When the house at the end of the cul-de-sac hasn’t changed in 28 years, it’s time for some front porch rehab.
This house belongs to Jeff and Eliese McAllister. The couple, known as Lolli and Pop to their grandchildren, want to update the front porch on “Camp Lollipop” so their grandchildren can enjoy their front yard as much as their children did while growing up.
The porch is blocked off by tall shrubs and is too narrow for the couple to comfortably sit and watch their grandchildren play.
And that’s where we can help!
The Projects
“Open concept” isn’t just for interiors! We’re opening up this front porch.
Opening Up the Front Porch
Removing the shrubs and handrails blocking Jeff and Eliese’s front-yard view is our first big job.
We have to pressure-wash the house to create a clean slate to start our work. Jeff and I remove shrubs, with the help of the couple’s grandsons, while Chelsea and Eliese tackle the handrails.
This is what happens when your wood isn’t treated before painting or staining it.
Because the wood handrails aren’t treated, they are rotting away. So, knocking them out with a sledgehammer is the best way to open up the porch — and, maybe, release some tension along the way.
After removing the handrails, we apply putty and sand the columns so it’s like they were never there, to begin with.
Repairing siding isn’t just a cosmetic fix; it can prevent bigger problems later on if the elements enter your home.
Repairing the Shutters and Dormers
This curb appeal makeover requires more than opening up the front porch. We’ve noticed some problems that needed immediate fixes!
First, we repair the ground floor’s damaged shutters. Then, we get up on the roof to repair siding on the dormers. Of the 12 shutters on the front of this house, just one set has a little wood rot. So, Jeff doesn’t want to replace them all.
Since none of these pieces were standard lumber sizes, we had to cut them down on the table saw. Chelsea used the old pieces as a pattern to cut new pieces from the fiber cement material.
A Woodcraft WoodRiver General Purpose Carbide Tipped Saw Blade comes in handy when you need to make custom cuts.
This front porch is coming along, but it could use more character. We will paint the porch to add some.
Painting the Front Porch
After all the repairs were done, we put a fresh coat of paint on the siding, trim and front porch ceiling. The green shutters clashed with the red-tinted wood door, so we painted them gray to tone it down.
The painted pattern adds a pop of color to this front porch.
The concrete on the front porch has seen better days. Instead of gutting the concrete, we painted a pattern on it using a stencil! It’s a great way to give your concrete a fresh look without breaking the bank.
Spreading out the new flowerbeds adds to the open feeling.
Planting New Flowerbeds
Next, we added some fresh landscaping. Before, the plants were too concentrated at the front of the porch, so we spread them out to maintain the open space feel.
Finally, we put down a fresh layer of pine straw to finish off the flowerbed.
We also:
Added address numbers to the porch column
Removed the intercom/doorbell
Installed a new porch light
Installed soffit vents
Replaced the rocking chairs
“Today’s Homeowner” hosts Danny Lipford and Chelsea Lipford Wolf, pictured with Jeff and Eliese McAllister.
Post-Production Thoughts
This front porch rehab really brings things full circle: Jeff and Eliese’s kids grew up here, and now they’re seeing their grandkids grow here.
At one point, the couple thought about selling the house. But with this new front yard, they’re happy to be able to stay in the home they raised their kids, and now, their grandkids as well.
We’re transforming a shed into an art studio for homeowner Linda Johansen.
Linda is native to Mobile, Ala., and has settled in Fairhope, Ala., after adventuring around the world with Delta Airlines. She has gradually redone her home one room at a time but needs a little help with her shed — and we’re happy to help!
Linda’s shed has great potential for an artist’s oasis!
Preparing the Shed
For prep, we didn’t have to do too much. Linda helped us out by cleaning out as much as she could so we could get right to the renovation.
We start by removing the siding that faces the street to close up the door. By closing up the door, both security and more room for Linda’s shed.
By removing the siding, we can now close up the door to create more space.
We also remove the small concrete ramp leading to the door. It’s rare if the slab of the concrete floor and the ramp are poured at the same time. Since there’s no line between the ramp and the concrete slab, I’m using a saw to score it so the ramp has a clean break.
Chelsea and Linda get busy sanding the cabinets.
Refinishing the Cabinets
Linda has the original kitchen cabinets that came with her home. Like us, Linda hates to waste perfectly good furniture. So instead of getting rid of the kitchen cabinets, we’re refinishing and putting them in Linda’s she-shed!
The new color Linda chose for her cabinets makes the space pop.
Chelsea and Linda took to sanding the old cabinets and painting them a fun shade of blue. This shade of blue is actually color matched from one of Linda’s pillows and makes the space pop more!
The new potting bench adds more character to Linda’s she-shed!
Adding a Potting Bench
To add more of Linda’s personality to the shed, we’re building a free-standing potting bench. It enhances the appeal of the shed from the outside while also allowing storage for Linda’s garden tools.
With the potting bench in place, Linda’s shed is now a home for all of her hobbies!
“Today’s Homeowner” hosts Danny Lipford and Chelsea Lipford Wolf, pictured with Linda Johansen.
Production Thoughts
When we first saw Linda’s shed it was attractive on the outside but had yet to reach its potential on the inside. Linda needed a space for her creative side to paint and garden as she pleases.
By covering up the door facing the street, we created more wall space for functionality. The refinished cabinets add a pop of color and creativity to this artist’s shed. And the potting bench on the side of the shed adds even more of Linda’s personality to her hobbies!
Other Tips from this Episode
Products Featured in this Episode
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In this episode, we’re bringing a vintage 80s brick home into this decade with an exterior refresh.
Homeowner Kim Hetzman and her three children live in this home that her children have deemed ‘the hot dog stand.’ (The nickname comes from the awnings that resemble a hot dog kiosk.) Needless to say, Kim is ready for a change and we’re more than happy to help!
To make Kim’s home stand out and boost its curb appeal, we limewashed the exterior bricks.
Limewash is a mix of lime, minerals and water that applies directly to brick and actually soaks into the brick instead of sitting on top of it. It’s easy to apply and creates a beautiful rustic look on any brick surface.
The brick needs to be wet before applying the limewash. We used a sprayer to apply the limewash to speed up the process a little bit, but this can also be done with a masonry brush.
After letting it dry for about 15 minutes then you can go back and remove some of the limewash with water in selected spots.
A clear sealer protects the shutters from water damage and maintains the wood’s natural color. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
Building New Shutters
Kim and Chelsea build new cedar shutters for Kim’s home. They look timeless and add some vintage charm.
Chelsea creates a jig using a few stop blocks to slide the shutter components in place and so she won’t have to measure every piece. The shutters are built upside down; this way, no nail holes are noticeable!
We build the shutters from three 1-by-6 cedar boards across and, using the same width, one 1-by-4 at the top and bottom. The diagonal accent piece is also 1-by-4.
When assembling the shutters, place the smooth side of the cedar down so it faces out once completed. Once all the boards are in place, Chelsea attaches the screws in from behind — this way, no nail heads will show on the outside of the shutter.
Note: Be sure the screws aren’t too long because the tip can come out of the front side of the shutter and ruin the project!
These small azaleas won’t grow as large as the ones originally in the yard. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
New Landscaping from Blair’s Nursery
To finish off Kim’s curb appeal update, we had help from our friends at Blair’s Nursery, a nursery located right here in Mobile, Alabama.
Owner, Blair Kovar, helps us create a beautiful landscape plan for Kim’s home that is low maintenance and accents the home.
Kim’s landscaping includes a variety of plants and flowers that you can check out at blairsnurseryandgifts.com.
When we first arrived at Kim Hetzman’s home, or ‘hot dog stand’ as her three kids called it, it was a home in great shape for a 30-year-old home but didn’t fit her personality.
It was dated and dull but just needed some love added to it. Now the house is lighter, brighter and full of character thanks to the limewash added to the bricks. The rustic cedar shutters add warmth to the house making it comfortable and cozy.
The new landscaping adds depth and color that enhances Kim’s curb appeal!
Homeowners Lloyd and Aimee Meyers and their two kids, Caroline and Landon, love their home, but they’re not so fond of their ’80s kitchen.
So, we’re helping this family with an inexpensive renovation — at just $1,200 in materials — that will leave a big impact!
We’re bringing this ’80s-style kitchen into the 21st century with a special two-part episode. This article covers part two of the project. (Missed part one? Catch up here!)
Don’t want to paint your cabinets? Touch up the stain and re-seal them for a like-new look!
Touching Up the Cabinets
Lloyd and Aimee’s cabinets, overall, are in great shape. However, they have a few unsightly scratches.
The homeowners don’t want to paint these cabinets because they love the rich wood grain. Instead, we’re touching up the stain and giving them a fresh coat of polyurethane.
In part one of this project, we cleaned and prepped the cabinets. In this episode, Chelsea shows Lloyd how to properly apply stain, waiting a few minutes for it to sink into the wood, before removing it.
Refinishing the cabinets and installing new pulls make them look shiny and new.
After the polyurethane has dried, we place the cabinet doors back on the boxes and install new stylish pulls.
It’s such a simple change — adding new hardware — but one thing is certain: these cabinets no longer scream 1980s!
Best of all, Aimee loves how the refinished cabinets and new hardware completely transform her kitchen.
Sticking SimpleMat, from Custom Building Products, onto the walls and then sticking subway tiles on the innovative mat is much easier than the traditional way to install a backsplash.
Replacing the Backsplash
Lloyd and Aimee’s kitchen had just two small backsplashes in the form of dated ceramic tile behind the sink and oven.
We’re replacing those with stylish subway tiles — and this new, sweeping backsplash will cover each wall in the workspace. The result will be a consistent look that leaves a dramatic impact.
We ran into just one stumbling block before starting work on the new backsplash. We removed the old backsplash and realized it removed portions of the wall.
Things don’t always go as planned during home improvements, but in this case, we just replaced the drywall. Simple enough!
This new subway tile backsplash is sleek, modern, and ties the whole kitchen together.
For the backsplash installation, we use SimpleMat from Custom Building Products. It’s basically a double-sided sticker. First, you apply SimpleMat to the wall. Then, remove the adhesive front and apply tiles to the SimpleMat. After that, grout the tiles and remove the excess.
You can learn more about the process in our how-to video.
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This plastic laminate countertop is in great shape, but it doesn’t match the homeowners’ current style. So we’re coating it with dark paint mixed with real stones.
Refinishing the Countertops
This kitchen’s countertops are in great shape, but the plastic laminate no longer wows Lloyd and Aimee. And these countertops won’t look good next to the bright white backsplash we’ve installed.
One simple decor trick is to update two adjacent surfaces with contrasting colors. The subway tiles are white, so these countertops will be black.
This product, seen in Volcanic Black, basically mixes dark paint with real stones for a stunning countertop makeover, and the application couldn’t be easier.
First, we sand the countertops to smooth out the laminate and remove any grime. Then we clean the countertop so primer will bond to it.
The countertops’ new dark coating contrasts nicely with the white backsplash.
Once the primer is dry, we apply the stone coating, as directed, and let it dry. Afterward, we sand it so the stone shines through, giving the countertop a gorgeous granite look.
Finally, we finish it off with sealer.
“Today’s Homeowner” hosts Danny Lipford and Chelsea Lipford Wolf, pictured with Lloyd and Aimee Meyers.
By painting over mustard-colored walls, replacing outdated light fixtures and installing a new backsplash, this kitchen is now in the 21st century!
The new wall color is lighter and brighter. The cabinets look new, with a fresh coat of polyurethane and stylish pulls. And the white subway tile backsplash contrasts beautifully with the dark countertops and light fixtures.
We’re bringing an ’80s-style kitchen into this decade with a special two-part episode.
Homeowners Lloyd and Aimee Meyers and their two kids love their home, but they want to make some updates to their kitchen.
We’re happy to help this family with a renovation that’s inexpensive, at just $1,200 in materials, but will leave a big impact!
This article covers part one of the project.
Lloyd and Aimee are looking to make several updates to their 80s style kitchen.
Preparing the Space
We begin by removing the galley rail above the windows in the dining area. It currently serves as a display shelf for decorative china, but modern homes don’t include this feature and it makes the room feel crowded.
The ceramic backsplash only protects the area behind the sink, so we will replace it with a subway tile backsplash that covers everything behind all the countertops. This consistent look will enhance the kitchen’s overall design.
We will replace the unsightly chandelier above the dining table, move the ceiling fan to a more functional location because Aimee cooks a lot, and remove the long fluorescent light above the work area.
Even the ceiling gets an update because this one has “popcorn,” or texture, that’s no longer in style. (Lloyd already removed some of the popcorn before we arrived.)
When removing a popcorn ceiling, I prefer using a metal scraper. The pros often sand off the scraper’s corners so the edges are rounded, which prevents damage.
After removing the galley rail and chair rail, we begin patching any holes with the joint compound.
Once we’ve removed everything, we use joint compound to cover any holes we found and install new drywall in place of the sink’s backsplash.
We removed the kitchen cabinets’ doors to give them an upgrade.
Touching Up the Cabinets
Painting wood cabinets is on-trend, but Lloyd and Aimee like their cabinets — they just want to freshen them up.
So, instead of replacing or painting the cabinets, we’re giving them a facelift. That just means taking the doors off the boxes, cleaning them, repairing any scratches and applying a fresh coat of polyurethane before installing new hardware.
Many homeowners paint their wood cabinets white, but if you want to keep the grain, just refinish them.
We will complete this project in episode two, but when all is said and done, the cabinets will look new and the hardware will complement them nicely!
With a little know-how, canless recessed lights are easy to install.
Installing Canless Recessed Lighting
This kitchen had massive light fixtures that were dated, unattractive, and didn’t fit the space. We’re adding new light fixtures, including canless recessed lighting that will accent the room and add ambiance.
The LED lights we will install, from Commercial Electric, are small and don’t put out much heat, so they’re energy-efficient and attractive (a win-win).
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Installation is easy — all you have to do is cut a small hole in the ceiling with a hole saw, attach the wires to the junction box and push them up into the ceiling!
