(on Purpose)

Turning a glam 1980s ranch-style house into a country refuge required vision, fortitude and a great relationship with her contractor, Anita Ashlock says of the massive overhaul her Vancouver, Washington, home received. Keep reading for a few tips on how t

Anita had a very clear plan about how to renovate this 1980s home the minute she entered its “time capsule” atmosphere. The first step, however, was to enlist a contractor to find out if her vision was physically achievable.

Creating an open plan required the Ashlocks to tear down the wall separating the living and family rooms. They consulted a contractor to determine whether or not the wall was a load-bearing one, which would have precluded the plan. Luckily, it wasn’t.

When it comes to giving a room a face-lift, paint is one of the cheapest and easiest tools. To provide flow throughout her home, Anita chose Old Village Paint’s Rittenhouse Ivory as her base color for all kitchen cabinets, floorboards, window trim and doors.

Appropriate for the primitive look, periodstyle lighting can transform any room. Anita selected wood chandeliers, sconces and wrought-iron pieces from Irvin’s Country Tinware.

Wood floors are essential for a true country interior, and today there are numerous options for anyone seeking that authentic atmosphere. Anita picked hand-distressed maple planks as a beautiful base layer in the kitchen, great room and dining area.

The Ashlocks put in new vinyl windows with Colonial grids and then turned back time for them via tobacco-cloth curtains and wood blinds that provide wonderful oldfashioned character.