Ben and Erin Napier Help a First-Time Home Buyer Create the Craftsman Cottage of Her Dreams for $135,000

When Ben and Erin Napier brought Whitney to see this little $65,000 bungalow, it was the roughest house on a great street, meaning the perfect starter home for the young interior designer. With the right renovations, Whitney would stand to gain a major return on her investment down the road, and in the meantime, enjoy the perks of Ben an Erin’s visionary renovation.

The entire renovation cost Whitney $135,000, and of that, $17,000 was put towards exterior upgrades. Ben and Erin oversaw exterior painting, landscaping, front porch repairs, and a new white header over the porch to give it definition. But the coolest contribution to the exterior has to be the DIY “catinet,” a cute, little cat cabinet for Whitney’s furry friend.

Whitney’s face says it all! The renovation was a huge success, even if it cost Whitney an extra $10,000. The original budget was set at $125,000, but when Ben began demolition, they discovered the kitchen floors were caving in, and there was extensive rot on the exterior. After a tense phone call with Whitney, she agreed to dip into her contingency fund to cover the repairs, and Ben and Erin were able to finish the renovation without sacrificing their original plans.

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The 1950s bungalow made a pretty lackluster first impression, but after a few minutes, Whitney was able to see the potential in the space. It offered incredible natural light, beautiful wood floors, and could be easily transformed, thanks to its modest size. A little bit of Erin’s magic would go a long way!

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Whitney’s new living room was one of the easiest upgrades in the house. The fleshy beige walls (yuck) were given a fresh coat of paint in a clean, crisp eggshell white, and the floors were stained in a rich and warm shade.

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To add some new, personal touches to the living room, Ben designed mid-century, modern-inspired side tables (at Whitney’s request), and Erin surprised the designer with a DIY ombre tapestry made with three shades of turquoise yarn. The project is a beautiful piece of artwork, that fits snuggly within the tight living room budget.

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The original kitchen had red walls straight out of a 1980s horror movie, made all the more terrifying thanks to fluorescent lighting. To update the kitchen, Erin wanted to remove an awkward door leading in the bedroom, thereby freeing up a wall to rejig the layout of counters and appliances. She also envisioned a peninsula between the kitchen and dining room, to create better flow.

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Erin wanted to create a gorgeous kitchen for Whitney, but she made very strategic design choices to make sure the renovation remained within budget. For the floors, she went with vinyl designed to look just like slate tile, and affordable butcher block was chosen for the countertops.

Our favourite feature in the kitchen though is one that was there to begin with: the original cast-iron sink. Erin had it refinished by a local expert, and replaced the old hardware with a gorgeous gold faucet. The completed kitchen is like a fine lobster supper (on a tuna can budget!).

Whitney’s style veers towards Mid-Century Modern-meets-boho, so Erin paired high back MCM chairs with a bohemian colour scheme, and just a touch of glam thanks to the brass light fixture. All in, the living room, dining room and kitchen ate up $25,000.

Erin made Whitney’s bedroom a celebration of colour. Using a palette inspired by 1970s colour schemes and warm, desert tones, Erin designed an affordable statement wall (this is a great, budget-friendly alternative to wallpaper!). She layered in textiles in bright yellow and warm, earthy red to contrast against the jewel-toned walls, and create a cozy vibe that literally beckons you to climb into bed and wrap yourself up.

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The bungalow only had one bathroom, and Whitney’s budget didn’t allow for the creation of a second one, so Ben and Erin set about making the existing bathroom bigger and better. They took square footage from an adjoining bedroom and expanded the room, creating space for a beautiful vanity with lots of storage (designed with a remnant piece of “fancy, expensive” quartz), and a nice wide bath and shower. Erin made budget-friendly material choices, like the vinyl flooring that looks just like tile (which, FYI, is a great option because the grout never goes grey!). The total for the bedroom and bathroom came to a respectable $12,000. Whitney bought this bungalow for $56,000 and invested $79,000 in renovations. It might be cozy, and her renovation might have cut a few (acceptable) corners, but her $135,000 starter home has totally cornered the market! When it comes time to sell, she’ll have made a pretty penny on this house, all thanks to Ben and Erin Napier.