Before & After: Whitney Port’s “Get Rid of the Walls” Fixer Upper Transformation
When TV personality Whitney Port and husband Tim Rosenman were looking for the perfect place to raise a family, they found the 1950s home in Los Angeles online. However, the first time they visited the property, the couple was turned off by the amount of work it would require—especially with a baby on the way.
But when the Studio City property came back on the market, the couple went to visit it a second time—and they realized the fixer-upper’s potential to be molded into their ideal home to raise a family.
In July of last year, they moved into the house, just one week before Whitney’s due date. They did enough work to get by before their baby boy Sonny was born—they completed the nursery and laid down hardwood floors—then waited until settling in more before tackling the rest of the house, according to Architectural Digest.
As you’ll see below, this property did not come in the worst of shape whatsoever, but Whitney wanted to take on the project as a way to create a home that reflected them as a new family.
When starting renovations, one of the biggest challenges Whitney and Tim faced (quite literally) were the walls separating the dining room, breakfast nook, and the main kitchen area (see below).
We got rid of all the walls, and just made it one big open room. So when we’re in the kitchen cooking, we can watch Sonny in his little play area in the den room. Now we have one big great room where everyone can be talking to each other, engaging, my husband can be cooking while also talking to me on the couch and vice-versa.
The prior dining area was decorated in purely neutral colors, with medium-colored hardwood flooring and a white rug that added a hint of lightness.
And now, the remodeled dining space projects an airy ambience all around.
The light floor nicely contrasts with the dark dining table, adorned with a small house plant that compliments the large parlor palm in the corner. Although natural light fills the space, the earthly-meets-neutral color palette surely brightens it up on its own.
But the most impressive transformation might be the backyard, where Whitney saw the most potential. The original layout had an oval-shaped pool bordered with brick, and a redwood deck with a few chairs and small tables.
Whitney knew that the space could be much more—and she proved that to be true. “It just had a really beautiful backyard with a deck that had an amazing view,” says Whitney. “I just knew that we’d have such a great time out there.”
Just like the dining area, the entire space is transformed by adding lighter elements—from the white wooden panels to the rattan patio furniture. And the whimsical orbs hanging from the large tree above adds some depth to the surrounding area.
The landscaping was the last thing Whitney and Tim accomplished, and they are planning to hopefully renovate the bathrooms in the near future. But for now, the new parents are taking a break to enjoy all the hard work they’ve put in as a family.