Fixer Upper: A Coastal Makeover for a 1971 Ranch House
Chip and Joanna Gaines help a nomadic couple who had lived in five homes over the past six years find and create their perfect forever home in Hewitt, Texas. Little did they know that "coming home" would take on special surprise significance in this particular instance.
By:
David L. Haynes
Going Coastal in Central Texas
Chip and Joanna completely reworked the facade and did a major interior overhaul to transform a plain '70s ranch house, creating an updated and utterly relaxing home for a couple ready to settle down. Thrown into the mix for this renovation is a dedicated music room for him and a touch of the beach for a her.
Serene Palette
Calming blue-gray and crisp white in the kitchen contribute an overall theme that's meant to feel relaxed and not overwhelming.
Traces of Surf and Salt Air
Subtle additions like driftwood, green glass and sand-weighted hurricane glass create a suggestion of beach life without overstating the theme.
Only Rock and Roll
In this renovation, the "man cave" is a dedicated music room complete with a wall-mounted collection of electric guitars and a custom made bar clad in reclaimed wood.
Meet the Homeowners
Chip and Joanna with homeowners Chris and Lindy Ermoian in the newly remodeled living room. Chris and Lindy have an 18-year-old son and had lived in six homes in about as many years. Understandably they were ready to settle into a forever home. They were looking for a home with a large yard, at least three bedrooms, an open floor plan, and ideally a studio space for musician Chris.
Simple Twist of Fate
BEFORE: When Chip and Joanna included this home on their tour of potential homes for the Ermoians, they had no idea that this one had actually once belonged to Lindy Ermoian's grandmother and was built by her great uncle. It was built in 1971, had 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2400 square feet, and the current owners were asking $100,000.
Clean and Contemporary
AFTER: The look of the exterior is altered dramatically simply by painting the brick in a cool blue-gray and adding white accents.
AFTER
Fresh landscaping with ornamental grasses and a dwarf palm also contribute to an underlying coastal theme.
AFTER
Other exterior upgrades include a new roof, new windows with Bahama style shutters, and, most notably, a dramatic front porch with white columns and post-and-beam style overhang.
Living Room, BEFORE
The living room had dated wood paneling, laminate flooring and an offset brick fireplace.
Living Room, AFTER
The fireplace has been completely reworked, with a more centered position, a reduced footprint and new facing in white stone. Dark hardwood floors contrast against the cool gray walls and white slipcovered sofa and chairs.
Living Room, Detail
The lighter palette and white treatment for the fireplace and mantel help make the room feel larger and more inviting. Joanna added piece of natural driftwood, collected from the shore of a local lake, as a decorative accent for warmer months when the fireplace is not in use.
Living Room, Detail
Living Room, Detail
Living Room, Detail
Homeowner Lindy had a professed love of beach and coastal themes, but didn't want it over-the-top. (No draped fishnets and plastic lobsters for her.) Joanna wanted to approach the motif in nuanced ways, striving not to be too literal or dogmatic. Worn wooden oars from a salvage shop struck just the right note, suggesting nautical and water motifs without being overly "beachy."
Dining Room, BEFORE
The dining space was just inside the front entrance, directly adjacent to the foyer. In the new floor plan, the dining room would be partially partitioned to create a more separated space, and the small room on the far side would be repurposed as a home office.
Dining Room, AFTER
The dining room is another space that carries references to the coastal theme, with white shiplap, iron chandelier adorned with jute, a dining table in lighter toned wood and framed graphic art featuring seashell diagrams.
Dining Room, Detail
Home Office, AFTER
Home Office, AFTER
Home Office, Detail
Home Office, Detail
Kitchen, BEFORE
The kitchen was fairly roomy, but dated and closed off. Joanna recommended removing the partition that separated it from the living area and adding a large island.
Kitchen, AFTER
The enlarged kitchen features a white and gray palette, an extra long island with bar top and barstool seating, a trio of oversized globe pendands, new recessed lighting and lots of cabinet storage.
Kitchen, BEFORE
Kitchen, AFTER
Kitchen, Detail
Kitchen, Detail
Breakfast Nook, BEFORE
Breakfast Nook, AFTER
A new bay, white table and chandelier create an inviting breakfast nook with a view.
Breakfast Nook, Detail
The Music Room, AFTER
An existing garage was converted to create this dedicated music and studio space for Chris. New drywall, baseboards and trim were added as well more masculine touches including dark hardwood floors, industrial shelving, leather and wood chairs and an oversized ceiling fan.
The Lighthouse Song
For the music room, Joanna comissioned a custom graphic art piece that displays the music and lyrics of a song that Chris Ermoian had written for his wife Lindy.
Music Room, Detail
Music Room, Detail
Music Room, Detail
Music Room, Detail
The music room includes this bar on casters, custom made by furniture builder Clint Harp and covered in shiplap that had been planed down and refinished.
Music Room, Detail
Music Room, Detail
Music Room, Detail
Master Bedroom, BEFORE
Master Bedroom, AFTER
As elsewhere, the design was kept relaxed and calming in the bedroom with a cool, soothing palette and simple details that tied together to create distinct but nuanced references to the beach and ocean.
Master Bedroom, Detail
Driftwood is used as a wall hangning above the bed, in keeping with the ocean theme.
Master Bedroom, Detail
Master Bedroom, Detail
Master Bedroom, Detail
Master Bedroom, Detail
Joanna added this wall hanging with glass globes hung by partially jute rope filled with seashells and sand dollars.
Bathroom, BEFORE
The existing bathroom adjacent to the main bedroom was small and somewhat dated.
Master Bath Space, BEFORE
The renovation took part of an existing bedroom to expand the footprint of the bathroom and creaete an all new and luxuriuos master bath.
Master Bath, AFTER
The new master bath features an oversized glass-enclosed shower, twin vanities, tilting mirrors and floor tile in soft gray.
Master Bath, Detail
Master Bath, Detail
Master Bath, Detail
Finis
Okay, just one more...
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