My Houzz: Casual, Thoughtful Design for a 1920s Bungalow
A couple turn a neglected, run-down home into a charming, comfortable place to raise their 4 children
After countless visits to her in-laws in the Old Dauphin Way Historic District of Mobile, Alabama, Catherine Arensberg became fascinated by a bungalow two doors down the street from their home. The fixer-upper was nearly abandoned, with overgrown grass and an old car rusting away in the backyard. But the landscape designer saw potential in the property. That started an eight-year journey with her husband, Thomas, a math teacher, to mold the charming but outdated bungalow into a comfortable and eclectic home that their family, including their four children, could grow into and build a life in.
AFTER: New paint and recessed lighting immediately brightened the previously pink living room. The walls throughout the home are plaster, and some were cracked and damaged, so the couple repaired and repainted them in subtler colors. A new door also refreshed the space. The open layout and large windows make the living and dining areas feel bright and airy.
Thomas built the fireplace bench from the original wood paneling that they removed from the walls of the girls’ bedroom; it provides additional seating and much-needed storage. The leather club chairs flanking the fireplace add visual interest, texture and darker colors in the lightened-up space.
Catherine and Thomas completed most of the work themselves, with the help of family, friends, DIY books and other resources. “My best advice on any project is to plan ahead to save money,” Catherine says. “If you can search Craigslist, estate sales and big-box store scratch-and-dent aisles ahead of time, you can find some great deals on big-tag items.”
As owner of Catherine Arensberg Design, Catherine prides herself on being able to design a livable and beautiful space on any budget, for herself and her clients.
Catherine and Thomas completed most of the work themselves, with the help of family, friends, DIY books and other resources. “My best advice on any project is to plan ahead to save money,” Catherine says. “If you can search Craigslist, estate sales and big-box store scratch-and-dent aisles ahead of time, you can find some great deals on big-tag items.”
As owner of Catherine Arensberg Design, Catherine prides herself on being able to design a livable and beautiful space on any budget, for herself and her clients.
“I’m proud of the design aesthetic of our home and how we’ve been able to turn it into a comfortable place to raise our family,” Catherine says. This white slipcovered Pottery Barn sofa is one of her favorite furniture pieces since it’s deep enough for the whole family to snuggle together and watch a movie. The washable fitted slipcover is still holding up after many years of use and abuse with four kids.
Catherine searched long and hard for furniture pieces with character that were still purposeful and matched the home’s aesthetic. As a result, the living space is durable, useful and eclectic while still feeling inviting and contemporary.
Artist Emily Ryan Smith painted Full Circle, the mixed media abstract above the sofa. Catherine added a bit of geometric-patterned wallpaper behind the shelves to update the wall recess, an original feature of the home.
Artist Emily Ryan Smith painted Full Circle, the mixed media abstract above the sofa. Catherine added a bit of geometric-patterned wallpaper behind the shelves to update the wall recess, an original feature of the home.
Wood shutters on the bottom half of the windows provide privacy and keep this well-lit room cool in the summer, while the two-toned sheers add layers and complete the casual feel of the space.
When the couple moved in, they had to repair a hole in the dining room wall caused by leaking rainwater. They discovered it only after the existing furniture was removed.
The wood armoire in the dining room is a family heirloom that was passed down to Catherine. This large piece was originally in the master bedroom. When they decided that it would be best displayed in the dining room, it would no longer fit through the doorways. They had to remove a window and bring it back in through the front door.
The dining room table is large enough to seat their family of six. Floating shelves along the back wall display a framed map, mirror, artwork and small succulent arrangement.
BEFORE: The kitchen was usable but small and outdated. They planned to keep the original heart of pine floor, but when they removed the existing peninsula, they discovered that there was no flooring underneath. After stripping the kitchen, the first item on the couple’s to-do list was to install a new floor.
The family lived in the home before starting the large renovations of the kitchen and master bathroom, which Catherine believes helped her understand how her family was using the space, and how she could renovate to make the space more functional and practical. The couple completed most of the kitchen renovation themselves, tackling the floor, Sheetrock, electrical, plumbing and painting.
The family lived in the home before starting the large renovations of the kitchen and master bathroom, which Catherine believes helped her understand how her family was using the space, and how she could renovate to make the space more functional and practical. The couple completed most of the kitchen renovation themselves, tackling the floor, Sheetrock, electrical, plumbing and painting.
AFTER: The kitchen is much brighter and more open. Catherine installed the backsplash, and Thomas stained and installed the floating shelves and made the wood hood above the stove. They hired a local millworker to make the cabinets, and a local granite company to install the countertops. The sink was salvaged from the old kitchen.
The couple installed $11 pieces of bamboo from a local salvage store as flooring after staining and adding a polyurethane finish to them. They rented a floor nail gun and laid the floor themselves.
Catherine’s skill in finding bargains paid off when it came to appliances. Their fridge was a Lowe’s floor model, and they bought the dishwasher on sale for $400. Their double oven was a $700 barely used Craigslist find from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The kitchen island was a $30 Goodwill find. “It gets more action than probably any other thing in the house, including the sofa, and it has endless dried milk drips all over it, but it’s the heart of our home,” Catherine says.
Pendant lights: Ikea
The couple installed $11 pieces of bamboo from a local salvage store as flooring after staining and adding a polyurethane finish to them. They rented a floor nail gun and laid the floor themselves.
Catherine’s skill in finding bargains paid off when it came to appliances. Their fridge was a Lowe’s floor model, and they bought the dishwasher on sale for $400. Their double oven was a $700 barely used Craigslist find from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The kitchen island was a $30 Goodwill find. “It gets more action than probably any other thing in the house, including the sofa, and it has endless dried milk drips all over it, but it’s the heart of our home,” Catherine says.
Pendant lights: Ikea
Around the corner from the kitchen is this small bar area featuring a vintage bar cart, vintage sign and floating cabinet. Catherine shopped thrift and discount stores regularly to find the right pieces for their home. She would purchase pieces and try them out in her home for a while. If, after a few months, a piece wasn’t working in the design, she would resell it or donate it back to the thrift store.
“I love that our home looks like it has evolved and was designed over time instead of all being purchased at once,” Catherine says. “I like to mix old and new, different eras of furniture and accessories, and it’s taken eight years to finally get to this point.”
Daughters Addie and Cecilia share this charming bedroom just off the kitchen. It features a large bunk bed designed and built by Thomas, again using the original wood paneling in the room. The stacked beds save floor space, giving the girls more room to play.
Addie often reads stories to Cecilia in this cozy pink beanbag chair.
Each of the bunks has its own mechanism for Addie and Cecilia to use for climbing into bed. The lower bunk has a small upholstered footstool for Cecilia, while the top bunk has an old wood ladder for Addie to climb.
The girls’ bedding is patterned with fish and flowers in soft pinks and blues. “Stylewise, I think my favorite room right now is the girls’ room. It has so many layers and so many things to look at,” Catherine says. Next to each bunk is a small nightlight sconce, perfect for reading bedtime stories.
The girls’ bedding is patterned with fish and flowers in soft pinks and blues. “Stylewise, I think my favorite room right now is the girls’ room. It has so many layers and so many things to look at,” Catherine says. Next to each bunk is a small nightlight sconce, perfect for reading bedtime stories.
This midcentury-inspired nightstand adds a vintage feel to the room and pairs nicely with the repurposed Mobile Azalea Trail sign and other art.
On the wall in the corner of the bedroom is a row of hooks where the girls can hang up their princess gowns and other dress-up outfits. Catherine said this was a great solution to the problem of having to fold and put away these frequently used clothes. The double doors to the right lead into the master bathroom, which the girls share with their parents.
The master bathroom was another large renovation project, which the couple tackled after the kitchen. The home originally had only one bathroom, so they added this space between the master bedroom and the girls’ room.
Everything here is DIY except the marble countertops. The black vanity was in a curbside trash pile, and it simply needed a fresh coat of paint and door pulls. The mirrors were $30 each from a salvage store, and the sconce lights came from Home Depot for about $30 each.
Everything here is DIY except the marble countertops. The black vanity was in a curbside trash pile, and it simply needed a fresh coat of paint and door pulls. The mirrors were $30 each from a salvage store, and the sconce lights came from Home Depot for about $30 each.
To make the bathroom feel larger and more open, the couple decided on a frameless shower stall paired with sophisticated marble subway tile. Catherine and Thomas installed the shower, tile and plumbing themselves.
They found the shower hardware on Amazon, which cut the cost nearly in half. “It’s the little things that add up to big savings,” Catherine says.
They found the shower hardware on Amazon, which cut the cost nearly in half. “It’s the little things that add up to big savings,” Catherine says.
Sons Thomas and Gregory share a queen-size bed in a room near the front of the home, just off the living room. It’s decorated in vintage finds, such as the large nightstand chests that provide ample storage for the boys’ clothing. The quilt on the bed also adds character and charm to the room.
To keep the space neat and organized, Catherine put a large bookcase in the room to hide toys and books. The curtain can be held open by an owl hook along the side.
Thomas is seen here playing with his Legos and other toys.
On one wall of the boys’ room, an old map of Mobile Bay hangs above an antique trunk that’s ideal for storing miscellaneous toys and gadgets.
The casual linen shades provide privacy while allowing in natural light.
The casual linen shades provide privacy while allowing in natural light.
On the opposite wall is a hanging rack to keep backpacks and towels organized and off the floor. It’s flanked by two shutters that, with the help of simple binder clips, serve as the perfect place to display recent drawings and finger paintings.
“The things I value most here are the skills and lessons we’ve learned in renovating, the hard work and dedication we’ve been able to teach our children, and the specific moments we’ve lived here together,” Catherine says. “These are the things that would make it difficult to move away from this place.”
Here the family members relax on their beloved sofa. “I’m enjoying the closeness of a small home with small children under our wing,” Catherine says. “And while sometimes it feels small and crowded, I like that the limited space and storage forces us to hold on to less stuff and grow the value of our time and relationships with each other.”
See more photos of this home
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.
Browse more homes by style:
Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
See more photos of this home
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.
Browse more homes by style:
Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Who lives here: Catherine Arensberg, owner of Catherine Arensberg Design; her husband, Thomas Arensberg; their four children, Addie, 8, Thomas, 7, Gregory, 5, and Cecilia, 2; and Doberman pinscher Zoe
Location: Old Dauphin Way Historic District of Mobile, Alabama
Size: 1,400 square feet (130 square meters); three bedrooms, two bathrooms
Year built: About 1925
BEFORE: The couple started restoring and renovating the interior by tackling the structural and technical projects first. With the help of Thomas’ father and brother, they ran new electrical wiring through the entire house, removing the original knob and tube system. They had the foundation leveled, a new air-conditioning system installed and the roof professionally repaired.
Thomas and his father then blew insulation in the attic, and they sanded and refinished the original oak floors. “Family and friends are the backbone of the renovation process,” Catherine says.