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Fix This Funky Layout | Season 7

Written by Jenny Marrs on . Posted in , .

Jennifer and Larry Lundeen had two clear goals for this renovation. First and foremost, they wanted to create a home that was more comfortable and functional for their adult daughter, Caroline, who lives with them full-time and has specific ADA needs. And because traveling isn’t a realistic option for their family, they hoped to transform their outdated house into a bright, modern coastal retreat.

Every choice in this remodel, from the size of the doorframes to the colors on the walls, was thoughtfully made to provide more independence and comfort for Caroline. Dave and I are in awe of the love Jennifer and Larry show for their daughter, and it was an honor to be a part of renovating their home to make it work better for their whole family.

Exterior

BEFORE

The house was in good shape on the outside and didn’t need any major repairs or reconstruction. It just needed a few impactful changes to feel more welcoming. At the Lundeens’ request, we removed two overgrown pine trees that were hiding the front entrance and installed a walkway from the street to the front door. Those two updates made a huge difference in curb appeal. Then we painted the old tan-colored trim a soft mushroom taupe and the brick an off-white to brighten everything up. The new natural wood front door adds warmth and character against the modern updates.

AFTER

SOURCES

Flag | Allegiance Flag Supply

Brick Paint Color | Sherwin Williams Natural Choice

Soffit & Trim Paint Color | Benjamin Moore Fairview Taupe

Kitchen & Dining Room

BEFORE

The kitchen was already a good size, but the tray ceiling and older cabinetry made the space feel dated. The Lundeens were ready for a refresh that would bring in the light, coastal feel they wanted for their home. We started by taking down the dividing wall between the kitchen and the sunroom. This created an even larger open-concept space and allowed us to move the dining table, turning the sunroom into a dedicated dining room. Since we no longer needed a table in the kitchen, we were able to install a much larger island. These changes created much more seating, making it easier to host and gather, which was important to this family.

For the coastal feel, we went with white cabinets, countertops, and handmade backsplash tiles, but warmed it up with natural wood on the island countertop. The wood also ties in perfectly with the wooden front door and the new fireplace mantel. As a surprise for Jennifer, Larry brought over a fun wine dispenser, which we installed, and she loved it!

AFTER

SOURCES

Chandelier | West Elm

Microwave | Cosmo Appliances

Range | Cosmo Appliances

Range Hood | Cosmo Appliances

Refrigerator | Cosmo Appliances

Dishwasher | Cosmo Appliances

Backsplash | Bedrosians

Countertops | Santa Margherita

Cabinet Knobs | Amazon

Cabinet Pulls | Amazon

Wine Dispenser | Vinotemp

Art | Juniper Print Shop

Flooring | AHF Products

Cabinets | Premiere Wood Concepts

Furniture | Howse 

Cabinet Paint Color | Benjamin Moore White Dove

Wall Paint Color | Farrow & Ball Light Blue

Family Room

BEFORE

Two focal points were competing with each other in this room, and the flooring didn’t match the rest of the house. To resolve this, we moved the TV to the opposite wall and established that side of the room as the new focal point. We added a built-in cabinet with a brick arch, which brings texture and architectural interest to the space.

Since the fireplace wall had been competing for attention, we softened it by filling in the alcove above the hearth to create a flush surface, painting the brick the same color as the surrounding walls, and updating the mantel with a simpler, more modern natural wood design. New flooring here and throughout the house makes the entire first floor flow much better.

AFTER

SOURCES

Furniture | Howse

Ceiling Fan | Fanimation

Door Hardware | Emtek

Cabinet Pulls | Amazon

Flooring | AHF Products

Art | Buddy Whitlock

Runner | Turkish Trunk

Fireplace Paint Color | Benjamin Moore Natural Choice

Wall Paint Color | Farrow & Ball Light Blue

Trim Paint Color | Benjamin Moore White Dove

Office

BEFORE

The office is the first space you see when you walk in the front door. This space was important to Larry because it had a large bookcase that was full of memorabilia from his time spent serving in the Secret Service during 9/11. The Lundeens wanted to give up some of the room’s square footage in order to make Caroline’s room bigger on the other side. This meant taking apart the current bookcase and thinking strategically about how to give him back shelving while making room for his desk and the lounging area he wanted. We were able to salvage some of the original bookcase by shifting it to the sides and saving space by building a desk into the center of the renovated bookshelf. This gave us room on the other side of the office to add two comfy lounge chairs. We finished it off with French doors and a rich blue paint on both the walls and ceiling, giving the space a cozy, sophisticated feel.

AFTER

SOURCES

Furniture | Howse

Chandelier | Shades of Light

Sconces | Kichler

Art | Juniper Print Shop

Flooring | AHF Products

Cabinet, Wall & Trim Paint Color | Farrow & Ball De Nimes

Laundry Nook

BEFORE

It was very important to Larry and Jennifer that Caroline have a setup where she can do her own laundry. We were able to create a little nook by closing off the extra entrance to the office, but it wasn’t wide enough to add side-by-side units as she needed (stackable was not an option for her), so we opted for a washer/dryer combo. It’s a perfect solution for both fit and convenience.

AFTER

SOURCES

Flooring | AHF Products

Wall Paint Color | Farrow & Ball Light Blue

Young Adult ADA Bedroom Suite

BEFORE

Caroline has had the same room since she was little, but now that she’s a young adult, she needed more space and a decorative refresh to make it more comfortable and age-appropriate. Caroline needs full-time care, but her parents want to give her as much independence and privacy as possible by creating a suite for her, complete with a personal bathroom and laundry nook.

This turned out to be my favorite room in the house! Caroline loves butterflies, and they have a special meaning for the Lundeens. When Caroline was very small, butterflies reminded Jennifer of her sweet baby—beautiful and delicate. I love how we were able to incorporate this sentiment and add whimsy to her space by installing a beautiful, grown-up wallpaper centered in custom trim that frames it in sections, making the wallpaper look more like wall art.

Dave made a custom nightstand with a built-in dog bed at its base for Caroline’s service dog, who sleeps next to her every night. I would love to have one of these for myself!

AFTER

SOURCES

Furniture | Howse

Ceiling Fan | Fanimation

Flooring | AHF Products

Dog Bed Nightstand | Dave Marrs

ADA Bathroom

BEFORE

This bathroom was very dated and not functional for Caroline, who needs more space and an accessible bathtub. I made a visit to one of our plumbing suppliers to pick out a walk-in shower and bathtub combo, and while I was there, I came across a fun hand-painted bathtub, which sparked an idea for a special project. The same artist, Nicole Hardeman, who painted the bathtub in the showroom, made a trip out to the Lundeens’ home to hand-paint dainty butterflies, creating a beautiful mural on Caroline’s tub. For the rest of the bathroom, we incorporated a classic marble floor tile and soft hues of pink and cream on the walls to play off the bathtub’s colors.

AFTER

SOURCES

Full Bathroom Renovation | Re-Bath

Bathtub Art | Nicole Renee

Wall Paint Color | Benjamin Moore White Dove