Shabby to Chic Condo

If you've been following me on social media, you've seen sneak peeks of this recent condo upgrade project I've been working on.  It was a relatively quick project although during the process, there were times that it felt like an endless loop of practical jokes (I'll discuss these challenges in a separate blog post). Despite all the hiccups, the project was completed in 4 weeks and the homeowner has since moved in and is settling in.Here's the back story on this space.  The condo was purchased during the height of the market and so there isn't as much equity to play with (can anyone relate?).  It had been a rental and although it is in good condition, there were dated elements throughout the space, particularly in the kitchen and the baths.  The owner was now moving into the unit herself and wanted to invest in upgrades before occupying the home. This is not a particularly high end property so making sure we didn't over improve it was an important consideration.Project Overview:Throughout the condo:

• Remove popcorn ceiling - this instantly gave the space a more contemporary look.  I think popcorn ceilings are one of the worst inventions ever made!
• New Paint on walls, doors and trim - this is like Renovation 101, it's a given.  If you do nothing else with your home, a new coat of paint will always make it feel fresh, clean and new!
• Replace all light fixtures throughout - updating light fixtures are an instant facelift.

Now let's walk through some of the more intensive renovations starting with the kitchen.  We considered replacing the kitchen cabinets, but for the sake of time and mostly because this unit came with laminate flooring that is technically against HOA rules due to it being a second story unit, any modification to the cabinetry would create issues with the flooring.  Why not just replace the flooring you ask?  Because the CC&Rs grandfather in the flooring that came with the unit when she purchased it, but if she were to change it, she would be required to replace the main living space with carpet which is NOT what she wanted.So...we opted to have the kitchen cabinets refinished, painted, and glazed.   I absolutely LOVE the results.  The cabinets turned out so gorgeous!!!  They are literally ugly duckling cheap builder's basic flat panel cabinets turned beautiful swan.  We also replaced all the hinges and added new knobs.  The old tile countertops were replaced with a quartz countertop and matching 6 inch backsplash which is modern and so easy to maintain.  Of course, we installed a new sink and faucet and replaced the dishwasher.  Here are the before and after pictures of the kitchen...Here's something that we couldn't agree on...the flurorescent light box frame.  We had discussed replacing this box with recessed lighting, but she ultimately decided to keep it.  She had wanted the frame painted to match the kitchen cabinets which I disagreed with.  I thought the frame should be painted the same color as the ceiling so that it would just disappear.  My feeling was if it were painted the same color as the cabinets, it would highlight a feature that was not desirable and it would make the ceiling feel lower than it already was.  Below is a picture of it Before, Painted White like the ceiling and then painted the same color as the cabinets which is what she decided to do in the end.  I must admit, I don't hate that it matches the cabinets.  I still would choose to have them painted white but 1) it's not my house and 2) I don't think the painters did a very good job with the painting of the frame.  If the cabinet refinisher would have painted the white, it would have looked much nicer.The hall storage cabinets received the same paint and glaze treatment...love!!

Now let's move onto the bathrooms.  There are two full baths in this unit.  The Hall Bathroom got a cosmetic upgrade which included new tile flooring, a painted vanity with new hinges and knobs, new quartz countertop, new faucet, new light fixture and new handheld shower faucet.  We also added a frame around the existing mirrors with molding painted to match the vanity.  It instantly upgraded the look without the expense.

The tile floors in the room are very pretty...the picture really doesn't do it justice.

The Master Bathroom received a complete gut renovation.  The floorplan remained the same, but all the finishes are brand new.  This room was a test of our sanity.  The homeowner wanted to replace the bathtub with a walk-in shower.  That didn't work out since the drains didn't line up and because this is a second story condo, your options are more limited given the timeframe and budget, so it was a mad scramble to update with a new tub which meant everything chosen for a shower had to be switched to a tub.  In the end, it all worked out...

Pheww...so that's a wrap on this condo renovation project.  It's a great example of how to upgrade builder's basics with relatively inexpensive, updated, contemporary options to increase the resale value of your home.  The best and smartest part is, she made the upgrades before moving into the home, she will enjoy the upgrades while she's living there and will reap the home improvement return on investment when she sells the home.

Cheers to that!!!  Be on the lookout for the biggest lessons learned from this project and tips for your own renovation coming soon in a separate blog post.

Thanks for reading!