Ever since I stepped into our now home, I had ideas racing through my mind on how it could be improved. The bones of the house are solid, and while it’s fine enough to live in for a while as is, updating along the way will take the house from good to amazing. Exactly what we wanted.
But I want your help.
Here are photos of each of the rooms on the main floor, with ideas on what we are thinking of doing to change teh space in the future (ideal makeover) and what will probably happen for the time being (likely makeover). I also have some questions on the rooms because you’re design-savvy and I want your input!
FYI I’m leaving out the basement for now. There’s one bedroom downstairs we will use in the future, but for now the entire space will be a suite, which we will work on right away to update and get awesome tenants (we hope!).
Okay let’s get to it!
(oh, and please excuse the poor quality of the photos and the people in the background! I took these during our second viewing).
Living Room
Because it’s in pretty good condition compared to the rest of the house, we’ll be redecorating/designing this space last.
Ideal Makeover
- Remove popcorn ceiling
- Add proper crown molding
- Expose fireplace brick to ceiling
- Retile front of fireplace
Likely Makeover
- New curtains
- Repaint fireplace, walls, and trim
- Paint back of bookshelves a bright colour
Questions for you
- Should we rip out the built in bookshelves to open the space?
Kitchen
Time warp central. This space will be redecorated in two stages due to budget. The ideal makeover is basically what will happen in a couple years time, with the likely makeover being what we will do asap.
Ideal Makeover
- Butcher block counter tops
- Subway tiling with backsplash details
- Replace linoleum floors with hardwood/laminate
- Remove bizarre office area (first picture) and extend counter on the left side of picture to create a breakfast bar
- Move sink to under window
- Add dishwasher and replace appliances
- Replace cupboards
Likely Makeover
- Painted counter tops
- Paint walls, trim and cupboards
- Replace ceiling fan
Questions for you
- Should we expose the brick from the fireplace? (right side of far wall on picture number 3)
Dining Room
Don’t you love that wall paper? Connected to the kitchen, this will be the first room on the main floor to get redone.
Ideal Makeover
- Replace south facing window with double french doors that will open onto a deck (that we will have to make)
Likely Makeover
- Remove wallpaper and paint
- Paint wainscotting white
- Replace light fixture
Questions for you
- Since the dining room and kitchen are connected, should they be painted the same colour?
Bathroom
Tiny. Absolutely tiny. And it’s going to take some creativity and magic to find a way to enlarge the space, but I have some ideas. Sadly those will have to wait quite some time.
Ideal Makeover
- Push out north-west wall (right corner – goes into dining room) to rotate shower and put in a new one
- Replace vanity and move to south wall with window at the persons right side.
- Use beautiful tile and glasswork with a gorgeous shower and tub! If possible, fit in a free standing tub…probably not gonna happen…
- Retile and repaint
Likely Makeover
- Repaint cabinets and vanity
- Replace light fixture
Questions for you
- None, but suggestions are more than welcome.
Master Bedroom
This house is a true product of its age, big farm kitchen, teensy tiny bedrooms. I have plans to take out a linen closet in the hallway to expand the two bedrooms, but other than that there isn’t much room to grow. But we don’t mind too much as we don’t spend time in the bedroom other than to sleep and get ready. Having a good mattress is the most important (and we can’t wait for our new one to arrive on Saturday! Hopefully we won’t wake up with any more sore backs). Some of the ideal makeover points will get done. Just don’t know which or when.
Ideal Makeover
- Replace flooring and paint
- Knock out bedroom closet and linen closet to extend west wall (right side first picture).
- Move closet to opposite wall beside window (to hide that weird angle)
- Remove popcorn ceiling
Likely Makeover
- Paint
- Replace light fixture
Questions for you
- I’m pretty stumped on this room, I can’t even think of questions
Office/Studio
Again tiny, but perfect for my home office/studio.
Ideal Makeover
- Replace flooring and paint
- Remove popcorn ceiling
Likely Makeover
- Paint
- Replace light fixture
- Replace curtain rod
Questions for you
- Should I rip out the closet to make more space, and build a new one or use an armoire when we change it back to a bedroom?
Eeks! Looking at all of this in one place makes all the work seem a tad overwhelming. And I didn’t even include the basement!
But it’ll all be worth it. I’m glad we’re able to do these changes overtime, and slowly make this house totally awesome, totally us.
What a fun space you have to work with! I’m a huge fan of exposed brick – so I say yes all the way there. Just a fun texture to have inside. If you take out the bookcase, will that give you a little window into the kitchen or dining room? If so, that would be awesome. I’m also a great room person, so the more open the space the better – especially if the space isn’t that large to start with.
I think for the master bedroom and office, a nice floor rug or even some Flor tiles would be a great shorter term fix since eventually you want to replace the floor.
My dad (who was a brick mason) pointed out that the fireplace above the mantel is most likely the ugly building brick, much like cinder block. so we probably won’t do that sadly.
Yes it would open it up into the kitchen, but only by a couple feet or so. We’ll have to see after living in the space if it’s worth it
I like the built in bookshelves, myself! I feel like it’s hard to get enough shelving – shelving is sooo useful, plus it’s a great opportunity to display some cool knick knacks or photos.
So true! I’d definitely style those bookshelves like mad
We sort of reno’d our bedroom this spring. Painted the walls (yellow and light grey instead of “pool table” green(, but a new duvet cover and bought two beautiful antique pieces of furniture. I keep saying I will post before and afters on my blog when it is “finished”, the goal when we started to finish it all at once and move on. It turns out it takes a long time to finish. Each little touch is a new project waiting for me/us. A new headboard, re paint an old trunk, sew curtains, new ironing board… My OCD can’t handle not finishing the list and moving on, but I’m learning to love the process. We plan to make this our home likely for the rest of our lives. We have a long time to love every minute of making it ours.
My short term suggestion, area rugs. Especially on those wooden floors. Also a bright fun shower curtain in the bathroom to lighten it up a little. And keep the bookshelves! We live in an old house where there isn’t a single shelf or closet! Every time we try to organize the house it requires building more shelves! It drives me crazy.
Sounds lovely! Yes projects grow over time, but that’s part of the beauty of the whole thing eh? It’s more organic.
Good call. I’ll have to go on an area rug hunt!
Super exciting! I love the big windows in your living room! 🙂 Wherever you lived, you have always had a great style and design so I am so confident that this house will be super cute again!! I am so jealous of your creativity… I wish I had that kind of inspiration. (that’s one of the reasons why we went for a house that didn’t need update hahaha) Also I am so happy that you are getting an office for you!!!
I personally love the bookcase in your living room. You guys both have a lot of nice books that having a built-in bookshelf seems to fit your guys’ style 🙂
For dining room / kitchen, it might look nice if you paint them in a similar shade, but a little bit different so it separates the room but also the theme continues??
Let me know if we can help you guys with anything!! Good luck with your move. xoxo
Awww thanks Yosh!!
Good call on the dining room/living room paint! I’m thinking a kind of light robins egg blue.
Thanks! And if you need a hand let me know!! We’ll have to celebrate together soon
Your house is adorable! As for the built in in the living room if its original I say keep it. Or if its really great construction. If its so-so tear it out. Also your ideal kitchen sounds similar to what we did last year (linoleum with butcherblock counters) I’ll add a link in case you are interested 🙂 http://www.lifeonchurchill.com/2012/06/our-kitchen-beforeafter.html
It’s original. Good point. I do love original touches.
Awesome I’ll check it out!!
So fun to see photos of your new home! I say keep the built in unless you have specific plans for what you would fill the resulting niche with. I love exposed brick indoors and wish we had some in our house. Yay for a new mattress! It can make such a huge difference in sleep quality. 🙂
Oh my gosh yes! I can just imagine the amazing nights sleep we’re going to get!
Living Room: keep the built ins. I like the idea of painting the backs a bright color. Or, you could add a fun patterned paper or fabric to the back of the built ins.
Kitchen: Yes! Expose the brick!
Dining Room: It seems like there are natural wall edges that can be stopping points between the kitchen and dining room, so I wouldn’t necessarily feel like they need to be the same color. (I’m sorry if that doesn’t make sense. We have a rectangle that is our kitchen and dining room.. they are basically in the same space without a good divider between them, so in our case, we kept it the same color).
Bathroom: Can you remove the medicine cabinet and just put up a mirror? That might give a little bit of space and make the room look slightly bigger.
Office/Studio: I would keep the closet. You could work with it for now, and then not have to worry about either rebuilding or getting an armoire when you change it back.
Yes we were definitely talking about painting the backs of the shelves an accent colour!
Sadly after discussing exposing the brick with my dad (retired stone/brick mason) he said it’s most definitely the cheap builder’s grade brick. Basically cinder blogs. Not so pretty.
Even if you just do your likely list it will make a huge impact. Have you thought of checking out kitchen or bathroom from ikea? They are very reasonably priced. Exciting times Tan! Does it have a yard?
We love ikea kitchen’s! Pretty sure that’s where our countertops will come from.
It sure does have a yard! Quite a large one too. Can’t wait to get gardening!