Renovation of a 1960's Melbourne Home

Split Screen Before and After images of family room

Dining area at start of project had shag carpeting, wood paneling, floor to ceiling floral drapes and dated chandelier

First step was to remove all furniture & knick-knacks from the home. This image shows the dining area at this phase

Dining area after carpet and paneling removed. Dozens of holes left when paneling was removed had to be patched in preparation for painting.

Windows and sliders were covered with plastic in preparation for applying wall texture. Image is of dining area after primer coat was applied

Dining area after renovation. Tons of light from windows and sliders illuminate the space and show-off the views outside

Neutral Terrazzo flooring is in perfect harmony with freshly painted walls

Original kitchen cabinetry and countertops were in good condition. However the ceiling lighting made the small space seem smaller.

Placing lighting in recessed ceiling and the Terrazzo flooring opens up the space. The new white fridge now coordinates with the stove

Before image of bedroom #1 with stained blue carpeting and blue walls dated the bedroom

Bedroom #1 after removal of carpet and after a coat of primer paint to cover the blue walls. Builder grade ceiling fixture removed.

This image was taken after restoration of the Terrazzo floors and first coat of Accessible Beige in bedroom #1

The final image reveals a bright open room with clean lines. A new ceiling fan provides light and cooling for the occupant of bedroom #1.

Dark wood paneling, dated ceiling fan and mauve shag carpet did nothing for this living area of the home.

This image shows the living area after the carpet and baseboards were removed.

Roughly the same angle as the previous picture, this one shows the living space after removal of paneling along with patching of holes and wall texturing.

Living space during rehab shows the refinished Terrazzo, freshly painted door casings and the new wall paint color

This before picture is of the dining area wall opposite to the previous shot. Floor to ceiling floral window coverings, paneling, carpet and brown painted door to laundry room.

This image was taken after the walls were textured and the laundry room door and casing were painted white.

After image of dining space sports freshly painted walls, new baseboards as well as refinished Terrazzo

Cave like is the best way to describe the original hallway that leads to home's bedrooms. Dark wood paneling, brown bi-fold doors, brown door casings and dark carpet were original to the home.

Hallway is a work in process, where only the carpet and padding has been removed

This image shows the hallway after removal of paneling and priming of door casings.

Hallway after completion is a light and bright. New white bi-fold doors lend a contemporary feel.

On trend in the early 70's, bedroom #2 was the opposite of today's clean, light spaces. Wallpapered walls with floral boarder, avocado green carpet, outdated ceiling fan competed for attention.

The same bedroom #2 with freshly painted walls after wallpaper removal and textuing.

Final image of bedroom #2 where a new ceiling fan and simple vertical blinds are in keeping with a clean palate

Both bathrooms sported outdated wallpaper as well as archaic vanities, toilets, fixtures and CARPET!

This image taken after wallpaper removal and texturing of a bathroom wall.

From the antiquated indoor-outdoor carpet to the heavy window treatments and clutter, bedroom #3 was a disaster!

Although the hue of this image is off, this is bedroom #3 after refurbishment.

Bedroom #4 during renovation after wall color was applied.

Even the garage was renovated. All debris was removed and the walls were painted white.

This image was taken after the garage floor was sealed with an epoxy paint

Opposite end of renovated garage is in keeping with the light, bright renovated interior

Built in 1967, this Melbourne Florida single family home was a superb example of that era's trends. Lovingly lived in and cared for, little in the house had changed over the years. When it came time to sell, the early 70's design elements were contrary to today's modern aesthetic. Although dated, the home had "good bones" that included concrete block construction, 4 bedrooms and 2 full baths. Ellingson Properties proposed that the seller renovated the residence before putting it on the market. This strategy was likely to result in a quick sale and net the seller a greater return. The seller agreed with the renovation strategy and had the resources to execute.

The first step was to remove the contents of the home. Furniture and chotskies were sold, donated or disposed. Next, the dated flooring (e.g. high/low pile and indoor/outdoor carpet) was removed to reveal lovely Terrazzo floors. Terrazzo flooring is not only desirable, but probably the most expensive flooring to install! The flooring was in good shape and a neutral, hence it became the cornerstone of the renovation. Wall coverings were different story. Most of the living spaces were clad in the plywood-sized sheets of wood paneling popular in the 60's and 70's. Unlike the home's flooring, the paneling has not and will likely never make a come-back. Rather than simply painting the paneling white, it was removed. Previously paneled walls required extensive prep work to fill nail holes prior to texture and paint. Wallpaper in the bathrooms and bedrooms was also removed then the walls textured and painted. All walls were painted in Sherwin-Williams' Accessible Beige and all trim and doors were painted Alabaster. Bathrooms were outfitted with new vanities and toilets. Rather than repaint, the worn out louvered bi-fold doors were replaced with contemporary paneled bi-folds.

A significant portion of renovation budget is usually earmarked for the kitchen. This home however, required little expense to renovate. Besides flooring, the kitchen was transformed by removal of drop ceiling florescent lighting. The resulting recessed ceiling illumination alluded to a more spacious space. Likewise removal of the heavy 60's window treatments, especially those that stretched from floor to ceiling, and replacement with mini blinds contributed to a room's airy feel.