This Farmhouse Facelift Design Has All the Conveniences of a Modern Home

Kristine and John are proud fifth-generation farmhouse owners, but they weren’t thrilled with all the renovations their 1885 colonial house needed in order to work for their modern family. With the home’s rotting deck, a concrete floor in the cold mudroom, and only one functioning bathroom, Farmhouse Facelift siblings Carolyn and Billy had their work cut out for them. Check out how this incredible renovation and design team transformed an historic home into a modern farmhouse with a $150,000 budget.

Farmhouse Facelift airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV Canada. It is also available on the new Global TV App, and on STACKTV with Amazon Prime Video Channels. HGTV Canada is available through all major TV service providers.

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A Modern and Blue Transformation

Welcome to the new kitchen and dining area, where Carolyn and Billy have absolutely transformed the space into a calm farmhouse oasis. The new hardwood floors below are worn in and hold lots of retro charm, while the updated denim-inspired cabinets above are calming and modern. Add in new appliances and pot lights, a shiplap ceiling, and the giant natural wood island, and this is a kitchen that is full of function and design appeal. We are loving this fresh design look!

The farmhouse dining room and kitchen before the reno

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Some Sorely Needed Upgrades

Here’s what the space looked like beforehand: there was a weird separation between the dining room and kitchen, which featured dated finishes and cabinetry. By opening up that wall and creating a more open concept space, Billy and Carolyn were able to create a better flow for the family of four while giving them a space that feels like it could have been ripped from the pages of a magazine. This kitchen has served its purpose well but it was time to update.

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Perfecting the Finishes

In the dining room the new shiplap ceiling carries through, drawing the eye in the same direction of the hardwood floor. Board and batten up the sides of the walls with thick baseboard below adds texture and even more traditional farmhouse appeal to the space. Add in a few modern finishes (the shelves, the oversized chairs at the head of the table), and the room feels updated and fresh. Last, but not least, Carolyn and Billy made sure to pay respect to everyone who lived in the home previously by incorporating their pictures onto that polished photo wall.

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Creating a New Flow in This Open Space

The dining room is still delineated from the main kitchen thanks to the chandelier and the area rug, but now it’s easier for the family to hang out together or even entertain without clunky walls in the way. The result is the perfect mix of traditional finishes and modern updates, which honours the generations past while also allowing Kristine and John to feel like this is a space to call their own.

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Entrance and mudroom after the renovation

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A Brand New Mudroom

That balance of traditional and modern comes into play with the newly designed mudroom, too. Billy and Carolyn installed a heated porcelain floor with a brick finish, but then made it unique with the overlay design that immediately draws the eye. A dramatic ceiling further enhances the look, while the bright shiplap walls leave the area feeling bright and open. Add in a ton of closet space, and this is the mudroom of any functioning farmhouse owner’s dreams.

Related: Mudroom Design Ideas

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A Complete Mudroom Transformation

This is what the space looked like beforehand, and needless to say it wasn’t quite working for the family. The cold floor was impractical in the frigid winter months, and there wasn’t a great space for the family to change in and out of their farming clothes. Functionality aside, the room was drab and dark, and not exactly the most welcoming of spaces when you’re walking into a warm and comforting family home.

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A Few Custom Finishes

Not only does the newly designed mudroom feature a ton of design appeal, but every inch is meant to be functional. The elongated bench along one wall gives lots of space to sit, while also offering extra storage underneath. Billy and Carolyn also constructed these four separate “locker”-inspired sections on the wall, so that each family member has their own area to hang their things, keeping everything neat and organized.

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The Laundry Room Blues

Even the laundry room got a functional makeover thanks to a few new design elements. By stacking the washer and dryer Billy and Carolyn were able to integrate more denim-blue inspired cabinets into the space for storage, not to mention a large sink that’s sorely needed in any working farmhouse. Add in natural wood shelves and a gorgeous hex tile floor, and now it’s easy for this family to keep all of the outdoor mess contained-in the prettiest possible way.

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A New Bathroom

While the goal of this new bathroom was originally to give John somewhere to shower and change after coming in from the farm, it’s pretty obvious that Kristine and her two daughters will be making the most of the room too. The hex tiling from the laundry room continues here, but the space is given a powder-room vibe thanks to the rich blue wallpaper and textured shiplap wall by the vanity. Speaking of, Billy and Carolyn repurposed an antique dresser to create the vanity, maintaining that original farmhouse charm.

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A New Outdoor Space

It’s safe to say that most people living in a farmhouse also enjoy their time outdoors, so Billy and Carolyn were sure to update this family’s not-so-functional outdoor space, too. They replaced the rotting deck with beautiful new stonework, while creating zones for relaxation and dining. Modern pillars, a gorgeous board and batten finish on the walls, updated trim, and a new door make this a complete inside-out transformation. Now John and Kristine have the modern home they need, but without sacrificing any of the important family history that came before them.