It looks like the “after” in a home renovation TV program or a popular photo from the décor section on Pinterest.
But it all can be found inside a house right here in State College – and it’s open for public viewing this weekend.
State College Community Land Trust helps first-time homebuyers purchase houses in the borough and has sold 36 homes to nearly 50 families over the last 17 years. In some cases, homebuyers have sold their homes back to Land Trust as they relocate or upgrade. The homes are always resold to first-time homebuyers.
One of the homes currently for sale is at 239 Sunrise Terrace and has been “staged” and open for public viewing 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday for a $10 donation to the State College Community Land Trust.
Eight local designers tackled the three-bedroom home. The mission – decorate the home with budget-friendly items and following the “reuse, reduce, recycle” theme. Another goal, says marketing liaison Sue Hiester, was to add creative storage space since the home does not have an attic or basement.
“We’re giving visitors design tips and ideas and showing what you can do with a smaller space,” Hiester says.
Each piece of furniture and decoration features a tag showing its cost and where the designer purchased the item. Some pieces also feature an explanation on how the item was refurbished.
Funds raised this weekend will go toward purchasing a piece of land in the borough where Penn State architecture students will construct a duplex home that will ultimately be sold to first-time homeowners.
Land Trust board President Mike Joyce is also the owner of a Land Trust home in the borough.
“The program provided me with the ability to own a home close to where I work. I get to walk in. It’s priceless,” Joyce says.
Joyce says the weekend event is an opportunity to raise awareness for the first-time homeowner program as well as share home decorating ideas.
“It’s great to see how much creativity and effort people put into this event,” says Joyce.
Designers include Kate Kissell, Mark and Mary Wilson, Miki Benner, Joan Koester, Alicia Wetmiller, Sherry Dershimer, Bryon May and Wolf’s Furniture.
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