MURRAY BUNGALOW : KITCHEN REVEAL

Today, we're sharing the reveal of the single, most impactful update that we made to the bungalow -- relocating and installing the home's brand new kitchen! Moving the kitchen to its new location in the center of the main level's floor plan, and developing it into a bright, clean, super functional and super social space, has absolutely transformed the home.

Functionally speaking, it's got it all: brand-new everything (custom cabinetry, kitchenaid appliance suite, caesarstone countertops, etc.), smart use of space (wall cabinets that reach all the way up, multiple work stations, tons of storage), thoughtful lighting (overhead + task + ambient), and the presence of a broad, spacious, eat-in island (a complete rarity to find in a bungalow in our area!).

As impressive as these functional features are, the kitchen also has that intangible, special factor -- it just feels good. Throughout the day, the room is enveloped in gentle, natural light from both the east and west. Aesthetically, it strikes that perfect balance of fresh & clean (achieved via crisp white matte cabinetry, sparkling appliances & plumbing fixtures) and soft & warm (acheived via weathered oak flooring, hand-crafted glazed brick backsplash, and marble-like foggy-grey quartz countertops).

Perhaps most important, however, is that the kitchen, in its new location, now fulfills the role that we always felt it should -- it acts as the primary focal point, gathering place, and central hub of the home. For future owners, you can just imagine the ease and simplicity of day-to-day life here, playing out naturally in and around this beautiful space.

Before scrolling through the reveal below, be sure to take a quick read of this room's back-story -- including the "before" photos and information about all of the changes that we made & why -- right here. What follows is a floor plan to orient you on the kitchen's location, finished photos from every angle, and finally, a comprehensive source list. Enjoy :).

SOURCES :
|1| wall color, |2| kitchen towel, |3| pendant light, |4| glazed brick tile, |5| cabinet doors,
|6| satin brass cabinet knob, |7| satin brass drawer pull, |8| kitchen utensils, |9| salt+pepper grinders,
|10| ceramic canister, |11| wooden tray, |12| porcelain teapot, |13| hand towel, |14| soap dispenser,
|15| scrub brush, |16| soapstone ramekin, |17| grohe faucet, |18| caesarstone quartz, |19| range,
|20| porcelain tray, |21| counter stool (similar), |22| wall paneling (custom)
|23| oak flooring |24| dishwasher, |25| refrigerator.

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MURRAY BUNGALOW : LIVING ROOM REVEAL

After sharing the dining room reveal last week (catch it right here if you missed it!), we're moving on today to the living room at the Murray Bungalow. The largest space in the home, the living room is located directly off of the front entry, across from the dining room (see location map below).

This room has seen quite a transformation. Endowed with lovely original features -- including a bank of lead glass windows, charming transoms, hefty ceiling beams, & built-in window bookcase -- the room was a joy to update. Cosmetically, we refreshed the overall aethetic with new paint, baseboards, and wood flooring to bring in a clean, modern feel. Functionally, we carved out a wide cased opening along the east wall to provide a direct connection to the home's new kitchen. This single change opened the room to even more natural light, and allowed the living room to play an integral role in the home's new open-concept layout. Take a look at the "before" photos, and learn more about our renovation work in this room, right here.

On now to the finished photos! Scroll through below and you'll see so many sweet moments in this living room space. The light is soft & diffuse. The size feels generous, yet cozy. The pretty beams, original windows, and built-in make the room feel special, set apart from the rest of the house. From the photos, you'll also gain a clear sense of how all of the rooms flow together on the main floor of the home, within and around the living room. Who knew that a 100-year old bungalow would lend itself so well to a contemporary, open-concept layout? A true marvel and testament to the longevity of this classic architectural form.

At the end of the post, we have all of the key sources (finishes, furniture, and styling) summarized for your reference. Enjoy :).

SOURCES :
|1| wall color, |2| grey striped pillow, |3| blue+blush pillow, |4| floor lamp, |5| sofa,
|6| blush print pillow, |7| toast pillow, |8| plaid throw, |9| marble hurricane, |10| match striker,
|11| woven box, |12| fern print, |13| round woven poof, |14| shoreline print, |15| artwork (hand-made),
|16| porcelain jar, |17| wood stool, |18| galaxy print, |19| vase, |20| wood flooring, |21| hide+seek book,
|22| walnut bookcase, |23| window pull, |24| window latch.

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MURRAY BUNGALOW : DINING ROOM REVEAL

Finally, we're ready to begin sharing the photos of our finished Murray Bungalow project. First up, the dining room!

A quick refresher -- the dining room rests at the front, southwest corner of the house (see location map below). It's the first space to greet you upon entering the home, so it plays an important role in welcoming guests, & sets the tone for the interior as a whole.

While today's post is all about our finished reveal, if you care to look back at the "before" state of the room, and the steps we took to improve the space, you can read all about it right here :).

From the beginning, the potential for this room to become something special was clear. The space is sunny and light-filled, but shielded from direct sun by the covered open-air porch to the west. Though it's the most formal room in the house, it has a relaxed and comfortable feel. And it features some of the home's most wonderful original elements -- a built-in hutch for storing entertaining essentials, and bank of beautifully-proportioned lead glass windows.

What follows is a highlight reel of the finished room. At the end of the post, we've included a detailed source list for your reference. Enjoy!

SOURCES :
|1| wall color, |2| Frank LLoyd Wright stain glass print, |3| birds in flight print, |4| ceramic candle (similar),
|5| glass container w/ ash lid, |6| decanter, |7| tumbler, |8| round tray, |9| cabinet knobs, |10| chandelier,
|11| window pull, |12| window latch, |13| limonium stems, |14| heather, |15| vase (similar), |16| enamel pot,
|17| wall paneling (custom), |18| oak flooring, |19| oak dining table, |20| dining chairs.

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MURRAY BUNGALOW : LANDSCAPE + HARDSCAPE

Happy Friday, everyone! Today's post on our landscape & hardscape plans for the Murray Bungalow marks the very last of its kind -- it's our final "design plan" to share before we reveal finished work!! The whirlwind of activity is beginning to settle down and the end is in sight. We couldn't be happier with how this sweet house is shaping up!

BACKGROUND

When considering this project last fall, one of the home's most attractive features was its large, un-tapped back yard and the opportunity it presents to create usable and beautiful outdoor living space (we cover this whole discussion in our project introduction post here, if you're interested!). As the photos show, the existing yard is pretty much a blank slate. We're not sure how the previous owners used the space, but the potential to elevate the outdoor scene and accommodate all kinds of outdoor activities -- dining, entertaining, play zone for kiddos, gardening, etc. -- is huge!

INSPIRATION

In line with our vision to create a clean, minimal home exterior (read more about that here!), we're drawn to landscape and hardscape designs that are simple & streamlined, thoughtful but not overly fussy, and truly complementary to the look of the house. For landscaping specifically, we love how layered ornamental grasses and pretty perennials offset and soften a crisp white exterior, adding subtle variation of color and texture.

SOURCES :
|1| Clarke Design Group, |2| Mindy Gayer Design.

For hardscape, we love the simplicity & cohesiveness of using one material -- concrete pavers -- as a common building block to create both patio surface and "step stone" walkways.

SOURCES :
|1| unknown, |2| unknown.

DESIGN PLAN

Inspired by the ideas above, here's our landscape & hardscape plan for the Murray Bungalow:

BACKYARD LIVING SPACE | Taking advantage of the large plot, we'll build an expansize patio off the back of the house to create an outdoor room for entertaining, grilling, dining, and relaxing. For hardscape material, we've chosen charcoal-grey 24" square pavers for a clean, modern look. We'll use these same pavers to create step stone pathways both in the back yard, leading from the back door to the patio, and at the front of the house connecting the front walk to the driveway.

LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS | We'll update all of the landscaping, beginning by highlighting the site's best natural assets: the gorgeous magnolia tree in the back yard and spacious turf area. We'll add definition to the yard via new flower beds along the front of the house, patio perimeter, and far east edge of the back yard. Plant species are TBD, but think soft, flowing grasses, mounding flower beds, & lush, layered greens.

HARDSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS | We'll remove the broken pavement and gravel in the driveway and pour a new concrete pad that extends beyond the back entry to the home. This extension will make loading and unloading from the car so much easier, while adding space for parking.

MODERN ACCENTS | Finally, we'll repeat a handful of the same modern accents used at the front of the house to make the back entry just as welcoming, including exterior lighting, soft grey door color, and planters of varying heights and shapes.

The chance to re-imagine and re-shape this yard is such a dream. These changes will no doubt have a dramatic impact on how the future owners use and enjoy the home, unlocking all kinds of possibilities for outdoor fun.

Be sure to follow along on Instagram for updates as we go: @dailyhomeco. Thanks for reading :).

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MURRAY BUNGALOW : EXTERIOR DESIGN DIRECTION

Hi there! A while back we shared our design direction for the interior of the Murray Bungalow (catch it here if you missed it). This same design direction -- what we're calling, "modern bungalow" -- perfectly guides our design thinking outside as well.

We believe in the notion of interiors & exteriors working together to create a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. Thoughtfully-considered outdoor living spaces, fluid indoor/outdoor transitions, exterior aesthetics that complement interiors, hinting at what can be found inside ... when attention and care are given to the exterior, there's a synergistic magic that kicks in to make for a property that feels truly special.

Today, we're revealing our plan to update the exterior look of the Murray Bungalow including the front elevation or "curb view". There's more to come on our plans for the outside with a follow-up post on landscape & hardscape plans in the works.

BACKGROUND

We talked previously about our appreciation for the home's prairie bungalow roots (read more about that here). At some point in the past, the Murray Bungalow was treated to a bold, multi-yellow color scheme. While a colorful approach like this can do a great job of highlighting architectural details, our view is that given the scale of the house and prominance of its roof-lines, the yellow-on-yellow scheme makes for a busy, "chopped up" look. Moreover, the condition of all of the yellow paint -- peeling and fading -- necessitates a comprehensive re-think.

INSPIRATION

Our design vision for the exterior aligns directly with that for the interior: a fresh, clean, pared-down look with lots of warmth and natural touches, elegant in its simplicity. In combing through inspiration imagery, we fell in love with the idea of a clean, sophisticated, all-white exterior. When paired with a natural wood, either on floorboards and/or ceiling, a pretty accent color on the front door, and contrasting hardware, a crisp white exterior simply cannot be beat. See below for some beautiful examples.

SOURCES :
|1| White Lane Decor, |2| Little Living Blog, |3| Modern Cottage,
|4| Making Modern Home, |5| Studio McGee.

DESIGN PLAN

Armed with our inspiration pics, here's our playbook for the Murray Bungalow exterior:

CONVERSION TO OPEN AIR PORCH | The conversion of the existing screen porch into an open air porch (covered in our main level floor plan post here a while back) is truly a game-changer for the exterior of the home. It makes for such a smooth and welcoming transition between indoors & out, giving a huge boost to the home's curb appeal. And maybe most important, it's a change that feels 100% natural & true to the home's bungalow roots. We weren't able to find the original architectural plans, but wouldn't be at all surprised if the porch was always intended to be open-air with the screens added later. Our vision is to build out the railing along the porch's perimeter to match the style of the existing stair rail.

ALL NEW PAINT | We'll paint the entire home -- all siding and all trim -- a crisp, clean white. This bold all-white approach we hope will have a modernizing & unifying affect, shifting the focus away from color (yellow on yellow) and toward the charming shape & structure of the house.

MODERN ACCENTS | All white does not equal boring. We'll warm up the look by returning the front porch floor boards and stair treads to a natural wood tone, and install natural cedar v-groove ceiling paneling overhead. We'll make a subtle statement with the front door by refinishing in a soft grey paint color. Last, we'll use matte black accents via door hardware, wall sconce, and mailbox for a modern, contrasting effect.

LANDSCAPING | To finish the house up and provide soft texture, natural color, and freshness, we'll install all-new landscaping along the front of the house. More specifics to come in a follow-up post.

With most of the interior work now nearing completion, we can't wait to turn our attention to these exterior changes. Assuming that our beautiful spring weather streak continues, the painters will be starting in next week. Hooray!!

I'll do my best to post progress shots on Instagram as we go -- be sure to follow along => @dailyhomeco :).

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