See How a Home Stager Turned an Empty Box into a Restful Retreat
For empty nesters who want the space and relative quiet of the suburbs but with some of the urban flair of a city, this three-bedroom, three-bathroom townhome in Carmel, Indiana, fits the bill perfectly. The property, part of a development called One 46 Monon, is situated near the Monon Trail, a former railway line that’s been turned into a popular bike and pedestrian pathway.
“You’re in a suburb of Indianapolis, but you’re also in a fun, vibrant, central area,” says Whitney Vredenburgh, owner of Nested Spaces in Indianapolis. “This townhome is really well-built and feels like a brownstone you’d see in a downtown location,” continues Vredenburgh. “It has all the bells and whistles including a beautiful and functional design, a gourmet kitchen, and 10-foot ceilings on the main floor.”
The one thing it needed was some professional staging to help it feel less like an empty new build and more like a home. For that, the builder, Estridge, turned to Vredenburgh. She’d previously staged the unit next door, resulting in a quick sale. Throughout this home, Vredenburgh brought in furniture and decor to bring life to the spaces but made sure to let the bones of the home — large windows, beautiful flooring, a dark, dramatic fireplace — shine.
Like the rest of the 2,010-square-foot home, the style in the primary bedroom was transitional with a contemporary twist. When it came to outfitting this bedroom, the keyword was cozy.
“We wanted the owners to come home and feel relaxed when they walk into their bedroom,” Vredenburgh says. The builder had already painted the bedroom a moody dark sage that gives the room a warm, enveloping feel — perfect for a chilly Midwest winter. Vredenburgh added soft bedding and an upholstered bed to make the sage walls and vertical shiplap pop, creating a welcoming sanctuary.
One of the space’s other big assets is the wall of large, dramatic windows. “We used neutral and light tones in the furniture and white bedding but played up the dark accents, which feel cohesive against the black-framed windows,” she says.
Simple and symmetrical nightstands and lamps on either side of the bed add to the restful vibe. The combination of soft wall-to-wall carpeting under foot and a fuzzy bouclé chair in the corner give the room a “perfect place to curl up and escape the world” feeling. No doubt a new owner will be doing that very soon, as this is the last unit available in the popular development.
