Before & After - The Bryant Avenue Project

It’s not uncommon that my buyers express a genuine desire to renovate when beginning their home search. Part of our initial dialogue is making sure we are leveraged to do just that should the opportunity present itself. This involves exploring the amount of cash on hand, financing options and the plans and specifications that could be required by a lender. It’s worth noting that we have the team in place to accommodate any scenario - whether that’s buying a move-in ready home, renovating or starting from scratch and building your dream home.

Let’s get to the eye candy. After months of looking, my buyers narrowed in on this Peach Dream (as we lovingly coined it). The bones of the home were good, but having served its previous life as a rental, it lacked the warmth and soul that often accompanies an old, character-filled home. My buyers, one of whom serves as a Creative locally in Minneapolis, had a keen eye for what was possible and we set out to bring the vision to life.

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While their purchase idled in pending status, we got right to work assembling the team that would execute their plans. In this case, they served as their own designer making selections and sourcing the finishes that would make the space their own. Closing took place on a bright sunny morning and the painters were underway prepping that afternoon. If you want to read back on the original inspiration for the project, check out this post.

It’s worth noting that executing a project with precision-timing like this one is an intricate process - especially in the peek of construction season. We are fortunate we have established relationships with our sub-contractors who were able to complete the work during the three remaining weeks of my clients’ lease term.

The goal of their renovation was to lighten and brighten while introducing architectural details to the home. We focused our efforts on the main living space, dining room and kitchen.

The living room was bathed in khaki and the original plaster walls were tired. Cracks in the plaster had been neglected leaving the space feeling worn. We added a new layer of fresh drywall to the ceiling and fireplace wall for a super smooth (and no future maintenance) surface. We skim-coated walls where cracking was minor to give the room a polished feel. Clearly my clients killer eye for design made the space sing.

The dated color palette continued into the dining room where the overall aesthetic fell a little flat.

Using the existing window and door casing as a guide, the homeowners designed a board and battan wall treatment that added dimension and interest to the perimeter. The original buffet and walls all went the same shade of white for a monochromatic canvas, which the homeowners styled to perfection.

In the kitchen, the layout and cabinetry worked but the space felt dark with stained cabinetry and the counters weren’t doing anyone any favors.

The homeowners selected a warm gray tone for the cabinetry (Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray), which gave the slightest bit of contrast in the best possible way. New quartz countertops were installed, a more modern single basin sink and we converted the range from electric to gas.

In the end, the space is a perfect reflection of the homeowners, whose thoughtful, stylish and bright personalities shine through. Want to read about other projects we’ve completed with our buyers and sellers? Check out the posts below!