Painting Exterior of House

Welcome to Michelle’s Home Tour!

In December of 2014 we purchased our “new” home.

We fell in love with the area, especially our lot.

Our lot is about 2/3 of an acre with a very private wooded backyard that is frequently visited by deer.

It is an amazing area that makes us feel like we are vacationing on a mountain retreat.

Across the street from our home is a small stream and we are in a ravine surrounded by trees, it’s quite picturesque!

Up front we knew the house would need a major overhaul, to say the least.

There was not one thing in this house that was our style, and the layout didn’t work for us either.

We moved in the day after Christmas and began to create our dream home.

The majority of the main living area was completed the first year, which included relocating the kitchen, changing the layout for the living area and bedrooms.

Sit back, relax and enjoy the journey with us.

A dated 90's home with neglected landscaping in the winter.

Here we are the day we closed on our house, excited for the adventure and fun ahead of us.

Our home was an estate sale and the exterior had been somewhat neglected.

We didn’t quite realize all the work that needed to be done on the exterior, until spring rolled around.

Exterior of home is given curb appeal new new paint and updated landscaping. Brick lower facade with taupe painted stucco with a charcoal grey pop-out. New shrubs and flowers add a welcoming feel.

Determined to make the exterior as beautiful as the inside, we cleared out the overgrown shrubs and weeds, then gave the landscaping some much needed curb appeal.

Then to add more interest to the exterior of our home we cleaned the stucco and gave it a fresh coat of paint, as well as paint the front door a pretty blue.

The Entryway

https://www.2thesunnyside.com/painting-exterior-of-house-adding-curb-appeal/

When we purchased our home the entryway felt cold and unwelcoming, plus I didn’t love the ledge above the wall that would just be a dust collector.

As you now step through the front door into our entry way, you will find a large hutch that I refinished with milk paint and wallpaper.

We use this cabinet to hold books (we have a lot of books) as well as a few mementos.

The coat closet was moved around the corner and we framed in above the wall, which now extends the full 17′.

Living Room

White tile and forest green plush carpet in the living room before any renovations.

The living room before our home renovations definitely lacked my style.

Clearly the white tile and forest green carpet would need to go!

The living room features the calming colors of peacock blue and sage green.

The walls are painted a light grey/taupe, we installed laminate floors and added white plantation shutters.

I love the outdoors and throughout my home you will find items that reflect that.

The drapery not only echos the blue and green from the room, but the motif is birds.

In addition, I love to fill each room with plants.

This room has amazing 17′ ceilings as well as a large picture window with a stunning view and it is always filled with an abundance of light.

Kitchen

Kitchen with maple cabinets and white countertops, white tile floors before home renovation.

The original footprint of the kitchen didn’t fit my needs.

On the other side of this wall was a formal dining area, that didn’t feel very formal with it’s white tile floor.

So our plan was to relocate the kitchen in the once former den and remove the wall between the original kitchen and formal dining room.

Dated 90's den area with maple built-in bookshelves on each side of the fireplace, forest green tile and white tile in front of the french doors.

The original den area was a little small for a family room for us, but it proved to be the perfect location for our kitchen.

finished kitchen remodel highlighting yellow barstools and black and white cabinets and countertops

By relocating the kitchen I had the opportunity to create my dream kitchen.

The original fireplace area became the perfect spot to locate my gas range and with this new layout, I have triple the storage of the original kitchen, along with plenty of counter space!

Click here for all the details on our kitchen renovation.

One of my favorite decor elements is the custom venthood, flanked by 2 cabinets with seeded glass.

Dining Area

Dining area with the table set for spring with fresh tulips and greenery. A black china cabinet along the back wall.

With the new kitchen space, the dining area opens to the kitchen.

And it seams to me, we only photograph this space for tablescape ideas.

The updates to this space included moving the pantry door around the corner to make a place for my china cabinet, new light fixture, paint and flooring.

Family Room

What was once the formal dining room and kitchen became our new family room space.

With the wall removed from the former formal dining area, we now have a great open floor plan that easily accommodates large family gatherings.

For me a fireplace is always a must in every home.

We installed a fireplace with built-in bookcases in what was the former dining room area. 

For details on installing a gas fireplace, click here.

Flea market flip ideas, vintage dining table is made into a coffee table, with the natural oak table top and the apron and legs are painted with white chalk paint

We love the cozy sectional that is the perfect spot to gather with family for fun and games.

There is a sisal rug that anchors the room.

All of the floors throughout the main living area is a wide plank high end laminate that makes for easy care.

On the wall above the sectional I have curated a gallery wall of old family homes.

I have been able to find old photos of family homes going back about 125 years.

Decorating home with meaningful photos, art and decor is what makes a house a home!

Laundry Room

White tile, white cabinets, white countertop and paint make for a sterile laundry room.

While this laundry room was functional, I knew it could be better and have more style.

Remodeled laundry room, with ebony cabinet, quartz countertops with a marble backsplash and shelving. A fold table is created over the front loading washing machine and dryer.

Now not only is this space beautiful, it’s more functional too!

The laundry room now features a broom closet, mudroom wall, loads of storage and organization.

Click here for more details on this laundry room makeover.

Master Bedroom

Dated 90's bedroom with low hanging ceiling fan, forest green carpet and pinkish walls.

By now I bet you can see a pattern throughout this house when we moved in, forest green carpet and pale pink walls.

Master bedroom refinished for a restful look with blue walls and a four post bed frame

The master bedroom was actually the first room we completed.

I knew I would need some place to retreat to that was clean and peaceful during this renovation.

Just to make things easy, I chose the same wall color from our previous home, Behr Smokey Slate and we installed new baseboards and carpet.

The furniture and bedding is also from our previous home, but at some point I’d like to add a little more personality to this room and add a fireplace.

I’m always dreaming of new ideas for our home.

Master Bathroom

Dated 90's master bathroom, maple cabinets, white countertop, large wall mirror, white tile floor.

This space also felt very sterile and lacked any personality.

I knew from the moment we purchased this house that this bathroom layout would need to be reworked.

Click here to see the details for the new bathroom layout.

Updated master bathroom with a black accent wall, light pink vanity with gold hardware, mirrors and a concrete countertop. Black and white vinyl flooring.

After living with this bathroom in it’s current state, we decided to give it an inexpensive mini makeover, click here for the details.

After years of deciding on a new footprint for this bathroom, I’m thrilled with the results.

I now have a soaker tub, glass shower enclosure, shiplap ceiling and my dream modern cottage bathroom.

Click here for all the details and DIY projects.

Guest Bathroom

Dated 90's bathroom with white tile and a mint green and pink tile border on the bathtub surround.

The guest bathroom did not reflect my design aesthetic, pink and green are not my thing!

finished bathroom with antique mirror and black cabinets and white granite

The main guest bath got a budget friendly makeover using my favorite color combo, black and white.

For all the details on this bathroom remodel, click here.

Guest Bedroom

Dated 90's bedroom with forest green carpet, pale pink walls and lace curtains.

It’s hard to tell the difference from one bedroom to the next.

I can only tell in the photos from the size and shape of the windows.

The one good thing this bedroom had going for it was the large window that flooded the room with light.

Home remodel, guest bedroom with white cubbies with colorful bins for storage and a black and white chair.

Welcome to our guest room!

This room is primarily for my favorite guests, my grandchildren.

Not that I don’t love having other guests, but this room is really for the kiddos.

I knew I wanted this room to be bright, colorful, happy, just a fun place to be and I think that’s been accomplished with this energetic room.

On this side of the room is storage for books, toys and a few vintage items. The dramatic black and white chair add some energy to the room and it’s a great place to cuddle up and read a book.

To see more details of this guest bedroom, click here.

Craft Room

Another room with green carpet, lace curtains and pale pink walls (at least they were consistent!)

finished craft room with orange chair and white cabinets

Pretty light blue walls create a peaceful feeling in my craft space.

We’ve added loads of storage and workstations, just what I need!

Click here for more details on my craft room.

Home Office

Basement room with primed walls and a cement floor and one window.

After working two years at home after the pandemic, my husband clearly needed a home office.

So, we decided to turn this unfinished basement room into a moody home office/library just for him.

Moody home office with library in a once unfinished basement bedroom space. Now with dark blue box moulding walls, french oak laminate floor, modern desk with leather chair, leather reading chair and built-in bookshelves with a window seat.

We are in love with the cozy and moody feel of this room.

It’s warm and inviting and is the perfect space for my husband to work.

For more details on this home office/library, click here.

Outdoor Living

Overgrown and weedy backyard space with a small cement patio and broken cement pathway.

I feel so blessed with the gift to see what a space can become.

Would you believe that after my husband and I walked around the yard, we were sold on this house?

We both could see the potential of what this space could become.

Backyard outdoor living space with a paver patio, rock retain wall, chairs and a black metal stairway accessing the upper levels of the yard.

Once we cleaned up the front yard, it was time to tackle the backyard.

Our first project was pushing back the hillside, create a retaining wall and install a paver patio.

Click here to see more details on our outdoor living space, it’s perfect for entertaining.

Garden path edged with pavers and filled with crushed flagstone, assorted shrubs and landscape rocks.

Next we installed a garden path along the back of the house.

Outdoor living space with a rock retain wall, crushed flagstone patio and a dining set.

And on the hillside, we carved out more space and added a rock retaining wall.

Click here to see how we install the rock retaining wall for free.

Then to connect our backyard zones we installed stone steps.

In our backyard you’ll also find a firepit area, play area for the grandkids with a teeter totter, zipline and tree swing.

Deer Fence

Vegetable garden with a small seating area, surrounded by a modern deer fence with trellis.

One of the requirements for our “new” home was a space for me to grow a vegetable garden.

But after two years of trying to harvest a garden with hungry deer, we built this modern deer fence.

It has been one of the most popular posts on our website, click here for the details and plans.

Thank you for joining me on my home tour!

I hope you’ve enjoyed the renovation of our dated 90’s home into a place we love.

Please drop us a comment if you have any questions about our home renovation, we love hearing from you!

To see Steph’s Modern Coastal Home Tour, click here.

And for more home inspiration, click here to see a few of our clients homes.

If you’re new here, WELCOME! We love having new readers and friends!

You can learn more about us here.

Let’s stay connected! Join our DIY community of doers and you won’t miss the weekly updates and more inspiration for you always on a budget.

Sharing is caring!

Thanks for stopping by Sunny Side Design. Empowering you to create a home you love!