Hey Guys! This post is part of The Weekender Makeover Series.  A DIY Makeover web series in partnership with Lowe’s Home Improvement.  Watch all 10 episodes and get project details using the buttons below!

Philly Row Home Makeover: Watch Below

For this episode of The Weekender I was challenged to tackle an entire first floor of a traditional Philly row home.  Sometimes, completing a renovation in a smaller, city space can seem overwhelming, but this makeover proved that with a little creativity, it’s possible and… the end results were totally worth it!

 This space had some really great modern elements (appliances, counters, etc) to work with, but it also had some elements that were outdated and making a really strong design statement- and not the one the homeowners wanted to be making… hello red tile, yes, we see you there!

The other side of the space was their family room and breakfast bar, which served as their main eating space as well.  Again, a few cool elements (the modern stair rail, and natural light), but overall, the room lacked the style the homeowners wanted.

Our goal was to lighten & brighten to make the space feel as large and open as possible… here’s what we pulled off over the weekend!

 We swapped out their old pendant lights and I love these rustic lantern pendant replacements!

We focused on 5 main projects to transform this space.  That’s not just the theme of The Weekender, it’s the way I usually approach a room. Sometimes looking at a space that needs an overhaul can cause a bit of a “where the heck to I begin” feeling, but breaking it down by project helps. Here are the 5 projects we focused on for this makeover

DIY Floating Shelves & Painted Buffet

I removed the small cabinets on this wall and went with open shelving. It was a total risk, and a surprise for the homeowners, but I wanted to do something to really add some wow factor to this kitchen. Even though I removed cabinets, between the buffet and shelves, we could actually store more than before, so that was an added bonus!  I spray painted simple, metal brackets gold and used pre-finished shelves from Lowe’s.  I love bringing an unexpected element into every room I design, and the Vegas Green furniture paint on the buffet was perfect to make a bold statement!

DIY Pegboard Media Unit

Small spaces are tricky, but small spaces with kids takes it to a whole new level.  I wanted to give the homeowners a media unit that could double as toy and book storage, but be a bit more hidden than their current situation.

We used a piece of pegboard and some plywood panels to make a floating media unit.  You can get the full step-by-step tutorial HERE.

DIY Subway Tile Installation

The red tile was the biggest offender in the space.  It just overpowered everything and restricted the colors you could bring into the space… ideal for Christmas, but that’s about it!  I had hoped it would be an easy removal, but we ended up having to remove the drywall- it actually ended up being a faster solution. We didn’t care how we had to do it, we just wanted that tile gonzo!

We used a simple, inexpensive white subway tile with dark grout. It was the complete opposite of the red tile and gave us a nice, neutral backdrop for the space.

DIY Planked Accent Wall

The homeowners hinted at wanting a faux brick accent wall, but since we we’d just gotten rid of red tile, I really didn’t want to bring any red into the space.  Instead, I gave them a textured accent wall using outdoor shed siding.  I’ll share a full tutorial on this in the next few days- using T1-11 siding panels is one of my favorite DIY tricks!

I won’t lie, this makeover was a challenge! We had some nasty weather, insanely stubborn tile, and just a lot of craziness… but we got it done!  Use the slider below to learn more about any of the products and accessories used in this makeover!

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Don’t miss a single Weekender Episode- A New Ep airs each Thursday! Subscribe HERE to catch all 10! *The Weekender Series is a paid collaboration with Lowe’s Home Improvement. I’m thankful for the brands that believe in the mission of East Coast Creative and support my work!*