Houzz Tours
Before and Afters
My Houzz: Classic Update for a 1957 Austin Ranch House
Modern and minimalist meet farmhouse touches in this Texas home stager’s renovation and addition
Before. Though the existing kitchen was functional, Roberts wanted one that opened up to the living space. “As soon as I got my hands on measurements for this house, I spent hours deciding how the new laundry room and kitchen would extend and how they’d look,” she says. She quickly made drawings using SketchUp, and the final result is a close match to her original vision.
Roberts, pictured here with dog Rudy, has always loved the Westgate neighborhood of Austin and its midcentury homes. When this house came up for sale, she was ready to leave her smaller home in Sunset Valley. “The home was two-story and really long and narrow,” she says. “It had a super-small front [yard] and backyard.” One side of the home had zero windows because it was extremely close to the neighbors.
Since Rudy is a large dog, Roberts also wanted a house with a bigger yard. “She was driving me crazy,” Roberts says.
Since Rudy is a large dog, Roberts also wanted a house with a bigger yard. “She was driving me crazy,” Roberts says.
Roberts had the wall between the kitchen and living room removed and added a large island. “The island bar-top area has gotten the most use in my home, as that’s where all the dinners are prepped, friends hang out and where most of our dinners are eaten,” the homeowner says.
Friends and family assisted with hardware, flooring, furniture and paint color selections along the way. “Even though I design and love it, it’s always nice to bounce ideas off of someone else,” Roberts says. “Both of my parents and my boyfriend were a huge help when thinking about the remodeled space and how it would function for me and my everyday life.
“We nailed down which way all the doors would open, where outlets should be and all of the things you have to think about but that can easily slip your mind when the excitement of a remodel is underway.”
Friends and family assisted with hardware, flooring, furniture and paint color selections along the way. “Even though I design and love it, it’s always nice to bounce ideas off of someone else,” Roberts says. “Both of my parents and my boyfriend were a huge help when thinking about the remodeled space and how it would function for me and my everyday life.
“We nailed down which way all the doors would open, where outlets should be and all of the things you have to think about but that can easily slip your mind when the excitement of a remodel is underway.”
Floating walnut shelves on both sides of the kitchen window display favorite glasses and frequently used plates.
Cairn Neoroc matte black sink: Kohler; Poetto pull-down faucet in satin gold: California Faucets
Cairn Neoroc matte black sink: Kohler; Poetto pull-down faucet in satin gold: California Faucets
Roberts chose the finishes in the home with both budget and aesthetics in mind. Although she initially wanted concrete and hand-painted tile for the kitchen backsplash, installing a classic white subway tile was a more affordable and timeless option. The custom range hood cover is made of walnut.
Classic dual-fuel single-oven range: Verona; custom range hood cover: UB Kitchens
Classic dual-fuel single-oven range: Verona; custom range hood cover: UB Kitchens
The kitchen area also includes a generous dining nook and large sliding doors that let in plenty of light.
D’Orsay European oak floors: Real Wood Floors; cabinets: UB Kitchens; Edgecliff pulls in natural brass: Schoolhouse Electric; Eternal Statuario countertop: Silestone; runner: The Southern Loom; find more runners
D’Orsay European oak floors: Real Wood Floors; cabinets: UB Kitchens; Edgecliff pulls in natural brass: Schoolhouse Electric; Eternal Statuario countertop: Silestone; runner: The Southern Loom; find more runners
For the dining nook, Roberts originally liked the idea of an open bistro-style bench, but then decided it would just be a trap for animal hair. “I opted for the closed bench seat, and the added storage is nice too,” she says. “My contractor and I had several meetings about how deep I wanted the seat and how high up I wanted the back to go. I opted for the back ledge to be a little wider so I could set cactus, plants or artwork on that ledge if I choose to.”
Accents such as matte black hardware and lighting finishes add some contrast to the white shiplap-style walls and the mostly neutral color palette. Roberts’ boyfriend, Brad Scherer, made the dining table.
Factory Modern No. 4 sconces in black: Schoolhouse Electric; Geo Stripe rug in dusty blush: West Elm; Athis side chairs: AllModern; flat rattan wall art: Target; cognac leather pillow: McGee & Co.; Chinese indigo batik pillow cover: Boho Pillow; custom bench cushions: Grateful Home
Accents such as matte black hardware and lighting finishes add some contrast to the white shiplap-style walls and the mostly neutral color palette. Roberts’ boyfriend, Brad Scherer, made the dining table.
Factory Modern No. 4 sconces in black: Schoolhouse Electric; Geo Stripe rug in dusty blush: West Elm; Athis side chairs: AllModern; flat rattan wall art: Target; cognac leather pillow: McGee & Co.; Chinese indigo batik pillow cover: Boho Pillow; custom bench cushions: Grateful Home
The new laundry room includes amenities for Roberts’ pets. The cabinetry includes a small opening that allows Genevive the cat to access her litter box, which is inside the cabinet.
Roberts also added an automatic pet door from Solo Pet Doors in the room. Both Rudy and Genevive wear magnetic collars that automatically open the door when they’re near it. “It’s so cool!” Roberts says. “You purchase different-size magnets for the size of your animal. My cat has a little tiny one and my dog has a medium-size one.”
Trinsic faucet: Delta; Karlby countertop: Ikea; cabinets: Ikea; Nouveau knobs in flat black, Top Knobs: MyKnobs
How to Choose the Right Pet Door
Roberts also added an automatic pet door from Solo Pet Doors in the room. Both Rudy and Genevive wear magnetic collars that automatically open the door when they’re near it. “It’s so cool!” Roberts says. “You purchase different-size magnets for the size of your animal. My cat has a little tiny one and my dog has a medium-size one.”
Trinsic faucet: Delta; Karlby countertop: Ikea; cabinets: Ikea; Nouveau knobs in flat black, Top Knobs: MyKnobs
How to Choose the Right Pet Door
Roberts’ work as a stager led her to create spaces with a sense of calm and not a lot of visual clutter. Her overall interior decorating style is inspired by the work of Amber Interiors and Studio McGee. Roberts spent time studying their projects in an effort to understand what makes their designs so appealing.
“I really wanted the space to feel calm and relaxing,” she says. “I took a few things from each designer that I love.” This includes a primarily neutral color palette accented by buffalo check patterns, vintage items and wicker or cane furniture. “I love color, but neutrals and mixing textures provides that calm and relaxed feel I was going for,” Roberts says.
Elm wood console table: Bloomingville; metal framed oversized round mirror, Pillar table lamp, Totem vase in white: West Elm; wood rings: Room for Tuesday; Perfect Stripe pillow in gray: McGee & Co.
“I really wanted the space to feel calm and relaxing,” she says. “I took a few things from each designer that I love.” This includes a primarily neutral color palette accented by buffalo check patterns, vintage items and wicker or cane furniture. “I love color, but neutrals and mixing textures provides that calm and relaxed feel I was going for,” Roberts says.
Elm wood console table: Bloomingville; metal framed oversized round mirror, Pillar table lamp, Totem vase in white: West Elm; wood rings: Room for Tuesday; Perfect Stripe pillow in gray: McGee & Co.
The open-concept kitchen and living room are designed to be flooded with light, thanks to the large street-facing picture window. “Both are open and get tons of natural light, which my last home was sort of lacking. The light itself makes me happy,” Roberts says.
She made a sketch of the sliding barn door design and contractor Wayne Vice built it for her. “It’s wood without being super rustic,” she says. Behind the door is Roberts’ home office.
Shelter chaise sectional and Martini side table: West Elm; Oaxaca black throw: Caroline Z Hurley
She made a sketch of the sliding barn door design and contractor Wayne Vice built it for her. “It’s wood without being super rustic,” she says. Behind the door is Roberts’ home office.
Shelter chaise sectional and Martini side table: West Elm; Oaxaca black throw: Caroline Z Hurley
A key goal in selecting furniture for the lounge areas was to find pieces that were both comfortable and stylish, including these two vintage leather armchairs. The television above the console, The Frame TV by Samsung, features 4K technology and displays art when not in use.
Snowbound wall paint: Sherwin-Williams; Whitest White trim paint: Kelly-Moore; white oak coffee table: Dylan Design Co.; hammered tray: Target; vintage console: Uptown Modern; Hightower rug: Surya
Snowbound wall paint: Sherwin-Williams; Whitest White trim paint: Kelly-Moore; white oak coffee table: Dylan Design Co.; hammered tray: Target; vintage console: Uptown Modern; Hightower rug: Surya
Roberts made a custom desk for her office using legs from Ikea. It cost just a fraction of what it would have been to buy something new. “The open-concept kitchen and living room is by far my favorite, but my office comes in a close second,” she says.
Askvoll three-drawer chest: Ikea; Oddvald trestles: Ikea; wall art: BlankSpaceStudios; Roto ceiling fan, Minka Aire: YLighting; Cooper midcentury leather swivel office chair in saddle: West Elm
Askvoll three-drawer chest: Ikea; Oddvald trestles: Ikea; wall art: BlankSpaceStudios; Roto ceiling fan, Minka Aire: YLighting; Cooper midcentury leather swivel office chair in saddle: West Elm
“I usually start the day in my office making my to-do list and responding to emails,” Roberts says. “I used to have an iced coffee by my side but have since quit caffeine and actually feel way better! My office has the most fun feel in the home, which inspires me throughout the day.”
Roberts made the shibori-dyed dog bed for Rudy. She usually lets Rudy back into the bedroom around 6:30 a.m. “She does her loudest yawns so I know she’s awake!” Roberts says.
Wire wall rectangle grid: Urban Outfitters
Wire wall rectangle grid: Urban Outfitters
The guest bathroom included the original 1950s pink and turquoise tile. When Roberts told her contractor to gut the bathroom but keep the colored sink, she says, he looked at her like she was crazy. The vintage sink adds a vibrant contrast to the new neutral palette.
New West floor tile: Clé; Abrams double sconce, straight bell shades with gray bands: Schoolhouse Electric; rounded rectangle metal framed mirror: Rejuvenation; browse bathroom mirrors
New West floor tile: Clé; Abrams double sconce, straight bell shades with gray bands: Schoolhouse Electric; rounded rectangle metal framed mirror: Rejuvenation; browse bathroom mirrors
The color palette in the master bedroom continues Roberts’ focus on neutrals and textures.
Perkins spindle bed: Rejuvenation; marble and wood accent tables: Target; diamond ticking quilt, Envoy swing sconces: Schoolhouse Electric
Perkins spindle bed: Rejuvenation; marble and wood accent tables: Target; diamond ticking quilt, Envoy swing sconces: Schoolhouse Electric
This original niche in the master bedroom once housed a fold-down ironing board. “It had a little hinged door on the outside of it. I could’ve easily sheetrocked over that nook, but I really like having little nods to the original home,” Roberts says.
The niche, with added shelves, now displays various mementos. “The bells at the top are ones my dad gave to me,” Roberts says. “My nickname is ‘Ding,’ and I was always drawn to bells, as they make ding sounds. Some of the pieces were handmade by friends. Others are new items that I was drawn to for their modern patterns.”
The niche, with added shelves, now displays various mementos. “The bells at the top are ones my dad gave to me,” Roberts says. “My nickname is ‘Ding,’ and I was always drawn to bells, as they make ding sounds. Some of the pieces were handmade by friends. Others are new items that I was drawn to for their modern patterns.”
Homeowners sometimes have a few regrets after completing a remodel. For Roberts, she regrets not adding pocket doors to the master and guest bathrooms. “I see those doors hanging open day after day and it drives me nuts!” she says.
The master bathroom is Roberts’ favorite transformation in the house. The existing yellow-and-baby-blue-tiled space featured a shower and tub combo. Expanding the width of the room by 3 feet provided enough space for a walk-in shower and double vanity. “It feels so light and bright in this room now,” Roberts says.
Downtown Contempo faucets: Jaclo; Moderne pulls in satin brass, Alno: MyKnobs; cabinets: UB Kitchens; Galaxy mirrors: Illuminated Bathroom Mirror; Turkish towels: Havlu
Roberts painted the front door black to contrast with the existing brick.
Mailbox: HouseArt No. 10 Letterbox in satin black
Mailbox: HouseArt No. 10 Letterbox in satin black
After. Roberts nicknamed the covered patio “George Jetson.” Her handy father winched it between the trees and slid it into its current location facing the house.
See more of this house
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
See more of this house
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
Who lives here: Denise Roberts; her boyfriend, Brad Scherer; and their Siberian husky-Labrador retriever mix, Rudy, and cat, Genevive
Location: Westgate neighborhood of Austin, Texas
Size: 1,833 square feet (170 square meters); three bedrooms, two bathrooms
Year built: 1957
Denise Roberts immediately felt right at home in her 1957 ranch house in Austin, Texas. “You could tell all the previous owners took such good care of it. It felt like home. It just needed a little makeover,” says the interior designer and home stager behind Love Ding.
The midcentury ranch was originally 1,223 square feet. Roberts worked closely with architect John Allen and contractors Todd and Wayne Vice of Vice Brothers Construction to add 610 square feet, bringing the home’s total footprint to 1,833 square feet.
The addition bumped out the living room walls to create a bigger kitchen and master bathroom and to add a laundry room. The result is a transformation that’s modern and minimalist with a farmhouse-inspired feel, thanks to shiplap-style walls, warm rustic finishes and black accents.
Cremona pendant lights in black: Cocoweb; Elbow counter stools: Inmod; Dolphin Gray island paint: Behr
3 Top Ingredients of Modern Farmhouse Style