Before and After: How HGTV Magazine Transformed a Couple's First House

For this couple, signing the papers was the easy part—decorating the house, not so much. HGTV Magazine to the rescue!

Keep in mind: Price and stock could change after publish date, and we may make money from these links.

August 13, 2019

From: HGTV Magazine

Related To:

They Bought Their First House! Now What?

The most exciting part of going from renting an apartment to owning a house: all the space! The most overwhelming part: all the space! That’s what Katie and Patrick Roetker discovered when they settled into their 1,510-square-foot house in Madison, WI, in the spring of 2018. “We loved how sunny and open it was, but once we moved our stuff in, it was like, OK, where’s the rest? ” says Katie. Although parents on both sides chipped in old furniture to help fill the rooms, says Patrick, “it felt like a jumble, and we didn’t know where to begin with redecorating, so we just left it.”

From: HGTV Magazine

The Makeover

Cut to a year later, when HGTV Magazine solved their hodgepodge problem with a makeover that brought in furnishings, paint and wallpaper in colors and patterns that harmonize like a dream. “We never would have been brave enough to mix these things on our own,” says Katie. “Our home now has a look and a personality. It finally feels like it belongs to us, instead of just someplace we’re staying.”

Read on to see the makeover up close!

From: HGTV Magazine

Living Room: Before

Colors and textures were missing from this bland living room before HGTV Magazine stepped in.

From: HGTV Magazine

Living Room: After

Now a terra-cotta-color wall (Coral Rock by Benjamin Moore) brings in warmth year-round. “The tone shifts over the course of the day, like a sunset,” says Katie. The oversize art from Four Hands Art Studio makes it even more glorious. For seating, the dated brown sectional that dominated the space got replaced with a chic blue wool-blend sofa by American Leather, a curvy armchair by Taylor King and two leather slingback chairs from Wisteria. Friends at the couple’s giant potluck dinners spill into here, so the large coffee table by Jonathan Charles Fine Furniture comes in handy. The rug is by Jaipur Living.

From: HGTV Magazine

Shop This Look

Ruli Chair

Ruli Chair

Sebastian Chair

Sebastian Chair

Alchemy by Alyson Khan

Alchemy by Alyson Khan

Luca Pillow Cover

Luca Pillow Cover

Grooved Stone Lamp

Grooved Stone Lamp

Oak Coffee Table

Oak Coffee Table

Maximalist Geometric 02 by The Old Art Studio

Maximalist Geometric 02 by The Old Art Studio

Jaipur Living Rug

Jaipur Living Rug

Modern Irregular Stripes by Vivi Gonzalez Art

Modern Irregular Stripes by Vivi Gonzalez Art

Color Block Pillow

Color Block Pillow

Amagansett Zig Side Table

Amagansett Zig Side Table

Cyan Design Moon Shot 23 Side Table

Cyan Design Moon Shot 23 Side Table

Living Room: Before

“Our fireplace was painted white when we moved in, and we figured that was the only option,” says Katie.

From: HGTV Magazine

Living Room: After

Redoing the fireplace, hearth to mantel, in the same terra-cotta shade as the accent wall opposite it pulls the room together. Cranking up the cozy: custom-size natural woven window shades by Graber and creamy white paint (Swiss Coffee by Benjamin Moore) on the other walls.

From: HGTV Magazine

Dining Room: Before

With tons of light and a pretty archway on one side, the dining room had potential, but a lonely, unexciting dining set brought it down.

From: HGTV Magazine

Dining Room: After

Chevron wallpaper by Schumacher and abstract prints from Four Hands Art Studio give the room major presence, as do a teak table with a slatted base from Wisteria and molded plastic chairs from Industry West. Gold touches, including a chandelier from Lamps Plus and a bar cart from Pier 1, take it to next-level glam.

From: HGTV Magazine

Shop This Look

Possini Euro Chandelier

Possini Euro Chandelier

Schumacher Ikat Wallpaper

Schumacher Ikat Wallpaper

Molecule Sculptures

Molecule Sculptures

Slatted Teak Table

Slatted Teak Table

City Map II by Gold Rush Art Co.

City Map II by Gold Rush Art Co.

City Map III by Gold Rush Art Co.

City Map III by Gold Rush Art Co.

Element Brass Tray

Element Brass Tray

ED Rug

ED Rug

Kitchen: Before

“We’d liked that the kitchen was in good shape, but it was bland,” says Katie.

From: HGTV Magazine

Kitchen: After

All the oak cabinets needed for pep was a facelift, in the form of vivid green paint and brass hardware. Small-scale subway tile for the backsplash made the space seem bigger and brighter; ditto for the hip cement floor tile from Granada Tile. The pattern plays off the delicate print of the Thibaut-fabric Roman shade.

From: HGTV Magazine

Shop This Look

Parada Shade Fabric

Parada Shade Fabric

Madesimo 870 A Tiles

Madesimo 870 A Tiles

Kitchen: Before

Before the makeover, dated accessories were holding this kitchen back.

From: HGTV Magazine

Kitchen: After

Surprise: The old countertops stayed! “The painted cabinets make them look brand-new,” says Katie. A GE Café range with brushed-bronze accents gives the existing white appliances a style boost.

From: HGTV Magazine

Shop This Look

GE Cafe Range

GE Cafe Range

Bedroom: Before

This bedroom was in need of some color.

From: HGTV Magazine

Bedroom: After

Here comes the sun: Buttery paint, a gallery of graphic prints and a Roman shade in a leafy fabric bring cheer to the space. Other upgrades include a gray wood bed from Target, new nightstands, sconces from Rejuvenation and a sleek ceiling fan from Hunter. “Katie and I never thought to rearrange stuff, we just copied what the sellers had,” says Patrick. “This layout makes our room feel twice as big.”

From: HGTV Magazine

Shop This Look

Ribbon Trim Pillow Cover

Ribbon Trim Pillow Cover

Advocate Low Profile Fan

Cypress Sconce

Cypress Sconce

Rebecca's Garden Shade Fabric

Rebecca's Garden Shade Fabric

Morning Glory: Red No. 1

Morning Glory: Red No. 1

Destiny Nightstand

Destiny Nightstand

Turn II by Emma Lawrenson

Turn II by Emma Lawrenson

Dash & Albert Mali Rug

Dash & Albert Mali Rug

Midnight Foliage by Cece Merkle

Midnight Foliage by Cece Merkle

Pine Cone Hill Duvet Cover

Pine Cone Hill Duvet Cover

Labyrinth - Honey by Amber Barkley

Labyrinth - Honey by Amber Barkley

Mitzi Nightstand

Mitzi Nightstand

Bedroom: After

The space across from the bed was the ideal spot for a work zone, outfitted with a desk from Target that’s as fancy as it is functional, thanks to X-shaped designs on the sides. Parked in front is one fab office chair, from Bend Goods. “We share the desk, but it’s so cute that I’m tempted to steal it as a vanity,” says Katie.

From: HGTV Magazine

Shop This Look

Ivy Bronx Desk Lamp

Ivy Bronx Desk Lamp

Threshold Owings Desk

Threshold Owings Desk

Ethel Swivel Chair

Ethel Swivel Chair

Shop This Look

Photo By: Kevin J. Miyazaki

Photo By: Kevin J. Miyazaki

Photo By: Alison Gootee

Photo By: Kevin J. Miyazaki

Photo By: Alison Gootee

Photo By: Kevin J. Miyazaki

Photo By: Alison Gootee

Photo By: Kevin J. Miyazaki

Photo By: Alison Gootee

Photo By: Kevin J. Miyazaki

Photo By: Alison Gootee

Photo By: Kevin J. Miyazaki

Photo By: Alison Gootee

Photo By: Kevin J. Miyazaki

Photo By: Kevin J. Miyazaki

We Recommend

50 Design Ideas to Try Now 50 Photos

The Best Home Style For You According to Your Zodiac Sign 12 Photos

The Property Brothers Create the Ultimate Forever Home for Big Brother JD Scott 10 Photos

33 Ways to Cozy-Up Any Space 37 Photos

Tour Christina Anstead's Cali-Cool Home In Newport Beach With HGTV Magazine 9 Photos

House Tours: David Bromstad's True Colors 13 Photos