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  • Decorating and Moving In: Introduction
  • From "Home IQ"
    episode DHIQ-123


    We're down to the final stages of DIY's Home IQ, and our homeowners (Brad and Lynn Oberg and their two daughters) are ready to move into their dream custom-built house -- a dream that has been two years in the planning and constructing combined.
    Photo

    In DIY's new Home IQ series, you'll follow the Oberg family during the decision-making process of building this beautiful new home.

    Photo

    In this week's episode of Home IQ, the Oberg family (Brad seen here) finally moves into their dream home.


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    PHOTO

    Figure A
    PHOTO

    Figure B
    PHOTO

    Figure C
    "You have to have some concept upfront, or you have to hire a decorator who owns the concept for you," Brad said in talking about the decor of his new home. Creating the overall look of the home begins with the architecture. Brad, who is an architect, designs unusual angles, high arches (figure A) and columns that will become an important part of the interior design.

    Brad and Lynn's vision comes to life as Lynn brings in colors and textures to complement the shape of the house. Her concept for decorating starts with a set of foam boards she put together with pictures that were cut from magazines (figure B). "I went through room by room and I created a folio and I made separate pockets for each of the rooms," she said. "So as I look through magazines over the months and found things that I thought were interesting, I stuck them in my folio -- and this really helped me take a look at some things that maybe I wouldn't have chosen otherwise."

    Decor Shopping Tip from Lynn: Be sure to take along swatches and even a piece of porcelain when you go shopping in order to help with matching colors and textures from the house.

    Note: As we've mentioned several times throughout this Oberg-home DIY project, our homeowners decided early on to have a Tuscan (Italy) theme for the decor of the home.

    Being natural do-it-yourself people, Brad and Lynn aren't prone to go to decorators -- so they took on many of the decorating projects themselves. "We like to learn about the products and learn about the environment ourselves," Brad said. "It doesn't mean you always make the right decision," Lynn quickly added.

    A good example of Brad's do-it-yourself qualifications is the tile that he laid behind the stove (figure C) and around and underneath the cabinets in the kitchen, which is eye-catching and unique.

    For more in-depth on the details of the Oberg's kitchen, click here for Episode DHIQ-114.
    A major departure form the Tuscan theme, however, occurs in the daughters' bedrooms. "We let the girls pick out what they wanted in their bedrooms, and we ended up with Ikea ultra-modern (figure D) for Mandy and Nantucket beach house for Jenna (figure E)," Lynn said. There is a faux-Victorian feel in the guest room (figure F).

    "I don't think you need to be afraid to go in different directions [when it comes to decorating a house] sometimes because different spaces have different purposes," Lynn said.
    Photo

    Figure D

    Photo

    Figure E

    Photo

    Figure F


    Our homeowners used more than 20 different colors and several different painting techniques for their new home. For more in-depth information on the paint selections for the Oberg home, click here for Episode DHIQ-117.

    In the next segment see how the Tuscan motif continues to grow throughout the house with a unique grapevine wall mural for the dining room.


    RESOURCES :

    Cabinetry (Manor House Kitchens)
    Manor House Kitchens
    Website: www.manorhousekitchens.com

    Tile and Carpet Service

    Best Tile Distributors, Inc.
    Website: www.besttile.com

    Molyneaux Tile and Carpet
    Website: www.beautifulfloors.com

    Moving Services
    Hindman Moving & Storage
    Website: www.hindmanmoving.com

    Home Financing
    Sky Bank
    700 Lawrence Ave.
    Ellwood City, PA 16117-1932
    Direct: 724-758-1722
    Phone: 724-758-5568
    Fax: 724-758-0279
    E-mail: monded@sky-bank.com


    GUESTS :

    Brad and Lynn Oberg
    Homeowners
    Company: IBACOS (Brad)
    Title: Co-Founder/Chief Technology Officer
    Website: www.ibacos.com

    Greg Allen
    Site Supervisor
    Hendolhurst Homes
    955 Markman Park Rd.
    Baden, PA 15005
    Phone: 724-935-5658
    Fax: 724-935-0884
    E-mail: buildm@zoominternet.net
    Website: hendolhursthomes.com

    Debbie Mondell
    Mortgage Consultant
    Sky Bank
    700 Lawrence Ave.
    Ellwood City, PA 16117-1932
    Phone Direct: 724-758-1722
    Phone: 724-758-5568
    Fax: 724-758-0279

    Eileen Barron
    Artist
    Phone: 724-443-4209

    Ronald Henshaw
    Manager, Code Administration
    2525 Rochester Rd.
    Suite 400
    Cranberry Township, PA 16066
    Phone: 724-776-4806
    Fax: 724-776-5488
    E-mail: henshawr@twp.cranberry.pa.us
    Website: www.cranberrytownship.org

  • ALSO IN THIS EPISODE: