Houzz TV: A 1961 Home Opens Up to Fearless Color and Fun
“Smelly, dirty, dated and very compartmentalized” is how Heather Banks describes the state of the 1961 fixer-upper she and her husband, Mike, bought in 2012 after seeing it on Craigslist. Mike, a construction manager for PSW Real Estate, and Heather, a photographer, interior decorator and Houzz contributor, took on the project of transforming their home during an eventful period in their lives. “We knew we would have to live in the house for what we thought was a few months as we made plans for an addition and complete renovation, but those few months turned into a year,” Heather says. An addition eventually turned out to be too costly for them, and with a second child due in two months, they decided to renovate instead.
Glorious renovation!
The exterior of the house is about 1000X better... wow - what a transformation.
How about a Houzz story on moving doors and windows; issues, costs, cautions?
@ccaro4 Home Depot actually sells doors now with the inserts. I can't recall the name of the vendor but if you check with the door and windows dept they can tell you.
Colorful, wonderful and so cozy all at the same time. Did not likes were carpeting in daughter's room along with curtains for doors.
I love it! And so glad to see a unique lived-in space, not those overly stylized 'showrooms' that sometimes shows up on Houzz
Fantastic job! Love everything about it!
I love that the family's handiwork is all over the home. And they are NOT afraid of color mixes. The lucite and gold vanity in Zoey's room is quite special. (Don't ever let it go Zoey!) A warm inviting home.
Love the Boston Terriers---the family pet and the artwork!
Looks great. Love the stone work on your exterior too.
I so enjoyed seeing the story of this renovation with the b and a photos. What a transformation. Functional, colorful, and some surprise elements. Like the architectural elements on stairs, and wall openings in dining room. Love the nook desk, and entry way functionality of space. That door color along with the same color shades through out the house. The kitchen is sleek, innovative, farmhouse and cozy at the same time. I really liked the use of subway tiles in bathroom also, Many details in this home that make it comfortable, stylish, livable and fun!
I am curious. Mike is a construction manager and there is an uncle who is a contractor, so why hire contractors for the bathrooms? The seems happy and it is the ideal size for the family.
Thank you for sharing your hard work , especially the before and after pictures, that helps visualize the changes and helped me to maybe take the concepts with me.
I just removed our staircase old-fashioned railings and spindles and had them boxed in. If I could think of a way to make them more "architecturally appealing", I would do that. Excellent, well-designed renovation.
I love the way you opened it up, yet kept separate rooms/spaces rather than one big rectangle of "open concept living". Also, that you kept a dine-in kitchen! It's just so much more homey than an island!
Your whole style is homey - I just don't see that in most Houzz renovations - So tired of that show-room-like look I keep seeing here.
Congratulations - great job!
Builders Choice is the Home Depot Brand.
Wonderful transformation! I appreciate that it is not the typical white/neutral/modern reno project and you have respected the age of your house. You've incorporated a lot of pragmatic touches while adding style and interest. My favourite items are the curved grey banquette, the white vintage screens in the dining room and keeping the counter covered behind the half-wall. The flow is also great. Thank you so much for sharing your ideas!
Love this story and would like to see more stories about mid-century makeovers (particularly split-levels).
Awesome Sauce!!!!!!!!!!! Love it!!
Inside and out, that house is transformed. Real and inviting. I wanted to do high end laminate for our recent addition including the kitchen. Research indicated we should avoid it with our menagerie of cats and dogs. Designer found a gorgeous Turkish, large-scale porcelain the animals have already tested. With over a thousand feet in tile, I'll be a mopping fool, but unlike all the replacement wood we laid in the rest of the house, it can be mopped!
Beautiful!
Could you tell me where you purchased the metal barstools? Thank you!!
This is the kind of remodel that really inspires because it represents great use of existing features and furnishings, while showing how selective purchases can really provide impact. I just love it.
What an outstanding remodel!!!!! I cannot say enough good things about this place! I love the bold use of color, the tile on the island, the wood accents, the bathroom tiles... Everything! Thank you for the jolt of inspiration!
I love this house. Modern, quirky and cozy.
I need that door! Where can I get it?
I did like the curtains for closet doors -- it was an aha moment for me because I've been wondering what to do with a couple of closet doors here in my home! Curtains would work great.
Although the whole place is really nice, what sends it to heaven are these 4 "simple" fixes that really open everything up:
Opening the wall of the old kitchen
Opening the area under the stairway
Removing the ordinary stair railing and installing the vertical wood pieces
Moving the front door and having windows instead by the stairway.
Kudos to Heather and Mike for a really wonderful, personality filled renovation!
Love all your artwork!
I don't like the curtains where the closet doors were in the daughters room, they make it look cluttered and sorry a bit cheap. The furniture in the living room is too big for the space. I do love the banquet in the kitchen. Not a fan of the color of the cabinets in the kitchen but love, love the dogs!!
What a beautiful and original home. Much of what I see online is so boring. THanks for the tour!
Excellent update for a tired, depressing place. No sign of tired now!!
So refreshing to see a family home that isn't terrified of color.
While everything is not exactly to my taste, it is a relief to see a house that uses more than the endless series of whites, off whites, near whites, almost whites, semi-grays, rather grays, beige-y grays, grayish beiges and other beiges that designers are using this decade.
What a cheerful, warm family home! I love how you used less expensive materials and made it looks amazing, like the subway tile pattern in the kids bathroom. Great job!
You did a great job opening up and remodeling the cramped spaces. I've been in many similar homes and it's difficult to do!
Laminate flooring color not to my taste but everything else is fabulous. Love the banquette.
Love the bar stools! Wherever did you find them?
Wow what a great job! I am so glad you stuck with it to get every room done. So often we run out of money or time or interest before getting to a good place. Not crazy about the hanging lamps above the island. They are whimsical but there are so many wonderful options in colored glass that would fit the style of the house. More things for you to think about!
I love the kitchen cabinets and tile choice, and what a nice addition the curtains are in your daughter's room -- makes the space much more friendly. Beautiful home.
I like this home very much. Kudos to the owners for an excellent remodel.
For those commenters who are concerned with laminate floors, I had it (Pergo) installed in my kitchen at least 15 years ago and it still looks great.
Terrific job! Love that it's unique to them and price was an issue. Not all of us have deep pockets. I know too well the would-have-done-some-things-differently post reno feeling, but experience is the best teacher. The banquette is terrific, the wired kerosene lamps really unique, screens in the dining area & the desk nook a great addition. If Zoey doesn't mind curtains in lieu of closet doors then they're a success. Doors can always be added later if she tires of dealing with the curtains. Her room really is a transformation! Master bedroom does look cheerful. One change I would recommend is roman shades. Here's a great one that comes in different patterns. Would look much cleaner and would probably give more privacy. A lot pricier than a roll down shade, but maybe some day....
https://www.blinds.com/p/blindscom-premier-roman-shade/503434
I had to decide on floors for a master bedroom, bath, dressing area, closet and laundry room after removing carpet & linoleum. Was warned about water and laminate so went with a vinyl wood-look plank. House already has too much tile, but I was not convinced I made the right choice till it was in. So far so good and there is a nice soft feel to it. Not "clickey".
Don't know if it's just the photos, but I find the bold contrast of the laminate here clashes a bit with the walnut kitchen cabinets and the living room rug. Maybe in person it blends(?) The flat tops for the dormers was a great idea. I assume they tip down for drainage. I've run into some crazy pre-existing renovations, but never glued on rocks! The master bath is terrific. Think I would have gone with a less contrasting subway tile in the other bath and use accessories for color and contrast, but I'm probably more traditional. LOVE the office and hall rugs. All in all, this couple should be proud of their new digs. I'm sure it was very stressful in light of the baby, but in hindsight problems sort of fade away when you end up with great results.
Original, unique and very well done! the whole house in one style, great flow! I loved the dogs too!
I like what I have seen, very imaginative, interesting and colourful. It obviously pleases the owners, so that is what counts. Never mind what other negative people say.
I enjoyed your "tour". We are moving to an 1966 split-level, which I redecorated and repurposed rooms, but we did not do any true remodeling. It was interesting seeing someone else's approach!
Lots of great ideas. We live in a 1961 ranch as well and are in the midst of a kitchen reno. I love the idea of wallpapering the back of the cabinets where the counter stools are. We were trying to figure out what to do with that surface which was previously painted to match the walls, and now I know!
What a great job - and in a hurry!!!! Wow. Good ideas and execution. Love the kitchen
I'm very impressed by this remodel. I love so many things about it. LOVE all the mid-century modern touches.
I especially like the new exterior, entry and stairway. The kitchen is well done with the creative use of materials and color.
Love it! Shows the homeowners' personality. Well done.
I like complete change a lot!
Amazing job! You can tell you put your hearts into the design and all the work. Such a great family home.
Amazing! Such creativity in re-imaging the flow and uses of space. Lots of great 50's/60's houses get bypassed b/c folks can't see past an awkward layout. This family got improved functionality by moving doors and windows "just a tad". And they kept and added new funky retro touches to keep it authentic. Perfection!
Very nice. It seems like a happy place to live. I feel the same way about my 1968 remodeled split level. It has quirks related to it's age, but it has a very happy feeling which is most important to me. I have the exact same closet doors and I've also been wanting to replace them with curtains!
Fabulous redo. Especially love the exterior, bath and kitchen updates.
"Find the dog."
I always try to get ideas from Houzz articles but this time I just sat back and enjoyed. Then I went back to see what photos had a dog. Obviously the dogs love the photographer. Then before you know it, the happiness of this house and family just rubbed off! The combination of bright colors could have easily come off as tacky but instead it was a joy to see. Thanks for sharing!!!
What a wonderful renovation and beautifully crafted feature article. Rarely are the before and after pictures so helpful to see everything that was done. Thank you for sharing. Original, fun and masterful!
Great to see in Houzz jazzy makeovers on a reasonable budget.
Janet Paik great article and great renovation Mike and Heather! I agree- it does seem to have a cozy, happy feel. Great use of color, LOVE the front door. I'm a big fan of fabric for closet doors- we have them in every bedroom! So fun!
Very nice! I wish I could see the layout of the kitchen before and after. Just looks like the room has gotten longer.
Wonderful, creative, practical, livable home. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Nice job! Love it!
We are in the process of remodeling a 1960 split and I found a lot to like in this video. I particularly love the use of the penny tile on the stairs and I would love to know what tile you used for kitchen backsplash.
Liked everything in the kitchen except the lantern pendants. The rest of the home, though well done is just not my style. It was nice, however, to see color.
cute family, colorful, comfy home
I'm blown away by all the attention to detail. I love this video and what is shows of this family and their home. Great work!
Fantastic job on the renovation!
LOVE what you did! Cozy, beautiful home.
Love your home! Where did you get the bar stools?
You guys have such a good eye for detail. Your house looks very comfortable.
Thanks everyone!! The bar stools are made by a company called Bend Goods :)
It''s refreshing to see a practical, realistic home renovation. Too many seem to be just for magazines or show rather than for life with living breathing humans.
Love the Boston Terriers---the family pet makes it look more complete. wonderful place
What a great space with some brilliant ideas. You have certainly given me an idea of how to bring more light into my dark hallway with those fantastic screens. Brilliance!! Thank you for sharing your home with all of us....
What a refreshing tour! I love all of the bold, personalized features and the great use of space. A creative family in a charming home.
In every shot I find something that I love! Great mid-century features!
@sylvesugg The bar stools are made by Bend Goods: https://bendgoods.com/products/bar-stool?variant=20601812743
Pretty impressive house! I love how you used of the vintage wood screens. The tiled stair risers idea is simply brilliant! Kudos!