A Creative Remodeling Solution for a Budget-Conscious Homeowner

After five years of owning a roommate-style townhome, homeowner Morgan challenged designers Ty Pennington and Alison Victoria to help her make a plan for her future. Did it make more sense to remodel her townhouse and continue to save money with supplemental rental income, or purchase a single-family “adult home” with space to entertain and grow? In this episode of Ty Breaker, the team maximizes Morgan’s budget and shows how she can buy a new home, and remodel it to fit her lifestyle.

Morgan’s new home is a far cry from her shared townhouse. The single-family dwelling has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, but its single-story floorplan only offers half the square footage. The exterior of stucco and stone facade required no maintenance, so the design team only needed a modest investment to enhance the curb appeal. Stone pathways and new landscaping were used to create a welcoming exterior.

Morgan craved an inviting space where she could entertain friends and family, and host holiday meals. She gravitated towards open concept floor plans that would allow her company to congregate. Her new home was small – only 1,200 square feet – but Alison Victoria saw its potential and redesigned the space to bring the kitchen, which was formerly in the back of the house, into the front of the home. The great room serves as an entryway, family room, and eat-in kitchen.

Floor-to-ceiling white curtains and rich, inviting upholstery were used to enhance this small family room sitting area in the front of the home. Soft textures in the pillows, throws, and carpet add warmth, while large windows help the space make the most of the natural daylight. The great room offers comfortable seating, making it an easy space for relaxing without complicating the natural flow of traffic.

Situated at the end of the great room, black barstools and a convertible oak countertop work together to transform the room into a space that’s perfect for entertaining. A kitchen island was high on Morgan's wish list, but the large peninsula works within the available space and offers plenty of room for guests to gather. The sink is centered on the peninsula, flanked by plenty of prep space for cooking large meals. The peninsula design also made it possible for the designers to incorporate tons of kitchen storage – there are accessible cabinets on both sides!

Designer Alison Victoria used traditional white shaker cabinet doors and an adaptable magnetic subway tile backsplash to make the kitchen a classic space that could grow with Morgan. The quartz countertop was fabricated to be matte and textured (it's an easy way to enhance the look of a builder-grade surface). As Morgan’s tastes evolve (she’s only 30!) she can make gradual, affordable updates to the space without fully remodeling. Such upgrades include updating the backsplash, refreshing the look with new hardware or changing the door fronts as her style changes.

The team was able to deliver on Morgan’s wish to have a double-wall oven – perfect for entertaining – and a customized cutting board drawer over the garbage can with a drop-through hole to make cleanup a breeze while she’s prepping for company.

Directly off the kitchen and down the hallway to the right, Morgan can access the other rooms in the home. Her master suite, located at the end of the hall, replaces the former kitchen. The other bedrooms in the home remain available for roommates, should she continue to want to supplement her income, or space for guests.

Morgan’s townhouse was severely lacking in storage, and both designers made every effort to accommodate her wishes for a dreamy retreat. Large enough for a king-size bed, tranquil and enjoyable after a long day at work, and with plenty of storage, the bedroom was dressed to impress. Ty Pennington took creative liberties in the space and illustrated a delicate mural behind the wicker headboard to add a feminine touch to the room.

A luxurious spa-like bathroom was a bonus of Alison Victoria’s design. By purchasing a new home, Morgan had the budget to accommodate the construction of a main bathroom off her own bedroom. To carry the wide-plank oak floorboards into the main bath, the team used moisture barriers to make the products durable and long-lasting.

The main bathroom in Morgan’s suite includes a deep, luxurious bathtub positioned inside the shower. Gold fixtures, marble tile, subway tile in a herringbone pattern and a statement-worthy shower curtain transform what might be an ordinary bathroom into an extraordinary bathroom retreat.