A Creative Remodeling Solution for a Budget-Conscious Homeowner

Five years after buying her first home, homeowner Morgan is ready to level up to her next phase in life. With a substantial downpayment saved, she works with designers Ty Pennington and Alison Victoria to remodel an old home. They help her understand the pros and cons of her investment, and then deliver this savvy young homeowner the new space of her dreams. The single-family home is redesigned to accommodate entertaining, and includes a full main suite with substantial storage (for shoes)! See how they made over this home on a budget.

By: Emily Fazio

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Photo By: Jessica McGowan / Getty Images

A Budget-Friendly Main Suite and Great Room

After five years of owning a roommate-style townhome, homeowner Morgan challenged designers Ty Pennington and Alison Victoria to help her make a plan for her future. Did it make more sense to remodel her townhouse and continue to save money with supplemental rental income, or purchase a single-family “adult home” with space to entertain and grow? In this episode of Ty Breaker, the team maximizes Morgan’s budget and shows how she can buy a new home, and remodel it to fit her lifestyle.

Learn More: Ty Breaker

Refreshed Curb Appeal

Morgan’s new home is a far cry from her shared townhouse. The single-family dwelling has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, but its single-story floorplan only offers half the square footage. The exterior of stucco and stone facade required no maintenance, so the design team only needed a modest investment to enhance the curb appeal. Stone pathways and new landscaping were used to create a welcoming exterior.

The Great Room

Morgan craved an inviting space where she could entertain friends and family, and host holiday meals. She gravitated towards open concept floor plans that would allow her company to congregate. Her new home was small – only 1,200 square feet – but Alison Victoria saw its potential and redesigned the space to bring the kitchen, which was formerly in the back of the house, into the front of the home. The great room serves as an entryway, family room, and eat-in kitchen.

GET INSPIRED: Small Living Room Design Ideas That Will Maximize Your Tiny Space

The Great Room

Floor-to-ceiling white curtains and rich, inviting upholstery were used to enhance this small family room sitting area in the front of the home. Soft textures in the pillows, throws, and carpet add warmth, while large windows help the space make the most of the natural daylight. The great room offers comfortable seating, making it an easy space for relaxing without complicating the natural flow of traffic.

Meet the design team: Ty Breaker

The Eat-In Kitchen

Situated at the end of the great room, black barstools and a convertible oak countertop work together to transform the room into a space that’s perfect for entertaining. A kitchen island was high on Morgan's wish list, but the large peninsula works within the available space and offers plenty of room for guests to gather. The sink is centered on the peninsula, flanked by plenty of prep space for cooking large meals. The peninsula design also made it possible for the designers to incorporate tons of kitchen storage – there are accessible cabinets on both sides!

GET INSPIRED: 20+ Tips for Turning Your Small Kitchen Into an Eat-In Kitchen

The Eat-In Kitchen

Designer Alison Victoria used traditional white shaker cabinet doors and an adaptable magnetic subway tile backsplash to make the kitchen a classic space that could grow with Morgan. The quartz countertop was fabricated to be matte and textured (it's an easy way to enhance the look of a builder-grade surface). As Morgan’s tastes evolve (she’s only 30!) she can make gradual, affordable updates to the space without fully remodeling. Such upgrades include updating the backsplash, refreshing the look with new hardware or changing the door fronts as her style changes.

The Eat-In Kitchen

The team was able to deliver on Morgan’s wish to have a double-wall oven – perfect for entertaining – and a customized cutting board drawer over the garbage can with a drop-through hole to make cleanup a breeze while she’s prepping for company.

TRY THIS: Small Space Solutions for Kitchens and Living Rooms

Maximizing Space in a Small Home

Directly off the kitchen and down the hallway to the right, Morgan can access the other rooms in the home. Her master suite, located at the end of the hall, replaces the former kitchen. The other bedrooms in the home remain available for roommates, should she continue to want to supplement her income, or space for guests.

LEARN MORE: 15 Open-Concept Kitchens and Living Spaces With Flow

The Main Suite

Morgan’s townhouse was severely lacking in storage, and both designers made every effort to accommodate her wishes for a dreamy retreat. Large enough for a king-size bed, tranquil and enjoyable after a long day at work, and with plenty of storage, the bedroom was dressed to impress. Ty Pennington took creative liberties in the space and illustrated a delicate mural behind the wicker headboard to add a feminine touch to the room.

The Main Suite

A luxurious spa-like bathroom was a bonus of Alison Victoria’s design. By purchasing a new home, Morgan had the budget to accommodate the construction of a main bathroom off her own bedroom. To carry the wide-plank oak floorboards into the main bath, the team used moisture barriers to make the products durable and long-lasting.

GET PLANNING: Budgeting for a Bathroom Remodel

The Main Suite

The main bathroom in Morgan’s suite includes a deep, luxurious bathtub positioned inside the shower. Gold fixtures, marble tile, subway tile in a herringbone pattern and a statement-worthy shower curtain transform what might be an ordinary bathroom into an extraordinary bathroom retreat.

LEARN MORE: Turn Your Shower into a Spa Retreat

The Main Suite

Adjacent to the bathroom and main bedroom, the icing on the cake in the suite is a walk-in closet with natural lighting. The narrow alcove includes a bench with storage by the window, space for clothing and her collection of bags, and most importantly, custom shoe storage. A whole wall of shelves was built by Ty to house Morgan’s 200+ pairs of shoes, and helps her space feel as polished as a boutique.

GET INSPIRED: 25 Ways to Maximize Storage in Your Walk-In Closet

Ty Breaker

A Creative Remodeling Solution for a Budget-Conscious Homeowner

Related To:

Shop This Look

A Budget-Friendly Main Suite and Great Room

Refreshed Curb Appeal

The Great Room

The Great Room

The Eat-In Kitchen

The Eat-In Kitchen

The Eat-In Kitchen

Maximizing Space in a Small Home

The Main Suite

The Main Suite

The Main Suite

The Main Suite

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