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10.1.10

Before & After: A Mid-Century Ranch Gets Staged to Sell

retro kitchen before staging

This house was built in 1953 in Buffalo, New York, and hasn’t gotten much love in recent years.

As you can see by the “before” photo above, the house was in pretty bad shape with piles of trash and clutter everywhere.

Agent Scott Akdogan cleaned it up and had it professionally staged by interior decorator Artie Vanderpool to get it ready for market.

Here’s how the kitchen looks now, without all the junk cluttering it up:

retro kitchen after staging

It’s like stepping back in time to when the house was first built.
This is going to be a dream house for someone who loves that retro Mid-Century style.

retro kitchen closeup

The entire house was staged by Artie: visit his blog Color Outside the Lines to see more.
Thanks to him for sharing this makeover with us!

Categories Before & After

playroom before makeover
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Comments

  1. Janell Beals says

    10.1.10 at 8:02 am

    Unbelievable! I believe in the power of staging, but this effort took it to another level…Janell
    .-= Janell Beals´s last blog ..Master Bedroom Redesign – Ive Been Distracted =-.

  2. Mike says

    10.1.10 at 8:21 am

    OMG – the before pictures…..why aren’t those people on Hoarders?

    and as far as the after pictures, did anyone else immediately see shades of the Draper kitchen from Mad Men?

    I like mid-century modern, and although this kitchen is very dated, it still works for me. I’ve never seen old appliances in such good shape. (At least, from what we can see in the pictures.) The ovens look like they were installed yesterday!

  3. Shelia says

    10.1.10 at 9:26 am

    Wow! Just a little bit different now! It’s really a large wonderful looking kitchen. A little dark but look at all of that space!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia 😉
    .-= Shelia´s last blog ..Im Still Fallen =-.

  4. Melissa Sloan says

    10.1.10 at 8:29 am

    Wow! Fantastic – would not change a thing…Artie and Scott are amazing! It’s a dream of mine to take a mid-century modern home and decorate it with the proper, era-appropriate materials. Voila! Here it is right before my eyes! Thanks for making me smile 🙂

  5. Lili says

    10.1.10 at 8:35 am

    Not only is the transformation amazing, but I LOVE that kitchen!! So cute!

  6. Cashon & Co. says

    10.1.10 at 8:43 am

    HOLY. COW. that looks great. how fun to see such a transformation and i’m glad they kept it within the time of the house in it’s ‘new’ decor. great find.

  7. Dean says

    10.1.10 at 9:09 am

    You’re “crazy about the floor,” I’m crazy about EVERYTHING! Amazing restoration! I hope the next resident cares for it and doesn’t change anything.

  8. Amy Button says

    10.1.10 at 10:14 am

    Wow! I’d love to know why he did all of that. I mean, it’s definitely going above and beyond the call of duty.

    I know that if I bough that house I’d change it *but* I do think it’s great the way it is…now.
    .-= Amy Button´s last blog ..Two Posts In One Week =-.

  9. Holly says

    10.1.10 at 10:22 am

    Oh my word, I’ve never seen so many wood-clad surfaces in one place! They did an amazing job…it looks like a page out of Better Homes and Gardens 1953. How cool that the kitchen has original stainless ovens and a stainless edge around the counter. Now that I think about it, I believe one of my childhood houses had those exact cabinets with that huge dish-plate hardware (but it didn’t look cool in our house).
    .-= Holly´s last blog ..The Final Blogiversary Giveaway =-.

  10. Lindsay@Tell'er All About It says

    10.1.10 at 10:36 am

    Wow, this is AMAZING!!! What a beautiful job! I wonder what the future owners will do with it?? I was already thinking to myself, “I really don’t like wood paneling and would probably paint it….but it’s solid mahogany!!! Cripes!!” Thanks for sharing!!
    .-= Lindsay@Tell’er All About It´s last blog ..Is it too early for Halloween! =-.

  11. Amanda @ Serenity Now says

    10.1.10 at 10:40 am

    Artie had his work cut out for him!!! I tried to see the “Before” of the floor, but you couldn’t even see it. What a great makeover. 🙂
    .-= Amanda @ Serenity Now´s last blog ..Customer Service- Where Did You Go Talkin to You- Verizon! =-.

  12. Nancy Hood says

    10.1.10 at 10:02 am

    Wow, I was hoping when I scrolled to see the after pic that they had remained true to the era in which the home was built. But hoarders drive me crazy!!!!

  13. Artie says

    10.1.10 at 11:11 am

    Thank you Julia for posting these pictures and linking back to my blog! I so appreciate it! That was definitely hard work – and it’s nice to get some praise! 🙂
    .-= Artie´s last blog ..FRIDAY- Vignette Fridays =-.

  14. Cindy says

    10.1.10 at 10:43 am

    I think all that junk lying around was protecting the original surfaces! I loved seeing this trash to treasure story. It’s amazing.

  15. hip hip gin gin says

    10.1.10 at 11:59 am

    When I first saw the top photo I thought no amount of staging is going to help that horrid little kitchen! But it is CUTE!! I’m shocked. That is one amazing transformation.
    .-= hip hip gin gin´s last blog ..Happy October! =-.

  16. Billy says

    10.1.10 at 11:03 am

    That’s not clutter, its just non-conventional protective packaging, so future generations (us) can see how our grandparents houses looked when they moved into their empty nest.

  17. jana says

    10.1.10 at 11:17 am

    Crazy how trash can act like a “preservative” sometimes! On a similar note, I’ve had design clients that built their dream home back in the 60’s and 70’s and maintained it impeccably until one day they were hit with a fire or mold abatement and want to restore everything that was ruined back *exactly* like it was before. That is so hard to do! Flocked wallpaper and heavy casement drapery is difficult to come by these days!

  18. Juju at Tales of Whimsy says

    10.1.10 at 12:41 pm

    Wow. Someone lived like that? That poor brave Realtor.
    .-= Juju at Tales of Whimsy´s last blog ..Over the Moon Book Review &amp Contest Too =-.

  19. Cheri@IHeartOldHouses says

    10.1.10 at 12:41 pm

    Yikes! How did the previous owners get any cooking done in that mess? But the after pic, wow…an unbelievable transformation!
    .-= Cheri@IHeartOldHouses´s last blog ..Where’s the Wastebasket =-.

  20. Karena says

    10.1.10 at 1:01 pm

    Wow Julia, great house for that genre. Woo hoo to Artie!! Great job on staging.

    I am posting pink today!

    Karena
    Art by Karena
    .-= Karena´s last blog ..Posting Pink and the French Basketeer Winner is =-.

  21. Pamela @Atmosphere ID says

    10.1.10 at 1:24 pm

    Wow! Staging must have been a huge undertaking to say the least. They did a great job though. Now you can see the great original detail.
    .-= Pamela @Atmosphere ID´s last blog ..Top Ten- Round Accent Tables =-.

  22. Laura says

    10.1.10 at 1:12 pm

    The before photos really do look like a house from that show “Hoarders”. Although the mid-century retro isn’t my personal style, I think the house is so super cute and will make someone really happy!

  23. Rachel says

    10.1.10 at 2:24 pm

    I was going to write the same thing at Mike – are we sure this is not a Hoarders episode? 🙂

  24. Richella at Imparting Grace says

    10.1.10 at 3:54 pm

    This is great! I love mid-century modern, and this is a priceless example. What fun to see a mid-century ranch staged so beautifully!
    .-= Richella at Imparting Grace´s last blog ..Show us your life- the dining room =-.

  25. Kim says

    10.1.10 at 3:29 pm

    Wow what a difference. How can people live in a house that messy? I would go crazy. At least the house will sell much better now.

  26. Our Nifty Notebook says

    10.1.10 at 5:36 pm

    Not my style at all, but he did an awesome job with the clean-up! It really looks nice!
    .-= Our Nifty Notebook´s last blog ..Links I Like- Edition 23 Candy Corn =-.

  27. stuccohouse says

    10.1.10 at 5:57 pm

    Love it. Those birch/maple cabinets just glow.
    .-= stuccohouse´s last blog ..Timbermake that Half Timber =-.

  28. Vicki @ In The Sandbox Comic Strip says

    10.1.10 at 7:54 pm

    Wow! They did a great job staging. The most have been A LOT of work.
    .-= Vicki @ In The Sandbox Comic Strip´s last blog ..Business Travel =-.

  29. Holley says

    10.1.10 at 9:12 pm

    I love it. Amazing what a little love can do. It gave me a few great ideas for when we really remodel our house.
    .-= Holley´s last blog ..Everything is new =-.

  30. Sara @ Russet Street Reno says

    10.1.10 at 11:00 pm

    Who the heck would ever list their house looking like that? And have the realtor clean it up and stage it? It looks great now though.
    .-= Sara @ Russet Street Reno´s last blog ..And a project ruins another weekend =-.

  31. T. says

    10.1.10 at 11:26 pm

    OK, now I’ve looked at Artie’s blog and saw more photos. Not only does the kitchen look like my grandma’s, but the furniture in the master bedroom looks like my grandma’s furniture! It’s almost surreal for me.

  32. tammyCA says

    10.1.10 at 11:37 pm

    Holy Carp! It looks fantastic! I wonder if all that clutter actually preserved the kitchen…gonna go check out Artie’s blog. I love when houses are preserved in their original state & I hope a Mid-century lover will buy the house.

  33. Josanne says

    10.2.10 at 12:42 am

    Wow-he did an amazing job. I too like the retro look in this home, and the kitchen is a real neat place! It would definitely draw my attention! He made the wood, along with the clean appliances, really shine and look great. Wow.
    .-= Josanne´s last blog ..Fall Chocolate Centerpiece The Children Can Help Make! =-.

  34. Nancy@marcusdesign says

    10.2.10 at 1:02 am

    Oh wow, that is a serious before & after. I can’t believe the clutter!! You’re right, it is kinda like seeing the place in it’s former glory in the after photos. Happy weekend to you 🙂
    Nancy
    .-= Nancy@marcusdesign´s last blog ..trendspotting- lovely lacquered walls =-.

  35. Amy says

    10.2.10 at 8:37 am

    Wow! What an amazing transformation. They did a great job! I love the cabinets and those beautiful double stoves.
    .-= Amy´s last blog ..Space Camp =-.

  36. Joan says

    10.2.10 at 11:50 am

    Wow! That’s incredible! I love older houses, they have so much character.

    This was an amazing transformation!

    Great job to both Scott and Artie!!

  37. Trish @TheOldPostRoad says

    10.2.10 at 1:01 pm

    Wow – some days I worry I might end up like that first photo. I think I will go clean, RIGHT NOW!
    -Trish

  38. Daisy says

    10.3.10 at 9:08 am

    Well they sure did a nice job! Today’s the open house I noticed on the Realtor’s site. Too bad I don’t live in Buffalo!
    .-= Daisy´s last blog ..Top 10 Movie Halloween Costumes for 2010 =-.

  39. Dean says

    10.4.10 at 1:35 pm

    Wow what a beautiful and much cleaner kitchen.
    .-= Dean´s last blog ..Bathrooms that Hardly Look Like Bathrooms =-.

  40. Bre says

    10.4.10 at 7:04 pm

    An incredible transformation! I love a great before and after, Artie and his crew should be really proud of themselves and all their hard work. The counter tops and appliances are gleaming!
    .-= Bre´s last blog ..Haunting Holiday =-.

  41. Amanda says

    10.5.10 at 10:04 am

    Wow! At first glance I envisioned totally remodeling that kitchen. Then after I stared at it for a while, I decided that I would leave it almost exactly as-is! It’s in remarkable good shape and is so cool and retro.
    .-= Amanda´s last blog ..The lawner is a yawner =-.

  42. Jessica says

    10.5.10 at 7:34 pm

    Hey – a house in my hometown! So glad I saw this and Artie’s blog.
    .-= Jessica´s last blog ..The Fall Mantel =-.

  43. Theresa says

    10.6.10 at 7:42 am

    Awesome Job! Love to see the before and afters of a professional who does it right!

  44. Lorraine says

    11.26.10 at 9:46 pm

    The people who buy this are going to be so lucky!!!! I could die for that house. LOVE those orange pitchers.

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