Karnish Interiors


Gerry Karnish and his wife, Wendy, a clothing designer with Jila Designs and a fashion consultant, moved to Boulder in 1991. A visual merchandiser for downtown Boulder retail clients like Weekends, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and DecorAsian, Gerry has expanded his design services to include residential, commercial and retail interiors, and real estate staging. Balancing his creative instincts with clients' needs remains the most rewarding aspect of his business, he says. Wendy collaborates on most projects as a paint color and fabric expert.



Karnish Interiors LLC
Phone: 303.817.6245
E-Mail: karnishg@comcast.net


The Walnut in downtown Boulder

A comfortably modern luxury residence in the heart of Boulder, a rare opportunity awaits you at The Walnut.

Situated on a quiet, tree-lined street, yet just steps from Pearl Street's finest restaurants, shopping and services, this all-residential luxury development provides the best of downtown Boulder. Unique floor plans with abundant views, exquisite finishes and enduring style are what we believe will make the Walnut your kind of place.

With The Walnut scheduled for completion in winter 2008, the corner of 17th and Walnut is destined to be Boulder's most-sought after address. To discover more about The Walnut, please call to schedule a private showing at our Design Center, 1215 Spruce Street, Suite 101. Contact your Realtor to view the exciting floor plans and finishes that The Walnut has to offer.








‘Quick fixes’ increase value without breaking bank

REALTOR magazine recently published a list of eight “quick fixes” that increase the value of a home to potential buyers without draining the sellers’ pocketbooks. Here are its recommendations:

1. Improve curb appeal: Buyers are more likely to want to take a look inside if they’re impressed with how a house looks on the outside. Make sure the condition of the exterior – from the landscaping and paint to the door knocker and window coverings – have plenty of curb appeal. Big flower pots or an antique bench can help your home stand out from its competition.

2. Brighten up the walls: Paint isn’t expensive but the right colors – not necessarily white or neutral – can enrich a home’s interior. Soft yellows and pale greens, among other gentle colors, are inviting, draw the eye from one room to the next and flatter skin tones. Paint ceilings a lighter shade.

3. Update the kitchen and bathroom: These rooms can make or break a sale but, in addition to making sure they are clean and clutter-free, update the pulls, sinks and faucets. Add a modern appliance, such as an espresso maker, to the kitchen and hang a flat-screen TV in the bathroom to make viewers feel like they’re in a five-star hotel.

4. Touch it up with Old World patina: Install crown molding at least 6 to 9 inches in depth, proportional to the room’s size and architecturally compatible. For ceilings 9 feet high or higher, add dentil detailing, small tooth-shaped blocks used as a repeating ornament.

5. Screen hardwood floors: Buyers prefer wood over carpet, but costly and time-consuming refinishing may not be necessary. Instead, try screening, which includes a light sanding – not a full stripping of color or polyurethane – then a coat of finish.

6. Clean and organize closets: Closets should be only half-full so viewers can determine whether they can fit their stuff in them, so sort through all of your belongings and get rid of what you don’t need and haven’t used for a while – and probably won’t again.

7. Review and renew window treatments: Exchange dated fancy, dark drapes for energy-efficient shades and blinds that diffuse light and add privacy.

8. Hire a home inspector ahead of time: Don’t let a deal fall by the wayside, thanks to unforeseen problems uncovered by a buyer’s home inspector. By hiring your own home inspector, you can identify problems and fix them – and impress potential buyers with your responsibility – before putting your house on the market.

Steady stats indicate Boulder is well-positioned for upswing

Homes throughout most of Boulder County spent less time on the market from July 2007 through the end of June 2008, but how many homes sold and the price at which they did varied from community to community, according to Boulder Area Realtor Association (BARA) statistics.

Houses within Boulder city limits as well as those in the mountains took longer to sell on average – 6.3 percent and 14.3 percent longer, respectively, compared with the previous year – while the rest of the communities saw a decrease in average time on the market. Nearly all Boulder communities saw a decrease in the number of homes sold, but they were split in average sales price increase and decrease.

Overall, though, the Boulder-area market remains steady, according to Ken Hotard, senior vice president of public affairs for BARA.

“You’re not seeing much change in the market,” he says. “Comparatively speaking, we still have a much stronger market than many areas in the country.”

Boulder continues to have modest job growth, and home prices are holding up reasonably well, Hotard says.

On the other hand, he says he’s not seeing any short-term signs that suggest the Boulder market will see a turnaround anytime soon. Hotard maintains that the potential for an upswing won’t come until 2010.

“While the numbers remain flat, the Boulder-area marketplace is well-positioned for recovery as current economy emerges from the downturn,” he says.

The homes that are selling are those that are in excellent condition and priced competitively, Hotard says.

“In this kind of market, that’s what moves,” he says, noting buyers have plenty to choose from and have the upper hand in bargaining. “Realtors are working harder and harder for every deal.”

Growth continues in Colorado

Colorado did see population growth between July 1, 2006, and July 1, 2007, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s latest estimates. But what the state and its communities didn’t see was enough of an increase to make the bureau’s “fastest-growing” lists, which they have appeared on often in the past.

Instead, cities in Louisiana – New Orleans, in particular, with a growth rate of 13.8 percent during the year – as well as Texas and Nevada dominated the fastest-growing lists for communities of all sizes and for growth between 2000 and 2007. Not surprisingly, several California cities ranked high for population increases, as well.

McKinney, Texas, was the nation’s fast-growing city from April 1, 2000 and July 1, 2007, as its population more than doubled to 115,620, and North Las Vegas was second with growth of 83.6 percent. New York was the highest numerical gainer during the seven-year spread, adding 265,873 residents.

Among Colorado’s Front Range counties, Boulder had the second-slowest growth, with 1.4 percent, while Jefferson had the lowest at 0.8 percent. Douglas was the fastest-growing among Front Range counties with 4.8 percent growth for the year, followed by Garfield’s 4 percent increase. Many counties as well as the state as a whole saw population grow 2 percent, which is a solid increase though not as robust as in years past. Here’s a look at how Colorado and its counties along the Front Range grew from 2006 to 2007, according to the U.S. Census Bureau: