Front Exterior and Curb Appeal

The original curb appeal of this home was drab and dated.  The siding was a worn out light blue grey vinyl siding, a very small front porch (that had issues), and badly cracked front sidewalk, with overgrown landscape on one side with no landscape on the other side. 

To update this home and add curb appeal, we chose to re-side with James Hardie Siding (purchased through Lowes and Home Depot).  Hardie Siding is a Fiber Cement siding that has many benefits:  Flame resistant, weather resistant, termite and pest resistant, and fade resistant.  A full sized front porch replaces the small one, a new sidewalk replaces the old, and xeriscape plantings surround the foundation with river rock mulch.

BEFORE~

 

 AFTER~

 

 

BEFORE~

This photo taken the day after we moved in prior to all new windows.  Original windows were single pane with areas where water leaked through due to inadequate caulking.  Notice the overgrown shrubs against the house... they were hiding a broken window.



The original porch was small (4 x 6) with issues of wood rot and sagging.
(New energy efficient windows are shown in this photo)

AFTER~

 
New porch area (7 x 24)

BEFORE~

The original wood door is unique and weathered, but NOT energy efficient or practical.  In the summer, massive heat could be felt coming through the cracks, and in the winter, a cold draft could be felt.

AFTER~

A new energy efficient door with leaded glass insert.
 

 BEFORE~

The original sidewalk had several dangerous cracks.

AFTER~

 

BEFORE~



One of several cracks; a major trip hazard.

 

The solution to a dangerous sidewalk is to tear it out, and build it over in a safe manner.  When we tore the original sidewalk out, we discovered there were places that were only 1 1/2" - 2" thick; these are the places that cracked.  We reconstructed a new sidewalk that is 4" - 6" thick.  We also constructed the new sidewalk to wrap around to the side area connecting to the garage concrete  (not pictured here) which was just dirt walkway before.



AFTER~

 New sidewalk with simple xeriscape foundation plantings.



Master Walk-in Closet

This closet is located just out side bedroom #4 (what we use as the Master Bedroom). With only one long 10 foot bar on one side and shelves along both walls, this closet space was not functioning to it's fullest potential when we moved in the house.  The money spent ($761) to organize this 11' x 5' closet space was well worth it (transformation completed December 2011).

BEFORE

This photo taken prior to moving our belongings in (brown door is an example of all the doors throughout the house when we purchased it)

Now that our things are moved into this space, it's utter chaos.
We have too many clothes for them all to be hung on one single bar and too many shoes to cover the floor.

Before renovated, it was hard to keep organized with no place to put our stuff; not to mention over half of it was still in boxes (in storage).  I (Teri) sat on the floor to put my make up on and fix my hair each morning.

 

AFTER 

Mission accomplished! 
Function and practicality with floor to ceiling storage.

 

Kirk has half the closet, I have the other half...
well maybe I have a little more than half.

I purposefully cut a niche in the wall to utilize space; this shelf accommodates vitamins, cologne, and some hair product.

This shelf unit WAS the kitchen peninsula.  It has been retrofit smaller to be in this space... it has been resurfaced with a porcelain tile top (to match the bathroom tile), resided, and repainted.  This "re-purposed" piece makes the perfect makeup counter and storage so the bathroom can be free for people to take showers and use the toilet while us girls get dressed and primp.

 

This stool stays in this location as a means to reach the high places; it also serves as a great landing station to stack clean laundry while it gets put away.



Hallways

There are two separate hall areas in this home, both updated to add a brighter feel and one hall area a closet added for much needed organization.

HALL #1 (opening to Bedrooms #1, 2, &3 and bathroom #2)  This hall has two closets; one as a storage/linen closet, and the other is a mechanical closet housing the air conditioner unit. The air conditioner unit closet has the old original door that has been repainted white and the only original antique door knob in the whole house.

BEFORE


All dark wood panel.  This "before photo" does not show the two white doors original state of solid brown matching the panel.  Our original thought was to simply paint the brown panel white...

...we decided after we got started painting the primer coat that it wasn't going to look very good as painted panel, so we bought bead board that replaced the brown panel.  This hall was originally carpeted with a very worn contractor grade beige.

  AFTER

Bright white and fresh.  The hall ceiling light is the original.

The only original door knob from this house- on the A/C closet door

 HALL #2 (opening to Bedroom #4, bathroom #1, and walk in closet)

BEFORE


This brown door was an awkward entrance to Bedroom #3.  We chose to eliminate this door and add a closet to this hall area space.

 AFTER


New closet.