Leave it to homebuilder and remodeler Royce Flournoy to have the coolest new home in his neighborhood — and it's 73 years old! (Royce Flournoy, Texas Construction Company, Austin, TX, 512-541-8050, txconstruct.com)

Some people wouldn't think twice about tearing down and rebuilding from scratch. Not Royce. He gave this shabby-looking house a second chance.

The homeowner says, "I wanted a clean, modern look without sacrificing the original architectural charm of the place," he says. So with a few coats of paint, lots of limestone and some inventive landscaping, his cottage got a curb-appeal boost that extends all the way to the backyard. By converting a rickety carport into a media room and an office, which he connected to the house, he also boosted his quality of life — and his home's value. "Covering my car wouldn't make me nearly as happy as kicking back and watching TV in my new space," he says.

Royce preserved most of the original wood siding and updated the look with fresh paint colors: Iron Mountain on the siding and Pale Avocado on the shutters, both by Benjamin Moore. The trim is Gypsum by Pittsburgh Paints. The front porch's deep-seated swing from Design Within Reach is made of recycled plastic, so it's fade-resistant and waterproof. Royce painted the concrete floor gray; try Pelican by Valspar.