Kortney and Dave Wilson Add Function and Personality on a Budget

It only took a little sanding, stain, and paint for Kortney and Dave to save big dollars while transforming the existing staircase into a bright front hallway centrepiece. Complete with a slip-proof but stylish runner, these stairs make a big impact when you enter the home. Meanwhile the tiles have been replaced with a vinyl, waterproof flooring that is less expensive than hardwood, but still adds a cohesive and personality-filled look.

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Before the Wilsons took hold of this renovation, the home featured outdated finishes and a choppy layout. These stairs, which are the first thing you see upon entering, had good bones but the yellow wood finish felt old and tired. Meanwhile the tiled floors were drab and dark, which left much to be desired in this front hallway.

The flooring in the newly decorated foyer continues all the way to the back of the house, giving the space a solid flow throughout. The lighter colour helps reflect light to brighten up the overall space, while the wide plank finish gives the illusion of more expensive hardwood. Considering hard surface floors also give you one of the biggest returns on investment (not to mention vinyl holds up better than hardwood), we’d say the owners will be loving these floors for years to come.

There was certainly decent storage in this kitchen before Kortney and Dave got to it, but the bulky cupboards and one-toned finishes made the space feel small and tight. For someone like Elizabeth who loves to cook and entertain, this was definitely not her ideal space.

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Updated kitchens boast one of the biggest returns on investment for a home, so it’s no wonder that Kortney allocated a large chunk of this reno budget to this one. With Elizabeth’s permission she played with texture and colour to create an interesting and bright space, complete with the high-end appliances. The white above offers a clean and polished finish, while the blues below add instant luxury. The white countertops are also complemented with the wood waterfall island that adds even more storage and function.

Built-in storage adds instant value and function to any home, so Kortney added just that with this charcoal unit. Then, to maximize flow and seating capacity she went with a circular table fit for six, which makes the room feel bigger than it is. Lower chairs and interesting lighting add personality and texture to the room, as do the yellow drapes.

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In order to help with the overall flow and add an open concept layout, Kortney and Dave planned to open up the wall between the living room and kitchen and add a half-wall where the sectional sat. But when they ran into an airflow issue they opted for an enlarged doorway and a smaller sectional instead, which still offered up extra space without shelling out big bucks to change the home’s internal heating structure.

A fireplace can add instant warmth and personality to a room. Or, it can suck it right back out. This bulky unit took up unnecessary space and felt out of place in the living room, making it an eyesore. It’s no wonder that Elizabeth didn’t even think she wanted a fireplace anymore.

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Kortney knew just how beautiful the fireplace could be, though. She and Dave installed a stone façade to update and streamline the look, making it feel modern and fresh. But the real personality in this room comes from the patterned wallpaper, which is an inexpensive but easy way to add instant character to any space. Add in the built-in storage units and this room has been transformed into a cozy space that’s perfect for the family to congregate and hang out in.

With the budget used up on the other rooms, Kortney and Dave were originally going to leave this front room as is. But Kortney couldn’t do that. So she got super creative with the finances and breathed new life into the space. That meant using wallpaper to maximum effect on a feature wall and upcycling the old family room couch with some posh new pillows. Then, she had this dahlia-inspired shelving unit made for style and functionality, creating an inexpensive but show-stopping front room that the family will enjoy for years to come.

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