Photos by Paul Flessland
In 2009, a movie came out that changed my life forever, though I was not aware of it at the time. The movie was “It’s Complicated” and it featured Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin. The comical plot featured a divorced couple that falls back in love while planning their daughter’s wedding. Now, do I enjoy a good comedy and a predictable love story? Well, heck yes. But it was not the love story or the laughter that mesmerized me with this film. It was the house and the garden.
> Related: Create unexpected indoor gardens with Maria’s crafty ideas.
Farmhouse | Before
The Universe vs. Good Intentions
The images have stuck in my head so much that this spring we decided to start the process of looking for a home in the country. While we vowed to take it slow and not rush into anything, the universe had another plan. Good intentions fly right out the window once you start house shopping. If you are like me, you get a little house crazy and start falling in love with everything you see. You will also find the house you want before you have even put your current one on the market. Which is exactly what happened during the busiest week of our entire year this past April.
The Offer
While preparing for the Eco Chic Design conference and knowing very well that in five days we would be welcoming Chip and Joanna Gaines from HGTV’s “Fixer Upper” into our current home, we were informed our offer was accepted and we needed to have our current house on the market in 12 hours if we wanted the chance to hold on to the house we wanted to purchase.
Love Letter
We were also informed that other offers were being written on the house and that it might be helpful to write a letter to the current owners letting them know a little about us and how much we loved their home. As fate would have it, our house sold in three days. We finalized our purchase agreement and everything was set in motion for a June 3rd closing on both homes. It was then that the current owner of the house we were buying asked to meet the new owners of their home. You see, the couple selling the house had been on this property since 1961 and built this current home in 1978 and had never had any children. It was very important to them that they make a connection with the new owners and get to meet the faces behind the names on the letter they received.
> Related: Maria’s DIY project on creating the perfect patina to give your furniture an antique look.
Grateful History
I arrived at the house before my husband, Tate, and introduced myself, saying that he would be quickly behind me. It was then that the lady of the house asked, “Is it Harold’s son?” With a quivering lip I responded, “It is Harold’s son.” She then replied, “We hoped it would be.” You see, Harold was Tate’s father who passed away a few years ago. To say that he was a remarkable man is an understatement. This family recognized our last names and had known Tate’s dad years ago. When Tate walked in the door, they commented how much he looked like his father. So the love we felt for our new home quickly turned to a love for those who built it. We spent the next three hours touring the property, discussing garden-planting strategies, eating grilled cheese sandwiches (that is a story all its own) and sitting in the solarium, discussing what would stay with the house and what would go with them.
The Farmhouse Project Begins
We knew before meeting the family that we had purchased a fixer-upper and would need to spend a lot of time and money bringing this house into 2015. You see, the house is perfectly stuck in 1978. And when I say perfectly, I mean everything is in perfect condition. The love and care that has been given to this house over the years is remarkable. It is almost a shame to remove all of the elements for the simple sake of updating. So in true Eco Chic fashion, I’m going to find ways to work some of them into the new design.
After meeting the original owners, our plans changed from just updating the house to updating with respect for the beauty of not only the home but the couple who built it. We discussed some of our plans with them and were given complete freedom to do what we wished. They said many times, “It is your house now. Make it your own.”
And with that, we began the process that will be chronicled here in the pages of Design and Living over the course of the upcoming year, with a final reveal and celebration this time next year. (Unless Tate and I kill each other before then. Just kidding…sort of).
My hope is that we inspire you to try your own renovations. Whether it be a large undertaking, such as remodeling a kitchen, or something small like freshening up your décor. I want you to not be afraid to tackle your own projects.
I want you to find joy again within the walls of your home. With that said, let’s take a look at where we are beginning and give you the first look at the first room completed in this process.
Rocky Discussions
There has been much discussion about the rock on the outside of the house. I must say it is split down the middle as to whether it is awesome or awful. While I appreciate the beauty of rock, I feel it is time to let it go. So I believe, as of now, I’ve won this one.
Exterior Honey-Do List:
Paint the siding Replace the rock
New front door
New large window off the front
Deck inside the courtyard
Pergula and fire pit out front
The Kitchen
I already know what you’re thinking. White cabinets, farmhouse sink, big island. Well, you are correct. These are just a few of the changes slated for the kitchen, along with a few similarities to the house in “It’s Complicated.” I know it was just a pretend house, but I plan on making some of it a reality. After all, the kitchen is the heartbeat of any house and it should beat loud and clear.
The Cedar Room
Ok, you ready for this one? This is the room everyone is dying to see. We affectionately call it the cedar room. Our friends call it the Game of Thrones room. Either way, I have a feeling I’m hosting Christmas this year. This room is just off the dining room and kitchen, and as you can see, it has lots of space. We haven’t decided yet what this room will become, but I have a few ideas and some of them include painting it all white. I know, I know. All the men reading this just collectively groaned. But I can promise you it will be ok.
The Bathrooms
Let’s move on to the bathrooms. You are going to love this. There are three bathrooms in this house: a yellow one, a green one and a blue one. And we affectionately refer to them by color. I love it. But the color has to go, along with the carpet. Take a look and you will see what I mean.
Bathroom Renovation 1
See, I told you! Not only are the tubs this color but the toilets match. We tackled the green bathroom first because it is the master. We felt that by doing this, it would give us some sense of completion and a finished place to appreciate while the rest of the house is torn apart. We also chose it because it is on the upper level, and we felt that by starting and working top-down, we could minimize the damage to the lower level.
You ready for the first reveal? Let’s take a look at the “Green Bathroom” today.
Reveal | Bathroom Renovation #1
I’m so pleased with how it turned out. Ok, I’m more than pleased. This morning I took my cup of coffee upstairs and just sat in the bathroom while I drank it. Is that too weird? It feels very serene and calm, and that is what I was going for. I might drink my coffee in there every morning from now on. Just kidding. I won’t.
In the bathroom, we decided to go with a custom shower and remove the tub because there are two other bathrooms that will have tubs. Since this bathroom is long and narrow, we wanted to maximize the space. We also decided to go with only one sink instead of two. I know it seems unconventional, considering Tate and I both use this bathroom, but our schedules are different and we rarely fight over sink space. But what I did want was more counter space so my blow dryer wasn’t falling in the sink while I was trying to get ready in the morning. So we moved the one sink to the left, which left lots of space for makeup-applying and all that important stuff.
Many thanks to the guys over at Granites Unlimited for finding us just the right quartz countertop and working with our tight deadline. They were exceptional.
On a sidenote: What you might notice missing in this picture is a glass shower door. That is because Maria forgot to order it. (I always talk in third person when I get upset with my- self). The guys were just out this morning measuring and we will be sure to show you another photo down the road when that is in place.
If you look closely, two things did not change. We decided to keep the old vanity. We did this for a couple reasons. It was in good condition and a nice solid piece of cabinetry. We also found that it made no sense to spend $800-$1,000 on something that really only needed some minor changes, and this could be easily fixed for less than $50. We added another four inches to the vanity top so it could hold an under-mount sink and be more comfortable to work off of. We also changed the color by giving it a quick paint job with Chalk Paint.® The handles are the same as before, just given a few coats of canyon black spray paint to match the other fixtures in the bathroom.
The other element that we kept was the lights. Given that we didn’t change the configuration of the bathroom, the placement of the lights was perfect for the new mirror. We also wanted to keep some of the original charm of the space, and I think they are just lovely.
Green Bathroom Wrap-Up
Overall, I must say the project went very smoothly. We had great contractors that showed up on time and performed excellent work. I know you don’t hear this often, but we took our time finding them and went for experience and kindness during our search. For a complete listing, check out our blog. I’m almost afraid to give out their names because we have a lot of work left ahead of us, and I kind of want to keep them to myself. But I won’t because they deserve the praise.
This is only the beginning of this process, and while it can feel overwhelming at times, we are trying to settle in and appreciate each little detail as it comes together. I was slightly (read: completely) stressed about halfway through when my friend, Linda, visited me and gave me some good advice. She suggested that I take it slow and enjoy the process. It doesn’t all have to be done today. She also gave me some great money-saving tips that I’ll be sure to use and share with you as the process unfolds. Thanks, Linda. I promise to invite you back over for apple crisp when the kitchen gets torn apart, although coffee might not be strong enough to calm my nerves then.
> Related: Maria shows you how easy it can be to create unique seating for your home.
Stay tuned!
Did I mention we are going to have a party when this is all completed? We are going to throw a dinner party with Design and Living in the backyard and invite you to see the house. We aren’t sure how this will all work out but stay tuned for the details as the year unfolds. My hope is that through our journey, you will find the courage to tackle your own projects and one day be sitting in your own bathroom drinking coffee and admiring the view. Cheers! Here’s to a home that hugs you.
What’s Next?
In the December issue, you will see us tackling the upstairs living room. We’ve already begun painting the dark trim white, and I can hardly wait to show you that room. It is amazing what a little paint can do to a space.
The post DIY With Maria Bosak: The Farmhouse Project Pt. I appeared first on Fargo Monthly.