Julie Blankenbaker and her husband Ralph ended up prepared to renovate their Cherokee Gardens ranch home as shortly as they acquired the residence.
“When we acquired this area, we knew we desired to (transform),” Julie informed the Courier Journal. “It was (owned by) a 90-something-yr-old woman — and it appeared like a 90-some thing-yr-aged woman’s dwelling.”
She and Ralph weren’t keen on the interior design or the structure of the home.
“When we purchased it, we realized we preferred to make it ours, and make it more practical and also available,” Julie mentioned, adding that attending The Tour of Remodeled Residences a couple many years back is how she and Ralph acquired encouraged to last but not least start the procedure. “We went on the tour for the reason that … if we are heading to remodel, we need to see what this is all about for the reason that we were being clueless. We went two yrs in a row, (and) by the second yr we might resolved (to go forward).”
Open thought living
The Blankenbakers satisfied Stonehenge Design at the tour and enlisted their enable in making a revamped place — one particular of the major ambitions of the rework to build a kitchen area that would supply greater performance.
“I have a few young children, (and) six grandkids (who are living) in the place,” Julie mentioned. “And I have acquired (my) siblings and their family members, so we could have 20 people today below (at the moment).”
As is popular with most loved ones gatherings, each individual one human being would congregate in the kitchen — this meant Julie usually couldn’t get to the fridge with no obtaining to request 3 folks to shift.
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“It just wasn’t functional,” she claimed, adding that scaled-down, different groups of family members would have to spread out in pockets all through the residence. There was no circulation, and the setup discouraged conversation.
Tommy McKechnie and the rest of the Stonehenge Building workforce taken off a load-bearing wall, opening the kitchen up to the rest of the principal level. They also created custom made cabinetry as well as an 8-foot island and set up new appliances. The current open floorplan will allow company to seamlessly stroll from the spouse and children space to the kitchen, into the eating space, and back again yet again.
Breakfast nook conversion
Further more introducing to the home’s new open up concept, Stonehenge Development transformed the screened-in porch into a breakfast nook with doors that direct to the patio. An uncovered but painted brick wall gives the space character, as does the round dining table that the moment belonged to Julie’s mother.
“I painted it (with) the similar paint that we made use of on the mantle (and) happened to find chairs at Ethan Allen to match it,” Julie said. “Then I sanded it down and refinished it myself.”
Also in the place is a Hoosier cabinet, which Julie says was an vital piece she insisted Stonehenge Building discover a way to integrate it into the remodel.
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“It was my grandmother’s,” she said. “I experienced (anyone) rebuild it for me to make it far more structurally sound. … I painted it and obtained new handles and new hinges. I like to use aged things. I’m far more sentimental.”
Extra home advancements
Although specific older and extra individual items were being stored and distribute all over the house, the rework provided numerous modern-day updates to accommodate the Blankenbaker’s existing and foreseeable future residing cases. Doorways, for instance, were being widened to make it possible for wheelchair access. The new layout of the renovated grasp bathtub was changed for the exact motive a curbless shower gives an easy entrance and exit, as does the repositioned bathroom.
“My mother life in a nursing residence, but I deliver her in this article,” Julie explained. “(The changes) make it a total good deal much easier with (her) … And of program, we’re heading to get older, so we’ll need this stuff, much too.”
Stonehenge Building also put in new hardwood floors all over all the reworked locations, developed a new back deck, put in a stacking washer/dryer with mudroom cubbies on the 1st ground, and changed the old doorways and home windows with new kinds.
“It’s accurately what we required,” Julie explained. “It’s additional than what we envisioned. I definitely experienced no clue (what to assume) — no clue at all. But I delight in it a large amount.”
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This house is 1 of 10 showcased on the 2021 Tour of Reworked Houses, getting position throughout Louisville Aug. 14-15. Stop by tourofremodeledhomes.web for additional information and facts and to acquire tickets.
Know a residence that would make a fantastic Dwelling of the 7 days? Email writer Lennie Omalza at [email protected] or Way of living Editor Kathryn Gregory at [email protected].
The Tour of Reworked Households
WHAT: The Building Field Association of Better Louisville’s 2021 Tour of Reworked Properties features numerous transforming jobs in residences all over Louisville, which include kitchens, baths, basements, and more. This year’s tour is sponsored by Bonnycastle and Century Leisure & Furnishings.
WHEN: Aug. 14-15
Where by: The tour will address 10 houses through Louisville. Addresses are listed on the net.
TICKETS: Tickets are $10 for every person and can be employed on both times. Young children ages 6 and young are cost-free all little ones more youthful than 18 ought to be accompanied by an adult.
Extra Details: Stop by tourofremodeledhomes.internet for more facts and to order tickets.
nuts & bolts
Owners: Julie and Ralph Blankenbaker. Julie is a nurse and Ralph will work for UPS.
Home: This is a 3-bed, 2-bath, 2,300-sq.-foot, ranch dwelling in Cherokee Gardens that was built in 1965.
Distinct elements: Stacking washer/dryer with mudroom cubbies on the first ground transformed breezeway to breakfast nook with new sliding doors onto elevated back again deck hardwood floors during open up floorplan including loved ones home, kitchen area, and eating place customized cabinets with 8-foot island and new appliances new front doorway new facet door with corbel covering learn bathroom with double self-importance and curb-less wander-in shower.
Applause! Applause! Stonehenge Building M&H Cabinetry Signature Countertops Bonnycastle Appliance & Tv set Louisville Tile Pc Lumber Ferguson’s Plumbing Cox Inside, Brecher’s Lights Willis-Klein Carpet Professionals Architectural Window & Door.
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