Good Bones’ Mother-Daughter Duo Uncover Charm and Value in Rundown Bungalow

As a mother-daughter reno duo, Karen E Laine and Mina Starsiak Hawk love revealing the hidden potential of old and outdated houses in their hometown of Indianapolis – and this Fountain Square bungalow was their biggest investment to date. After being lived in and loved by one family for 50 years, Mina and Karen purchased the 1,375-foot home for $130,000. With $150,000 worth of thoughtful renovations and some smart salvages, they made the bungalow infinitely more functional and stylish – while still respecting the home’s solid bones and rich character.

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sophisticated living room with hardwood floors, textured wall and leather couch

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Hidden Treasure

One of the best (and most valuable) treasures that the team found in the home were the gorgeous hardwood floors hiding beneath the carpeting. With a bit of patching and a lot of cleaning, Mina and Karen restored the floors to their original glory – while saving major space in their budget. In the living room, the team also used moulding and paint to mimic the luxe look of wainscoting for major wow-factor and drama (without the major cost).

before wallway with damaged yellow floral wallpaper

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Room Swaps

Before, the three-bedroom bungalow’s layout wasn’t as practical or spacious as it could be. To make a more functional flow, the Good Bones team removed many of the arched doorways between rooms for a more open feel. And, because the house had two living rooms but only one bathroom, they closed off the wall behind the main living room to create a new primary bedroom.

master bedroom with hardwood floors and blue-green walls

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Airy and Elegant

With the wall closed off, what what was once the formal living room became this airy master bedroom at the front of the house – complete with sophisticated blue-green paint, newly uncovered hardwood floors and elegant furnishings.

bathroom with tiled shower and dual vanity

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A Bonus Bathroom

Beside the new master bedroom, the team transformed what used to be a small bedroom into a larger second bathroom – a big win and a necessity for what remains a three-bedroom home. Elevated features like floor-to-ceiling Carrara marble tile in the shower and a wide dual vanity create a luxurious feel befitting of a master en suite.

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Character Piece

Karen saw the potential in salvaging the home’s old crystal chandelier, which had seen better days. With a few repairs, new crystals and a thorough cleaning, the vintage light fixture was brought back to life – proudly shining in the home’s new entryway.

kitchen with green cabinets and light green walls

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Raise the Roof

The revamped kitchen really reached new heights – quite literally. Originally, the ceiling was low and cramped, so the Good Bones team opened up the space with new high ceilings and much more vertical space. Taking advantage of that newfound kitchen height, deep-green cabinets evoked a rich look, while matte-black countertops and a matching centre island furthered the custom feel.

kitchen counter with herringbone backsplash

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Backsplash Tiles With Metallic Inlays

For the backsplash, Mina chose a gorgeous patterned tile with metallic inlays, which perfectly complement the restored brass hardware saved from the original cabinets. Together, the new cabinets, backsplash and vintage hardware created a beautiful balance of old and new.

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Homage to a Beautiful History

When Karen uncovered the home’s original wallpaper, she knew she had to preserve a piece of it in the new design. By peeling off any newer layers of wallpaper and then creating an intentionally distressed finish, Karen designed a one-of-a-kind focal wall in the dining room that elegantly connected the home’s past with its future.

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Updated Bathroom

The bungalow’s original bathroom got a major refresh with a new white subway-tiled shower, new dual vanity and chic hexagonal-tile floor.

exterior bungalow in pale green with neat landscaping and white trim

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Minty Fresh Curb Appeal

Mina and the rest of the Good Bones team wanted to preserve the home’s character, while giving the exterior an upscale refresh to showcase the bungalow’s transformation (and attract a potential buyer). To turn up the home’s curb appeal, the team added new siding, which they painted in a pale-minty-green hue. They also repaired the exterior bricks and brightened them up with a coat of clean white paint for a welcoming, refreshed look.