When my daughter Elisabeth was in middle school, we hired a tutor that who would come to our house every afternoon to help her with her studies. Jenny continued to come until Elisabeth left for college and by then, Jenny was getting married and having her own children. Needless to say, we spent a lot of time with her and she became a part of the family. Smart as a whip, beautiful, soft spoken – Jenny was a life saver.
Over the years, Jenny and her husband have moved a few times – each time, buying a house that is a better investment than the last, because she and her husband are both very business savvy. Her latest house is located in one of the best neighborhoods in town where young families with 2.5 are all hoping to move in. They completely remodeled their house and now they are moving on – leaving this house for another young family to love.
Jenny showed me the photos of her reno and I thought you would be interested in seeing them. It’s a textbook example of how to take a 60s ranch house and turn it into a comfortable, updated, and modernized house for the millennium.
BEFORE: The house was a very pretty ranch – very much Houston from circa 1960s.
AFTER: The biggest change made was Plantation Shutters were installed inside – they create a unified look along the front facade. Another change is the beautiful gas lanterns and new address plate. The trim was painted a soft gray. A new sprinkler system and French drains were installed! Nice!!
INSPIRATION: Unified window treatments dress up a ranch.
TIP: Although Jenny chose not to do this, many people are painting their brick houses – white, gray or taupe. Painting the brick can really update the house.
AFTER: The house is on a corner. The owners added a new garage and in the space of the former garage, they added a much used playroom and a workout room.
AFTER: The new gas lanterns add so much, as does the new address plate and the gray paint.
The house was built in 1959 and is 3570 sq. ft.
The biggest change was made this year when a brand, spanking, completely new HVAC system was put in, including new duct work.
For Houston, this will mean a very cool summer – think 68 degrees inside.
Chill.
INSPIRATION: Gas lanterns add masses of curb appeal.
BEFORE: The layout is a typical ranch in Houston – living room and dining room on the left and family room, straight back from the foyer. The biggest change to the interior decor were the installation of new hardwoods – most of the house had carpet which needed to be removed. The new floors are fabulous and were a great change!!
TODAY: Here you can see the new wide plank hardwoods in the gray stain that is so popular today. The lantern was removed in place of recessed lights.
TIP: The floors are: MASTER CRAFT PALLADIO ANTIQUE OAK
BEFORE: Off the front foyer is the living room – with the dining room behind it.
BEFORE: Today, most people in Houston with this floor plant turn the living room into the dining room and the dining room into an office or playroom, which is exactly what these owners did. Most of us never use a formal living room – but we do need larger dining rooms than what was standard in the 1950s and 1960s, when this house was built.
TODAY: The living room is now the dining room – which allows the family to seat 10-12 people at the dining table. Double brass lanterns highlight the room. The walls and ceiling and molding are all painted one color which updates the house and gives it a bit of a contemporary look. In the former dining room, there is now a study.
INSPIRATION: To update a house with non-descript trim, paint the walls, trim and ceiling the same color. Use 1/2 strength formula on the ceiling.
TIP: Paint Sherwin Williams Repose Gray
AFTER: The view towards the foyer show the host chairs.
TIP: To keep chandeliers from creating light streaks as seen here – use frosted bulbs! Also, I use the silicone tipped bulbs in low wattages which creates a very soft look. Below is the link to the bulbs I use, if you are interested. I buy a box of them, which lasts longer.
I use this for chandeliers – click on photo for info.
For sconces – I use this silicone tipped bulb. I also use these in a lot of lamps where I don’t want a bright light. I’m not a fan of really bright rooms, but that’s a personal preference.
Click on the bulb for info.
Click on bulb for more info.
BEFORE: The dining room. You can see how small this room was – with seating for only 8 at most. The kitchen is reached through this room.
AFTER: Today – the former dining room is now the library. The mirrored wall was removed and shelves and cabinets were built to create an office/study/library. Perfect!
AFTER: They added a new light – and notice the cabinets’ feet! This small detail added much luxe.
I really like how Jenny styled the shelves! She used a series of prints along one section of shelves and above and below them, she added antique books. The sunburst mirror is a focal point you can see from the dining room.
BEFORE: The foyer leads to the family room that overlooks the back yard. The corner fireplace is another typical feature of this Houston floorplan.
BEFORE: The view towards the bar that looks into the kitchen.
TODAY: The family room has been totally renovated. New French doors replace the sliders. The fireplace was updated with a coat of white paint.
AFTER: a beautiful built in media center against the back wall adds so much to the room! Plus it creates a home for the flatscreen. This is a great idea.
Closeup of the newly built-ins which is perfect for the flatscreen. It prevents the flatscreen from becoming a focal point when it is surrounded by shelves filled with books and art objects.
TIP: Flatscreens over fireplaces tend to become focal points. Try to find another place for the TV if possible.
AFTER: And here – you can see the kitchen was opened up – the small pass-through was enlarged by taking out the cabinets and walls surrounding it.
BEFORE: The pass-through to the kitchen with the breakfast room to the right. While the area has charm with the brick wall – the area was ripe for updating and making it more up-to-date.
AFTER: The same area is now clean-lined and more effective as a bar. The small pass-through was enlarged by removing the side cabinets and opening up the wall to the ceiling and enlarging the counter – now, a more useful and much larger bar has been created.
BEFORE: Carpeted breakfast room – hmmm. An outdated slider and old fashioned paneling, along with that 60s style chandelier. How many of you grew up or owned a chandelier like this? These were so popular!!!
AFTER: Past the bar is the breakfast room that overlooks the back yard. New French doors open the area up to the terrace. The carpet was removed and replaced with the wide planked wood floor. The wallpaper was removed and the paneling was painted which makes it disappear. Love the chairs in gray fabric and love the two round convex mirrors that flank the French doors.
AFTER: The breakfast room – through the door is the new playroom and workout room and further on, the garage.
BEFORE: The kitchen had been updated along the way with tiled floors and white Formica. The former dining room and dry bar is through the door on the left.
BEFORE: The kitchen with the view towards the breakfast room. Where the door is – leads to the garage. Today, the garage is now a playroom and workout room.
BEFORE: The footprints of the kitchen remained, but it’s all new appliances, subway tile, farm sink, and shaker cabinets with quartz countertops.
View towards the playroom and workout room.
The area between the study/old dining room and kitchen is now a dry bar with built in shelves for glasses.
AFTER: Two years ago, the playroom was added in the former garage space. This is such a wonderful space for a family with young children and teenagers!! French doors overlook the backyard.
AFTER: On the other side of the playroom in the former garage is this fabulous workout room!!
BEFORE: Off the family room leading to the bedrooms is the study which is also the 4th bedroom. Carpeted.
TODAY: The study has new wood floors and new French doors that lead to the terrace. The doors close off and this is a flex 4th bedroom. The new owners can easily close off this doorway to create a more private bedroom if needed.
AFTER: The powder Room with new vanity sink.
BEFORE: The front bedroom. Laura Ashley bedding! Remember this?!?! And the white wicker. How many bedrooms looked just like this?!?! Memories!!!
BEFORE: The bathroom that connects to the front bedroom.
AFTER: The front bedroom has two windows with plantation shutters and new wood floors.
INSPIRATION: These two elements – new hardwoods and plantation shutters really make such a huge difference.
TIP: The bedroom walls are a different paint color: Sherwin Williams: Mindful Gray
AFTER: The bathroom that connects to the front bedroom.
BEFORE: The second bedroom.
AFTER: The second bedroom with new wood floors and plantation shutters.
NOTE: Jenny told me she regrets painting the closet doors white, but I don’t necessarily agree. I kind of like them painted a bright white. What do you think?
Another view.
BEFORE: The second bathroom with 60s styled tile counters and walls.
AFTER: New quartz counters, extra sink, and wood floors totally update the bathroom. The wall of tiles was removed and replaced with sheetrock.
INSPIRATION: New counters and floors make the bathroom new with a minimum of expense.
AFTER: From the entry, this hall leads to the bedrooms. Love the seagrass runner – it adds texture and a neutral color that looks good against the gray. At the end of the hall is the master bedroom.
BEFORE: The master bedroom with the bay window that overlooks the back terrace.
BEFORE: Another view of the master bedroom.
TODAY: The master bedroom with wood floors, seagrass and plantation shutters.
Another view of the master bedroom.
BEFORE: The bathroom with carpet. Is this England?!?! Just kidding!
AFTER: The bathroom is now marble tile with a large walk in shower.
Two vanities with double sconces. There are three closets in the master bedroom, one which is reached here.
TODAY: Large backyard with pergola.
There is a large lawn with a swing set and gym.
For all the details about this house, visit the listing HERE.
If you are interested in this house - HURRY! It won’t last long!!
This is a very much in-demand neighborhood and the house is a total redo!!