Making a house a home
10/4/2023Ever think how much nicer it would be to sit in your comfy chair in the evening if only your living room weren’t drab — and you didn’t have orange shag carpet? Or imagine stepping into a roomy shower instead of that tiny pink bathtub like the one in Grandma’s house? Or dream of a laundry room on the main floor instead of in the musty basement? Residents with similar dreams decided it was time to make some changes, and they share their home improvement experiences to inspire others.
Brian Coffelt
Warm, luxurious and timeless
Brian and Becky Coffelt of Johnston moved into a house built in the early 2000s and knew they wanted to update the style and make it more their own.
Recently, they remodeled their dated bathroom. The wish list included a custom shower, floor replacement, new light fixtures and a repainted vanity.
The Coffelts wanted to go with a modern but timeless design that also felt luxurious. They chose white subway tiles that were slightly larger than normal and went with black grout for the modern feel. They also picked out an industrial frameless door along with a rain showerhead to bring in the luxury accents.
They chose a porcelain tile for the floor that added warmth by looking like wood but with a waterproof design. They finished the bathroom by updating the vanity with fresh paint, adding black fixtures and installing modern double mirrors.
His advice to others: “Come up with a plan and share it with someone. Collaboration can help create something you didn’t think was possible, or it can simply reinforce your feelings that your gut was right all along.”
Source: Johnston Living, September 2023; by Ashley Rullestad
Stephanie Gates
Water leak spurs remodel job
Stephanie and Zachary Gates moved into their West Des Moines home in 2016. The house included all the amenities, but the home’s interior was “too brown.”
“The house made all of our checklist, but it was all the wrong colors. We wanted to lighten things up and thought we could do it after we bought the house,” Stephanie says.
However, it wasn’t until several years later that a water leak prompted them to finally create the kitchen of their dreams.
“We felt like the microwave was the focal point and didn’t want that taking over the kitchen when you first walked in,” Stephanie says. The floor and cabinets blended together with dark colors, and the family room looked separated from the kitchen.
They painted the dark cabinets and crown molding a soft gray, extended the center island for more counter space, and moved the microwave out of sight to an expanded pantry area.
The Gates still have more remodeling in the works. They want to redo the dining room and complete other small projects in the house.
“It’s never-ending,” Stephanie says.
Source: West Des Moines/Jordan Creek Living, September 2023, by Jackie Wilson
Emily Campos
Finished basement completes home
Cameron and Emily Campos, who work out of their Norwalk home, decided it was time to make better use of the space offered in their unfinished basement.
“Her office was in our cold, unfinished basement for the longest time,” says Cameron. “We decided to invest in our home to finish the space.
“We wanted to add a fully functioning secondary living area, a full bathroom, and another full bedroom, which Emily could use primarily as her workspace,” he says. “We wanted it bright and to have a modern chic farmhouse vibe. For the living area, we wanted to add a second fireplace to our home surrounded by built-in cabinets and floating shelves.”
For her workspace, Emily wanted dual closets and a large doorway in the center of the room so it could feel open to the living space.
“We added sliding barn doors to close this space off if needed,” says Cameron, “The builder also added lots of power outlets for all her equipment.”
In addition, the couple, who work in real estate, expect a good return on their investment.
Source: Norwalk Living, September 2023, by Chantel Boyd
Larrey Bankole
Self-taught homeowner
Early on as a homeowner, Larrey Bankole of Waukee wanted to save money on home repairs and remodeling. He worked construction while attending college for an aviation degree, so he had some experience. For other things, he consulted the Internet.
“I learned how to do repairs and went to YouTube college,” he laughs. “I watched for 10 hours how to tile a floor.”
His first remodel was a red kitchen with patterned wallpaper. “It was hideous,” he says. He fully demolished it and put in a new ceiling and wall. However, the design was left to his wife, Megan.
“Ladies have better taste. She picked out all the stuff and the design work,” he says.
He and Megan often go “treasure hunting” at the Habitat ReStore. They find one-of-a-kind deals at a lower cost, plus it helps fund Habitat for Humanity homes for those in need.
Larrey says he makes sure to have professionals check his work. “I’m not an expert,” he says. “I try to do most of the stuff myself. There’s a sense of pride when you do it by yourself.”
Source: Waukee Living, September 2023, by Jackie Wilson
