We had watched way too much HGTV.
We thought, well justrefinish the floorsand paint the wallsitll be easy, she says.
That was not the case, unfortunately.
We thought we were a lot handier than we actually were."
A few of the surprises made the couple smile.
The steps leading up to Elizabeth and Brians porch once marched down the left side.
We moved them to the front to make it more welcoming, Elizabeth says.
Because the door now slides on a rail, it requires no floor space to open.
We figured out the cost, and it was 6 cents a tile, Elizabeth says.
We did the whole backsplash for, like, $2.
The countertops look like marble but are actually laminate, a spill-proof and low-cost alternative to stone.
bonus: they are easy to install.
Credit: Brie Williams
The stainless-steel appliancesdishwasher, range, microwave, wine refrigerator, and regular fridgeall came from Lowes.
Once buried under wood paneling, thebrick fireplace and chimneywere almost an afterthought.
Her ingenious (and no-sew!)
solution: plain polyester tablecloths from Amazon, which she snapped up for a mere $5 a pop.
Elizabeth Burns, Homeowner
I have a weakness for chandeliers.
The living room stayed in its original spot at the front of the house.
A few elements were salvageable, such as the French doorswhich open graciously into the office and oak floors.
The bricks are actually veneer, a lightweight product that is glued to drywall with construction adhesive.
The trio were castoffs the Burnses found strewn throughout the houseBrians grandfather made them decades ago.
Elizabeth refreshed them with stain (on the tops) and paint (on the legs).
A few coats of black chalkboard paint transformed thrift store paintings into wall-mounted work surfaces.
Elizabeth and Brian entrusted their contractor to match the old flooring with the newa tricky task.
We love how it turned out, Elizabeth says.
One part that managed to make the transition from kitchen to bedroom: the beaded boards on the ceiling.
But they had a lot of grease and smoke on them, Elizabeth says.
It took five coats of primer, but I finally got them white.
The couple created a faux fireplace using a vintage mantel they refinished.
While it doesnt light, it still warms the room visually.
Wrapped in battery-operated string lights, the logs look like a cheery, crackling fire!
