As the self-proclaimed Queen of Carriage Houses, I knew this one had untapped potential the moment I walked in. Hidden beneath dropped ceilings and plywood floors was a rich history—the seller’s father had once been a 16-year-old chauffeur for the mansion behind the property, sleeping on the very floors of this modest structure. Over the decades, the space had lost its character, buried under layers of cheap materials and neglect.

The trick to maximizing its value? Revealing its bones. I removed the dropped ceilings, exposing beautiful skylights. The plywood-covered floors came up, unveiling their original charm. Then, I staged it just right—a striking pink sofa, crisp white walls, and an airy, open feel. With just these changes, the house’s value skyrocketed.

We listed at $1.9 million, and in just one week, I had lines out the door. The final sale? $500,000 over asking. And to this day, I believe we could have pushed it even higher. A true win for both the seller and the buyers—proof that the right vision can turn even the most overlooked spaces into something extraordinary.