Step Inside This Home With a Modern Ski Lodge Vibe

Steve's friends asked for help with their dated '70s home and the Fords delivered. Leanne drew inspiration from a wood mantel and brought the couple’s dream of a ski lodge in Pittsburgh to life. You won’t believe the before and afters from this reno.

April 08, 2019

By: Deanne Revel

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Before: Cramped, Dated Kitchen

The kitchen had a cramped layout and was walled off from the other family rooms. It made it difficult for the parents to be in the kitchen while keeping an eye on their kids.

Before: Walled Off Dining Room

The formal dining room was awkwardly walled off from the kitchen and the living room to the point that the homeowners rarely used the space.

After: No More Walls

Steve and Leanne blew out the wall between the kitchen and the formal dining room to create one, large eat-in kitchen. After making sure it was safe to take down the wall between the kitchen and the living room, they blew it out, too, creating a super airy, open layout. Now, the parents can be in the kitchen and keep an eye on kids in the living room.

After: Open, Airy Eat-in Kitchen

Using reclaimed wood, Steve created a custom, extra-long farmhouse table just for the homeowners. The light wood complements the metal industrial chairs and dark slate flooring. Leanne chose slate for the kitchen because it’s great for families. It’s easy to clean, makes a big visual impact and is budget-friendly at around $2 a square foot.

After: Rustic-Chic Cabinets

Since most of the renovation budget went to blowing out two big walls, Leanne’s original plan for custom cabinets was scrapped. Instead, the Fords took basic cabinets and gave them a chic facelift with reclaimed wood paneling and concrete countertops. Leanne also saved money by using the same slate tile from the flooring for the backsplash.

After: New Breakfast Nook

With the wall between the kitchen and dining room removed, the homeowners gained bonus space in the kitchen. Leanne created a charming breakfast nook perfect for enjoying a morning cup of coffee.

Before: Dark, Dated Living Room

The homeowners had started to update their living room with a reclaimed wood mantel but hadn’t gotten much further than that. The couple was going for a wintery, ski lodge vibe, but, with little ones, the project had been put on hold. The space was also pretty dark as a result of hiding nonworking patio doors behind thick curtains.

After: Modern Ski Lodge

Steve and Leanne used the couple’s fireplace mantel as a jumping off point for the rest of the design throughout the home. The new living room has a modern, rustic-chic style with lots of neutrals and greenery. The space feels clean, serene and riffs off the mountain life vibe. But the best part is that the wall between the living room and kitchen came down to create a seamless open layout with the same ski-lodge look throughout.

After: Fresh, Stylish Mantel

Sometimes all you need is a fresh coat of paint. Leanne white-washed the '70s faux rock fireplace with a water and paint mixture to transform the eyesore into a statement piece. The couple’s reclaimed wood mantel now pops against the white rocks.

After: Functional French Doors

When Steve and Leanne visited the home for the first time, the homeowners admitted that the patio doors didn’t even work and that they had duct taped them in the winter to keep the draft down. Steve and Leanne replaced the old doors with super-chic, modern French doors that allow tons of natural light into the space.

Restored by the Fords