A new look
10/5/2022A fresh coat of paint here, a demolished wall there. Through remodels big and small, local residents are changing their homes and loving where they live. Of course, it’s one thing to read about home improvement projects, but it’s another to see it with your own eyes. To view before and after shots, visit iowalivingmagazines.com. ♦
Kayla and Mark Hawkins
JUDGE LEWIS HOUSE
Kayla and Mark Hawkins run a bed and breakfast in their Winterset home. The property is listed on The National Register of Historic Places as The Judge W.H. and Emma Lewis Historic District. This designation includes the house, summer kitchen, chicken coop, original garage and barn. It also includes two hitching posts.
“The historical aspects are, without a doubt, the charm of this place,” Kayla says.
As an older home, though, it required quite a bit of updating. Extensive work was done on the original part of the house to accommodate the Hawkins’ bed and breakfast. Hawkins researched what kind of wallpaper and furnishings may have been used in the late 1860s to preserve its charm.
Upstairs, they restored the original wide plank flooring. They also opened up the original front porch — an exciting project because all of the porch posts and original gingerbread corbels were still in great shape.
Ultimately, Kayla says they have their own slice of heaven where they live.
“To know we have been given the opportunity to be caretakers of such a historic place is truly an honor — one we hope we can continue doing for years to come.”
Source: Winterset Living Sept. 2022; by Lindsey Giardino
Chantel and Andrew Boyd
TOTAL RENOVATION
Andrew and Chantel Boyd bought their house on N.W. 60th Avenue in Johnston a little more than a year ago. When hail hit in July, they decided to bite the bullet and take on a full renovation — top to bottom, inside and out.
Their vision required some smart thinking as their house is only 744 square feet.
The biggest project on their list was the kitchen. A contractor installed the new bright white subway tile, and they added new butcher block countertops, refaced the cabinets, changed the hardware and bought a complete new kitchen appliance package.
The bathroom features new tile, shiplap, vanity, countertops, medicine cabinet, trim and paint. They put in new light fixtures in the entire house with modern farmhouse styling and an additional light fixture added to the front room where there wasn’t one. In the garage, they removed an old loft, put in a workbench and insulation, and installed new electrical wiring and epoxy floors.
They are loving the results.
“I feel accomplished and blessed,” Chantel says. “We had a vision, we worked toward it together, and we used our heads and hearts to make our dreams come true — with lots of help.”
Source: Johnston Living Sept. 2022; by Ashley Rullestad
Scott and Lori Geadelmann
HISTORIC HOUSE
Lori and Scott Geadelmann have lived in their historic Adel home on Court Street for almost 23 years.
When the couple first moved in, the heavy curtains in the living room were the first to go; however, the street side of the house needed a filter. Scott found a stained glass store that replicated a simple diamond shape found on a window in the entry of the home. That rhombus shape was incorporated into a Frank Lloyd Wright-like design for the front window. This unique pattern has been replicated throughout the house in their recent remodeling projects: in the leaded mirrored glass doors above the fireplace that hides their TV space, and in the beautiful wooden insert in the floor as you enter their home.
Care to keep to the character and classic design elements of their home has helped lead Scott and Lori through their evolving renovation of the home that is nearly 115 years old.
“It was built by the Leach family as a wedding gift to their son and his new wife,” says Scott. “When she was 100 years old, we had a big birthday party for the house… We are proud to be a part of the history of this house, and of Adel, and want the improvements we’ve made to keep her strong for the future.”
Source: Adel Living Sept. 2022; by Marsha Fisher
Clark and Janet Schuler
DIY DREAM HOME
As Clark and Janet Schuler soak in all the beauty of their recently renovated home, they can’t help but cherish the wonderful memories and special moments over the years. The couple has called the Indianola area home their entire married life.
When the Schulers built their home nearly 43 years ago, they purchased a ranch-style Capp Home from a design catalog.
Once the house was framed, it was up to the couple to DIY or hire a contractor to complete the home — that meant electrical, plumbing and everything in between.
“Clark and I both say it was a rewarding accomplishment, but we vowed to never do it again,” Janet says, laughing.
The home served their family well, but by the 2000s, there were several projects they wanted to complete. Over the years, the exterior received new windows, siding, stone and a roof. In 2020, they decided to take on an interior remodel that would create an open concept layout that also included a working fireplace.
“We also love the warmth — literal and figuratively — of the fireplace,” says Clark. “We feel these things will contribute greatly to the resale of the house if or when the time is right.”
Source: Indianola Living Sept. 2022; by Becky Kolosik
