Category Archives: Staging

Vibrant Interiors – Living Large at Home

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Designer Andrea Monath Schumacher Celebrates Living Vibrantly in Her First Book of Interiors

By Lisa Klein & Luxury Portfolio International 

Andrea Monath Schumacher has been creating personality-filled spaces for over two decades.

Last week she  released  her first book, Vibrant Interiors: Living Large at Home, detailing six playful projects that embody the layered and bold yet balanced style of her design firm,  Andrea Schumacher Interiors, based in Denver, Colorado, with a new outpost in Santa Barbara, California.

Below, she discusses her design philosophy and new adventure as a book author with Luxury Portfolio.

Photo courtesy of Gibbs Smith from Vibrant Interiors. Interior design by Andrea Monath Schumacher/Andrea Schumacher Interiors. Photo by Roger Davies

First of all, can you tell us a little bit about your background and how you got started as a designer?

I founded my design firm in 1999 almost by accident.

I had been working as an intern set designer for “Days of Our Lives” and Columbia Pictures and decided to continue my education. I was taking courses towards a masters [degree] in architecture at the University of Colorado when clients started approaching me to design their homes. From there, things took off, and now we are a firm of 11 and growing.

Vibrant Interiors is your first book – what made you decide to write it?

I feel honored to work in design and to be able to touch the lives of so many through creating beautiful, livable spaces.

Our environments hugely impact our emotions, and I want to create spaces that make my clients feel wonderful. This book includes tips, tricks and insight into how others can do the same for themselves.

What can readers expect to find in the pages?

My grandmother was an artist who taught me the importance of living beautifully. I learned so much from her, and I always like to imbue artistry into the home, whether it be with antique Chinese doors or captivating snake candleholder sconces. Great design is all about the details.

Photo courtesy of Gibbs Smith from Vibrant Interiors. Interior design by Andrea Monath Schumacher/Andrea Schumacher Interiors. Photo by Roger Davies

So, what  does  make an interior vibrant?

Going back to my days as a set designer, we were always thinking about the stories we were conveying through the spaces we designed. I do this today with my clients. I think an interior is vibrant when it tells your story authentically and lets you live to the fullest.

How would you describe your design style?

My style is all about mixing colors, time periods and inspirations to create elegant, layered interiors.

Growing up, my dad was a virologist for the CDC, so we lived everywhere from Atlanta to Nigeria. Living in so many corners of the globe was essential to developing my design eye and is backed by my education.

What are some of your favorite design elements to work with?

I really enjoy working with unusual, unique furniture pieces and art. I’m also no stranger to pattern and color.

You do use a lot of color in your designs. What do bright, bold colors lend to a space?

I love color. It makes everything more exciting, but it is all about using color correctly and achieving a balance. Too much of a good thing is never good.

I typically begin by finding one element in the room that will serve as the foundation of the palette – for example, a piece of art or a fabric. From there, color can be splashed across the walls or used more restrainedly, like on a lampshade.

Photo courtesy of Gibbs Smith from Vibrant Interiors. Interior design by Andrea Monath Schumacher/Andrea Schumacher Interiors. Photo by Roger Davies

What do you do to balance out louder elements such as color and pattern?

I think about how all elements interact with one another, including the room’s flow and the architecture. The careful attention to scale allows for a nice foundation upon which to add color and pattern. It is methodical so as not to tip the scale too far.

I will also create visual pauses – for example, solid pillows or fabrics for color blocking.

How do you inject some personality into each space?

I do this by creating interiors that reflect the lives of the homeowners. Where have they been? What do they collect?

Conversation pieces are also an important part of the storytelling process. They can be rare or simply out of place and unexpected. They allow for connection with others and with our homes.

How does  Vibrant Interiors  reflect your work overall?

The book focuses on six projects. They all have their own unique spirit but reflect my love of the mix to create truly inspired spaces with a wink.

 

5 Home Must-Haves According to Millennial Buyers

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Millennials are becoming leading influencers in the luxury real estate market and, with that, comes along a new list of desired amenities and design elements such as minimalism, smart technology, wellness, entertainment, and more. The below list of homes, of which can all be seen on Luxury Portfolio International‘s website, showcases such trends and is worthy of Millennial swooning.

WELLNESS AMENITIES

Crete, Greece | Price Upon Request

Wellness is of vital importance to Millennials. Stay active within multiple calming spaces throughout this property – for instance, walking the private sandy beach or the garden with shady paths complete with Mediterranean flowers and centuries-old trees. A dip in the infinity pool is yet another activity, serving both as a place to get fit, as well as to unwind.

 

SMART HOUSE

Malibu, California, USA | US $6,885,000

The smart house is growing in popularity, allowing Millennials to customize and automate much of their living environment. This newly built, Malibu home is fully automated and 100% off-grid through solar energy. The Ring security system is another highly desired smart home benefit this abode has to offer. Along with the smart house amenities, this home is beautifully designed with 17-foot ceilings and walls of glass overlooking mountain and ocean views.

 

MINIMALISM

Chicago, Illinois, USA | US $6,750,000

Millennials always seek ways of simplifying their busy lifestyles, which has resulted in the rise in minimalism in design. But keeping it simple doesn’t have to be boring. This award-winning Chicago penthouse showcases remarkable, 12-foot ceilings with dramatic arched windows and doors. The open floorplan prioritizes sleek design, but in a truly mesmerizing fashion.

 

AMAZING KITCHENS

Bainbridge Island, Washington, USA | US $3,585,000

Millennials consider kitchens to be among one of the most important rooms within the home and enjoy experimenting with different cuisines. What better space to cook than this sleek and contemporary kitchen? Offering an oversized refrigerator, two large sinks, and abundant storage space, this kitchen opens to other stunning living areas. Cooking can also be taken outside on an expansive wood deck, complete with a built-in grill, plus a gas fireplace, saltwater pool, and views of Puget Sound, Mt. Rainier, and Seattle.

 

NATURAL ELEMENTS

Fort Collins, Colorado, USA | US $2,350,000

Nature-related design is expected to be huge among Millennials in the coming years. This Colorado home, built by the award-winning Brannen Homes, offers a stunning and intimate backyard with beautifully styled outdoor living and dining spaces. The surrounding, lush vegetation provide an additional nature connection, while nearby parks and walking paths allow residents to explore nature within their residence and beyond.

For more home inspiration, check out Luxury Portfolio International’s list of  favorite  work-from-home amenities.

 

Preparation, Presentation & Pricing

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THE IMPORTANCE OF PREPARATION, PRESENTATION & PRICING

Featuring Colorado Landmark agent Phil Booth

We may be in a strong sellers’ market this year, but we firmly believe that in order to sell for top dollar in a timely manner that the three P’s are super important… preparation, presentation, and pricing!

 

Case in point:  Rising Star Award recipient and agent Phil Booth picked up an expired Boulder Townhome listing this fall. The home was vacant, and fairly outdated. It had been on the market for three months without selling. His sellers spent $4,500 on some maintenance issues, new bathroom counters and interior painting throughout (preparation), and $2,000 on staging (presentation). They priced it carefully, based on direct comparisons in the area (pricing). It went under contract in one  day for $12,000 above the expired listing price!

 

Below are the incredible before and after photos documenting this transformation.

 

 

Colorado Landmark offers a variety of tools through our Landmark Advantage Program to bring maximum value to our clients, and take the stress out of buying and selling a home.  Given that every house is unique, we thoughtfully create a customized plan for each client.  We have partnered with fantastic companies to add even more value. Concierge and Staging Solutions fueled by Zoom Casa and access to the Transitional Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) program from Elevations Credit Union, the No. 1 credit union mortgage lender in Colorado, are just a couple of them. To learn more about Landmark Advantage, contact us today!