Help! I Wrecked My House, Season 3 Episode 11

Project Overview:

THE HOMEOWNER:

Cori and Paul

THE BUDGET:

$110,000

THE STORY:

Cori and Paul bought their home 27 years ago and raised their four boys here. Now empty nesters, they had an opportunity to renovate the space and update their home. While they loved their home and its bones, they wanted an updated space for this new season of their life. It was the first time they were able to walk around their home and really look at what needed attention. With midcentury elements throughout the home, they weren’t sure how to renovate their house without losing these aspects. I wanted to give them a place to come home that was comfortable, worked for them, and was low-maintenance.

THE PLAN:

Cori and Paul both liked the original features of their home, and Cori had a hard time letting go since she was so attached to her house and all of the memories the family has had here. With cosmetic updates and a modern refresh throughout the different projects, I wanted Cori and Paul to embark on this next chapter and not have to worry about their house. The main bathroom was a project they’ve been wanting to tackle since day 1, and now was the time to accomplish this. Cori and Paul described their style as neutral with warm woods and a hint of Moroccan, so I would lean into a Midcentury Moroccan design style. They emphasized an original aesthetic, instead of following trends. This whole renovation was a long time coming, and I was so excited to welcome Cori and Paul back home.

The Inspiration:

The Living Room:

The couple always had a difficult time knowing what to do with this room. It was a long, open space so figuring out a layout and decor wasn't easy or intuitive. They didn’t know whether to separate it into different areas since it was such a big space. They used the room primarily for reading and hanging out by the fireplace. This room needed a lot of cosmetic updates, but most of all, it needed a functional and comfortable floor plan and furniture.

I made the decision to keep the existing wood floors throughout the house, but to lighten them up a little bit by sanding and restaining them. The floors were one of the biggest character pieces in the house, so I knew updating them to feel more current would really tie everything together.

The fireplace also needed to be updated, so we installed a micro-cement surround—a really cool material that gives off a textural finish—along with white plaster with a wood mantle, and a creamy limestone material for the hearth.

I knew I wanted to create a proper entryway, or at least the illusion of one, when walking into this home. Separating the fireplace from the front door would create the aspect of an entryway. Using finished-grade live oak lumber to match the floors, this felt like a new, complete entryway.

On the big wall in the rear of the room, I wanted a stand-out moment. Built-in bookshelves across the entire wall was the perfect fit. The bookshelves were built up around their piano and are a great way to display all of the personal treasures like pottery, plants, arts, and books that they collected over the years. Now there’s also room for storage to tuck away their grandkid’s toys when they’re not in use. For the dining area on the far side of the living room space, I used a painted accent to make the area stand-out from the rest of the home and differentiate the space.

The Dining Area:

Now that Cori and Paul are empty nesters, I wanted them to have a more sophisticated space to have dinner together or with family and friends. Keeping it simple, I added some luxe touches like the drapery and comfortable, upholstered chairs from my shop to make this area feel elevated and special.

The Family Room:

This family room is a place that Cori, Paul, and the rest of their family like to gather in and catch-up or just chill out. After fixing the hole in the wall from the previous air conditioner, it was time to get to work on the glass accordion doors. These were an important part of the project, and I was so excited to see them in place and show the family. These doors really make the house feel bigger while merging indoors with outdoors, which is a core element of midcentury design. I wanted this room to ultimately be a cozy space to relax and unwind.

The Bedroom:

When we began work on the bedroom, priority number one was clear — remove the old carpeting that was covering the wood floors. We needed to carve out more space in order to create a walk-in closet and expand the primary bathroom. Luckily, we were able to take space from one of the other bedrooms that wasn’t used anymore, as well as a portion of the hallway. I also added a wall of drapes behind the bed to create a private, elegant feel.

I knew I wanted this bedroom to be a study in contrasts, so I chose a vintage-inspired metal bed and paired it with furniture pieces that added in lightness and texture with caning detail. The Baruna line of furniture in my shop is a design accent I use a lot because the pieces can be the star of the show or simply blend in with a stronger design theme.

I love mixing it up and repurposing found objects in my designs. It’s all about visual interest and that can be built from pairing colors, textures and objects that you might never think could go together. Being courageous and trying new things are ideas that I always encourage my clients to consider. I think those sentiments really came to life here where a pair of vintage, weathered shutters become wall art that works so well with the neat and tidy Baruna dresser from my shop.

Now onto the walk-in closet we created from that extra square footage we grabbed from the unused bedroom and the hallway. I really wanted Cori and Paul to feel like they had a home that was designed just for them after a long and happy life in this home raising a family. It was their turn to relax. A walk-in closet really helps reduce clutter and makes digging through tight closets and packed dresser drawers a thing of the past.

The Bathroom:

Their primary bedroom and bathroom reflected Moroccan and Spanish-inspired design elements. We also removed the carpet in the bathroom and added beautiful terracotta porcelain tile as the bathroom floors. We reclaimed the space that used to be the main bedroom closet, and it would become the vanity alcove. We mirrored the arch from the front room to create an architectural feature. This bathroom was the perfect canvas for me to mix the midcentury vibe with Moroccan style elements. The bathroom tile used was essentially subway tile, but it was porcelain and handcrafted with a bit of variation and color in it, giving it visual interest.

Now, the bathroom has a private water closet, new shower area, and a beautiful vanity. This was the final piece in making the couple’s private rooms a calm retreat, not just a place to roll into bed and shut off the light. After the hard work of raising a family with four boys, Cori and Paul deserved to enjoy their home and relax in style.

And that’s a wrap! I’m so excited Cori and Paul have an updated and refreshed brand-new home for this new chapter of their lives. I’m grateful to have been a small part of their story, and I hope the family can gather here for many more years to come.

I can’t believe Season 3 of “HELP! I Wrecked My House” has come to an end. It has been such an incredible and memorable season, and I’m so happy to have been able to share it all with you. Thank you for following along this season. Be sure to follow me on Instagram and sign up for my emails for home and reno tips, tricks and news.