Emily Hewett had a lot of reasons not to buy the 1940s farmhouse that needed a lot of TLC. She and her husband had twin babies and busy careers. But they loved the neighborhood and the price was right. So they took a deep breath and started the process. It involved rebuilding the main staircase, expanding the first-floor guest bedroom into a master suite, and re-doing the upstairs bedrooms.
Hewett also fixed up the home's exterior, adding an overhang over the front door to protect it from water damage. Here's what it looks like now:
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Inside, the family room is neutral and relaxed. Hewett added shiplap, a rough-hewn pine paneling, to the one of the walls to maintain a historic farmhouse feel.
A large table anchors the white kitchen. Hewett added stained cedar beams to the ceiling, and picked out an intricate chandelier.
The new master bedroom on the first floor, behind the kitchen, was expanded by pushing a wall out two feet. Hewett added shiplap to the walls here, too, and kept the bedding simple, fluffy and wonderfully soft.
The master bathroom was created out of an old garage at the back of the house. Hewett added an old-fashioned claw foot bathtub that's perfect for luxurious soaks.
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The work took almost an entire year and a lot of patience, but the family can't be happier.