A reader named Meredith told me about this Mid-Century modern house that her real-estate investment group Heaton Dainard flipped in Seattle, Washington. She says, “We went for a contemporary look, which is popular in this area.”
Here’s how the exterior looked before it got a makeover:
The interiors were pretty dated–doesn’t look like anyone had redecorated anything in the house in decades:
Whoever lived here before certainly loved color!
But what stopped me in my tracks was the kitchen:
I swear we had those same orange flowers on the walls of our kitchen when I was growing up (at least until my mom got around to redecorating it!). The wallpaper covered the entire room. We didn’t have orange and yellow cabinets to match, though.
Here’s how this Mid-Century looks now, after a head-to-toe remodel:
The house was meticulously staged to sell, and their efforts paid off. Meredith says the house sold before it was listed, and above the list price.
Have you gotten into the gray trend? I’m starting to think I’m the only one who doesn’t have a gray room in her house.
Hard to believe it’s the same house. The kitchen makeover is especially dramatic.
It’s always nice to see an older home brought back to life for a new generation of owners.
You can see all of the before and afters on Active Rain. Thanks to Meredith and Heaton Dainard, a real estate investment firm founded by James Dainard and Will Heaton, for sharing it with us!
{ 55 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh, La, La! This is better than I’d imagined. Unbelievable!
Isn’t it great to meet people that has the “vision” and know how transform spaces like that? Totally inspiring!
Have a blessed weekend!
xo
Luciane at HomeBunch.com
Oh, I forgot to mention, Julia. Please, drop by to see my “Cool or Fool” today. You’ll recognize it.
Xo
Luciane at HomeBunch.com
OhWowOhWow. That’s the way it’s done! Gorgeous.
The kitchen is super cool. I can say that I did jump on that bandwagon. All the main living spaces are various shades of gray. It’s a wonderful neutral palette…without being white. Very soothing. Such a departure for me. Our last house was like a spring bouquet.
That before shot of the kitchen is really something. It’s amazing at the difference in the after shots. I’m not a big fan of contemporary design, but they did do an amazing job with the renovations. I don’t care for the kitchen cabinets personally, but it is still a huge improvement over the orange and yellow! The exterior has a lot more curb appeal now. I’m not surprised that it sold before it even listed.
That is amazing! Before and Afters are so much fun to see–especially when the before was that crazy, kitchen!:) It’s a bit too modern for me, but definitely an improvement!
My kind of remodeling! Grey and modern! Love it, love it, love it!
Julia regarding the grey trend…. I have something in grey in all over the house! Not to mention my clothing! I always loved that color!
Wow, I really don’t like it at all. The bathroom sink looks very difficult to actually use. If that vanity is normal height it will be very hard for people, especially kids, to reach their hands over that high sink, and then the space between the top of the sink and the faucet is pretty small so you will have to raise your arms high above the sink and then once over the wall you have to then lower them into the basin to wash. Awkward and uncomfortable.
The kitchen cabinets are not attractive, in my opinion. I don’t like the stripe-y effect which I also don’t like on the bathroom vanity and it even mirrors the exterior stripe-y thing going on. Not a fan.
Neat! I’m not sure about the stripey kitchen cabinets – they might grow on me. I’m liking the mid-century look more lately. Love your website!!
Those are stunning! And I love the grey trend!
The after pictures don´t look like a real house though, it seems like pictures made by computer… Do you know if they are the real photos or the arquitect outline maybe??
Kisses from Argentina, I´m in love qith your website!!!!!!!
I see your point! They do look like they could’ve been architectural renderings. As far as I know, though, they’re they actual photos!
I’m not feeling any love for the “after”, but it does look like an entirely new place. The before kitchen looks just like the kitchen in my Barbie Dream House (circa 1975).
I painted my newly-remodeled bathroom gray nearly 10 years ago, and I still love it!
The inside is fabulous! But I kinda like the “before” of the exterior better than the “after”… it seems a little stark the way they did it. Granted, the after shot does not have leaves on the trees, that seems to make a difference.
They ruined it. They should have left it retro, cleaned it up, painted, up dated lighting and appliances, but with more of a mid century aesthetic. It’s too faux retro.
On another note, I wonder who they stole this from. With the $$ spent on renovations and staging, there is no way their “investment” paid off unless they paid almost nothing for this home. Not a fan of the “realtors”.
I am sure the masses loved it, that is why it sold “before listing” (*cough* BS..) but it’s not for me.
Wow! What a tranformation! A miracle makeover in my opinion.
Looking at the before pictures of the kitchen, the light yellow “cabinets” is actually a refrigerator believe it or not!
They are? How wild!
I dont like the inside or the out side !
We had that same orange flower wallpaper also! Too funny. I can’t say I’m a fan of the after (or the before really) the house looks so cold.
And I’m one who never jumped on the gray bandwagon either. Probably never will.
Now onto my third house and subsequently third remodel (all of which we have done ourselves), I appreciate the hard work of the people that were paid to do the actual labor. They did a good job. But….I’m not a fan of the streamlined modern look, well it’s more than that, they made the exterior and the interior too flat, straight, stark, just simply uninviting.
I noticed that they moved the kitchen. (Oh my goodness, that blast form the past had to go!). The kitchen used to be where the dinning room now is – just look out the windows:
Before: orange kitchen windows looked out on to neighbor house with blue siding and white windows.
After: grey kitchen looks out on to trees and power lines.
Now the dining room looks out on to that same blue sided neighbor house with the same white windows.
Sorry for the typos
I like the “after,” but not wild about it. They seemed to have lost a lot of the integrity of the original.
I’m also not sure I would have messed with that kitchen at all. It’s such an incredible time capsule and I would love to wake up to it every morning. It would make me feel like one of the Brady Bunch or the Partridge family!
Am I the only one that thinks those photos make it look like they’re completely done in a design program? Reading back through the comments I guess not. It’s amazing what updating can do to a house.
Yes, the pictures look fake to me.
Mid-Century Modern isn’t my personal style, but I do love to look at it! They did an amazing job!
I love it. As a Seattlite, I have not “gone grey.” I just think it’s grey enough around here. What we did repaint we did in greens.
A house in this condition in a decent neighborhood would probably sell in the $500k, so if they sold it for over a million that’s a nice flip.
I love these interiors. I live cottage style too but there’s just something about this serene look. I think it’s going to be the new timeless classic.
I have a grey hallway – only because I needed a neutral between two very bold rooms. I’m not really a fan of it though. I don’t particularly like grey – LOL!
I hate to ask this but are those photos real? They almost look fake. The only reason I ask is because I recently read this article on Houzz and was amazed! Some of these pictures have the same qualities…weird!
http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/847253/list/Architectural-Images–Truth-or-Fiction-
Interesting article! Maybe Meredith with stop by and let us know about the photos. She didn’t say anything to me about them being computer generated or anything, so I’m assuming they’re real. I see your point, though!
Hi everyone!
These are real photos not computer renderings!
Thanks for all of the positive comments.
Keep in mind the house was rehabbed and then staged for sale, so we generally keep a neutral look in regards to paint color throughout to appeal to the market. The family that bought the home will make their own cosmetic changes (painting, etc) and move their own furniture in the home, adding lots of their own personal touches and charm to the house. We opened up the kitchen to provide a larger open layout for the buyer. In addition, there is a huge basement that is suitable for a family room, media room or toy room downstairs. The layout is absolutely perfect for a family.
The home was purchased for 530k and sold for over a million before it went on the market. This is located in one of the most sought after neighborhoods in Seattle. The feedback from the neighbors was very positive. Many stopped by during the construction process and were thrilled with the changes. All of the rehabbing was done with superb local contractors, high quality materials and finishes and top of the line appliances appropriate for a house in this range.
Meredith
What an amazing make over! I love it! I don’t have a grey room either. Maybe I better work on that.
I have to agree with Dean, as much as I love the makeover, the house was an absolute time capsule! Those cabinets! That wallpaper! I’m a little obsessed. It would be like living in “The Simpsons” house that was built in Las Vegas. I love the mid-century design for those wide, stretched spaces. Every window is a dramatic rectangle. Thanks for sharing!
It’s not my personal style but I think it’s fantastic! I haven’t jumped on the gray trend because I still remember it from the 90′s. Grey carpet and black lacquered furniture…loved it then. Plus Tennessee has a tendency to be gray outside in the winter, I can’t be gray inside and out
Sorry to say this, but I am not a fan of the after. It’s so cold, uninviting and they totally ruined the outside. I’ve seen outdated homes get a much better updated look than this.
Here’s a 1970′s Washington home where the homeowners updated the parts that needed it the most, but didn’t over due it: http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/20113-32nd-Ave-NE-Lake-Forest-Park-WA-98155/48910448_zpid/ This is how I would updated this house.
There’s this one too: http://www.windermere.com/listing/WA/Lake-Forest-Park/3029-Ne-178th-St-98155/11671381?refer=map
I find it cold and depressing. They also ruined a beautiful time capsule kitchen.
I just love it! They did an amazing job. I loved the bones of this house. It was “interesting” to look at, but who would want to live in a time capsule. Take lots of pics before bringing in the wallpaper strippers and sledge hammers
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Their remodel made it a house that a family could live in NOW. I have a super pale gray room in my house that is multifunctional but I have it looking not so contemporary in there. Lots of gold and silver gilt which plays off the pale gray beautifully. It changes in the light and sometimes looks a little blue. I like it a lot.
What a transformation – Colors can certainly make a huge difference. The house looks very modern; I am not surprised it sold so fast. Excellent post!
Not my style, but wow! That is quite the makeover.
Did I read correctly that that house is in Laurelhurst? I love Laurelhurst…the house, well…brrrr! I haven’t been back in a while, I hope all the influx of techies hasn’t destroyed the old world charm of the area completely.
Sincerely,
Julie M., Stodgy Traditionalist
Completely unrelated: you’ve never done a photo tour of the amazing houses/sets of the most recent Pride and Prejudice movie, have you? Because I think it would be awesome.
But you know, this house’s interior is going to look as dated as the old one in just a few years!
absolutely- it’s getting to be a cliche…
I’m in love with the sofas.
Not keen on the photos…. they all look rendered or photoshopped – definitely not real. The objects in the photos are all out of proportion and the perspective is off kilter.
Nice place though!
Holy Pepto Bismol, Batman, that is one pink bedroom! I admit, I think that orange and yellow kitchen is kind of fabulous. We didn’t have that wallpaper, but it looks familiar. It must have been in the house of one of my friends.
The remodeled house is elegant, but a little stark for my taste.
Wow, what an amazing transformation!!!! Although this home is not my style I’m sure someone will snatch it up in no time! Have a great weekend
)
~Des
I could swear I saw this house (or one very similar) on the show “Curb Appeal” many years ago. They only made changes to the outside, but I’m wondering if this was the same house?
I think it’s an amazing transformation and I applaud anyone with that much vision. That said, please, please, please don’t make me live there.
just fab – too much grey for me but esp loving the kitchen
le
The use of colour in this redesign is fantastic. My favourite part has to be the mezzanine style balcony area of the exterior, it’s a great space and I bet the view is great!
These pictures look totally fake. I’ve worked with the newer rendering programs and they can produce even more realistic pictures than this! On the off chance they are real photos (doubtful), someone must have retouched them halfway to hell. I don’t particularly care for the new “remodel”, the interior just looks very “clean”, which is nice, but not even really an improvement in my eyes. The exterior is downright ugly. While any any older house would need improvements and to be brought up to date to successfully flip, I really struggle to see where those 500,000+ dollars in profit were put into use. Besides the unfortunate exterior I can’t really see any other major changes that warrant such a price hike. weird.
Certainly an improvement but not a favorite.
It looks almost as dated. “The grey phase.”
That looks like a complete different house. Im amazed how they made it look so modern and brand new. Love the simplicity of the interiors.
I had bright orange flowers on my bedroom circa 1969! They did a nice job updating the house but I don’t like grey except in pants and modern is not my thing. Again nice job though!
I’m just so tired of grey paint and tiles — the new “white”. And I have to say I think the old kitchen looked way warmer and more fun. I think it could have been a better house if they’d left some character and color instead of making it look like a 2011 homestyle showroom.
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