REAL Exclusive Magazine

Model Home Secrets

By Tracy Eisnaugle

Now that all of the local home tours and parades have ended you may find yourself slightly envious and wondering how you can make your own home look and feel like the fabulously decorated models you have just visited.  Having merchandized a few models in my time, I feel it is necessary to reveal some of the show home secrets that builders and designers have been using for years.

The main reason that model homes look so warm and wonderful is simple, no one lives in them; there is no laundry piling up, food being cooked or pets running rampant. So, before you move yourself out or send the pets packing I will share with you a little insight. A good comparison would be a typical woman versus a runway model, we ordinary women are not meant to wear couture size zero clothing every day nor do we have a full team of makeup artist and hair stylist on hand. In the same light our homes are not showcases set to sell a lifestyle, community or an array of finishes.

There are a few tricks that make model homes appear brilliant and desirable. The first is lighting, show homes are opened every morning by a fastidious sales team, their first job is to turn on each and every light, and they have the electrical bill to show for it. In our daily life, actively living within our own homes we only leave the lights on in rooms that we are currently using. There is a big difference in the look and feel of a home when it’s fully illuminated. Also, model homes are designed with additional lighting throughout to brighten every nook and cranny.

Privacy window treatments are another difference, show homes generally have beautiful soft treatments (drapes, valences, and cornices), but rarely have nor do they need privacy treatments (blinds, shades, and shutters.) Since we sleep, shower and do other various activities in our own homes we more than likely have coverings on all the windows. Adding privacy treatments reduces the amount of natural light, interrupts the views and also adds another element to each space, resulting in a little visual clutter.

When a builder plans a model home the entire budget from soup to nuts is the builder’s responsibility so there are some tricks to cutting costs. Decorative floor tile details are less expensive than purchasing floor rugs; they are also easier to maintain in the high traffic areas. Tile and coral cast stone details are used in wall niches or on vertical surfaces, which cost less than purchasing artwork. A model home does not have a huge budget for artwork and the art has to be very impartial for mass market appeal, this can be difficult to find in the perfect size and framing.

Every surface wall, ceiling and floor are enhanced by cleverly designed details; headboards in all the suites, decorative niches, and ceiling treatments, you name it and it is covered with faux finish, applied moldings or accent paint. The truth is they want you to buy these features, builders sell drywall, molding, paint and tile but they generally don’t sell headboards, rugs or artwork. Don’t get me wrong I think that the design elements are really attractive and are great added features, but I was a child and now an adult who likes the flexibility of moving my furniture around or changing color schemes, so it works for the show home but not for my home.

So before you attempt to makeover your home to show like a model, please know that your home is your sanctuary not your showcase, so live in it. Enjoy the models for what they are, steal decorating tips and color schemes, buy one they are perfect for an all-inclusive fresh start. I guarantee after the model homes are purchased and the homeowners move in they look more like your home and mine.

If you have any questions or would like further information please feel free to send me an e-mail at tleisnaugle@msn.com.

Tracy L. Eisnaugle has practiced interior design in Sarasota since 1997 and is currently self employed providing design consultation services in the area. She is a graduate from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design and continues her education by attending annual conferences. Her past experience includes, Design Center Manager for Lee Wetherington Homes, high-end residential design and model merchandising. Tracy may be reached at 941.232.3358 or by e-mail at tleisnaugle@msn.com.