An East Nashville Bungalow for a Musical Couple

'Listed Sisters' Lex and Alana Le Blanc return for a second season on HGTV, and their first project is renovating an East Nashville bungalow for a touring guitarist and his girlfriend.

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September 21, 2017

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Photo By: Matt Blair

Sister Power

Interior designer Lex (L) and real estate pro Alana (R) have the perfect combined skill set for navigating one of the country’s most exciting and trickiest real estate markets – Nashville, Tenn. Their forte: tracking down and isolating homes with true potential — that fit within their clients’ budgets — then transforming them into the perfect abode, be it starter residence or forever dream home.

Before

"The Blue Bungalow"
Despite its lackluster exterior and a drab, dingy interior, this 1930's bungalow is in an ideal location for Lex and Alana's clients. It comes with a large lot and is in Lockeland Springs in East Nashville, recently named one of the hottest neighborhoods in the U.S.

After

The exterior is left in its original white, but the siding cleaned up for a fresh, crisp appearance. The trim and accents — formerly pale blue — are painted black to help create an eye-catching high contrast look. The support pillars are beefed up and two modern industrial style porch fans installed on the wraparound porch.

Meet the Homeowners

Kurt is a touring musician based in Nashville, a guitarist for a well-known country artist. His girlfriend Emma works in a restaurant in downtown Nashville. Together they’ve been living in a 500-square-foot (!) condo, and are understandably ready for a change. Topping Kurt’s wish list is a first-rate kitchen, and Emma longs for a really great master bath. Both would like space for a music room to accommodate Kurt’s large and growing collection of guitars. Maybe throw in a fenced yard for their new pup. Their budget, including any and all renovations, is $360,000.

Quick Tour: East Nashville Bungalow

Kurt and Emma's new dining room, after the renovation

Quick Tour: East Nashville Bungalow

Living room, after the renovation

Quick Tour: East Nashville Bungalow

Kitchen, after the renovation

Quick Tour: East Nashville Bungalow

The master bedroom, after the renovation

Quick Tour: East Nashville Bungalow

The master bath, after the renovation

Southern Porches in Summer

This quintessentially Southern wraparound porch, the perfect spot for relaxing and entertaining, features classic wicker porch furniture, hanging plantsand — a key element in the South — a pair of porch ceiling fans.

Southern Porches in Summer

A set of French doors, painted in black and with brass door hardware, provides access to the side portion of the wraparound porch from the main living area.

Inviting Front Entrance

The old storm doors were removed. The front door is returned to its natural wood finish and flanked by windowpane sidelights painted in black.

Front Entrance, Detail

A concrete planter adds a classic touch to the front entrance.

Dining Room, Before

Dining Room, After

A portion of wall is removed, opening the dining room onto the kitchen via a raised cased opening, mimicking the look of the opening onto the living room.

Dining Room, After

The dining room's two cased openings provide a natural flow and visual sight line from the living area at the front of the house to the kitchen at the rear.

Dining Room, Detail

The walls are painted in a rich hunter green, and wall-mounted vases add a touch of elegance and the outdoors.

Dining Room, Detail

Lex created this custom pendant fixture by combining three separate flea-market finds, creating a unique statement light that complements the farmhouse table.

Dining Room, Detail

Dining Room, After

The updated design added a peninsula with breakfast bar separating the kitchen and dining room.

Kitchen, Before

Kitchen, After

The contemporary kitchen incorporates Shaker style cabinets in dark stain and wood-wrapped vent hood in matching finish.

Kitchen, After

Other improvements in the kitchen include modern stainless appliances and new recessed lighting.

Kitchen, Before

Kitchen, After

Kitchen, Detail

The new kitchen includes white quartz countertops and white subway tile, providing a visually pleasing contrast with the dark cabinetry.

Kitchen, Detail

Wall decor includes these fiber art hangings representing Kurt's home state of Florida, Emma's home state of Maine and their new home in Tennessee.

Living Room, Before

Living Room, After

The living room gets a crisp, clean new look with fresh white walls and a fireplace facelift that exposes the original brick. The newly revamped fireplace becomes the room's visual focal point and highlights the stately 10-foot ceilings.

Living Room, After

One of the home's most notworthy vintage features is the original hardwood flooring, now revealed with the old carpeting removed.

Living Room, After

The hardwood flooring flows throughout the house, including the living room, dining room, den and kitchen. The original wood was too thin for complete refinishing, but was given a restored look with a screen-and-coat treatment.

Living Room, After

A mix of rustic and contemporary furnishings, in a largely neutral palette, suits the vintage feel of the home.

Living Room, Detail

Master Bedroom, Before

Prior to the renovation, the bedroom suffered from some of the same maladies found elsewhere in the home — namely dingy, dated carpeting and walls in a nondescript shade of beige.

Master Bedroom, After

The bedroom gets a brighter, bold look with light gray walls, a metal chandelier and rustic wood headboard.

Master Bedroom, After

The original wood doors were taken to a wood refinishing specialist and dipped to remove old paint, then returned to their original look with dark stain and vintage hardware.

Master Bedroom, Detail

Brightly colored and patterned pillows and throw add splashes of color against the largely neutral backdrop.

Master Bedroom, Detail

Floor-length window treatments in teal sheer fabric add a dramatic accent.

Master Bedroom, Detail

Master Bath, Before

Master Bath, After

The bathroom was completely demoed and given a whole new look with deep green walls, white subway tile, a clawfoot tub and black-and-white tile floor in classic flower-mosaic pattern.

Master Bath, Before

Master Bath, After

As in the kitchen, high contrast is discernible motif with a double vanity in black finish, white quartz top and fixtures in oil-rubbed bronze.

Master Bath, Detail

Master Bath, After

Master Bath, Before

Master Bath, After

Music Room, Before

As Kurt is a touring musician, with quite a collection of guitars and equipment, this sunroom/den just off the main living room would become a dedicated music room.

Music Room, After

Living, as Kurt and Emma had, in a 500-square-foot condo is less than ideal for a musician who needs practice space and room for equipment. Fortunately, their new home accommodates.

Music Room, After

"We are Music City," Lex said of their hometown of Nashville, "Almost every house has at least one guitar. This house has...a lot more than that."

Music Room, Detail

Distinctive letterpress prints speak to the city's music culture.

Music Room, Detail

Behind the Scenes: The Reveal

Kurt Ozan and Emma Parsons get their first look at their renovated bungalow in East Nashville.

Behind the Scenes: The Reveal

Command Performance

Kurt puts on an impromptu acoustic performance in his new dedicated music room.

New East Nashvillians

Alana and Lex pose for a pic with new homeowners Kurt and Emma. You can read more about this renovation, as featured in the Listed Sisters Season 2 premiere, on or blog.

Listed Sisters

An East Nashville Bungalow for a Musical Couple

Shop This Look

Sister Power

Before

After

Meet the Homeowners

Quick Tour: East Nashville Bungalow

Quick Tour: East Nashville Bungalow

Quick Tour: East Nashville Bungalow

Quick Tour: East Nashville Bungalow

Quick Tour: East Nashville Bungalow

Southern Porches in Summer

Southern Porches in Summer

Inviting Front Entrance

Front Entrance, Detail

Dining Room, Before

Dining Room, After

Dining Room, After

Dining Room, Detail

Dining Room, Detail

Dining Room, Detail

Dining Room, Detail

Dining Room, Detail

Dining Room, After

Kitchen, Before

Kitchen, After

Kitchen, After

Kitchen, Before

Kitchen, After

Kitchen, Detail

Kitchen, Detail

Kitchen, Detail

Living Room, Before

Living Room, After

Living Room, After

Living Room, After

Living Room, After

Living Room, Detail

Living Room, Detail

Living Room, Detail

Living Room, Detail

Master Bedroom, Before

Master Bedroom, After

Master Bedroom, After

Master Bedroom, Detail

Master Bedroom, Detail

Master Bedroom, Detail

Master Bedroom, Detail

Master Bath, Before

Master Bath, After

Master Bath, Before

Master Bath, After

Master Bath, Detail

Master Bath, After

Master Bath, Before

Master Bath, After

Music Room, Before

Music Room, After

Music Room, After

Music Room, Detail

Music Room, Detail

Behind the Scenes: The Reveal

Behind the Scenes: The Reveal

Behind the Scenes: The Reveal

Behind the Scenes: The Reveal

Behind the Scenes: The Reveal

Behind the Scenes: The Reveal

Command Performance

New East Nashvillians

HGTV First Look: A Nashville Bungalow Reimagined by 'Listed Sisters' Lex and Alana 29 Photos

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