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.

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Our Flip: Counters Galore

The counters at the flip have been installed!!  It’s definitely starting to look more like a house, and we are thrilled.  It seems like only yesterday that we were shopping for the slabs of granite, marble and travertine.

Remember what the vanity in the master bath used to look like?  A sea of formica and a single dated, drop-in sink:

Our Flip: Day 1

But not anymore!!  Take a look at the vanity in the master bath now:

Our Flip: Counters Galore

Polished crema marfil marble countertops, and two gorgeous undermount sinks.  With new lower cabinets in and the old upper cabinets removed, the vanity is now light and airy and doesn’t feel cramped and out-dated like it used to.  And I’m loving the new sconces and molding – and counting the days until all of that lovely hardware is installed!

The jack ‘n jill bath isn’t looking too shabby, either, with its honed crema claro travertine countertops:

Our Flip: Counters Galore

It still has a way to go before it’s finished, but it’s a huge improvement over how it used to look!

Our Flip: Day 1

But I think the kitchen it still my favorite, although it definitely wasn’t much of a looker in the beginning:

Our Flip: Day 1

Our Flip: Some Serious Progress!!

Our Flip: Counters Galore

Now, the kitchen has just as much storage but it also benefits from a much-improved layout (notice how we moved the fridge and the oven), is open to the den, has beautiful cabinets, and let’s not forget those awesome new granite countertops!

Our Flip: Counters Galore

Our Flip: Counters Galore

Don’t worry, those empty spaces will look much less weird once the new appliances are installed!  I think the thing I’m most excited about in the kitchen is the new backsplash – it’s scheduled to be installed today, so hopefully I’ll be able to show you guys pictures really soon.  So exciting!

Now, I know you haven’t seen the full enchilada yet, but what do you think so far?  Are you as anxious to see the finished product as I am?  Pins and needles, people!

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Our Flip: Granite and Marble and Travertine, Oh My!

Holy moly, Wednesday and Thursday were a flurry of tile-related craziness.  In the past 48 hours we have been to the granite fabricator, the contractor tile place (twice), two different discount tile places (and we went to one of them twice, in two different cities), another tile place, and Home Depot (to two different locations).  A freaking flurry of activity, I tell you!  Not to mention the FOUR times we went by the flip today.  This flipping stuff is serious business!

Luckily, there was some serious eye-candy along the way.  Check out some of these gorgeous slabs of granite that we saw at the contractor tile place:

Our Flip: Granite and Marble and Travertine, Oh My!

Our Flip: Granite and Marble and Travertine, Oh My!

Our Flip: Granite and Marble and Travertine, Oh My!

Seriously, it’s crazy to think that such beautiful materials were dug up from the earth – it’s so awesome!  I drooled, I fawned, I caressed each and every slab.  Then I had a reality check and moved along . . . slowly.

By the end of Wednesday we had picked out the marble countertop for the master bath:

Our Flip: Granite and Marble and Travertine, Oh My!

the travertine countertop for the jack and jill bath:

Our Flip: Granite and Marble and Travertine, Oh My!

and the countertops for the kitchen.

Our Flip: Granite and Marble and Travertine, Oh My!

We also picked out this gorgeous glass and marble tile backsplash for the kitchen (which we picked up on Thursday) – it looks fab with the granite and will be such a great focal point looking from the den into the kitchen:

Our Flip: Granite and Marble and Travertine, Oh My!

For the bathroom off the kitchen, we picked out white subway tiles accented with taupe glass 2 x 2 tiles for the shower walls and 8 x 12 marble tiles in a herringbone pattern for the floor – I can’t wait to see how it turns out!!

Our Flip: Granite and Marble and Travertine, Oh My!

Our Flip: Granite and Marble and Travertine, Oh My!

The laundry area is tiled in a honed travertine (still waiting to be grouted):

Our Flip: Granite and Marble and Travertine, Oh My!

The master bath will be done all in matching marble, with the floors done in 12 x 12 tiles, the shower walls in 3 x 6 subway tiles, and the shower floor in a tiny hexagon tile – I am beyond excited about this bathroom and I hope they’re finished soon so that I can show you pictures!!  Here’s how it’s looking right now (not too exciting):

Our Flip: Granite and Marble and Travertine, Oh My!

We had a minor faux pas with the tile for the master shower – there was a miscommunication with the supplier and they gave us crema marfil porcelain tile rather than crema marfil marble tile.  Both of us just referred to crema marfil, and assumed we were talking about the same thing.  The mistake wasn’t discovered until we lugged those ridiculously heavy tiles back to the house – and the porcelain tile has a distinct grayish cast that doesn’t match the marble – oops!!  That’s the reason behind one of our many repeated trips to the tile place.  Lesson learned – always refer to the full name of the material when you’re speaking with a supplier, and always check inside the box before you leave the store.

Whew!  So busy but so fun.  And I still can’t believe how quickly things are moving along with the flip.  I swear, it’s going to be finished and ready to put on the market before I have a chance to blink!

So now you’ve heard what countertops we chose for the flip – what do you have in your house?

Don’t forget to leave a comment on any post through Monday, June 22, for a chance to win a ton of awesome products from Gorilla Glue in the IGTBH Gnarly Giveaway!!!  More details about the Gnarly Giveaway can be found here.

This post is shared with Hooked on Houses.

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