Turning a Chaotic Layout Into a Forever Home for Carolyn and Her Kids

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“The house is chaos; I can’t get anything done. I hate it,” Carolyn says. She and her daughters, Tuki and Ruby, have been moving nonstop for the past 11 years, renovating homes and moving onto the next place to flip and do it all over again. But Carolyn and her girls are ready to make their current house a forever home. They love the neighborhood—it’s everything they want and more. “But every day I wake up, and I’m instantly overwhelmed because this house isn’t working for us,” Carolyn says. They only have two bedrooms, and the cramped layout is tough to manage. So this week on Don’t Hate Your House, Carolyn is calling in Drew and Jonathan to help her solve these dilemmas so they can finally enjoy the space as a family.

Carolyn was at a standstill over what she could do to fix the property and prevent another move. Carolyn and her youngest daughter, Ruby, were sharing a room that they partitioned with a temporary wall. Ruby and Tuki were originally sharing a room, but Carolyn wanted to give Tuki more privacy as she enters her teens, and decided to move Ruby into the primary bedroom in order to make that happen. Between six moves in 11 years, Carolyn and her kids are ready to find a solution so they can plant roots. “All I want to give my girls is a peaceful enough home life that they can fully blossom into whatever they’re meant to be. And I feel like if they’re constantly living in chaos and we’re all constantly upset, it’s not going to happen,” she says. They’re hoping the Bros can help turn the space into a functional three-bedroom so it can finally feel like home.

Before & Afters

Mom’s Retreat

Carolyn wanted her bedroom to feel restful, cozy, and—most of all—her own. Drew and Jonathan were able to separate the space with a proper wall (and door!) so she could have the relaxing retreat she deserves. With functional furniture and the soft, cream-toned color scheme that she was hoping for, Carolyn’s bedroom feels sophisticated and mature.

…And En Suite

When Drew and Jonathan first started renovations in Carolyn’s bathroom, they came across some major termite damage, so unfortunately, they needed to start from scratch in here—from a new subfloor and joists, to fresh plumbing, and more. It was a tall order (and one that dug into the budget) but what came out of it was a beautiful new bathroom for Carolyn. Keeping with that soft neutral, warm-toned look, the Bros made her bathroom into a spa that she has all to herself.

Ruby’s Whimsical Room

Ruby’s room got a sweet and colorful update with more age-appropriate furniture, plenty of whimsical prints and patterns, and cozy additions that make her bedroom feel snug, relaxing, and of course, safe from any monsters.

Tuki’s Serene Space

Tuki wanted a room that spoke to her personality. She likes vintage-inspired prints and mirrors, gold accents, and jewel-toned pieces that have that rich, antique feel to them. It’s always hard to please a pre-teen, but Drew and Jonathan knocked it out of the park. Tuki’s excited to have a place that feels like a reflection of her.

Click here to see all of the items featured in this episode!

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