“I hated this house once we bought it,” says Jody, an Ohio homemaker from the truest sense of this word. She and her husband, Danny, a sales manager, purchased this 1970s ranch because they knew it’d be a great place to increase their loved ones. “All 4,000 square feet needed upgrading; both indoors and outside,” she states. “But I really like a challenge, and I was determined to give this home the heart and soul it deserved. I love it now.”
Jody grew up in a century-old house with reddish woodwork, jagged floors, a huge chalkboard and lots of family antiques. “It looked like everything had a story behind it. Nothing matched, but everything moved together,” she states. “I have definitely adopted that within my property.” Taking inspiration from her childhood home, her present bright, eclectic home is filled with antiques and collected items from flea markets and antiques stores.
Who lives here: Danny and Jody and their two sons
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Size: 4,000 square feet; 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
That is intriguing: The wallpaper in one of their son’s chambers was out of Danny’s childhood room.
Julie Ranee Photography
A classic metal dental cabinet Danny gave Jody is in the entryway. “I really like to exhibit my son’s artwork in unexpected places,” says Jody. You can see one of the pieces here about the doorway resulting in the kitchen. The horseshoes throughout the home are from Jody’s grandfather’s farm.
Bird print: Wayne Pate
Julie Ranee Photography
Jody enjoys color, as seen on the glowing red front door. The wreath was bought at a barn sale.
Door paint: Maraschino, Behr
Julie Ranee Photography
“Welcome” written in multiple languages is the perfect invitation to enter the remainder of the home. The living room is right ahead, the kitchen is to the right and the bedrooms are to the left.
The zebra frame was bought in theSpringfield Antique Show & Flea Market and garnished with chalkboard paint.
Julie Ranee Photography
Julie Ranee Photography
Jody’s paint palette is frequently inspired by nature. In the living room, straw served as the key color inspiration.
The couple’s favorite places to look for their home include flea markets, Harry & Annie’s antiques store in Washington Courthouse, Ohio, and Anthropologie, where a lot of the living room furniture is from. The blue P was a part of a Philips lighting sign; Jody found it in the Springfield Antique Show & Flea Market.
Wall paint: Expedition Khaki, Behr
Julie Ranee Photography
Jody says her favorite thing to do in their own cozy living room is get a fire going and cuddle up on the sofa with her loved ones. “Someone always ends up playing the glockenspiel,” she states.
The coffee table is constructed from leather and was bought at a local antiques store.
Couch: Ikea
Julie Ranee Photography
This side table is in fact an egg incubator bought at a flea sale.
Julie Ranee Photography
Jody attempted to make a warm and inviting atmosphere. “Certainly nothing elaborate,” she states. “We do a lot of entertaining for those ages five and under!”
The rock fireplace is original to the home and was allegedly built three times before it had been considered “perfect.”
Julie Ranee Photography
A rock wall divides the living room and dining room. Doors lead into the deck. The chalkboard and artwork easel were bought at theSpringfield Antique Show & Flea Market, and Jody found the large wooden sign in a local antiques mall.
Julie Ranee Photography
The landscape painting is by artist Pete Morgan. Jody purchased it in an art sale in the Columbus College of Art and Design.
Light fixture: Shades of Light; dining room table: Pottery Barn; seats: antique; rug: Design Within Reach
Julie Ranee Photography
“We’ve changed nearly everything in the home,” Jody says. “We added new flooring, new window treatments, new paint, fixtures, door hardware — you name it.” At the corner, the original built-in desk was painted white to match the cabinets.
The couple’s 11-month-old son loves crawling around on the brand new oak wood floor.
Julie Ranee Photography
Even though they renovated so many things in the home, Jody claims that “it wasn’t until the kitchen was completed that it felt like home.”
Light fixture: Barn Light Electric
Julie Ranee Photography
To brighten up the kitchen Danny and Jody painted the cabinets white and paired them with white subway tile. Dark ceramic tile countertops include comparison.
The kitchen renovation was done in phases over two weeks, but renovations on the entire home have been happening for more than three decades. The couple thinks there are about two more years until they feel like everything is complete. Jody says, “My advice for those contemplating a renovation would be to reside in the home for some time before making conclusions. I believe getting to know each other pays off.”
Cabinet paint: White Satin Impervo, Benjamin Moore
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The wooden measuring stick from the laundry room belonged to Jody’s dad. She and Danny use it like a growth chart for its boys.The chalkboard decal is adorned with a motivational quote from Dr. Seuss. The sliding door divides the kitchen from the laundry room.
Decal: Design Within Reach
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“If my walls could talk, they would say, ‘Come'” Jody states. Also: “These people really like to sing and dance! The golden rule rules. And there are always chocolate chip cookies.”
Julie Ranee Photography
Jody attained a classic look and design to the elderly kid’s room with antique Jenny Lind beds, classic wallpaper and retro sports artwork. The wallpaper is from Danny’s youth room; his parents had saved a left wing roll in their cellar. “I had just enough,” Jody says.
Julie Ranee Photography
Danny and Jody added the wainscot paneling in their son’s room. The white and black framed poster consists of Danny playing high school soccer.
Julie Ranee Photography
Jody has an affinity for antique cupboards. The one pictured here in her son’s room is out of Harry & Annie’s antiques store. “I believe I will fit in a couple more,” she states.
Lion decal: Romp
Julie Ranee Photography
The newly renovated bathroom features classic badminton rackets, vintage horse prints and a glowing red mirror.
Julie Ranee Photography
The colorful basement functions as an educational playroom for those boys. The striped round dining table was initially from a T.G.I.Friday’s restaurant. Jody picked up it in a flea market and paired it with seats from Harry & Annie’s antiques store.
Jody purchased the oversized pinboard for $1 in a school auction and had to saw it in half to bring it home within their own family van. She covered it cloth from JoAnn Fabric and Craft.