A Former Fixer Upper Is Now a Bright, Light-Filled Home With Great Views

Name: Courtney Equall, my husband, along with our three kids. We also have a boxer named Rudy and a new kitten called Phoebe
Location: Bend, Oregon
Type of home: House
Size: 1486 square feet
Years lived in: 6 months, owned

Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: We just bought our house on a whim last summer when I noticed a for sale sign in front of the last fixer upper on my dream street. I used to take our dog for walks on this route so I could admire all the pretty homes and when I saw the for sale sign, I took a picture and sent it to my husband.

We decided it was too tempting to not go and have a look. Once we saw the property, we were in love! We listed our house the next week and made an offer on the new house, and thankfully, they accepted!

We’ve been busy fixing it up since the minute we got the keys! We are big DIYers and have done most of the work ourselves with lots of help from friends and family.

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Fixer upper with beautiful views.

What is your favorite room and why? The living room has big windows that look out onto the Deschutes River so it’s probably my favorite room. But the kitchen is a close second!

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? With all the natural light in the house, my house plants just seem to thrive! So I just bought a candelabra tree and potted it in the coolest planter from Anthropologie.

Any advice for creating a home you love? Don’t be afraid of a fixer upper! Our house needed so much work when we first looked at it (still does), but we saw it for what it could be, instead of what it was. My husband and I always joke that this house is like a fourth child because it’s truly been a labor of love! So much work but also so rewarding!

This submission’s responses were edited for length and clarity.