What did I learn from this project? Renovating a small house (it's only 750 square feet) is hard. Probably harder than a bigger home, because every square inch matters. Storage, living space, amenities...... it all makes a bit difference. I spent lots and lots of time figuring out how to maximize everything!
How did we do it?
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| Transforming 1960's ranch curb appeal to cottage style |
Inside, the biggest change was in the living area. We knocked out the wall between the living room and dining room. We ripped out the old ceiling (a really big job that required a whole new rafter system and ridge beam) to create a big open space, complete with a reclaimed wood beam and skylight.
A highlight of the living area is the board and batten wall, which gives the room some added architectural interest.
And once that was done, we installed a brand new kitchen.
New cabinets, quartz countertops with an updated subway backsplash and lots of reclaimed wood all tie together to give this kitchen some style.
Using this antique window to create a built in, adds so much character to the room.
But we didn't stop there. Here's the before bathroom.
We did a to-the-studs gut of the bathroom. That let us move fixtures, add lighting, Velux Sun Tunnel and more.
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| Living Room - Before |
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| 1960 Ranch Living Room - After |
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| New vaulted ceiling required a lot of work! |
And once that was done, we installed a brand new kitchen.
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| 1960 ranch kitchen - Before and After |
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| Kitchen looking towards living room 'Before' |
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| Kitchen looking towards living room 'After' |
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| Living Room looking towards Kitchen 'Before' |
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| Living Room looking towards Kitchen 'After' |
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| Quartz Counters with updated subway tile |
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| Custom Reclaimed Wood Stove Hood |
But we didn't stop there. Here's the before bathroom.
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| Bathroom - Before |
We did a to-the-studs gut of the bathroom. That let us move fixtures, add lighting, Velux Sun Tunnel and more.
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Bathroom - After |
The hexagonal marble floor is one of my favorite features! (click here for more info and sources)
The bedrooms didn't get major structural work, but new windows, doors, hardware and molding made a big difference (click here for info and sources).  |
| Master Bedroom - Before |
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| Back Bedroom - Before (we replaced that narrow transom window) |
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| This new window made a huge difference in the back bedroom |
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| Installing a basement waterproofing system was critical |
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| Yeah.....there were a LOT of cobwebs!!! |
We left the majority of the finished basement as an open space - to use however the new owners want. In our case, I staged it as a kid's playroom
and a media room.
We also created a big laundry room, with lots of built in storage.
But my favorite feature? This half bathroom with an antique sink that I spent weeks refurbishing. (What's it take to transform a nasty old basement? A lot! Click here for details)
But to really appreciate the Before & After, check out this 3D video tour. It's so cool! It lets you walk through the space and really see the difference!
Can you believe the difference? Is this a Cozy Cottage you'd want to live in? To see even more of the process, scroll back by date on the lefthand margin.
Thanks so much for following along on this adventure. We'll be turning the keys over to the new owners shortly!
Want to see more? We have just started a new small ranch transformation. Click on the SoPo Cottage logo at the top of the page and scroll through for all the info. Or for regular updates, follow us on Facebook or Instagram! That way you'll see all the details!
