It didn’t take long for the offers to roll in after interior designer Lauren Liess listed her Great Falls, Virginia, home for sale in early March. Known for her trademark earthy style, Leiss had the five-bedroom residence completely remodeled with natural wood flooring and exposed beam ceilings that infused the 5,600-square-foot home with a warm, inviting palette. After just one weekend of showings, the six-acre property overlooking a private pond had an accepted offer on its $2.5 million asking price.
“We had a ton of showings lined up, and then we were reviewing offers by Sunday,” says listing agent Daan De Raedt of Property Collective. “The owners picked the best one, and now we’re under contract.”
There’s little debate on the value of interior design when it comes to selling a home. It typically helps a property sell faster, and for a higher price, offering a larger return on the investment, housing experts say.
So what happens when an interior designer puts a home on the market that embodies their own personal style? Here’s a look at properties currently for sale owned by people who spend their days creating beautiful spaces for other people. The timing of their listings couldn’t be better: U.S. home prices are rising at the fastest pace in 15 years, reflecting how fiercely buyers are competing for a limited supply of homes in nearly every corner of the country.
Inside the grand dining room of Robert Couturier’s Kent home
rennicksonphotographyRobert Couturier, Kent, Connecticut
Price: $5,900,000
Brokerage: William Pitt Sotheby’s
Architect and interior designer Robert Couturier has been translating detailed visions into masterful interiors for decades. So it’s little surprise that his own home would indulge in those same elegant, contemporary design traits. Set against the backdrop of North Spectacle Lake in South Kent, the four-bedroom home is surrounded by extensive, formal gardens created by Miranda Brooks. Couturier designed the classically-inspired 4,048 square foot residence in 2001 on a 14-acre property abutting a land trust. The grounds include a 1710 guesthouse, two-car garage, and Gunite pool. Each room of the residence enjoys either views of the private lake or gardens.
Travis Grimm, Los Angeles
Price: $17,590,000
Brokerage: The Fridman Group Compass
You’d be forgiven for thinking the sprawling estate for sale on Dixon Trail in Hidden Hills, California, was designed by Paul Williams, the trailblazing Black architect who created homes for many celebrities, including Frank Sinatra and Lucille Ball. But interior designer and homebuilder Travis Grimm, who actually designed the property, would likely view that as a compliment. Grimm says Williams was the biggest inspiration for the eight-bedroom estate’s aesthetic—right down to the bespoke quarried limestone, slate roof, and custom milled trim. Creating timeless and elegant spaces is a Grimm trademark and those traits mark the home’s interior. The primary suite lives like a Manhattan apartment with dual closets and baths, sitting room, and morning bar. The two-acre property also overlooks a guest house next to an infinity pool that spills into a beautiful protected backdrop with expansive views.