Exterior - before renovation.   This 1947 cottage in the Oakhurst neighborhood of Decatur, Georgia was in need of some exterior work and extensive interior rehab.

Kitchen - before. At this stage, the old cabinets have been removed.
Vinyl flooring and two layers of sub-floor will be removed - exposing the
floor joists.

Master bath - before. This room was not exactly "in the pink".

Second bath - before.   You are looking at the framing for the second bath, and a closet.   This room was formerly a large family room, with tongue-and-groove paneling.   For this project to make financial sense, we needed to transform the house from a one bath to a two bath layout.   The challenge here was to add a comfortable bathroom, and leave room for a decent-sized bedroom with closet.   The result is this compact bath (see picture at right), with a roomy shower, a small sink, and a nook for the commode.   Original panelling was carefully removed and re-installed on the new bedroom wall.   The paneled bedroom walls were painted a color similar to that of the living room (see picture: living room - after).   Porcelain tile was again used in the bath area and extended into the "mud room", adjacent to the rear entrance and kitchen portal.

Living room fireplace - before.

Exterior - after renovation.   Exterior refinements include:   new paint scheme, new roof, new porch railings, new front door, driveway / parking pad, deck.

Kitchen - after.   For the floor, 4" White Oak tongue-and-groove plank was selected - for durability and visual appeal.   Cherry tone Shaker-style cabinets, olive wall color, and sash windows preserve the cottage feel of the house...while stainless appliances, can and pendant lights, and a granite countertop provide a modern touch.

Master bath - after.   Originally, the 10' x 10' bathroom had an entrance on either side, each leading to a bedroom.   Closing off one doorway created a master suite, with room enough for a separate tub and shower.   Leveling surfaces for tile and new fixtures required demolishing plaster walls and pulling up a layer of the floor.   Italian porcelain tile was chosen for it's low-maintenance characteristics and beauty.   We created a large shower - sans glass doors - to preserve the spacious, open feel of the room.   Opposite the shower, the commode is flanked on the left by a tall, shaker-style linen cabinet and on the right by a matching vanity - topped with Crema Marfil marble.

Second bath - after.

Living room - after.   The kitchen portal to the left of the bookcase was widened from 3' to 5' to create a more open feel and flow between rooms.   The fireplace, which previously had a wood burning stove in front of it, was refurbished and returned to operating condition.   Because the plaster ceiling had a pronounced sag in the middle, the ceiling joists were straightened one-at-a-time, and tied to a support beam in the attic.   Can lights were installed to provide even lighting around the room.

Objectives

This house had good bones, but needed much to realize it's potential.   It started as a run-down 2 bedrom, 1 bath house with a den.   It is now a 3 bedroom, 2 bath - updated in both visual appeal and functionality.   For a relatively small house, the kitchen / dining room, master bath, and living room had generous proportions.   This was an important factor in selecting this house for investment.   Design priorities were to maximize the sense of spaciousness in these rooms, to provide modern conveniences, and to add some luxury without altering it's character.

See more pictures of this renovation.

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