Before & After: The Power of a New Color Palette

Older homes deserve to be celebrated. They usually have a bit more character, were often made with better materials and they just have that sense of history that makes you feel a part of something bigger. These qualities were especially true for The Cardinal House, a home that was renovated by Lanie and Brent, the very talented husband-and-wife team behind the Kansas City-based RootedKC.

The home earned its nickname for the dazzling red birds that visited the property, which Lanie and Brent purchased from adult siblings who grew up in the household. They believed that the cardinals represented the spirit of their dearly passed parents, who wanted to check in on their beloved home. (Are you getting misty-eyed, too?)

Originally built in the 1980s, the original owners personally designed the home. Often, such custom homes can be a challenge to remodel, especially those dating to the ’80s, a decade that still inspires strong reactions from homebuyers. Luckily, Lanie and Brent had a vision to honor the home’s happy past while updating it to fit a different aesthetic —and the results were nothing short of jaw-dropping.

While the couple make adjustments to the floorplan in a few key places by removing walls, the majority of the transformation came by simply stripping wallpaper and painting over the dramatic bordeaux-hued walls. Just look at what a difference it made for the kitchen nook.

It’s honestly hard to believe it’s the same room. The white walls make the space seem bigger while shifting the focus to the great windows. The gray paint chosen for the ceiling is dark enough to give the nook an intimate feel, but light enough to highlight the interesting details of the planks.

The kitchen also had the same wallpaper as the nook. When combined with wood cabinets, the effect made the room feel dark and small.

Though it was almost completely remodeled, the main points here still ring true on how much color can make a space seem so different.

The family room had great bones, but they were difficult to make out from the dark wood walls, dark brickwork and the area carpeting.

We saw the dual-sided fireplace from the kitchen, but it really becomes the focal point in the family room. Removing a wall also makes it easier to pass through to the lovely outdoor space while improving the natural light. And, of course, a healthy dose of white paint gave even more “breathing room.”

To see even more photos of this incredible before-and-after, visit RootedKC.