Before & After: A Dated 1970s House Got a Jaw-Dropping Modern Remodel and the Kitchen Is the Best Part

Name: Chase and Lauren Daniel and family
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: 1,900 square feet
Years lived in: 1 year, owned

After quite a few months of casually house shopping, a 1970s house in a great location came up and we had to go for it; it just had too much potential. And in Austin the process of buying a home goes a little something like this: a house lists on Friday, you see it Saturday, bids are due by Sunday evening, and most bids are over asking price. It’s a tough market, so it was a quick decision and a risk because it needed a lot of work (aka a full cosmetic remodel). Plus, we would have to list and sell our home.

But, when you know you know. This house felt like our foreseeable future home (I try to stay away from things like “forever home” because life is full of variables and circumstances that can’t be predicted), it was larger [than our last home] and in an incredible neighborhood, and it is across the street from the sweetest neighborhood park. Most importantly, the bones were there for an incredible home. We took the plunge and four months later it’s feeling less like a work-in-progress and more like our home.

My Style: Modern, Clean, Minimal

Inspiration: Mid-century lines, modern, clean yet warm, Scandinavian design

Favorite Element: For Lauren it’s the kitchen; Chase let me have a lot of creative reign here and for me, it’s as dreamy as they come. For Chase it’s the modern clean bathroom. He loves the way our risky move with bold tiles turned out.

Biggest Challenge: We had to make these design decisions somewhat quickly because the timeline for completion was tight and looking back, we may have been a little extra but everything came together well. If you are in renovation mode and looking for some inspiration my best advice is to go with your gut. What do YOU like? Who cares what Pinterest says, you do you!

Also, furniture can be super overwhelming for me and in the past we’ve always purchased used furniture (which I’m so for!) but for this house we decided we’d like to find some new quality pieces that had a modern warm feel. I didn’t know how to go about filling a blank room with furniture so I started with chairs. My first pick was two modern velvet Vance Olive Green Chairs from Room & Board. These are probably my favorite color green and I love the juxtaposition of hard and soft. They really helped set the tone in the space so I designed around that.

Proudest DIY: For sure the kitchen shelves! I really wanted a modern, unique feel for our open shelving and suggested blackened steel to Chase. He was down for the challenge and actually learned to weld to make those beauties a reality! We also tied this steel detail in at the stairs and adhered blackened steel to the risers.

Biggest Indulgence: I’d say our kitchen faucet. I wanted something super minimal and sleek; we went with a Delta Trinsic Kitchen Faucet with Touch2O Technology. I know it’s a luxury but this Touch Technology is an absolute game changer for me. I am always in the kitchen, whether recipe testing, cooking dinner, baking something just because, or feeding my hungry toddler — messy hands are my life. With this faucet, you can touch anywhere on the spout or handle to start and stop the flow of water. Plus, there is an indicator light that tells you if the water is hot/warm/cold. It’s one of those “you don’t know what you’re missing” type of things.

Best Advice: Less is more.

What’s your best home secret? Mixing in less expensive items with higher end/pricier ones. We splurge more on rugs and furniture but then mix in budget pillows, frames, and decor. It also allows you to change your mind or change things up without blowing your budget, so investment wise it makes more sense to pair the two.

• White Dove in Matte Finish — Benjamin Moore
• Loft Accent Wall Moss Green — Benjamin Moore

• Rug 2’x7’ Layla Collection — Loloi

• Vance Olive Chairs; Kayseri Wool Rug; Goodwin Vento Leather Couch; Graham Walnut Coffee Table; Bowen Console Table – 12” with Marble Top; and Guild Concrete Lamp — Room & Board
• Glazed Saltillo Fireplace Thin Brick — Clay Imports
• Odis Wall Sconces — Humanhome
• Various Throw Pillows — Target
• Pouf Ottoman — Target
• Large Framed Print — Jess Engle
• Hex Marble Side Table — West Elm

• Drawer Pulls/Hardware — J&L Hardware
• Rug — Loloi
• Trinsic Touch Faucet — Delta
• Birch 4”x4” Backsplash Tile — Fireclay Tile
• Florish Sconces — Triple Seven Home
• Stained Oak in Slate with Suede Finish — Kraftmaid
• Leathered Black Granite Countertops — Custom
• Steel Shelves — DIY
• Appliances — GE Adora in Black Slate
• Table & Dining Chairs — West Elm
• Light Fixture — Illuminate Vintage

• Couch — West Elm
• Ottoman — West Elm
• Cloth Chair — West Elm
• Desk — Vintage
• Book Shelf — Target
• Pillows — IKEA
• Leather Chair — Vintage

• ZURA Single Handle Bathroom Faucets — Delta
• PIVOTAL Shower Trim — Delta
• Shower Tile 3”x12” in Pheasant — Fireclay
• Wall Tile 3”x12” in Sparrow — Fireclay
• Floor Tile 3”x12” in Halite — Fireclay
• Aspen Sconce — Illuminate Vintage
• Rug 2’x5’ Layla Collection — Loloi Rug
• Zura 30” Towel Bar — Delta
• Zura Robe Hooks — Delta
• GODMORGON / ODENSVIK Sink cabinet — IKEA
• Infinity black mirrors — CB2
• Glass shower door — Custom
• Towels — Target

Thanks Daniel family!

This post originally ran on Apartment Therapy. See it there: Before & After: A Dated 1970s House Got a Jaw-Dropping Modern Remodel, Is Now Totally Unrecognizable