Today, is my first Post for a New Series I have started in Fresno, California. The home prices are fairly decent for California and living in Fresno has its perks for sure. As an Interior Designer living and working in the Central Valley, Pebble Beach/Carmel/Monterey, and Bay Area I have discovered that Fresno is dramatically behind when it comes to the trends and the upgrades of their homes. I personally have a home and office in Danville, Carmel, and have been searching for a home in Fresno for about two years now. I am not one to ever purchase a Track Home again, (been there - done that- and got out) so that is not an option. I have been looking for a home with character. The problem I have run into is that every home in Fresno is a Fixer Upper, they have not been upgraded at all. If you are purchasing a home from the 1960's, guess what - it looks like the 1960's. Don't get me wrong, there are some homes that have been upgraded but, wow they look like a DIY nightmare. I am good with purchasing a Fixer Upper but the price must be in line and with all the real estate investors in Fresno, the prices get driven up way too high and then you don't have enough equity in the home to do anything with it. You would basically be spending money on a home that you might never make a profit on and I am not willing to do that. I love buying residential real estate but I like to make money on the property when I purchase it and I am not open to losing money on it at all. With that being said, I thought I would share with you some of the homes that come up for sale in Fresno, California each week and give you my input and design ideas on how to upgrade it and make it a home in this century.
Here is the First Home located at 2457 W Scott Avenue.
The Existing Pictures and my Inspiration Pictures can be found below (all existing pictures were taken from Zillow.com) -
Existing Exterior
Dina Marie Joy Ideas-
My first thought would be to just paint the home and trim back all the landscaping to get them off the home and roof. It's a beautiful home and I would leave the Wood Doors (beautiful)!!
Existing Interior (How it looks now)
Dina Marie Joy Ideas -
This Room needs a little help. I would paint the room all one color including the crown and trim and maybe add an accent color. Remove the tile from the adjacent room and use the same flooring, get rid of the French Doors and add Nano Doors or Folding Doors here. Do some builtins for the TV and recessed cans is a must and remove this fan and add a modern fan. Here is a picture of what this room could look like...
Image Source Design Sponge
Upgraded look for the above space.
Purchase Sofa Here
Purchase Coffee Table Here
Existing Interior (how it looks now)
Dina Marie Joy Ideas -
In this space, remove the Popcorn and leave the Brick Walls (I love the Brick Walls if they are real). I would open up the opening from the kitchen to this room. Depending on how the traffic flows here, it would make sense to get rid of that bar top and maybe make that a Kitchen Island with stools. (not sure about that - I would need to see the space). I would remove that bar area completely in the back as well, we just don't live like this anymore. So below is an inspiration image of how this space could look...
Image Source Home and Huntington House
Upgraded look
Purchase Bar Stools Here
Upgraded looks for the Family Room and Kitchen still keeping the Brick Walls.
Purchase Sectional Here
Purchase Table Here
Existing Kitchen (how it looks now)
Dina Marie Joy Ideas -
The Kitchen just needs to be updated. I would paint out the cabinets white, change the hardware, and the countertops to white quartz, and remove the backsplash. Two ideas for the backsplash would be to put in thin tiles that look like the brick to bring the brick in from the room next to it or just a simple white subway tile with 1/3 install. Get rid of the fan in the kitchen add a modern light fixture and change out the flooring to match the entire home flooring like white oak. In the dining area, I would get rid of the top cabinet on the buffet and either do open shelving or artwork. The inspiration image is below...
Image Source Traditional Home
What the Kitchen could look like
Existing bathroom (what it looks like now)
Existing Bathroom (what it looks like now)
Dina Marie Joy Ideas -
This room just needs to be updated. New flooring, new tile, new tub, new shower, and a new vanity. Two ideas for the window. Remove the Glass Block and put in a window with Remote Top Down/Bottom Up Window Treatments or use the window to place a mural from a beautiful image of a landscape. Below find an inspiration image of what I would do to this bathroom...
Upgraded Inspirational look for the bathroom
Existing Laundry Room (what it looks like now)
Dina Marie Joy Ideas -
This Landry room looks a little too small. I would get a Bosch Stackable Washer Dryer set and paint the laundry room white. Change out the countertop to White Quartz, add a sink and replace the Doors with new Modern Doors so the hinges are not showing. Make the laundry room stand out so it is a fun place to walk into. Here is an image of inspiration below...
Image Source DecorPad
What the Laundry Room could look like.
There you go! So if you are looking for Real Estate in Fresno and need help with New Construction, a Remodel, a Kitchen and/or Bath Remodel, get in contact with me here. Happy New Year!
