I can’t believe it’s been only four months since I began tearing up my apartment and putting it back together. A lot has happened. Last week, it all culminated in my family’s Thanksgiving visit. In a very movie-ish way, all the loose ends seemed to tie up and bring the story to a close. So, I’m going to wrap up this blog—even if my bathroom remains one big loose end.

I have learned things that I’m sure I will call on for the rest of my life.  Overseeing a large renovation project felt like running a company that produces internal combustion engines. All I know about the product is that I want it to make cars go a certain speed, but I am supposed to be the one to keep costs down and make decisions on the spot.

I’ve learned that it’s doable. Slowly, I am figuring out how my condo is put together, how much it costs to change parts of it, and what constitutes a job well done from a contractor. I hope I am even getting a little better at fixing things on my own. In the meantime, though, I have learned to supervise a job even if I don’t understand it. A little confidence goes a long way.

Check out this black leather sofa set in Silver Spring. The modern three-piece collection—which includes a sofa, love seat, and arm chair—is a steal at $1,100.

Other good finds:

• 48-inch oval Ethan Allen table for $300
• Gray Ikea couch for $190
• Contemporary chrome-and-brown lamp with linen shade for $45
• Cocoa-colored Crate & Barrel Veranda couch for $300
• Oak entertainment center for $80

Thanks, Craig!

Where: 2540 Zulla Road, The Plains, Virginia
List Price: $17,500,000
Time on the Market: One month
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 4

This week, we feature Grasslands, a 510-acre working farm in Middleburg. The main house, built in 1830, is a two-story Federal with hardwood floors and a fireplace. The sunroom’s two-story windows let in lots of sunlight and show off breathtaking views: a stone cottage, barns, a pond, and the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance.

For more photos, click here.

Patched hole in the bathroom

Wow, how did Thanksgiving get here so fast? Suddenly, the dog is shivering every time we go outside, TV has gotten more appealing than venturing out for movies, and, oh yeah, my family is freaking here! 

Actually, they are just in the metro area. I am blessed to have an aunt and uncle nearby who have much more sleeping space than I do. But tomorrow my dad, stepmom and grandma will see my condo for the first time since I started messing with it.

And, of course, it isn’t finished. The biggest project that I didn’t complete is painting the trim white. Two months ago, when I cavalierly decided to start painting all of the baseboards and moldings, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I got about 60 percent through that project.

I did manage to patch the hole in the bathroom, where the previous light was affixed to the wall, and that was a proud moment. I searched around the Internet until I found this video, ignored the part about only using the first technique for tiny holes, and hit the hardware store. So far, I have covered the hole with mesh tape and covered that with vinyl putty. As soon as I finish writing this, I will sand it and paint it. I think (hope!) that the hard part is over.

This teak desk is $150. Perfect for someone whose workspace is often cluttered, the desk’s sides can be folded in to hide a mess. When closed, the desk is 21 inches deep by 32 inches wide and 45 inches high.

More good finds:

• Crate & Barrel red leather deco arm chair for best offer.
• Custom arm chairs and ottoman for $750.
• Black leather Barcelona chair and ottoman for $350.
• 1950’s Daum lamp for best offer.
• Modern black granite coffee table for $125

Thanks, Craig!

• Urban Turf’s Mark Welborn rounds up the weekend’s best open houses, including (our pick) a one-bedroom loft in Logan Circle. [UrbanTurf]

• Just how successful have those Craigslist inauguration-week rental ads been? [Housing Complex]

• Both Prince of Petworth and 14th&You have a lot to say about the arrival of Room & Board, a furniture chain based in Minneapolis, to the corner of T and 14th streets. News of the deal was first reported by the Washington Business Journal. [WBJ]

How long have you been a home-stager and how did you come into the profession?
My background is in interior design, and I’ve been a designer since 1986. About four or five years ago, a friend who was a real-estate agent had to sell a house that had been on the market for the better part of a year. The owner had tried to sell it himself, and then when he was unsuccessful he gave the listing to my friend.
It was in Chevy Chase and it was nice, but it had been lived in for 70 years by an older lady, so it was sad. My friend called and said, “He’s given me permission to paint, and I’d really like your help.” We put little things in the kitchen, towels and soaps in the bathroom, and left the bedrooms empty. It sold in a week.
I prefer home-staging to interior design because interior design is specific to the person. In home-staging, I just answer to myself. I bring my stuff in, and then when the house sells I take it out and put it back in storage.

Do you use your own furniture?
I started to build up an inventory, and I now have three storage-warehouse units. We’ve had as many as six jobs going at once—that really brings the warehouse down to nothing. You have to have a critical mass of living-room, dining-room, and family-room furniture. Those are the first rooms you see when you walk into a place.
I’m always on the lookout for furniture. Everything I have is either cream, taupe, or beige—very quiet colors because they go everywhere.