Sneak Peek: The Smurf House

Today I wanted to give you guys a glimpse inside a house that I toured and fell in love with over the weekend.  Take a gander at this charming little house dubbed the “Smurf House” (I’m sure you can guess where it got its name).

Sneak Peek: The Smurf House

In addition to being cute, this house is also famous – it won the 2007 Renovation of the Year Award for its conservation district.

Sneak Peek: The Smurf House Sneak Peek: The Smurf House

I love this porch directly off the master bedroom – it feels so Southern, don’t you think?  And the pale blue siding accented with periwinkle is just awesome – I wish fun colors like that would look as perfect on every house!  Although the exterior is picture-perfect, to be honest I wasn’t really expecting to be wowed by the inside of the home.

But I was wrong!

Just inside the front door you are greeted with this unexpected open floorplan – as well as some decor that had me totally swooning.

Glam Dining Room

What I love most about this open living space are the bold choices and unexpected combinations made by the homeowner – the pops of orange in an otherwise muted color palette, a mirrored side table, luxurious silk curtains and statement lighting all work together flawlessly.

Sneak Peek: The Smurf House

I like that the homeowner chose to add modern chandeliers to both the living room and breakfast area – they are in a straight line across the ceiling so instead of competing with one another they simply serve to define the two spaces in an otherwise open floorplan.

Sneak Peek: The Smurf House

I like the kitchen a great deal, but I’m not bowled over in comparison to the rest of the home.  I think it’s the cabinetry that isn’t doing it for me – maybe something in a richer wood tone would have felt a bit more historic and flowed a little better with the furnishings throughout the home.  Or maybe it’s just me!

Sneak Peek: The Smurf House

Sneak Peek: The Smurf House Sneak Peek: The Smurf House

This little dining room is just past the kitchen, and is in its own little world.  I actually really like that – I feel as though the focus would be solely on you and your guests, without the distractions of television or anything going on in the rest of the house.  And it overlooks a great backyard, as an added bonus.  I love the combination of the sleek West Elm circle chairs with the more luxurious upholstered chairs – and they all work well together with their lovely curves.

Sneak Peek: The Smurf House

Sneak Peek: The Smurf House Sneak Peek: The Smurf House

Just off the main living space is a small half bath (under the stairs), and then the master suite.  And not to hype it up too much, but this is probably the best master suite I’ve ever seen in person – it’s awesome!

You walk directly into the master bedroom, which is serene yet bold at the same time with deep chocolate browns and pale blue paired with faux fur and two statement lamps.  The rich curtains act as a focal point behind the bed in place of a headboard, and the door to the right of the bed leads out onto that gorgeous patio you saw above.

Sneak Peek: The Smurf House

On the left-hand side of the master suite is this spa-like bath.  The luxurious and spacious feeling is enhanced by the sliding panels (from Ikea!) which allows the two spaces to either become one or remain totally separate.

Sneak Peek: The Smurf House

This bathroom has all the basics you would hope for in a master bath – double sinks, soaker tub, walk-in shower, and storage.  But beyond that, it has all the little details that you can only dream of – a crystal chandelier, floating vanity, the shower has frameless glass panels, and the soaker tub overlooks a beautiful side yard.

Sneak Peek: The Smurf House

My only complaint has to do with the vanity – have you noticed it yet?  The mirror is about 10 feet away on the opposite side of the soaker tub!  I’m guessing that the homeowner typically uses a small mirror on a stand that remains on the ledge behind the vanity.

Sneak Peek: The Smurf House Sneak Peek: The Smurf House Sneak Peek: The Smurf House Sneak Peek: The Smurf House

On the opposite side of the master bedroom is this totally drool-worthy closet.  I don’t know any woman (or man, for that matter) that wouldn’t give her right arm for a closet like this.  Tons of built-in storage, windows, a chandelier, and an island?  I’m sold!

Sneak Peek: The Smurf House

Sneak Peek: The Smurf House

If you head back to the front door and head upstairs, you are greeted by this lovely capiz chandelier:

Sneak Peek: The Smurf House

At the top of the stairs and on the left is this sunny and funky guest room – I would never have been so bold as to paint the walls orange, but now I’m feeling completely inspired.

Smurf House

I love the combination of orange, white and chocolate – the shock value of the orange is tempered beautifully by the chocolate and white, and keeps what could be a very loud color from screaming at you.  Instead, it just feels rich and eclectic.

Funky Bedroom

This bedroom adjoins a hidden study through the sogi screen:

Sneak Peek: The Smurf House

My favorite part about this study is the antique desk that has been painted a stark white – while some would shudder at painting such a piece (sometimes I feel that way, too), you can’t deny that it both looks fabulous and acts as a neutral yet interesting piece in this space.

Sneak Peek: The Smurf House

The homeowner has clearly learned the lesson of pairing bold colors with only one or two other shades – in this case, the mustard yellow is calmed by white and black for a totally chic look.

Sneak Peek: The Smurf House

At the top of the stairs, between the two bedrooms, is this bath remodeled with a walk-in shower and oodles of glass tile – we all know I’m a sucker for glass tile!!

Sneak Peek: The Smurf House

The last room in this surprising home is the third bedroom, which is glamorous and refined with a bit of an edge.  The element of painted woodwork is repeated with the antique bed, and the mirrored side table and chandelier add a touch of sparkle to the space.  As the homeowner demonstrated in the master bedroom, the combination of chocolate brown and blue (in this case a steel blue) is instantly luxurious.

Sneak Peek: The Smurf House

The sophisticated flair of this room is accentuated with a pair of vintage Barbie illustrations.

Sneak Peek: The Smurf House

And although I didn’t get any pictures of it, this property also had a full guest quarters in the backyard – how cool is that?  Curious about the stats of this house?  Check out the detail sheet below:

picture-13-1

So what do you guys think of this house?  Are you as bowled over as I am, or do you think it’s a little over the top?  While I love it, I’m wondering how I would feel living in a home like this 24/7 – I mean, how would it go with my sweatpants and tank top?

Some images courtesy of GoliadAve.

Our Flip: Before & After

Now that our flip has been fully renovated from head to toe and put on the market, wanna take a peak at all the finishing touches?  Grab a cup of coffee and get ready for an all-access home tour that will knock your socks off!

Here’s what our flip looked like when we first saw it way back in April.  Dreary, dated, and totally hidden are a few of the descriptors that come to mind.  The drab peachy brick and the baby blue shutters were doing absolutely nothing for this diamond in the rough – not that you could even see the house due to the low-hanging magnolias that blocked out so much sun that grass refused to grow over most of the yard.

We're Flipping Out

And here’s how the flip greets you today!!  As you can see, new landscaping (more on that soon!) and a snazzy paint job instantly yanked this house out of the 1960s and into this century.  We also removed the outdoor carpeting, ripped out the old ironwork on the porch and replaced it with a simple wood pillar, which immediately shaved about 3 decades off the appearance of the house.  Now, the light cream paint really pops against the lush lawn, and the cheery red door welcomes you right in.  The simple black accents on the shutters and pillar ground the color scheme, while the nickel finishes on the hardware, mailbox and lighting add a much-needed update to the front porch.

Pick The Perfect Exterior Paint Colors In A Snap

Through the front door, you walk immediately into the entryway.  From that point, you can turn left down a hallway to reach three of the bedrooms and the jack ‘n jill bath, you could go to the right to enter the formal living and dining rooms, or you could continue straight into the den (which leads to the study, kitchen, and guest bedroom and bath).

Forgive me for these next few pictures – I know they leave a little something to be desired!  Here’s how the entryway used to look.  The tacky wallpaper and elaborately swagged crystal chandelier just weren’t working for me.  The standard doorway into the den also left a little something to be desired, as it made the entryway feel cramped and closed off.

Our Flip: Day 1

By simply removing the dated elements and expanding the doorways to the den and the formal living/dining, the entryway became a light, airy and beautiful way to welcome visitors into the home.  (And do you recognize that capiz ceiling light from the hallway in our home??)

Our Flip: Before & After

Our Flip: Before & After

Immediately to the right of the entryway was the dingy formal living and dining rooms, complete with a metallic focal wall – what’s not to love, right?

Our Flip: Before & After Our Flip: Day 1

By replacing the dirty carpeting with gleaming hardwoods, switching out the chandelier, and ripping down the curtains to let in the sunlight, the living and dining rooms now feel current and rich, just as they should.

After - Formal Living & Dining

Through those double doors at the end of the dining room, you immediately walk into what used to be a dark relic from the 60s:

Our Flip: Day 1

With clean new custom cabinetry, granite countertops, hardwood floors and a functional new layout, the new kitchen is practically unrecognizable:

After - Open Kitchen & Breakfast Nook

Like most homes built in the 60s, our flip used to have a closed-in galley kitchen that removed the kitchen from the rest of the house.

Our Flip: Day 1 Our Flip: Some Serious Progress!!

By removing half of the wall between the kitchen and the den, the kitchen is instantly open and airy, perfect for entertaining or feeding the kids meals at the new breakfast bar.  And best of all, now that stunning glass and marble backsplash can be seen throughout the house!

After - Open Kitchen

A great feature of this house is the breakfast nook at the end of the kitchen – who couldn’t use another place to hang out and enjoy a meal?  Unfortunately, the original breakfast nook was . . . um . . . a bit dated.

Our Flip: Before & After

We simply removed the floral chandelier and replaced the existing hutch with a floor-to-ceiling custom pantry, which added ridiculous amounts of storage and upped the attractiveness factor of this little nook.  And check out that snazzy hardware!!

Our Flip: Before & After

And I can’t resist pointing out a few fun features of the new kitchen – check out the trash pullout, the recess for an undercounter microwave, and the vertical base cabinet (on the far right) for cookie sheets!  Ooh, and here’s a little tip for those of you that are having new countertops installed – ask the fabricator to make you a custom cutting board out of the countertop remnants, like the portions cut out for the stove and sink.  You’ll have a gorgeous (and indestructible) cutting board that will blend in so perfectly with your countertops that you can leave it out all the time!

Our Flip: Before & After Our Flip: Before & After

So you may be wondering what was on the other side of that galley kitchen.  Well, here it is.

Our Flip: Day 1

Kind of a letdown, right?  I mean, I love that it has a fireplace, but the room just looked sad – dark paneling, a peachy-pink fireplace, scalloped bookcases and dingy carpeting just weren’t awesome enough.

So we changed it.  A bunch.  New bookcases and hardwood floors, drywall instead of paneling, recessed lighting and a fresh coat of white paint on the fireplace suddenly transformed the cave-like den into a family room just begging for a family.

After - Den

And it has a rockin’ view of the kitchen, so nobody gets left out.

Our Flip: Before & After

Past the breakfast nook (on the way to the garage), is a bathroom and a fourth bedroom.  The bathroom originally housed a toilet, sink . . . and the washer and dryer.

Our Flip: Day 1

The first step was 2009′ing the bathroom with all the fixins from a new toilet to a classic pedestal sink.

Our Flip: Before & After

And then we desperately needed to address the laundry area.  It was just sad.

Our Flip: Before & After

So we got rid of it.  Or moved it, actually – more about that later.  In its place, we added a gorgeous tiled shower/bath – I think the glass diamond accents are my fave!  And it’s awesome that this is now a full bath because . . . the fourth bedroom is right across the hall!!  Now it’s the perfect little guest wing, and guests won’t have to trek across the entire house in their bathrobe – definitely a necessary change (and one that adds value to boot!).

Our Flip: Before & After

So now onto that fourth bedroom.  The built-in desk is a great feature, but the whole room just looked a little dated.

Our Flip: Before & After

A fresh coat of white paint on the built-ins and some new carpet instantly freshened this room into a space perfect for guests, a workspace, or whatev.

Our Flip: Before & After

Through the doorway to the right of the den was this sad little enclosed patio.  Luckily, it was heated and cooled so it added some awesome square footage to the home.  But it was kinda gross, with the original brick walls (and random paneling), creaky sliding doors, and funky blue carpeting.

Our Flip: Before & After

By floating a new floor over the existing slab, we were able to continue the gorgeous hardwoods straight into the study (formerly enclosed patio) for a seamless transition to the rest of the house, which totally increased the open feeling of the entire home.  We also drywalled over the brick walls, added recessed lighting, and replaced the sliding doors with updated French doors to take in the beautiful new view.

Our Flip: Before & After

But the view wasn’t always so lovely.  The slab patio used to be confined and depressing, with a plastic sheeting roof, tired outdoor carpeting, and a brick wall that closed off the patio from the rest of the backyard.

Before - Back Patio

So we tore it all down, all the way to the concrete slab.  Then we added a rustic flagstone patio (to match the new pool coping that you’ll see in a minute), and topped it off with a fun and functional cedar pergola that defines the space and adds a little shade from that Texas sun (and the new homeowners can easily increase the amount of shade if they want by adding canvas right over the top of the pergola, or weaving it in between the cedar slats for a unique effect).

Our Flip: Raise the Flag

The backyard used to be completely overrun by the swampy pool and cracked concrete decking.  And that lone palm tree was just weird.

Our Flip: Backyard Oasis

We totally revamped the pool by adding new 3M quartz plaster in an island blue, fun mosaic tiles in a cobalt blue and earthy brown, and awesome flagstone coping that perfectly coordinates with the new tile.  Chipping up the old concrete decking allowed us to add tropical plantings and lay a grassy lawn that gives the pool a pond-like effect, and will also give the new homeowners a place to play with their kids and pets.

Our Flip: They Can Take the Heat

Back inside, a jack ‘n jill bath is down a short hallway to the left of the entryway.  This bathroom is shared with the second bedroom, and was also intended to be used by guests.  While it was big and spacious with lots of storage and double sinks, in its original condition guests were sure to run screaming for the hills.

Our Flip: Before & After Our Flip: Day 1

We were able to totally transform the bathroom by simply switching out the flooring and adding a new countertop and fixtures.  The existing cabinetry looks amazing with a new coat of crisp white paint, and the new travertine flooring, laid in a brick pattern, is totally gorgeous and makes the bathroom feel even more spacious.

After - Jack 'n Jill Bath

Even though the second bedroom just off the jack ‘n jill bath was spacious, it was a little dingy.

Our Flip: Day 1

With new carpeting and paint, an efficient ceiling fan and lovely crown molding, the second bedroom is now totally inviting.

Our Flip: Before & After

The third bedroom was almost as spacious, but the bright blue carpeting was a huge distraction from its potential.

Our Flip: Day 1

It got the same treatment as the second bedroom, and was spiffed up in a jiffy.

Our Flip: Before & After

This house was simply brimming with storage, like the two large closets on the right-hand side of this hallway that connects three of the bedrooms.

Our Flip: Before & After

Turns out those two closets were the perfect place to add a laundry area for a full-size washer and dryer (and with room left over for a separate linen closet!).  Now the new homeowners will be able to easily wash and dry their clothes without hauling their dirty laundry across the entire house – score!

Our Flip: Before & After

Just past the new laundry area is the master bedroom.  But there was nothing masterful about it in the beginning.

Our Flip: Day 1

So we swanked it up by continuing the beautiful hardwood floors right into the master bedroom.  And as an added bonus, it has a killer view of the pool and all of the gorgeous landscaping.

After - Master Bedroom

Perhaps the biggest eyesore in the entire house was the master bathroom.  It had blinding wallpaper, scallops, paneling, formica, and just about the worst shower I’ve ever seen.  It was going to be a huge challenge.

Our Flip: Day 1

Luckily, we conquered it!!  We ripped out the old cabinets to make room for dual sinks, doubled the visual space of the room with a fab beveled mirror, and added custom cabinets with tons of storage.

After - Master Bath

Like I said before, the shower was pitiful – I’ll spare you a view of the inside, but it felt cramped and was definitely not a place that you’d want to stand around in naked.  I’m just saying.

Homebody Query: Big Bath or Closet Space? Homebody Query: Big Bath or Closet Space?

But with the addition of a frameless glass shower enclosure and oodles of marble tile, the shower is now the showpiece of the master bathroom!  Bright and airy, the glass enclosure adds to the spacious feeling of this gorgeous shower.

Our Flip: Showered with Awesomeness

Our Flip: Before & After

So there you have it!!  How’d you like poking around our flip?  Got any questions about what we did or how we did it?  Ask away!!

For even more behind-the-scenes peeks into our flip, just click here.

This post is shared with Hooked on Houses.

Design Advice: Tiffany’s Tasty Kitchen

Oh goodness, I just love a great kitchen makeover!!  When Tiffany wrote in for a little advice in pulling her kitchen together, I jumped at the chance to whip up a design board for Tiffany and her hubby.  Here’s what she had to say:

Hello!  I just found your blog and I must say, your home is gorgeous!  I love love LOVE your kitchen and den!  My husband and I are actually in the process of redoing our kitchen, we just purchased new countertops and are in the process of picking out paint colors for our walls and cabinets.  My question is, where did you get your backsplash, or, do you have any advice on a backsplash that would look nice with these color countertops . . . Also, if you’re so inclined, I’d love your advice on paint colors (our appliances are white and the floors will be a dark wood).  Thanks SO much!  ~ Tiffany

Before I fill you guys in on all the design quickie-goodness, here’s what this lovely couple is currently working with (minus the scalloped trim, mismatched trim and tired flooring):

Design Advice: Tiffany's Tasty Kitchen

Design Advice: Tiffany's Tasty Kitchen

Design Advice: Tiffany's Tasty Kitchen

Eeek, I’m so excited!!  Talk about great bones, with oodles of ceiling-height cabinets – I’m drooling!!  The look that Tiffany is going for is sophisticated yet comfortable, kind of a Restoration Hardware feel.  You’ll notice that most of the designs that I’ve come up with incorporate mosaic tiles, which add a layer of texture and interest to the kitchen which is really a nice contrast to the flat cabinet fronts.  Okay, here we go!!

Tiffany initially suggested this burnt orange paint color for the walls with off-white cabinets, but was at a loss as to what do to for the backsplash.  Take a look at this warm and inviting kitchen that I whipped up, taking into account her suggestions:

Tasty Kitchen - Option 1

[FYI: the paint colors may vary slightly due to your computer monitor, so be sure to check out the paint chips in person!!]

~ Wall Color: Onandaga Clay, Benjamin Moore

~ Cabinet Color: 1812 Swiss Coffee, Behr

~ Backsplash: SOHO BLEND ™ – Kaleidoscope ® Colorways ™ Mosaic Blends, $9.95 per 1.15 square foot

~ Drawer Pulls: Liberty Satin Nickel Stepped Pulls, $34.99 for 8 pulls

~ Cabinet Knobs: Liberty Satin Nickel Stepped Knobs, $27.99 for 8 knobs

Tiffany’s next option has a completely different feel and is chic, sophisticated and airy, with white cabinets, a shimmering glass backsplash and sleek hardware.  This look would be fabulous with glass canisters on the countertop and silver accents.  While the glass tile is a tad on the expensive side, the effect that it will give the kitchen is priceless.

Tasty Kitchen - Option 2

~ Wall Color: 700E-3 Contemplation, Behr

~ Cabinet Color: W-B-600 Luster White, Behr

~ Backsplash: Easygoing; $15.95 per 0.949 square foot

~ Drawer Pulls: Amerock Manor Pull; $5.97 each

~ Cabinet Knobs: Amerock Manor Knob, Raised Square; $3.97

This stunner incorporates a lot of the same elements as the second kitchen design – white cabinets and sleek hardware, complemented by glass tile.  But in this scenario, the glass tile is much more earthy and is set off by olive walls, and also picks up on the wood tones in the flooring.  I like to think of it as a more neutral, yet equally interesting, version of the very first design.

Tasty Kitchen - Option 3

~ Wall Color: 760D-5 Shortgrass Prairie, Behr

~ Cabinet Color: W-B-600 Luster White, Behr

~ Backsplash: Ivory Iridescent Glass Mosaic Tile; $8.99 per square foot

~ Drawer PullsAmerock Manor Pull; $5.97 each

~ Cabinet KnobsAmerock Manor Knob, Raised Square; $3.97

And last but not least, Tiffany’s final option is casual and understated, with a backsplash in a classic (and totally affordable) white subway tile, updated with black grout for a little pop and interest.  The neutral walls will complement the sand-colored countertops, and the steel blue cabinets provide a great contrast with the more subtle colors in the space.  Finally, the sturdy satin nickel hardware will add a little oomph to the flat cabinetry.

Tasty Kitchen - Option 4

~ Wall Color: 730C-1 White Clay, Behr

~ Cabinet Color: 740E-3 Prelude, Behr

~ Backsplash: 3 x 6 glossy white ceramic tiles; Home Depot has them for 21 cents a piece

~ Drawer Pulls: Belwith Satin Nickel Bungalow Pull; $4.97 each

~ Cabinet Knobs: Hickory Hardware Satin Nickel Bungalow Knob; $4.97 each

Thanks to this Design Quickie, Tiffany has four fabulous options that would look dynamite in her kitchen – all she has to do now is choose!!  I can’t wait to hear what you guys think (especially Tiffany), and go ahead and fill us all in on which plan is your favorite.

Click on the following link to snag some design advice of your very own – Interior Design Services.

This post is shared with DIY Day on A Soft Place to Land.

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