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BEFORE
courtesy of homeowners The ramshackle farmhouse hadn’t been touched in nearly 70 years. “It was literally falling to the ground,” says Becca.
Keep the Exterior Crisp
David Tsay “I knew we had the right contractor when Steve saw the dilapidated house and his only comment was, ‘Well, this is a jewel.’ ” says Becca. Now all shined up, a new metal standing-seam metal roof accentuates the A-frame shape of the classic Texas farmhouse, while the timeless crisp white and black palette lets the surrounding Texas landscape deliver the color. A new front porch that runs the length of the home provides a welcoming gathering spot for visiting family and friends.
Get the Look:
Siding Paint Color: Extra White by Sherwin-Williams
Trim Paint Color: Tricorn Black by Sherwin-Williams
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Rethink Your Rooms
David Tsay The 168-square-foot living space is so tight that the homeowners chose to outfit it with wicker chairs from Laurie’s Home Furnishings and a vintage bistro table/game table from Old World Antieks as opposed to a traditional sofa setup. In lieu of a dining room, they opened part of a wall to let in more natural light and create a three- seat mini bar/dining area.
Get the Look:
Wall and Ceiling Paint Color: Greek Villa by Sherwin-Williams
Stick to a Palette
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Right Size Your Appliances
David Tsay BEFORE
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Carve Out a “Closet”
David Tsay When closets are in short supply—as in nonexistent—a vintage clothing rack (from Golden Monkey Antiques & Interiors, 281-455-6302) maintains order in the 170-square-foot master bedroom. A vintage trunk from StillGoode at the foot of the bed serves as a makeshift linen closet stocked with extra towels and pillows.
RELATED: Our Favorite Cozy Farmhouse Bedroom Ideas
Bask in the Light
David Tsay At 114 square feet, the so-called “big” bathroom (formerly a bedroom!) begged for a little extravagance. “I liked the idea of having a beautiful cast-iron bathtub in front of those windows,” says Becca. Unfortunately, 100-plus-year-old floors couldn’t support heavy cast-iron, so she went with a fiberglass option. Neutral woven window treatments allow for modesty without blocking all the happy sunlight.
Get the Look:
Bathtub: “The Duchess” by Restoria Bathtubs
RELATED: 30+ Creative Clawfoot Tub Ideas
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BEFORE
courtesy of homeowners Use Every Inch
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Embrace Airy Bed Frames
David Tsay In small quarters, like this 154-square-foot guest room, upholstered pieces tend to eat up a lot of visual space. Here, white metal twin beds, inspired by the classic Jenny Lind silhouette, beautifully blend with the paneled walls while allowing for the sentimental antique settee to anchor the room. Low-profile round tables continue the clean-lined approach, and a striped rug serves up more clever eye trickery.
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Beds: Monarch Hill Wren by Little Seeds
Finish the Attic
David Tsay In order to host the number of guests they wanted, the McDowells couldn’t let any inch go unutilized. Hence the full reno of the 170-square-foot bunk room. Accessible only via the outdoor staircase, the sleep-a-crowd room has four custom built-ins, each outfitted with a ledge “nightstand” and drawers that house linens. A sunny assortment of quilts creates continuity with the other spaces.
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Play With Scale
David Tsay Much of the 85-square-foot bathroom consists of the walk-in shower—an essential after a day spent in the Texas countryside. Its generous size allows for another quilt-like motif: the large-scale 10”-by-10” floor-to-ceiling tiles balanced by the smaller-scale yellow tiles.
RELATED: 50+ Best Bathroom Tile Ideas That’ll Liven Up Your Washroom
Build In a Nook
David Tsay Who says a reading nook requires a window? Built-in seating in the 130-square-foot attic landing offers a cozy place to read a book. A colorful vinyl “tile” rug can handle occasional morning coffee spills.
Get the Look:
Rug: Pattern 33 by Spicher and Company
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