Whenever we get the opportunity to renovate a house that has been unmaintained and outdated, it makes us very happy! Our Buck Valley project gives us major goose bumps. That is why, when our client first contacted us, looking for assistance with a little ranch home she bought as a foreclosure, we were delighted to know more.

Nestled in the Pocono mountains, the house had been on the market for a while, and no one had any interest in it. Then along comes our lovely client, who was ready to put roots down here, leaving Philadelphia, to live closer to her daughter.

She had a vision of how to make this older home, work for her. This included images of baking in a beautiful kitchen, lounging in a calming bedroom, and hosting family and friends, toasting to life and traveling! We took that vision, and working closely with our contractors, carpenters, and product specialists, spent 8 months giving this home new life. This included renovating the entire interior, adding an addition, and making improvements to the exterior.

It is now, not only updated and more functional; it is filled with a vibrant mix of country traditional style. We are excited for this new chapter in our client’s life, the memories she will make here, and are thrilled to have been a part of this ranch house Cinderella transformation.

Here is a breakdown by room, of the major changes we made:

From the moment you walk up her front steps and knock on her coastal bold blue front door, you get a sense that our client is welcoming and cheerful. She told us her favorite color is blue so we used a healthy dose of it throughout the home! Our client’s style is a mix of traditional with a little French country flair! For the flooring, we used a luxury vinyl that looks like wood; beautiful and super functional! The home does not have a separate foyer, so we created one through the furniture layout. A long runner leads you in, where you can drop your keys on the antique looking foyer table with gorgeous turned legs and a stone top. The large round wood mirror brings in more shine and reflection. We painted the exterior of the door a cheerful blue, but on the interior side we used Benjamin Moore’s Smoke Gray. A vintage inspired mercury glass light fixture brings in mood lighting from above.

The kitchen was her top priority. She wanted an open concept feel with a cheerful vibe. We removed the wall that separated the kitchen and the living room bringing in so much natural light. This also allowed us to create a large beautiful island for our client to bake many wonderful treats with her daughter.

We used creamy white cabinets along the perimeter with a beautiful blue island (we used Benjamin Moore Smoke Gray), creating a jewel of a focal point! A simple classic door style was used because it is timeless and inviting. The quartz counter top has soft veining, coordinating well with the elongated marble patterned backsplash. It all feels regal with the silver toned hardware and lighting.

Off to the side is a dining table that holds six chairs, lit up from above with an oversized gorgeous wood chandelier.

The homeowner wanted an inviting place to put her feet up and relax, that could also host small gatherings of friends and family. This room was the first area you see when you walked in, and would be open to the kitchen with the new design plan. It needed to be cozy, functional, and blend with the open areas around it. We replaced the front window, removed the paneling, and painted the main walls Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray. We also removed the existing fireplace at the clients request, and brought in a new electric fireplace that could be turned on and off with a remote. We had a traditional looking surround built, added marble tiling, and a distressed mantel. To make this wall feel special, we painted it a deep color that matched the kitchen island (Benjamin Moore Smoke Gray). Floating shelves on either side of the fireplace became a great place to hold all of our clients framed photographs and personal décor. We love the warmth emanated when we mixed in the wood shelves and the mirrored cabinets below it. We floated a cozy sofa with a chaise using soft creamy upholstery. In front of it, is a new oversized coffee table that includes a portable tray for easy entertaining. The blue color our client loves was added through the rug, pillows, a custom wing chair, and draperies.

Also on her list, was to create a larger master suite. We added ten feet on to the home to increase the square footage of her bedroom, and created a large walk-in closet. We kept the bedroom light and airy, bringing in her favorite color, blue! A large rug under foot and window bench added warmth and comfort.

We removed one of two stairways leading to an unfinished basement that took up a lot of room in the middle of the home. This allowed us to give our client a larger master bathroom so she could have a big shower and good sized vanity (master bathroom photos will be added as soon as we can get out there and shoot the space). We were also able to fit in a new laundry room with a sliding barn door! This will make laundry so much easier for her. It used to be in the basement.

For the main bathroom, we kept the footprint the same for the most part. We replaced the window, and moved the doorway to fit a linen cabinet next to the vanity. We chose a sage green finish for the vanity, and paired it with bronze hardware, lighting, and plumbing. The tile used on the floor was also used on the shower walls. We staggered them for a more rustic timeless feel. The shower niche has beautiful glass honeycomb shaped pieces. The room feels clean, bright and inviting.

The homeowner was such a pleasure to work with. The design plan came together easily because she was quick to approve and move forward. This was our first project in East Stroudsburg. We encountered a few delays from the company hired to build the addition, and from the township, but once we had the approval, our team of contractors did an amazing job to make sure our client’s needs were met. The project took about a year, from design to completion.

We had the great pleasure of working with these super talented folks on this project:

Reese Roofing & Renovation, general contractor

Hite Woodworking, carpenter

Alyssha Eve Csuk, photography

We are waiting to photograph the master bathroom and the exterior of the home. 2020 has been a crazy year, and a lot of things were put on hold for a while. We look forward to sharing those when available!

See more of our Buck Valley Project on our portfolio.