Season 2 Episode 5: Family House With History
The Brewer family has lived in this sweet little home for one hundred years! That, in and of itself, is really special. So, when Dave and I were asked to renovate the home for Doug, Brittany and their two girls, we knew we had to modernize each room to suit their family’s needs while preserving the legacy of five generations of family history within these walls.
Projects like these are why we love to do what we do — it’s an immense privilege to honor family heritage and create spaces for a new generation to build memories. Okay, without further ado, let’s tour the Brewer home!
Exterior
BEFORE: A home lacking curb appeal.
AFTER: A charming modern farmhouse.
Sources
Pendant Light | Kichler
Historic Plaque | Atlas Signs and Plaques
Landscaping | John Zito Landscaping LLC
Exterior Siding Paint Color | Benjamin Moore White Dove
Entry
BEFORE: a long hallway.
The existing hallway didn’t feel like an entry and it certainly wasn’t welcoming. To remedy this, we removed the drop ceiling and returned to the original ten foot ceiling height throughout the entrance and living room. We then installed beautiful natural wood cross beams to add visual interest and detail to the ceiling in the foyer hallway.
The Brewers left us with several fascinating family artifacts that I used to create a memory-filled gallery wall in the entry. I love that guests are immediately greeted with the family and home’s history as soon as they walk through the door.
Living Room & Dining Nook
BEFORE: a catch all space for the family and homeschooling area.
After we raised the ceiling height, this space instantly felt bigger. We were able to create a built-in dining nook just off the kitchen where their homeschooling supplies were formerly housed. Then, Dave built an amazing homeschool bookshelf for Brittany and the girls. After talking with Brittany about how she would use this space, I knew it was important to have the option to put school away at the end of the day, so Dave built these giant doors that hide the girl’s desks and homeschool supplies. This allows the Brewer family to transition from school to family time seamlessly.
AFTER: a sophisticated living room, homeschool area and dining room.
Sources
Ceiling Fan | Shades of Light
Dining Nook Pendant | Schoolhouse
Built-in Hardware | Signature Hardware
Furnishings | Howse
Built-in Paint Color | Sea Salt SW 6204
Wall Paint Color | Pure White Sherwin Williams
Guest Bath
BEFORE: a very dated bathroom.
I found this vintage dresser that Dave helped me convert into a vanity and I knew the Brewers would appreciate the history and warmth it adds to this guest bathroom. I also went with a modern “wet bath” look in here with the floor-to-ceiling tile to add a nice contrast with the antique dresser. The finishing touch in this space is the gorgeous floral wallpaper on the ceiling. During demo, we had found layers of original wallpaper on the ceiling throughout the house and this wallpaper moment was a nod to the home’s past.
AFTER: the perfect mix of vintage and modern.
Sources
Wallpaper | Kelly Ventura
Vintage Dresser | Homestead Homeware
Faucet | Signature Hardware
Shower Set | Signature Hardware
Wall Tile | Home Depot
Floor Tile | Lowes
Mirror | Signature Hardware
Sconces | Hudson Valley
Bathroom Accessories | Signature Hardware
Kitchen
BEFORE: a very cramped and dated kitchen.
This kitchen was not only dated, but it was very cramped and not at all functional. After we incorporated french doors leading onto the new screened-in back patio, we reoriented the kitchen into a traditional galley-style in order to maximize cabinet space and natural light with a new, larger window above the sink. Brittany told me she loves a white kitchen and I gave her a white and black modern farmhouse kitchen with touches of warmth incorporated from the vintage hutch with glass doors and the wood trim on the range hood.
AFTER: a light and bright modern farmhouse kitchen.
Sources
Kitchen Sink | Signature Hardware
Kitchen Faucet | Signature Hardware
Cabinet Knobs | Signature Hardware
Cabinet Pulls | Signature Hardware
Backsplash Tile | Home Depot
Floor Tile | Home Depot
Cabinetry & Range Hood | Premier Wood Concepts – Link
Appliances | Metro Appliances
Cabinet Paint Color | Sherwin Williams Pure White
Main Bedroom & Bathroom
BEFORE: a dark and cramped space.
Doug had built the bed in their bedroom and we kept the bed, added the barn door he had spent years building, opened up the bay window nook and then completely transformed the bathroom by adding additional cabinet storage and a gorgeous soaking tub. The bathroom is now earthy and modern and a perfect compliment to the warmth of the bedroom.
AFTER: a warm and earthly main suite.
Sources
Barn Door Hardware & Pull| Signature Hardware & Signature Hardware
Cast Iron Tub | Signature Hardware
Tub Faucet | Signature Hardware
Shower Faucet | Signature Hardware
Sink | Signature Hardware
Bathroom Faucet | Signature Hardware
Cabinet Pull | Signature Hardware
Cabinet Knob | Signature Hardware
Vanity Light | Shades of Light
Bathroom Mirror | Shades of Light
Cabinet Paint Color | Retreat SW 6207
Back Patio
BEFORE: a back deck.
Brittany expressed her dream of always wanting a screened-in back patio that she can use throughout the year and not have to worry about bugs. We created this gorgeous screened outdoor living area for their family – complete with enough space for a dining table and a lounge area – right off of the kitchen. It’s the perfect year-round entertaining and relaxing spot for their entire family.
AFTER: a screened-in back patio.
Sources
Fan | Shades of Light
This renovation was all about preserving the history of the home that has been in the Brewer family for one hundred years. Our hope when beginning this special remodel was simply to honor their family and the memories that have been grafted into this home for five generations. I hope you loved this one as much as we loved working on it! Thanks for joining me on this tour! 💕
Jenny