Makeover Makes Dated Ranch Modern

Designer Michael Loftis is there to help Darby and Lea by bringing in his vibrant, modern ideas. Darby and Lea are up for the change and can't wait to have the only contemporary house on the block. They have two daughters, 8 months and 3 years old.

Michael Loftis is a modern, clean-line designer with a flare for color and punch. He intends to add much-needed color to the body of the house, a modern fence to the perimeter and a clean-cut landscape that will take it out of the '50s and into the next millennium.

The house has no distinguishing features. The color is exactly the same as the others in the neighborhood and the yard is non-existent. There is also no front porch area for them to sit and enjoy a pleasant evening. The only seating area is an old, rickety bench that is placed right behind a railing giving them no view. There is also a large, obtrusive stone wall along the left side of the house that is very '70s. Michael wants to replace that with a wood fence that will tie in with the fencing in the front of the house and the new railings at the porch.

The goal is to make it homey yet sleek and modern. Lea and Darby want a yard where their kids can run around .but that doesn't look like a kiddie house. Michael hopes to give them a fence that fullfills the safety purposes they want for their kids, but that will also compliment their taste for modernism. The home will have a sort of stainless steel look to it that will be broken up by a bright orange bench made by a local artist — something Lea and Darby are a little nervous about, but they are trusting Michael knows what's best.

Here are the projects:

• landscape
  
• paint house
  
• new front door
  
• new pathway
  
• low cost projects
  
• lights
  
• accessories
  
• new fences
  
• new balcony
  
• re-face garage door
  
• replace stone-wall with fence
  
• new concrete porch-stained