Congratulations on your new house! Beautiful hardwood floors. You might want to post a question about each room on differents thread. You have a lot of issues here, but it's difficult to address everything in one post. Good luck!

This is certainly a project, with a capital P! I agree with garden. Post each room separately with the room that you want to start with first.

It looks like it can be a very lovely spacious home, with the right TLC.

Thank you! I will definitely post each project separately, thanks! I realize it's overwhelming :)

Sorry, but I only read up to the master bedroom before I had to comment...Beg the owner to let your handy husband rip out the tub! As is, that bedroom will not attract buyers and may discourage quite a few. I would also erect a wall to separate the sinks from the sleeping area.

ETA: The plank wall behind the toilet is cute, but impractical with respect to cleanliness.

I would love to rip it out, because it would make our master bedroom huge. There's already tons of space around the tub, and if it wasn't there it'd be huge. I don't like it, but the owner does and my husband does too. The owner seems to think that buyers will love it. I'm not so sure.

It reminds me of the Poconos honeymoon suites :)

Less cheesy set-ups:

Master Suite With Bathtub · More Info

Is the surround tile or wallpaper?

Yes, you need to start with one room and go from there. One thing I will say, is that I see nothing "Farmhouse" about that house. I think trying to go in that direction would be a mistake.

@delilah that's a great idea. Thanks!!

@Errant_gw I guess I have no clue what style we should go with, I just love the barn doors and reclaimed wood that farm houses have. I kind of felt like I could make it feel like a farm house but you're probably right, bad idea. What style do you suggest? The only updated area in the house is the living room/dining room area with the fireplace. The nice light hardwood floors are relatively new also. The spiral staircase throws me off the most, I have no clue how to consider it when designing the house. my husband wants to rip it out rofl, but it's some kind of iron and it was put in the house before the walls were put up- in one giant piece. it does ruin the flow of the house though, and having a normal staircase tucked against a wall somewhere would probably be better- but oh well!

& Here is part of the ugly basement that needs some love and attention:

Do you have children? Do you plan to have children? I am going to assume you currently don't. If you are planning to have children do not buy this house. Rent it, paint it, sink as much of the landlord's $$ as he will let you into it...but don't spend your own money doing major updates and DON'T buy it. Seriously, the house looks like a death trap for toddlers and small children. You would almost have to do a gut job to make it livable for a family. Even if you don't plan to have children, you would have an extremely difficult time selling if you ever wanted to move.

That said...you can totally have fun living in it for now and using paint and inexpensive upgrades to make it suit you. I agree with others that it doesn't scream "farmhouse" but could take a clean modern vibe very well.

Urban farmhouse --- Scandinavian style; however, that jacuzzi in the bedroom throws that off.

Is that staircase hole to the basement even allowed?

Yes, you could definitely go Scandanavian (which I love) with it. The architecture is perfect for it. Go with simpler, modern looking furnishings.

@nini yes we plan on having kids in like 5 years or so. the current owner had the idea to build a half wall around the staircase and I thought that was a great idea for safety reasons. The previous owner was the home builder (built 1990) and they didn't want kids. They ended up having kids anyway, so they moved. Haha. I don't think we should buy it, but I feel that if we update it I may fall in love and we could get a deal with owner financing. Modern is a great idea. A lot of home buyers love modern :)

@nosoccermom haha I'm assuming the hole to the basement is allowed, there are pretty strict builder laws around here.

Well, a wall around it won't help with those open treads, plus your bedroom is in a loft, plus only one bedroom on each floor....you'd be carrying your baby up and down that narrow circular staircase....*shudder.* Anyway, just wanted to point that out in case you start getting pressured to buy. I have kids, and when they are new (heck even when the get older!) you just wish you could roll them up in bubble wrap. That house would inspire great fear in most parents. I really can't believe the hole to the basement passes code...it certainly wouldn't here! Heck, it is dangerous for adults! Anyway, have fun with it for now...it really could look super cool.

Could you post a new thread for each room, and then let us loose on it?

Stairs: Is the carpet on the stairs in good shape? Step 1: I'd paint the balustrade.

And you need to have some balustrade (not the baby gate) around that hole.

Love the stairs ideas. I started a new thread for the guest bath and kitchen so far. Still working on it! I'm going to check into the balustrade! I love that paint color. The carpet on the stairs is basically new. We weren't going to keep the baby gate since we don't have kids, we were just going to remove it and be careful.

Keep the baby gate until you can make that hole safe. Last thing you want to do is be working in the kitchen and step back and......

For the tub, if it stays, I would just go over that mess on the bottom with some new pvc bead boards. They should be easy to cut and attach, fairly cheap and more water friendly. Plastic Beadboard

was this built as a vacation cabin? If so, that might be the way you want to head with colors

Wow, that is a big project! Should be fun. I agree with taking it one room at a time, and posting each one separately. You have gotten some great advice so far.

I totally agree with Nosoccermom; paint the stair railing black, and get more railing made for the stair opening on the main floor. That is SO dangerous. That would be a huge deterrent to anyone buying the house.

I also agree that this is not a house for anyone with young children, so I'd plan the renovations accordingly. Are you planning on just doing cosmetic changes? Because I think there are several structural issues that will be a problem for buyers.

First, in the master, the whirlpool tub and vanities being open to the bedroom is a big negative. I'd remove the tub, and extend the short wall to enclose the vanities, and maybe add a smaller tub depending on what the shower is like. Second, I think most people would really dislike having the master in a loft open to the living space-- again, not at all family friendly, no privacy or noise control. The owner should consider putting in a full wall in the open side, maybe with windows for light. Third, have someone take a look at the ceiling in that room. It looks like you can see the framing beams through the drywall, which is a bit concerning. Sagging? Hidden water damage? Fourth, the carpet needs to be re-stretched, and I'd just remove the carpet in the vanity area and do tile or vinyl.

Are the kitchen cabinets melamine? If so, I would not bother painting them. I think new cabinet doors and new countertops are the way to go.

For the main floor bath, I would not consider an open shower. You need to have the floor slope to the drain, and have careful waterproofing done behind tile all around the room. You'd have to gut the entire room. I'd either just repaint, or look at recessing the shower into the guest room by cutting an opening into that room and stealing a few feet. You'll have to consider which wall the plumbing runs on, and if the existing shower is tiled and would have to be demo'd. I don't think paneling the wall behind the toilet would add anything in such a small, dark space.

The wood floors and the fireplace and the surroundings look very nice. Best of luck and keep us posted!

Even if your local building codes are strong, it is possible that the builder added some things to the house after he got his certificate of occupancy. And if your friends bought without an inspection or did not have a great inspection it is entirely possible that the some of the odder things (like the open master and the stairwell) are out of code.

The house has some cool features but it screams MONEY PIT. Live there, learn some DIY lessons, do some cosmetic changes. I would not put any of my own money into it or purchase it. If you do feel compelled to purchase it be sure you get a thorough inspection and don't use the inspector suggested by the realtor.

First, I would lose the carpet and do hardwood. Paint is the second thing that makes a huge difference. I would start with the kitchen. That is as much as I can say as I need more info.

@jlc, it will be a very fun project for us! I can't wait. We are planning on doing mainly cosmetic projects but he will hire people to do bigger things as needed. He is getting the roof replaced hopefully this month, before we move n. It's original to the house. I guess that's when we will find out if there's water damage, but I think what you are seeing on the master's ceiling is a shadow from the poles of the fans/fixtures.

@dee I totally agree. Money pit for sure.

i have two other posts so far:

kitchen- http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/3543571/m=23/1990s-kitchen-that-needs-some-love#addAnswer

guest bath- http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/3542221/m=23/tiny-bathroom-solutions#addAnswer

i love this site, everyone is so helpful!

This is a fascinating house! I agree Scandanavian design, wood floors, white walls ... The tub HAS to go. I agree with doing that room last. Maybe by that time the owner and your husband will have changed their mind. I hope you post a lot while you work on it so we can watch the transformation!

I definitely will post as we go!! Thanks!

If you are renting the house why are you planning to spend money, time and effort on it?

If you are even considering buying the place i would ask a realtor to advise you what would need to be changed to sell it in a qualified, arms length sale. Owner financing tempts people into buying houses no one else would buy at prices the market does not support.

Just thought of you. Maybe go for some Scandinavian lodge/cabin look.

Cosmetic stuff is easy and fun and totally within the bounds of DIY. You don't have to "gut" things to necessarily achieve big style improvements. Just paint, tile, new doors, ripping out nasty carpet, etc. can make a HUGE difference in the feel of the home. Don't think structural, think color, texture, etc. for the look and feel you like.

A couple of thoughts: If the kitchen is melamine, it isn't all that great aesthetically, but it does clean up well. White kitchens are "in" right now and you could change out the pulls for wrought iron ones or less modern, more cozy silver ones, and do something warm and cozy with the backsplash color and and paint the walls and island, and curtains and appliances, etc. just for starters. Google "white farmhouse kitchens" or "white country kitchens" or "white cottage kitchens" for some inspiration about small appliances, patterns, dishware, linens, colors, etc. Consider the cabinets neutral for now.

As for the bathroom, you can get many elements of the look you like by tiling the shower enclosure, ripping out the door and replacing it with a curtain, and painting or tiling the walls of the rest of the room, or even putting up beadboard. I agree with others though about thinking a lot about how it will clean up when considering bathroom finishes. Barnboard is lovely in small doses but a dust magnet. I know, I had barnboard paneling in a house I lived in once, it does NOT grow on you!! Use it as an accent.

As for the bedroom with the tub, you can redo the surround and also put up a wooden screen around it for now. At the very least, you could build a half wall around the tub, like the photos Nosoccermom posted.

I love the Scandanavian country/cottage look, that's the way I would go.

I wouldn't go much beyond paint really to start with.

Remember to establish a paper trail with your landlord that whatever enhancements you make are allowed by him. For example, if you are allowed to rip carpet up get it in writing before you start! It could be as simple as sending him an email each week with your proposed work and asking him to send back an email saying "ok."

Painted floors could be a really nice replacement for carpet and fit well with the scandi farmhouse vibe. You can paint a clean and level subfloor.

To do the kind of "wet room" you are thinking of for the guest bath likely would be near impossible and require all kinds of sloped floors and drainage that would be very difficult. But it is likely that the partition wall between shower and toilet is just there for show, so you might be able to knock down the wall (after making sure there's nothing in it!!!) and put in a slightly larger corner shower.

Oh and don't paint that deck white...if anything just stain it charcoal grey or brown. Trust me, painting an old deck white would be a complete maintenance nightmare (picture scraping and repainting it once every two years) and it will totally clash with that dark house.