Software
Houzz Logo Print
sorndorff93

Help: Renovating a 1970's BHG Mid-century Kit Home

10 months ago

We bought a Better Homes and Gardens Vacation Kit home in Gainesville, Florida. Trying to decide how to spend the renovation $ with so many things to do. After A/C & ductwork redone and sunroom moisture issue resolved and redone, we have about $70,000 left to renovate the rest of the house. We are looking into converting the carport into a living room and create a new more visually appealing front door. Currently the front door is in the middle of the carport with windows open to the carport from the floating stairs. It is only a 3 br, 1 1/2 ba so we would like a 4th bedroom on first floor with another full master bathroom, but that may not be feasible right now. We are open to ideas on enhancing the front of the house and advice on carport conversion vs. sticking with the 1700 sq ft we have and making it work. I love the mid-century look with courtyards and hidden areas, simple native landscaping and as eco-friendly as possible.



Comments (14)

  • PRO
    10 months ago

    Not MCM but surely modern. To add an addition will eat every penny you have and then some . How badly do you need 4 bedrooms ? I lkke the looks of the house as it is and any additions will need to be very well designed to avoid really ruining the look of the house . Remove the bark mulch and get a good landscape designer IMO a much better use of some of that money

    Steph Orndorff thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
  • 10 months ago

    Thanks. Thoughts on creating a better front door entry than in the middle of the carport?

  • 10 months ago

    And yes we tore out about 20 overgrown Viburnum and Lagustrum shrubs that were the size of trees (30' tall) surrounding the house so we could start from scratch. Mulched just to keep the weeds and mud down for now. :-)

  • 10 months ago

    Is the front door under the carport?


    What is your elevation? Will any new flood-prevention code requirements kick in for a higher foundation of new living spaces?

  • 10 months ago

    It is under the carport. And I do not know of any restrictions. We have had multiple design and contractors out and not heard of any.

  • 10 months ago




  • 10 months ago

    Our pool is on the other side of that back half wall in carport which is why it would be nice to open that carport up and have a nice view and access to pool. Plus possibly an extra bedroom/bathroom downstairs or just a larger living space. But maybe cost-prohibitive. Laundry is in the carport also (not fun) but there is plumbing out there (good). If too expensive could consider more of an indoor/outdoor space and make the entry to house more inviting somehow. But we do have a sunroom off the back that overlaps the pool as well.


  • 10 months ago



  • 10 months ago

    Thanks for info and additional photos. The current budget may cover a carport conversion or one additional room but not both. I suggest you live there a full year before choosing between an additional master suite and a second living room. If you can find good contractors whose work you have seen and liked, that's a big step forward. Also, you can do a search online for houses built from the same BHG kit to see what kind of alterations people have made. Check with BHG to see availability of their archives of floor plans from the year your house was marketed.

  • PRO
    10 months ago

    This question would be better answered if there were a plan to reference.


    They call it a Car Port in Florida, but any where else it would be referred to as a Porte Cochere over the entry. As a person living in Florida, I would not lose the function of that because of our rainy season. Looks like you have a shed supporting the roof. Is that for tools or did they place the laundry out there?


    Your entry door needs to be dolled up & perhaps better lighting under the roof, but that's easily doable.


    You should concentrate on expanding bed and bath where they are currently located on the 2nd floor. If you want another bath, getting the plumbing through a slab will eat up your budget, if it's even an option. By have the additional space and bath on the second floor, you'll have the space below the floor for plumbing. You could probably create a master suite above the Porte Cochere. See image below. Your money will go further on a 2nd floor addition.



    I found more kit homes like yours online ranging from $187k in Arkansas to $575k in Tallahassee. It's a nice home. Don't screw it up!!!!!








    Steph Orndorff thanked BeverlyFLADeziner
  • 10 months ago

    Thank you Beverly. Oh my goodness, to see those pictures and the idea of a master suite above carport. Very clever and I had not thought about it before. In your opinion is there any of those pictures where you think they screwed it up? And the laundry is in the storage area in the carport.


  • PRO
    10 months ago
    last modified: 10 months ago

    Steph, I don't think any of the houses can hold a candle to what you have. Of course I haven't seen how the inside is configured, but I like the exterior very much. I might consider painting the lower portion a more stone like color instead of that 'Flesh Color' but it can be lovely.


    This is pretty rough, and you'll want to configure the windows differently but you get the idea. You can show this to an architect or contractor and they can tell you if it can be done.


    Take your inspiration from the Hollywood Regency homes. See below. Your home doesn't need to be this formal but dolling it up a bit will go a long way.

    Do you have the plans? I'm been searching online and cannot find anything noted as Better Homes and Garden Kit House plans in a style close to yours.







  • PRO
    10 months ago

    Here's your entry painted, new carriage lights, plantings, some downlights in the ceiling so every one knows where the entrance is at night.


    Where do you park your car? with that barrier there is no way to get any more than two cars under the car port and that blocks the entry. I think you need to address that issue at the same time.

  • 10 months ago

    We do have the plans and the interior is challenging with a utility closet with A/C, water heater and electrical right in the middle of the house. so smaller rooms around the donut hole that is a utility closet and powder room. thank you i love getting ideas!