DESIGN POINT
RENOVATION ROCKSTARS
W hen Kourtney Wiley and Emily Watts started their kitchen makeover, they were dealing with a small, cramped, dark kitchen space complete with aged vinyl flooring, weathered (and not in a good way) cupboards, and imposing exposed brick walls. “We completely flipped that kitchen’s aesthetic,” Emily said enthu- siastically of the project, which included removing several walls, covering the brick with a herringbone backsplash, and adding what Kourtney accurately referred to as “a massive kitchen island.” The two knew the project would be big from the outset. The home was an estate, and the son revealed that his parents, the former owners, had never changed anything other than periodi- cally replacing the roof and windows. “That meant original paint, original carpet, original fixtures, and plenty of original wallpaper dating the house,” observed Emily. “Also, the owner before the parents had done a lot of handyman projects, which created addi- tional costs,” she said. Perhaps as impressive as the overhaul was the timeline: The project was completed in just four months and the two spent just under $62,000. The two noted that the project fell into the cate- gory of “light rehab” for them, and the images show that light is exactly what they brought into the property. The open concept in the kitchen extends to the adjacent living area, which was previ- ously also quite dark and cramped. “We were so proud of what we accomplished with this space. Even better, the property is already under contract!” Emily said. RENOVATION TAKEAWAY: SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST Emily says, “The before-and-after is always my favorite part of a renovation. We had the pleasure of bringing the family back to the home when we had completed the renovation and they were so happy to see that their parents’ home would now make another family happy. It’s a wonderful feeling to know that you have taken a beat-up home and made it beautiful not just for a new family, but also to help the community and the value of other homes in the neighborhood. WHAT’S NEXT? Since Emily and Kourtney listed the property as “for sale upon completion” and kept the company Facebook page updated as the impressive remodel progressed, it is no surprise that the home is already under contract. “The new buyers will have a new home for the holidays,” said Emily gleefully. “We are so happy with the way that this renovation turned out. We cannot think of one thing we would change.” KOURTNEY WILEY & EMILY WATTS Southern Maryland Homebuyers
BEFORE
BEFORE
Up top, the full impact of Emily’s “massive kitchen island” is fully in evidence. Above and to the immediate left, details like the herringbone backsplash and bright, white cabinets come to the fore. Far left, the original kitchen’s cramped, dark state clearly leaves much to be desired.
98 | think realty magazine :: year end 2017
thinkrealty . com | 99
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker