When Katie and Justin Gard viewed their mid-century home more than three years ago, the first room they set foot in had mint green carpet, mint green wallpaper and mint green trim. But they were able to see past that.
“I saw the sun room and said ‘Okay, this is our house,’” Katie said.
Even though the couple didn’t necessarily want a fixer-upper, they took the plunge. The house had a lot of potential and the neighborhood, Hidenwood, was in a desirable location near Christopher Newport University.
The neighborhood was developed by the Hiden family in the 1950s, in honor of the late Philip Wallace Hiden and his wife Martha Woodroof Hiden. Philip was a successful businessman, civic leader and at one point the mayor of Newport News. Martha Woodroof Hiden was a genealogist, historian and founder of the city library Virginiana collection.
More than half a century later, the area is in high demand, characterized by mid-century homes, mature trees and a short walk to the James River.
“We love living near the university because of its youthful vibe,” Katie said. “And it’s well lit, so I feel safe to walk the dogs.”
To update the house, Katie and Justin hired out a few jobs to professionals, but did many projects themselves, which saved costs significantly.
The biggest project was the kitchen. Before, it was dated and tiny, with dark wood cabinets and a layout that boxed in the space. The couple painted the cabinets and reconfigured their layout so the room had better flow. They only had to add two new cabinets to achieve a fresh space that is more functional.
Many more DIY projects, like floating shelves, a backsplash and even a handmade pendant light can be found throughout the living space.
The real show-stopper, which Katie says everyone comments on, is the oversized map hanging on the wall in the kitchen. It’s a reproduction of a hand-drawn map of Paris dating back to the 1700s. Katie loves it because the details, down to individual windows in the buildings, are impeccable and quite the feat for the time period. To highlight it, Justin built a custom frame from crown molding and baseboards.
Thanks to Katie and Justin’s efforts, their home is now a bright, modern space for a fraction of what it could have cost had they been less hands-on.
“DIY projects can be intimidating,” Katie said. “But they are always worth it.”
To learn more about the home, click here.
Where We Live is a weekly feature looking at homes in the Historic Triangle. Do you have a home, on or off the market, that our readers may be interested in seeing? Let us know at [email protected].
