Julie Blankenbaker and her partner Ralph ended up geared up to renovate their Cherokee Gardens ranch house as shortly as they purchased the property.
“When we acquired this location, we understood we wanted to (remodel),” Julie told the Courier Journal. “It was (owned by) a 90-anything-12 months-outdated lady — and it seemed like a 90-a thing-calendar year-old woman’s dwelling.”
She and Ralph weren’t keen on the interior structure or the format of the household.
“When we bought it, we knew we wished to make it ours, and make it far more useful and also obtainable,” Julie claimed, introducing that attending The Tour of Transformed Houses a couple several years in the past is how she and Ralph bought motivated to ultimately start the method. “We went on the tour for the reason that … if we are likely to rework, we have to have to see what this is all about due to the fact we have been clueless. We went two yrs in a row, (and) by the 2nd 12 months we might decided (to transfer forward).”
Open notion dwelling
The Blankenbakers met Stonehenge Construction at the tour and enlisted their assist in making a revamped room — a person of the primary aims of the rework to develop a kitchen area that would provide greater functionality.
“I have a few young children, (and) six grandkids (who are living) in the region,” Julie said. “And I have bought (my) siblings and their households, so we could have 20 men and women here (at once).”
As is widespread with most loved ones gatherings, each one particular person would congregate in the kitchen — this meant Julie generally couldn’t get to the fridge with no possessing to question three individuals to shift.
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“It just was not functional,” she explained, introducing that more compact, separate groups of family members would have to spread out in pockets all through the dwelling. There was no move, and the setup discouraged interaction.
Tommy McKechnie and the rest of the Stonehenge Development group removed a load-bearing wall, opening the kitchen area up to the rest of the key amount. They also developed personalized cabinetry as well as an 8-foot island and put in new appliances. The current open floorplan enables guests to seamlessly stroll from the spouse and children room to the kitchen area, into the dining room, and back yet again.
Breakfast nook conversion
Further more including to the home’s new open concept, Stonehenge Development converted the screened-in porch into a breakfast nook with doors that guide to the patio. An exposed but painted brick wall provides the house character, as does the round eating table that once belonged to Julie’s mother.
“I painted it (with) the similar paint that we used on the mantle (and) happened to uncover chairs at Ethan Allen to match it,” Julie stated. “Then I sanded it down and refinished it myself.”
Also in the room is a Hoosier cabinet, which Julie says was an important piece she insisted Stonehenge Development come across a way to include it into the remodel.
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“It was my grandmother’s,” she stated. “I had (somebody) rebuild it for me to make it more structurally audio. … I painted it and got new handles and new hinges. I like to use previous things. I’m much more sentimental.”
Additional home enhancements
Although specified more mature and extra particular pieces have been stored and unfold all through the household, the rework included a number of modern upgrades to accommodate the Blankenbaker’s latest and potential residing situations. Doorways, for instance, were widened to enable wheelchair obtain. The new format of the renovated learn bathtub was adjusted for the same explanation a curbless shower presents an quick entrance and exit, as does the repositioned toilet.
“My mother life in a nursing dwelling, but I convey her below,” Julie explained. “(The variations) make it a full ton much easier with (her) … And of course, we’re likely to get older, so we’ll have to have this stuff, too.”
Stonehenge Design also mounted new hardwood flooring all over all the reworked spots, built a new back again deck, put in a stacking washer/dryer with mudroom cubbies on the very first floor, and replaced the old doors and windows with new ones.
“It’s exactly what we required,” Julie claimed. “It’s much more than what we envisioned. I actually experienced no clue (what to hope) — no clue at all. But I enjoy it a ton.”
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This property is one particular of 10 showcased on the 2021 Tour of Reworked Households, getting area throughout Louisville Aug. 14-15. Take a look at tourofremodeledhomes.internet for additional information and facts and to acquire tickets.
Know a household that would make a great Home of the Week? E-mail writer Lennie Omalza at [email protected] or Way of living Editor Kathryn Gregory at [email protected].
The Tour of Reworked Homes
WHAT: The Building Sector Affiliation of Better Louisville’s 2021 Tour of Transformed Properties functions various remodeling tasks in households in the course of Louisville, which includes kitchens, baths, basements, and additional. This year’s tour is sponsored by Bonnycastle and Century Entertainment & Furnishings.
WHEN: Aug. 14-15
The place: The tour will address 10 properties throughout Louisville. Addresses are detailed on line.
TICKETS: Tickets are $10 for each individual and can be utilised on the two times. Children ages 6 and youthful are free all little ones young than 18 have to be accompanied by an adult.
Additional Information and facts: Take a look at tourofremodeledhomes.net for additional details and to purchase tickets.
nuts & bolts
Proprietors: Julie and Ralph Blankenbaker. Julie is a nurse and Ralph operates for UPS.
Residence: This is a 3-mattress, 2-bath, 2,300-sq.-foot, ranch property in Cherokee Gardens that was developed in 1965.
Unique features: Stacking washer/dryer with mudroom cubbies on the very first floor converted breezeway to breakfast nook with new sliding doorways on to elevated back deck hardwood flooring through open up floorplan which includes family space, kitchen area, and dining place personalized cupboards with 8-foot island and new appliances new front door new side door with corbel covering learn rest room with double self-importance and curb-significantly less stroll-in shower.
Applause! Applause! Stonehenge Development M&H Cabinetry Signature Countertops Bonnycastle Equipment & Tv set Louisville Tile Computer Lumber Ferguson’s Plumbing Cox Inside, Brecher’s Lighting Willis-Klein Carpet Specialists Architectural Window & Door.
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