Kortney and Dave Wilson Transform a 60-Year-Old Home on a Budget

Josh and Rita had big plans for his grandmother’s 1957 home when they bought it. But when he went to renovate the place, he quickly discovered he was in over his head. Thankfully Dave, Kortney, and the Making it Home team were there to help. See how they transformed this 60-year-old property into a beautiful family home on a $170,000 budget.

Making it Home With Kortney & Dave airs Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10PM e/t on HGTV Canada. HGTV Canada is now also available through STACKTV with Amazon Prime Video Channels or with the new Global TV app when you sign-in with your TV service provider details.

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A Big, Open Space

Dave and Kortney agreed that to get the most out of this renovation budget, they’d need to focus on putting the money in the right spaces: the kitchen, living room, and family room. In order to give Josh and Rita the open concept home of their dreams, that meant opening up the space and reconfiguring the awkward kitchen, which featured a bulky corner where the stairs took up extra space. But, by allocating enough money to drop the stairs, close that door to the side and create a new door and patio, they were able to give these homeowners a larger-not to mention more functional-space.

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When DIYs Go Wrong

Josh’s heart was in the right place when he tried to give Rita the kitchen of her dreams. Unfortunately he was working with a truly unique space that required professional help. There was no getting around that awkward corner that interfered with the stairs, and with a second child on the way this couple just couldn’t afford to be looking at half-finished projects anymore.

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A Sleek New Design

With the stairs out of the way, Dave and Kortney were able to reconfigure the kitchen to give Josh and Rita maxim space with a sleek design. By going with the flat-panel cabinetry they helped the homeowners save a few extra dollars, while the solid wood panels on the island give the unit a customized look. Then, to make the design pop with just the right amount of colour, Kortney picked this tile backsplash that can be easily interchanged in the future.

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Using the Corners

In order to give Rita as much storage space as possible, Kortney had this pantry unit installed in the opposite corner in matching materials. It’s the perfect way to use up otherwise dead space beside the newly installed patio door. And by going from floor-to-ceiling and avoiding awkward bulkheads, the design maximizes storage while also giving the open-concept room a unified vibe.

Minimalist Dining and Streamlined Spaces

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Minimalist Dining and Streamlined Spaces

Because Kortney and Dave gave the homeowners that giant kitchen island, they didn’t need a massive dining room table. Instead Kortney allocated this particular space for a circular glass table that comfortably seats four. Behind, Kortney had a prefab barn door installed that saved money while delineating the space, creating a bit of separation into the family room beyond.

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A Purple Abyss

If anyone appreciates pops of colour it’s Kortney, but even she had to admit that Josh’s penchant for purple was a bit much in this living room. The dark colour took up light while the oversized furniture made the room feel even smaller than it was, leading to an uncomfortable and cold room that didn’t quite capture the personality Josh was going for.

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Using Colour to Add Personality

Rather than going all-out purple on the walls Kortney incorporated green jewel tones to give Josh the personality he was going for. Then she completed the look with some purple accent chairs. Meanwhile she and Dave also overhauled the front entrance to give it some personality with a new statement door, patterned tiles for separation, and a small bench and mirror for design appeal.

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A Very Cold Family Room

There aren’t many families that would love congregating in such a cold and impersonal space, which made overhauling the family room a top priority for Dave and Kortney. They had no idea what they would uncover behind those wood panels, but it was definitely a task they needed to undertake.

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Putting Money Into the Walls

Proper insulation doesn’t yield a fancy, tangible return design-wise, but it certainly goes a long way in keeping a room warm and the overall heating costs down. When Kortney and Dave realized there was no insulation behind those wood panels they used spray foam to beef up protection and to do the job right. Meanwhile they also invested in energy efficient windows, which will put money back into Josh and Rita’s pockets in the long run.

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A Low-Cost Bonus Room

Although updating Josh and Rita’s son’s room wasn’t a part of the original renovation plan, Kortney wanted to do something special for the little guy. So she and Dave rolled up their sleeves and created an inexpensive feature wall with paint, something that adds instant personality and design but that can also be easily changed later on. Add in a fun accent rug and a few toys, and this is a room that will hold up for many years to come.