How A Couple Renovated Their Old House Into a Farmhouse-Inspired Home
After five years, Kai and Cyrus decided to turn a 45-year-old property into a picture-perfect family home for three
What’s not to like about this enchanting family home in Quezon City? A bright sunroom welcomes you into the space, while the kitchen is a stunner that will remind you of cozy coffee shops and posh restaurants. Portland French, the name given by the owners to their renovated home, is a Pinterest-board come to life. What motivated owners Kai and Cyrus to give the two-storey house a new look? “We wanted to renovate so that everything will have its place, for it to look cleaner,” they share.
The old look, which brought together their preferences, was a good collaboration. This time around, they decided to go all-out, taking inspiration from two places they love—Portland, Oregon and France. Just like Chip and Joanna Gaines, the couple behind the hit show Fixer Upper, Kai and Cyrus brought their DIY and renovation game to the next level by creating a home that will surely inspire guests. In this feature, we break down the changes done in the key areas of their home.
Outdoor Area
A few steps from the property’s main gate lead guests to the home’s front door.
Five years ago, Kai and Cyrus had a well-maintained garden completed with outdoor furniture, tons of plants, and a bold-colored wall.
Fast-forward to today, the space is now airy, welcoming, and reminiscent of country-inspired homes.
The owners created a sunroom where they can work, play with their pets, and even entertain friends. This area transports guests into a secret escape that’s far from the hustle and bustle of the city. Wooden furniture pieces add warmth to the area, while tiny bulbs give it a whimsical appeal.
Kitchen
Kai and Cyrus’s kitchen went through a complete overhaul. From a compact area, they now have a spacious kitchen that can rival a quaint coffee shop. It took a lot of work before they can achieve such an Instagram-worthy space.
Would you believe it took the owners a month to finish the cabinets alone? According to Kai, the workers didn’t use power tools, most of the pieces in the house are handmade.
In 2013, the home had mostly open shelving, which the owners addressed in their recent renovation.
“We now have a rule of thumb that everything has to be hidden in cabinets and drawers,” shares Kai. The kitchen's focal point is the concrete island that serves as storage and extra prep area.
Dining Area
The owners used to have a round dining table surrounded by plastic molded chairs.
To keep within the Portland meets France aesthetic, they got a rectangular wooden table then painted it white. Old chairs from a restaurant surround the table.
We love how the solihiya backing of the seating pieces blend with the theme. Kai and Cyrus took the renovation to the next level by replacing the old windows with warehouse windows inspired by Portland.
Living Area
The living area used to have robin’s-egg-blue walls and chic gray panel moulding. To keep within their budget, the owners shopped for budget-friendly furniture.
To match the farmhouse-inspired look, Kai and Cyrus updated the flooring, the layout, and the pieces completing the space.
The tufted sofa from Our Home complements the mirror from West Elm.
Staircase
The space under the staircase used to serve as a quaint reading nook with a comfy accent chair, an ottoman, and an upholstered stool.
Wall-mounted shelves hold a variety of knickknacks and Kai’s Harry Potter collection.
Still inspired by her love for Harry Potter, Kai transformed the space under the stairs into a compact yet comfortable room for their household help. A perfectly concealed door leads to the room.
Sprucing up the wall on the side are snapshots from the couple’s travels.
Master Bedroom
Five years ago, Kai and Cyrus fondly refer to their bedroom as the “Chuck Bass room.”
Chuck Bass is one of the main characters in the hit TV show Gossip Girl, one of the couple’s design inspirations back then. It featured wallpaper with geometric patterns and sleek furniture pieces.
This time, the couple made the most of the 20sqm bedroom by turning it into a hotel-like escape with a four-posted bed, brick walls, lovely flooring, and warehouse windows.
They also created an entertainment nook furnished with a transforming table and a tufted sofa where they can enjoy meals while watching TV.
Walk-in Closet
An extra room in the three-bedroom home used to serve as the couple’s shared walk-in closet.
The 2018 renovation saw them maximizing the third room as they turned it into a spacious bathroom and walk-in closet.
Gone are the open shelves, plastic bins, and racks as Kai and Cyrus now have posh cabinets painted gray that match the marble tiles chosen for the walls.
Love how Kai and Cyrus transformed their family home? Click here to see more photos and view the complete home tour. To learn more about their old home, click here.
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