My Houzz: Refreshing Makeover for a 1960s Ranch in Texas
First-time homeowners transform their home with blue feature walls, classic finishes and playful accents
The couple collaborated on their decor decisions by sending each other inspiration photos. “I would show him and ask, ‘What do you think of this or that?’ ” Cynthia says. “Yeah, we always agreed on styles,” Ricardo adds. Now they enjoy spending quality time together in their new space.
How to create, use and share a Houzz ideabook
How to create, use and share a Houzz ideabook
Before. The white area on the wall shows where a large fireplace once stood. It took up more of the living room than the couple liked, so they decided to remove it to open up the space. “We started taking it down ourselves,” Ricardo says. “We hammered it — we are fearless!” Cynthia adds with a laugh.
The renovation started at the end of December 2016 and the couple moved into the house in May 2017. “We were renting an apartment during the first half of the renovation and were able to move into the house when our lease ended,” Cynthia says. “Unfortunately, we got behind schedule and the house wasn’t done when we moved in, so we had to live in there during some of the renovations. Basically, our kitchen was nonexistent the first month after moving in!”
The renovation started at the end of December 2016 and the couple moved into the house in May 2017. “We were renting an apartment during the first half of the renovation and were able to move into the house when our lease ended,” Cynthia says. “Unfortunately, we got behind schedule and the house wasn’t done when we moved in, so we had to live in there during some of the renovations. Basically, our kitchen was nonexistent the first month after moving in!”
The television is in the spot where the fireplace used to be.
“I think the living room captures our style best,” Cynthia says. “We have a record player that we enjoy using daily and especially when entertaining, as well as books that we like on display. We spend a lot of time in that space, so we make it as comfortable as possible.”
Big Top balloon dog in teal: Imm Living
“I think the living room captures our style best,” Cynthia says. “We have a record player that we enjoy using daily and especially when entertaining, as well as books that we like on display. We spend a lot of time in that space, so we make it as comfortable as possible.”
Big Top balloon dog in teal: Imm Living
The couple added this console to create an entryway vignette near the kitchen.
Midcentury mini console: West Elm; see more midcentury consoles
No Entry Hall? Create the Illusion of One
Midcentury mini console: West Elm; see more midcentury consoles
No Entry Hall? Create the Illusion of One
Before. The original kitchen was separated from the dining area with dark wood paneling. “We wanted an open-concept home,” Cynthia says. The couple decided to remove this wall and close some of the odd doors and windows throughout the house.
They began demolition themselves but became concerned about asbestos. “We tested it and pretty much everything came back positive, so we had it professionally removed,” Ricardo says. The whole house was stripped to the studs. “It really put a dent in our budget, but we just decided that we wouldn’t spend as much on materials,” Cynthia says.
They began demolition themselves but became concerned about asbestos. “We tested it and pretty much everything came back positive, so we had it professionally removed,” Ricardo says. The whole house was stripped to the studs. “It really put a dent in our budget, but we just decided that we wouldn’t spend as much on materials,” Cynthia says.
After. The couple covered over the door to the garage to provide a space for the refrigerator, and they replaced the original windows with sliding doors to the patio. Now the kitchen is bright, airy and open to the living area. “Our focus and most of the budget went to the kitchen. We love cooking and entertaining,” Cynthia says.
“We knew we wanted a big island,” she adds. “We even wanted a waterfall countertop but then realized those are expensive.” To keep costs down, the couple opted for a quartz counter with a modern overhang.
Adan counter stools: Glamour Home; Quartz countertop in Cosmopolitan white, Caesarstone via Ikea; Gehry one-light glass pendants, Langley Street: Wayfair; browse more glass pendants
See why one Houzz contributor chose quartz countertops
“We knew we wanted a big island,” she adds. “We even wanted a waterfall countertop but then realized those are expensive.” To keep costs down, the couple opted for a quartz counter with a modern overhang.
Adan counter stools: Glamour Home; Quartz countertop in Cosmopolitan white, Caesarstone via Ikea; Gehry one-light glass pendants, Langley Street: Wayfair; browse more glass pendants
See why one Houzz contributor chose quartz countertops
“We weren’t a fan of the traditional upper cabinets, so it made sense to add open shelves,” Cynthia says. “Our carpenter created the shelves out of one piece of wood,” Ricardo adds. “We were really happy about that.”
“The whole kitchen is from Ikea,” Cynthia says. “The doors of the cabinets are from Semihandmade,” Ricardo adds. “They make fronts for Ikea and you can customize it to whatever you want.” To stay on track with their budget, the couple waited for sales and open-box deals on appliances at their favorite retailers. The cabinets are painted in Anchors Aweigh by Sherwin-Williams.
The couple had the help of Ricardo’s father, an electrician, to add dimmer switches and USB plugs throughout. “We wanted to keep the modern feel, but also make our home smart as well,” Cynthia says.
Carrara white polished marble tile backsplash: Floor & Decor; bar pulls in golden champagne: Amerock Hardware
Pros and Cons of Upper Kitchen Cabinets and Open Shelves
“The whole kitchen is from Ikea,” Cynthia says. “The doors of the cabinets are from Semihandmade,” Ricardo adds. “They make fronts for Ikea and you can customize it to whatever you want.” To stay on track with their budget, the couple waited for sales and open-box deals on appliances at their favorite retailers. The cabinets are painted in Anchors Aweigh by Sherwin-Williams.
The couple had the help of Ricardo’s father, an electrician, to add dimmer switches and USB plugs throughout. “We wanted to keep the modern feel, but also make our home smart as well,” Cynthia says.
Carrara white polished marble tile backsplash: Floor & Decor; bar pulls in golden champagne: Amerock Hardware
Pros and Cons of Upper Kitchen Cabinets and Open Shelves
The couple also painted an accent wall in the dining area in Anchors Aweigh.
Mobile chandelier in antique brass: West Elm; browse more midcentury-style pendant lighting
How to Bring Dark Blue Into Your Kitchen
Mobile chandelier in antique brass: West Elm; browse more midcentury-style pendant lighting
How to Bring Dark Blue Into Your Kitchen
“The bar cart is a piece we enjoy having in our living area,” Cynthia says. “We store the alcohol and bar tools there so we can have them handy when we have friends over.” Ricardo briefly worked as a bartender during college and enjoys making cocktails when the couple entertain.
Terrace bar cart: West Elm
Browse bar carts
Terrace bar cart: West Elm
Browse bar carts
After. The new master bedroom features a bold accent wall painted in Naval by Sherwin-Williams.
Midcentury nightstand in acorn: West Elm
Midcentury nightstand in acorn: West Elm
The couple’s goldendoodle puppy, Olive, enjoys the space.
The shower in the master bathroom was finished with Calacatta marble tile on the walls and white penny porcelain mosaic tile on the floor. The black hexagon tile on the floor outside the shower adds contrast.
The vanity is the Godmorgon model from Ikea with wood cabinet fronts from Semihandmade that Cynthia stained herself.
Black hex porcelain tile: The Tile Shop
Find Calacatta marble tile
The vanity is the Godmorgon model from Ikea with wood cabinet fronts from Semihandmade that Cynthia stained herself.
Black hex porcelain tile: The Tile Shop
Find Calacatta marble tile
Decorated with a mix of graphic textiles and fun animal prints, the guest room doubles as a workspace.
After. For the guest bathroom, Cynthia used the same Calacatta marble and penny tile as in the master bathroom but opted for a retro octagon tile with dark grout for the flooring.
Octagon and dot tile: Daltile
Octagon and dot tile: Daltile
Before. The couple also gave the exterior of the house a face-lift. Some of the columns in the front were starting to detach at the top. “From the street you could see that they were wobbly. Those were the first to go,” Cynthia says.
The homeowners also wanted to replace the two garage doors with one, to give the house a different feel.
The homeowners also wanted to replace the two garage doors with one, to give the house a different feel.
After. They replaced the garage doors and painted the brick exterior in Argos, a light gray from Sherwin-Williams. “We added new landscaping, which is pretty simple but it made a huge difference,” Cynthia says.
The couple feel fortunate to have had the help of their families in transforming the house. Cynthia’s father is a gardener and helped with the new landscaping.
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: Ranch House Love: Inspiration From 13 Ranch House Renovations
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
The couple feel fortunate to have had the help of their families in transforming the house. Cynthia’s father is a gardener and helped with the new landscaping.
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: Ranch House Love: Inspiration From 13 Ranch House Renovations
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: Ricardo and Cynthia Rojas and their goldendoodle, Olive
Location: Irving, Texas
Size: 1,272 square feet (118 square meters); two bedrooms, two bathrooms
Year built: 1960
First-time homeowners Ricardo and Cynthia Rojas had been married only a year when they decided to tackle a full renovation. Ricardo, an electrical engineer, and Cynthia, a high school teacher and the blogger behind Minty Synth Blog, nervously bought what they describe as the epitome of a fixer-upper. The 1960s one-level ranch was in bad shape, with spots of mold, but it was also full of potential. “We kind of went in knowing that it wouldn’t be easy, but we enjoyed it,” Cynthia says. The couple were hands-on and tackled demolition, painting and interior decorating, learning a lot along the way.
The transformation of the interior features a mix of clean lines, colorful accents and midcentury-inspired furniture. New laminate hardwood floors run throughout the home and add warmth against the crisp walls. “We used Sherwin-Williams Alabaster throughout the house. It’s a creamy shade and not super white,” Cynthia says.