Take a Tour of Hilary Farr's New Home as Seen on 'Love It or List It'

Hilary’s New Digs

Love It or List It designer Hilary Farr had a surprise for her co-host and realtor David Visentin. She bought a house — without him knowing! The renovation held a few surprises for Hilary, but she was able to rebuild and design a home that’s stylish, grandchildren-friendly and ready for entertaining.

The Exterior, Before

David’s take on Hilary’s new home: “This is a phenomenal location. Unfortunately, there’s a shoebox sitting on it.” He couldn't get over how tiny the house was and wasn't confident Hilary would be happy with what she had to work with. Her response, “I saw it. I loved it. I bought it. I didn’t look at anything else. I’ve always had big houses and now I want to consider a different lifestyle. I like the idea of living in a smaller, but fabulous space.”

The Exterior, After

After a long process, Hilary designed the home of her dreams. But you may notice the oh-so-petite house had a bit of a growth spurt. Unfortunately, once the team took the original home down to the studs, they discovered the entire foundation had rotted and was full of termites. Hilary decided to rebuild on the exact footprint, but take her rebuilt house up and add a second floor.

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From: Hilary Farr

The Backyard, Before

Hilary was set on taking advantage of the expansive lot by adding an outdoor living space to the back of the home. Though David wasn’t happy that Hilary bought a house without him, he agreed a patio could be a game-changer for the property.

The Backyard, After

What a transformation! The backyard is a true escape from the daily grind, as well as the perfect spot for entertaining. The main element Hilary wanted to include was a saltwater plunge pool, and she got one with loads of style. A brick pool surround blends with the home's exterior, and the deck provides ample space for relaxing. Folding glass doors seamlessly meld the indoors with the outside.

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From: Hilary Farr

The Living Room, Before

Hilary’s little house was full of — you guessed it — little rooms. Her vision involved taking down a lot of walls, including this structural one. Of course, she ended up having to take the entire home down and rebuild, but she maintained the original footprint of the house while effectively updating the layout.

The Living Room, After

A fireplace was still a necessity, so Hilary moved it to the outer wall and surrounded it with steel cladding. Built-ins on either side provide much-needed storage. A rich, blue sofa centers the space, while comfy armchairs and stools round out the seating. Hilary wanted to keep the space open, minimal and casual so her grandchildren could run around and play while visiting. The showstopper: a modular brass light fixture that spans the width of the space. Finally, Hilary grounded the room with a natural jute rug from her own collection with Kaleen Rugs.

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From: Hilary Farr

The Kitchen, Before

Narrow and outdated, the kitchen was ready for an overhaul. This space had no extra room for friends and family to congregate.

The Kitchen, After

Here, Hilary added style at every stage, starting from the ground up with wood floors in a herringbone pattern. Contrasting black and white cabinets are topped with creamy white countertops, and extra-large veining on the backsplash brings movement to the room. Hilary chose a large island perfect for gatherings and grandchildren.

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From: Hilary Farr

The Dining Room, Before

The amount of natural light that poured into the house is one reason Hilary fell in love with it. Through all the ups and downs of this project, she kept her focus on maximizing the light.

The Dining Room, After

A live-edge wood table from Duvall & Co., statement-making light fixtures (Bau from Visual Comfort), and of course, an extra-large window make for one jaw-dropping dining room. Bonus: The decorative pocket doors that separate the kitchen from the dining room can be closed to hide any mess while entertaining.

From: Hilary Farr

The Powder Room, After

The original home had only two bathrooms (one of which was in the basement), and not a powder room in sight. Of course, Hillary needed a decadent powder room. Thanks to this Moontide wallpaper from York Wallcoverings, entering this space feels like walking into a piece of agate. A floating vanity with a basin sink, an asymmetrical mirror and sleek, linear sconces add function to the space without interrupting movement from the wallpaper.

From: Hilary Farr

The Main Bedroom, Before

Hilary's home had three bedrooms before the rebuild. They were all relatively the same size and featured neither closets nor bathrooms.

The Main Bedroom, After

Hilary’s main bedroom is a welcome retreat. Soft white walls and neutral fabrics create a calming environment while allowing the outdoors to shine through French doors overlooking the backyard. When working on any budget, decisions must be made. Instead of a full balcony, Hilary opted for a decorative railing so she could have the atmosphere of a terrace without breaking the bank.

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From: Hilary Farr

The Main Bedroom’s Closet

One of the downfalls of older homes is the lack of closet and storage space. Since Hilary had to rebuild, she embraced, arguably, the best feature of most modern homes: a huge walk-in closet. Ample shelving makes for an extra-organized space.

From: Hilary Farr

The Main Bathroom, Before

David and Hilary knew they'd need to steal some space from the bedroom to make this bathroom the luxurious retreat Hilary envisioned.

The Main Bathroom, After

Now, the main bathroom is a true spa experience. The whole space looks as if it’s wrapped in marble, but Hilary has a sneaky and price-smart solution: it’s actually marble-look porcelain. A white vanity, walk-in shower and sleek soaker tub complete the airy design.

From: Hilary Farr

The Grandkids' Bedroom, After

Created for her grandchildren, this sweet space gives each child a twin bed for sleepovers.

From: Hilary Farr

The Grandkids' Bathroom, After

Yep, that’s right. Each bedroom now has its own bathroom — a major plus for hosting guests and resale value (though Hilary swears she'll never sell it). The tub and shower combo, along with the simple, graphic tile will grow with the grandkids.

From: Hilary Farr

The Guest Room, Before

It had the sunlight Hilary loved, but that was about it.

The Guest Room, After

Evoking the cozy-cottage charm she first loved in this home, Hilary decked out the guest bedroom in muted neutrals and calming shades of green. Leaf-patterned curtains nod to the outside. Lightweight, quilted bedding keeps guests cozy and warm.

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From: Hilary Farr

The Guest Bathroom, After

The door to the guest bathroom opens to full-on drama. “I love to give small bathrooms … big design impact,” exclaims Hilary. The bold tile from Ann Sacks certainly makes an impact in this petite bathroom.

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From: Hilary Farr

Love It or List It

Take a Tour of Hilary Farr's New Home as Seen on 'Love It or List It'

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Hilary’s New Digs

The Exterior, Before

The Exterior, After

The Backyard, Before

The Backyard, After

The Living Room, Before

The Living Room, After

The Kitchen, Before

The Kitchen, After

The Dining Room, Before

The Dining Room, After

The Powder Room, After

The Main Bedroom, Before

The Main Bedroom, After

The Main Bedroom’s Closet

The Main Bathroom, Before

The Main Bathroom, After

The Grandkids' Bedroom, After

The Grandkids' Bathroom, After

The Guest Room, Before

The Guest Room, After

The Guest Bathroom, After

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