FIXERUPPER RESCUE

See how this Iowa fixer-upper went from a rundown mess to a character-filled family home.

See how this Iowa fixer-upper went from a rundown mess to a character-filled family home.

Fixer-uppers can be daunting but also provide a wealth of opportunity. When blogger Erica Mueller of Our Forever Farmhouse moved with her family into their Iowa home, they quickly realized just how much of a fixer-upper it really was. “It needed a lot of work,” Erica says. “It smelled, it was really dirty ... we found water in the basement and there was even a snake [hibernating] in the walls.”

Five years later, the family has finally gotten to the point where the renovations are almost done. Things have been rebuilt, rearranged and repainted, and the result is a charming and welcoming home that’s becoming the “perfect spot” for Erica and her family.

RENOVATION PROCESS

Erica’s guiding principle when designing and renovating the 1,300-square-foot home was to keep things light and bright. She did this by painting in warm, white tones, opening up rooms and making sure spaces were clutter-free. “It’s not a huge house,” says Erica,“so we wanted to do anything to make it seem a little bit larger.”

Another important design focus was adding character. “[The home] was built in 1958, and there’s not really a lot of original character—so we’re always trying to add some,” Erica says. Planking the ceilings brought a rustic, down-to-earth vibe to the spaces, and keeping the original wood floors made sure the home stayed true to farmhouse style.

" It's not a huge house, so we wanted to do anything to make it seem a little bit larger.”

WHAT’S INSIDE

The living room embodies that “light and bright”theme with white ceilings and walls pairing easily with the off-white sofas and fireplace. Warm touches of wood tie the space together and keep it from feeling too impersonal.

Erica took down the nearby wall to open the space to the dining room. She and her husband built the dining room table and bench: “We actually used to build furniture,” she says. A vintage chandelier hangs above it, and the glassy baubles and nearby mirror reflect the light that pours in from the windows.

The entry/laundry room has undergone another amazing transformation. “When we moved in, it was full of dead cockroaches and grasshoppers, and it smelled so bad,” she says. “We tore out a wall in between the two rooms ... and made it one large mudroom/laundry room/ entryway. It’s been completely gutted.”The space now features a beautiful wall of built-ins, vintage furniture and a touch of Old World character, thanks to an exposed wooden beam and a set of white corbels.

The kitchen features budget-friendly updates that look professional but didn’t cost much, thanks to Erica’s DIY skills. Art Deco tile on the floor is a builder-basic brown tile that Erica painted and stenciled over. “It was a lot of work and a lot of days,” says Erica, “but was worth it.”

A corner shelf is a fun way to add architectural details while also adding another décor opportunity.

Erica painted the walls of the sunroom, which used to be the same cedar planks as the ceiling. Seating and a dining set make it an inviting indoor-outdoor space, and the outdoor dining table is another one of Erica and her husband’s furniture creations.

(below) The vintage dresser that sits in the entryway, with its classic farmhouse décor, is a teaser to the light and bright character-filled style that fills the house. (right) Erica and her husband used to build furniture, and they built the dining room table and bench themselves. The planked walls surrounding the space provide the perfect touch of farmhouse charm.

Unique vintage furniture finds, welcoming natural light and pops of green create a warm and inviting living room. “We kept everything light and bright in here,” says Erica. “We wanted to keep it nice and open.”

A vintage church pew, another one of Erica’s finds, provides unique seating in the entryway. Coat hooks hang above and are the perfect place for hats, jackets and anything else you may need for an Iowa winter.

The bar and barstools, vintage finds that Erica loves, provide a space for her boys to color and create. The shiplap walls and ceilings continue the rustic farmhouse feeling of the space. Need an additional work space for you or your kids, but don’t have a home office? Add a wall shelf in an out-of-the-way place like a hallway. Stools will tuck under the shelf to maximize space.