I have something a little different to share with you today that I think you will enjoy.
I usually post about my house, but for a change I want to show you the exterior makeover of the home of Debbie and Martin who are good friends of Ed and mine.
When we lived in PA, they were our neighbors for 22 years. They moved from our previous neighborhood to this house a few years before we moved to live on Lake Murray in South Carolina.
They are the same age as us and when they became empty nesters that no longer needed a big house, they decided to search for a smaller house with land in a more rural part of the local area.
After months of searching, they found a red brick ranch home on 7 acres that was just what they wanted.
Before & After Makeover of a Brick Ranch House
They didn’t stop with just changing the exterior of the house. They also added to the yard that was wide open and empty to create a small farm complete with a barn and additional driveway to…
…a chicken house, a large flower and vegetable garden, along with a few farm animals.
I know you are going to enjoy seeing how they transformed the exterior to fit their dream lifestyle and vision.
BEFORE: Front of House
Here is what the house looked like before getting transformed. Red brick in great condition, but just not the look they wanted.
Their plan was to transform the house so it would have a modern farmhouse appeal.
And that is just what they did.
They painted all the brick white, added metal roof and overhangs, vertical board cladding, new doors and light fixtures.
BEFORE: Side of House
Here you can see the side of the house before the makeover.
AFTER: Side of House
It is amazing what paint and exterior accents, along with a vision for change can do.
BEFORE: Back of House
Here is the back view of the brick 1970’s home that they transformed over a few years into their dream home. Red/orange brick, red roof and rust/red shutters.
There was a concrete patio and porch on the back of the house along with overgrown shrubs.
AFTER: Back of House
Debbie and Martin not only had the house painted white and shutters black, but they added a metal roof and pergola. Had the walkway paved with stone and created a white picket fenced-in raised bed garden complete with flowers for cutting, herbs and veggies.
Gardening is one of Debbie’s passions. Her green thumb abilities are on display at every turn as there are colorful flowers everywhere.
One of the best features of the back of the house is the expansive view.
During Updates
After buying the house, they had the interior gutted and redone before move-in. The exterior of the house was transformed over the next few years.
Replacing the shingle roof with a metal roof.
Debbie wanted all the shrubs around the house removed so she could…
…design the landscaping herself and hired out the muscle to implement her design.
You can see the addition of the metal roof in this photo and the lush landscaping after taking root.
It looks pretty no matter what season it is.
The Addition of a Barn and Chicken House
Soon after moving in, they designed a barn and chicken house and had both built to the side of the backyard so they would not block the view.
Painted “classic barn red” with a vintage truck and tractor out front give the property the feeling that the property was always a farm with a barn, instead of just a brick ranch house sitting alone on 7 acres.
This is the view from the back of the house over looking the garden before the pickets…
…were painted white.
They grow flowers for clipping and veggies for both themselves and their animals.
As I said above, the transformation of the exterior of this house wasn’t done all at once, but over a few years. They knew what they wanted and took their time to implement it to get it just right.
I think they succeeded.
They even gave their small farm a name… Whistle Pig Farm.
I hoped you enjoyed the tour.
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CJ says
Wow, what an amazing transformation! It looks completely different but in such a good way!
Candace A Timson says
Loved the ranch house transformation with addition of the barn and many gardens. Though it does make me tired! I love to see the inside!
Miche Ortega says
OMG, this is gorgeous. Now, all they need is a swimming pool. I love the transformation.
Tracey says
What an amazing transformation! It looks incredible, and it is so inspiring. Thank you for sharing!
Jbrown. says
Ahhhhhmazing. WOW, just WOW! Thanks for sharing. Missing you guys.
kat says
Wow!! That is incredible.
june says
Amazing…I could move in tomorrow. Maybe someday she will let us peak inside. Love her beautiful landscaping.
Michelle says
Wow! That transformation is amazing! That is some serious curb appeal! Thanks for sharing.
Trish says
If the inside renovation is even half as awesome as the outside, it will be exciting to see!
Crystal Brown says
wow! This is stellar! I always love how ranch houses can be transformed, I think this one is absolutely fantastic!
Lisa Stastny says
This is absolutely beautiful! They did a great job! I wish I had that kind of designing ability. You would never know what it looked like before the redo. Thanks for sharing this with us.
I had no idea you lived in South Carolina. We’re getting ready to move back to lake Hartwell.
Gail says
🤩 wow really beautiful farm, what a transformation Thanks for sharing.
Karen says
Diane,
Great story through photos! Do you know what the lavender/pink flowers are, that are blooming in the half circle bed? Are they alliums? They fill that space beautifully! I have always loved a white picket fenced square garden! Theirs is so perfect! The farm look is authentic looking. Sooo enjoyed this post!
Diane Henkler says
Hi Karen – Yes – the flowers you are asking about are alliums, sometimes called ornamental onions. They do look amazing in mass.
Maria says
I love your site every time I see it I get a new idea for something, the pictures of this house are lovely wish I could live there lol, keep up your great work and thank you🙂
Linda says
This was delightful!
Bernadette says
Wow! What vision! Thank you for sharing. I hope we can see the interior too!
I love when people can live their dream!
Bernadette
Carla from Kansas says
Absolutely gorgeous! The house looks so very different but when you look at each individual change it wasn’t that big but the sum of the parts = gorgeous. I love the metal roof. Her landscaping is to die for.
Carol says
So inspiring! A sincere thank you from all us red brick ranch owners!
Carol
Sherry Darlington says
This is my little dream farm. Your friends truly had a wonderful vision. Thank you for sharing.
Sandy Stevens says
Wow! Just wow! What a fabulous transformation! Thank you for sharing and add me to the list of people who would love to see the inside updates! I’m in awe of creative people like you and your friend who can envision such transformations.
Lynn says
Wow! That’s amazing! I love every bit of it! Fantastic job. Thank you for sharing!
cynthia kesten says
Stunning…would love to see the inside.
Thank you Diane, for adding sunshine to our day!
Laurie says
Just beautiful! Every little detail! 😍
Sue Verbaan says
Your friends sure had heaps of vision, energy time ,not mention financial resources.
They were one hundred percent successful and the result is truly fabulous. Thank you for
sharing.
Sue Verbaan
Amanda says
Wow. What a transformation!
Carol Heartfelt Whimsies says
Incredible transformation! In awe of the landscaping and flowers!! Please pass along a “WOW” to your talented friends!!
Diane Henkler says
Hi Carol – I will! :-)
Holly says
Wow, I’ve seen many brick homes like that out in the country and this transformation is simply amazing. I’m going to have to reread your post a few times to take it all in! Beautiful landscaping. Thanks for sharing some progress pics too while the changes were taking place. I hope we can see inside one day!!
Diane Henkler says
Hi Holly – It is a lot to take in. I am glad you enjoyed the post. I will see if Debbie is up for a before and after post of the interior. What they did inside is truly amazing!
Patty says
Absolutely beautiful. Such a vision. Hope we get to see the inside also.
Diane Henkler says
Hi Patty – I will see about getting a post up about the inside soon. :-)
[email protected] says
That is an amazing makeover. Love how it turned out and I’m obsessed with the roof.
Diane Henkler says
Hi Julia – My friends have great taste and vision. When we were neighbors before they moved -their home was the highlight of the neighborhood as they transformed the exterior of the home even though it was a new home. It was remarkable what they did with that house that I contacted my connections at BHG who then came out and took photos to use in their magazines.
Christine Williams says
absolutely lovely home
Vicki says
What an incredible before and after! The landscaping is amazing, too.
Diane Henkler says
Hi Vikki – When I was getting this post together, I thought of you. I knew you would enjoy seeing the gardens. Yours are just as pretty.
Vikki says
Wow, that is quite a transformation. Everything looks like it’s always been that way. I love how Debbie has landscaped the property. Something beautiful to see no matter which way you look. Thanks so much for this interesting and inspiring tour.
Lynn T Wells says
This is very inspiring. I love the before and after pictures, especially because I live in a ranch house. I thank you for sharing.
Diane Henkler says
Hi Lynn – I see that you read the post early this morning. Since I posted the post, I found a before shot of the front of the house that lets you see just how much they changed.
Paige Coggin says
Thanks for sharing. You are right, that is a gorgeous renovation and beautiful property! I love that flowers grow so beautifully up North. Florida is great but from June-September, it is too hot to keep many/most colorful flowers alive.
Diane Henkler says
Hi Paige – Up north flowers do grow better than in Florida, but a green thumb and passion are needed. I never had the success with creating and sustaining lush flower gardens as Debbie does. It is a talent for sure.
Janette says
I have really enjoyed looking at this stunning home, its like a slice of heaven. Thankyou for sharing with us.x