The ‘Ranch on a Hill’ house was a fun project because of its desperate need for curb appeal. Like I said on the episode, the worst houses often make the best remodels! The overgrown boxwoods hiding the house made it uninviting and prevented anyone from seeing the front porch or the entry. Perfect candidate for a Fixer Upper!
Because the elevation was flat, the house needed to be extended so that the roofline and entryway were more appealing and inviting. I re-designed the front elevation to include new landscaping and a new front porch with cedar columns. We also added additional brick, new light fixtures, and fresh paint to the exterior.
On the inside, the house needed just as much work or more. The kitchen was very closed off, the carpet was green, and the turquoise wallpaper clashed with the outdated brick inside.
To start, we extended the foyer and removed the massive brick columns and fur-downs in the formal dining room to create a more open space. We added a larger office for the family, and the green carpet was replaced with engineered hardwoods. I used this flooring throughout the house to create a cohesive look. I also used the same calming blue color throughout the entry, dining, living, and kitchen at the request of our clients.
I designed the kitchen to include an island and brand new cabinets extending to the ceiling, providing plenty of storage for our client’s growing family. For the countertop, I chose the granite “Delicatus Cream” with a charcoal colored glass tile set in a classic brick pattern.
Since our clients wanted the kitchen to open into the living area, I designed a cased opening with a bar top and created a larger entry into the kitchen. Although I could have taken out the entire wall, I felt it was important to distinguish the kitchen from the already large living room. Our carpenter, Clint from Harp Design CoOpens in new tab, built custom bar stools that I designed for the bar top with reclaimed wood.
In the end, our clients were pleased with both the exterior and interior of the home, and they were excited at the promise of a functional yet warm home to raise their family in.
