My Houzz: Couple Update Their Home With Rustic Farmhouse Touches
The experienced DIYers brighten up and personalize their Oklahoma ranch-style fixer-upper
Sandi Johnson loves living in fixer-uppers. “There wasn’t a single thing in our last house that we didn’t touch,” says the home decor blogger for The Spoiled Home and designer at Urban Farmhouse Designs. Together with her husband, Rob, she has updated five homes, including this one.
After: Now this wall between the living room and kitchen features a larger opening. A patterned rug and graphic throw pillows add drama to the neutral-toned furniture.
At an early age, Sandi reluctantly assisted her mother, who had a love for decorating. “I actually hated decorating as a kid. I always had to help her rearrange and redo stuff, but then when I got married I wanted a cute house too,” she says.
“Whenever you’re decorating or redoing an area, if you like [an item], buy it, because in the end it will all come together,” Sandi says. “In my home, some things are rustic but then there’s other things that are modern.”
Across from the entry area, a shiplap feature wall was added, giving a farmhouse look to the main view of the living room. “I don’t look at a house as a forever home. Whenever we redo something in the house, I always think of resale,” Sandi says.
Paint: Eider White, Sherwin-Williams
Paint: Eider White, Sherwin-Williams
Wood beams draw the eyes upward to a large wood-beaded chandelier found on eBay. “My husband made the faux beams and learned to distress and assemble the new wood planks by watching video tutorials,” Sandi says.
After: With a budget of $8,000 for kitchen materials, Sandi updated the flooring, added granite countertops and a custom hood and repositioned the range. The couple then added trim and molding to the existing prefab cabinets to give them a custom look.
Rob built the new island at the center of the kitchen. “He was nervous because he’d never done this before. I told him ‘It’s a decorative box. You can do this; I believe in you,’” Sandi says with a laugh. Rob added a beadboard paneling detail with a cutout for bar stools and completed the DIY island project for less than $400.
Rob built the new island at the center of the kitchen. “He was nervous because he’d never done this before. I told him ‘It’s a decorative box. You can do this; I believe in you,’” Sandi says with a laugh. Rob added a beadboard paneling detail with a cutout for bar stools and completed the DIY island project for less than $400.
After: Sandi chose to leave the windows uncovered, allowing for more natural light in the kitchen and living room. A vintage rug defines the dining area, and a barn door conceals the laundry room.
In the master bedroom, the walls are painted with Snowbound from Sherwin-Williams, giving a fresh backdrop for the soft color palette and mix of textures. “This bedroom was very neutral previously. Just recently, I wanted to throw in some color with the bed and rug,” Sandi says.
The blogger often exchanges design ideas with her business partner, Shalia Ashcraft. “She’s the only person I know, other than myself, who is obsessed with decorating,” Sandi says. “My favorite part of this room is the bed, but it’s not the original bed I picked. Shalia actually said I should get the blue bed. She can talk me into anything.”
Jennifer Upholstered Panel Bed, Joss & Main; Stefan Pink Area Rug, Joss & Main; Shop similar pink area rugs
The blogger often exchanges design ideas with her business partner, Shalia Ashcraft. “She’s the only person I know, other than myself, who is obsessed with decorating,” Sandi says. “My favorite part of this room is the bed, but it’s not the original bed I picked. Shalia actually said I should get the blue bed. She can talk me into anything.”
Jennifer Upholstered Panel Bed, Joss & Main; Stefan Pink Area Rug, Joss & Main; Shop similar pink area rugs
A handsome leather chair, simple floor lamp and cozy textiles create a comfy reading corner.
To the side of the bed, a modern wood-and-iron bench nestles under a large piece of art.
Sandi recently updated her son’s room for his teenage years. She created a rustic backdrop where he could add accessories that he loves. “Both of my kids enjoy garage sales and thrift stores,” she says. “My son loves anything that’s Native American, so whenever he sees something at a garage sale, he’s all over it.” Throughout the entire home Sandi tries to incorporate objects from their Native American heritage.
The design challenge was arranging the bed. Sandi decided to cover a window with a DIY wood headboard that can be easily removed if needed.
The design challenge was arranging the bed. Sandi decided to cover a window with a DIY wood headboard that can be easily removed if needed.
For a whimsical touch, the standard door pulls were switched out for these fun iron knobs.
For their daughter’s room, Sandi opted to pull together furnishings that she already had and make them work. “My mom taught me that stripes, florals and plaids always go together as long as you can tie the colors together,” she says.
The layout in her daughter’s room was intended for twin beds. With only one bed, it left an empty space where Sandi created a seating area.
A small settee found on Craigslist creates the perfect nook for watching TV or reading.
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Who lives here: Rob and Sandi Johnson of The Spoiled Home, son Jonathan and daughter Libby, and their two dogs, Echo and Chief
Location: McLoud, Oklahoma
Size: 2,100 square feet (195 square meters); three bedrooms, two bathrooms
Year built: 2000
Before: The original living room felt dark due to a wall partition blocking the natural light coming in from the kitchen. “This was a builder-grade house, so it didn’t have any upgrades,” Sandi says. “As soon as my husband left for work, I knocked out this wall by myself and had a drywall company come in to finish it.” Along the way, the couple learned to do most of the prep work themselves to reduce construction costs.