Our 1979 split level/ raised ranch/ bilevel home on Lake Street has always felt like home for us since the moment we first laid eyes on the inside. We’ve had to practice a lot of patience as many issues piled up on us as soon as we became owners, (like master shower leak that can’t be fixed unless shower is replaced, sewer backup into our basement, a leaking chimney, leaks everywhere actually, and water that pools in the backyard.)
You can read all about the story of our home here.
Despite of all that, we are still as in love with this house as ever. It has just taken a lot longer to get to the renovating than we planned. Here is our ever so humble progress.
The Exterior
Something about the exterior always bugged me when I looked at our home. It wasn’t until we removed the shutters to give them a makeover that I realized what it was.
Shutters just don’t look right on our double windows. Removing all that white instantly upgraded our curb appeal.
Plans for Curb Appeal:
- Paint the brick
- Make board and batten shutters for the outside, single windows.
- Replace front doors
- Upgrade lighting
- Upgrade sidewalk with a curved stamp concrete path
- Make the columns chunkier and square
- Replace the roof with a more neutral color
Foyer
The foyer is one of the oddest things about split level homes. They are usually dark, small, awkward, and have a lot going on. You immediately enter in the front doors to a tiny landing with two sets of stairs staring at you. It’s like you are at a crossroads trying to figure out which direction to go.
Foyer Plans
- Replace front doors
- Replace lighting
- Find the perfect runner
- Redo stairs
- Redo flooring
- Possibly knock down wall where our hall closet is to open it all up
- Add a handrail
Living Room Plans
The awkward living room was one of the reasons I fell in love with this house. I love all the quirky character and I know with a little love and vision this space can be the heart of our home.
Plans to makeover this space include:
- Knocking down wall beside fireplace and opening up living room into kitchen
- Making a peekaboo opening on the other side of the fireplace into the kitchen
- Creating built ins to frame the window on the far wall with a built in window seat. Also, creating a cozy sitting area in front of the windows.
- Painting/ lime washing/ white washing brick on fireplace
- Update lighting
Kitchen/ Dining Room
We have not touched the kitchen yet. Now that the kids are getting older and we are starting to have the time to take on a remodel of this magnitude, it is moving up on the list.
Kitchen Plans
- Paint the walls the same shade of Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray as the living room/ foyer/ hallway
- Expose part of the brick fireplace into kitchen after wall is knocked down
- Paint cabinets
- New countertops
- New appliances
- New flooring
- Creating a peekaboo or pass through window between living room and kitchen near the corner by the stove
- New table
- New barstools
Hall Bath
Our Son’s Room
Our Daughter’s Room
Master Bedroom
“Master” Bathroom
Mudroom
Laundry Room
Garage Workshop
Basement Family Room
Playroom
Backyard
