go-to style with a nautical twist. Not everything needs to be beige or blue.

Color is key. Crisp whites, sea foam greens, and peaceful blues will give your home a relaxed feel, while wicker furniture or nautical décor tie it all together.

If budget is an issue, a few carefully curated pieces like framed art, accessories and new pillows can actually transform a room, without the need for new furniture or a time-consuming paint job.

If you prefer the look of muted tones to bright showstopping colors, keep a neutral pallet and add the wow-factor with unique décor like a cool surfboard, wicker furniture or nautical light fixtures.

Your beach inspired home doesn’t have to be cookie cutter. Unexpected colors, and curated finds like the ceiling fan above give a home intentional color and a bungalow vibe.

Sometimes, a touch of color and a few delicate, carefully placed items are all you need to transform your home into a lazy-day summer retreat.

Need help with your home’s next transformation? Contact me today! I offer color consultations, space planning, and full-scale interior design services.

Stay Inspired.

Kelly Tivey

Unique Furniture Finds for Small Bay Area Spaces

Unique Furniture for Small Bay Area Spaces

Living in a small space doesn’t mean you have to adopt a “minimalist” approach to furniture selection. It just takes a bit of ingenuity. The great thing is, furniture solutions already exist!

Creative Storage

Photo courtesy of imgbuddy.com

Round, spinning book shelves. A fun way to show off all your books and knick-knacks, without sacrificing space. Perfect for a kids room.

Image found via Pinterest

Have dead space like an attic corner? Make use of it with custom built-ins. The above space could potentially double as a guest room!

Extra Seating

Image found via Pinterest  

Ok, so this is one of my favorite curated finds and one similar to pieces I have used in client’s homes here it he Bay Area. Stylish, unique, and practical – it’s what Bay Area Interior Design is all about!

Image discovered via Pinterest.

Pieces that tuck neatly into each other make entertaining in a small apartment headache-free.

Two-in-One

 

Image discovered via Pinterest

Functional doesn’t have to be boring. Find unique ways to incorporate something practical with something fun. This table doubles as an apartment-friendly wine cellar – for your inner Bay Area hipster.

 

Industrial storage coffee table via West Elm

For those busy Bay Area professionals that sometimes need to polish up a little work from home, this coffee table is the perfect solution!

Need help making your small Bay Area home work for you? Contact me today!

Stay Inspired!

Kelly Tivey

Kelly Tivey Interior Design

4th of July Party Décor: Keeping it Classy

4^th of July Party Décor: Keeping it Classy

Want to throw a last minute get-together (or begin collecting ideas for next year)? I’ve put together a list of tasteful and surprisingly unique interior design ideas for your Independence Day bash!

Here are 5 simple and dare I say, "classy", ways to decorate for 4^th of July.

Put a unique twist on your décor by sticking within the red, white and blue color scheme, but choosing slightly less traditional patterns. You don’t have to use outdated décor to celebrate our history.

Stick with a more subdued overall color scheme, and make the event POP with beautiful flower arrangements and unique details.

Sometimes, it’s hard to resist the appeal of vintage décor – and you shouldn’t! Draped banners, flags and fabric offer a clean look with a vintage feel that works perfectly for Fourth of July. 

Make a classically decorated Fourth of July table stand-out by adding an extra color like an eye-grabbing yellow, or getting rid of one of the colors all-together. The addition of some fun accessories (like the pop bottles and nautical extras) will make your party unexpected and memorable.   

With design in mind and creativity in gear, you can actually forgo the traditional colors all-together. Something creative like “firework lights” can give a subtle Fourth of July impression, without any red, white or blue in sight!

Happy Independence Day from your friends at Kelly Tivey Interior Design!