We bought our Victorian farmhouse on 7 acres just over a month ago, but the place it looking entirely different now. Step inside and see what a difference paint and refinishing wood floors make!
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We spent ten years painting, refinishing and updating our last farmhouse. Most of the work was tedious and just took a lot of good old fashioned elbow grease. It meant that there was always wet paint and part of the house off limits. We held onto the house through low markets and high markets, and ultimately made a good profit. We bought it cheap and paid it off quickly.
Fast forward to today.
Luke and I have been married 11 years, have five kids and a home based business. The thought of repainting and refinishing every square inch of our newly purchased 2400 square foot farmhouse wasn’t something that sounded exactly exciting. I can’t wait to find the perfect furniture for the living room, vintage (or vintage inspired) oven for kitchen and cozy wood stove for the old chimney. We’re looking forward to giving the bathrooms that turn of the century farmhouse style. But, there was no way we were going start back at the very beginning of the renovating journey.
We decided instead to hire out all the painting and refinishing the floors. I am so glad we did! I feel like those simple steps propelled us about 5 years ahead. We now have a blank canvas with which to bring in our own style, and I don’t feel like we are starting all over with a fixer upper. Hallelujah!
The next big project is going to be the kitchen, and I can’t wait to bring it back to its former glory.
Let’s take a little before and after journey of our farmhouse from a month ago and now!
FARMHOUSE REVEAL | 6 months after moving in BEFORE and AFTER tour
Did you miss the full farmhouse before tour? You can see that HERE.
Our Farmhouse Entryway
Before the trim was red, and the floors were dull and scratched up. The paint on the walls was a tired and yellow-y off-white. The ceiling hadn’t been painted in many many years, and needed a fresh coat. We had the walls painted in Benjamin Moore White Dove and the trim and window done in a bright white semi gloss. The floors were sanded and given a few coats of oil based polyurethane. The planked ceiling was given a coat of fresh white.
I want to replace the light fixture, and have the paint stripped off the door. Also, I want to bring in some entryway decor. I may add coat hooks and some kind of entry table. We shall see!
Our Farmhouse living Room
Before the floors were scratched up and dull. The window trim and baseboards were a bright red color. The walls were white-ish, but not in a way that complimented the trim. To instantly transform this room, we had the walls painted in Benjamin Moore Dune White. We also gave the trim the same bright white semi gloss paint.
I don’t currently love our furniture in here. Everything just feels so small, in these giant rooms. I’m going to have to mull over this one for a while to get it how I like it. One thing I know for sure is the empty wall needs a focal point. I’m thinking a large mantle and electric fireplace.
I definitely hate the coffee table in here. It looked great in our old house, but not at all here.
Our Farmhouse Dining Room
The dining room adjoins to the living room through a doorway with two extra large pocket doors. Just like the other rooms on the main level, the floors were tired and the trim red. We brightened up with the same color scheme as we did in the living room. Benjamin Moore Dune White on the walls and bright white on the windows and moldings.
The hutch was here when we walked through the house, and the seller offered for us to buy it. After realizing how heavy this thing is we knew exactly why. You would never want to move this thing! If we ever sell this house, its probably staying. Haha. But, let’s be honest, we’re in love with this place. I filled the hutch with antique ironstone in white and flow blue.
You can read more about finding pottery like this in this post:
How to Find farmhouse Decor at the Thrift Shop
We didn’t change the color of the hutch at all, but I just love how it pops with the blue china and against that freshly painted wall.
Our Farmhouse Staircase
The staircase in this old farmhouse was already gorgeous. How could it not be?! It has the most beautiful curved lines and is wrapped in white bead board. That window halfway up the steps overlooking the back property could have ALONE sold me on this house. It is just breathtaking!
We spruced this area up a touch by giving the bead board, risers, spindles and window trim a fresh coat of white paint.
We also hired the hardwood floor guy to strip the brown paint off the treads. It wasn’t an easy (or cheap) process, but so worth it to uncover that gorgeous wood! Just like the rest of the wood in the house, it is either heart pine or Douglas fir. I have heard differing opinions. Either way it is technically a “soft wood” not hardwood but either way the color is perfect!
Our Farmhouse Boys’ Room
When we walked through this house for the first time, I could already imagine how pretty this natural light-filled room would be with lighter colors and floor that weren’t painted brown. Apparently back in the day they painted wood floors to preserve them. And preserve they did! Luke and I both agree that this room has the most dramatic outcome. Those floors were just lying under that paint in pristine condition. A lot of sanding and several coats of oil based polyurethane brought out that natural beauty. Benjamin Moore Dune White lightened up the walls, and a fresh coat of white on the ceiling and window trim bounces even more light!
I’m going to have to do something about this obviously discolored door. The lighter colors in the room really brought out the off color. I’m hoping to strip it down to the original wood.
Since the old farmhouse has no closets, we brought in a vintage chifforobe to house the boys’ clothes. There is a bar to hang button down shirts and drawers for pants, shirts and jammies. Luke secured it to the wall for safety, with two large L brackets.
Shop our Farmhouse Boys Room
Twin Iron Beds
Gray Stitched Stripe Quilt
6′ round braided area rug
Brass vintage desk lamp
Basket by the desk
Our Farmhouse Girls’ Room
This room was the only one in the house that had brightly colored trim. We unified it with the rest of the house with bright white paint. The wall in this room also saw a couple coats of Benjamin Moore Dune White. Just like the boys’ room, the floors were painted a chocolate brown. We had them sanded and coated with a few coats of oil based polyurethane.
Since this room is massive, I would really love to get two antique beds on either side of the window with a big area rug. The girls have other plans.
“Hey mom…How much would it cost to get a gymnastics mat for our room?”
Apparently they love the vastness that is their bedroom floor. Momma may not want to even fight that battle, so welcome to our new gymnastics studio…
Tiny trundle bed shoved in the corner, so maybe we can fit a balance beam too.
The nursery
I’ve been told by many that this room to the left of the top of the stairs was either meant to be a dressing room or sitting room. It sits right off of what we call the master. (It’s debatable if it was really meant to be the master, because it is actually smaller than the girls room and bathroom). No matter the original purpose, for us it is a nursery. #5kids
This is my favorite transformation.
The green paint became Benjamin Moore White Dove and the red trim bright white semi gloss. The floors in this whole section of the house weren’t worth sanding, per the opinion of the floor guy, so we opted to paint them instead. We went with Benjamin Moore Tapestry Beige and used porch and floor paint.
We were in a huge hurry to move in, so I didn’t want to spend anytime at all agonizing over the floor color. I knew Liz Marie from Liz Marie Blog painted her floors, so I literally just used the exact color she chose. I figure she thought long and hard about it, so why not just learn from her decision making process.
The beige floors look so pretty next to the newly sanded wood in the landing at the top of the stairs. We brought in the little dresser that Luke stripped the paint from, for Micah’s clothes and diapers. Oh how I love wood and white!
Our Farmhouse Master Bedroom Before
In a lot of ways this room feels like an afterthought. The floors are patched with mismatched wood and there is a terrible patch job on the wall where they removed a chimney. Why oh why?? We unified the mismatched wood on the floors with the same BM Tapestry Beige floor paint. I also covered the large majority of it with a blue rug.
These windows were the only ones in the whole house with wood trim. To make them match the rest of the place, we covered them with the same bright white paint.
The painters made a dramatic improvement on the patched chimney area. It’s still not perfect, but looks a whole lot better!
Just like in our master bedroom in our last home, we went with Benjamin Moore White Dove for the walls. I’m planning to do a full reveal post of this room in the next couple days, so you only get a few pictures right now! 😉 I found the antique chandelier on a recent antique shopping day and the armoire on Facebook Marketplace. We bought the big wooden chest from the previous owners.
Shop some of the items in our new farmhouse
The rug in our master bedroom
Iron bed in our master
Twin iron beds in the boys room
Trundle daybed in girls room
Rugs in the living room- Jute bottom layer and cozy white top rug
Catch up with our other farmhouse restoration post and video updates:
Come See our New Farmhouse | Farmhouse Restoration Before Tour
Farmhouse Restoration Update- The Hardwood Floors
Master Bedroom Farmhouse Restoration Reveal
Spring Farmhouse Living Room Makeover
Claudia Holek says
Love what you are doing. What a transformation!
Lisa Mills says
You decorate like me. We also have the same name. Weird…huh? Keep posting. I’m learning more from you! I’ve stayed up almost all night just looking and. Reading your blog. Keep it coming!! Lisa
Dorothy says
Beautifully done. I was wondering what color you painted the ceilings? And what color the trim in the livingroom.
Tracy says
Lisa, your new farmhouse has come such a long way already and has quickly become so very homely, I can see why you fell in love with it and your surrounding land and builfings. I am enjoying watching the journey you and your family are making. Thank you for inspiring me to get out the sewing machine too, it’s only been about 20 years ! A few cushion covers have now been made and I am looking forward to finding the right type of drop cloth here in Australia to get more creative with some furniture covers.
Joni says
Is your new home warm? It looks so big and open with so many windows! Sure is dreamy!
Lisa says
Yes! Thanks!!
Kelly says
I’m really enjoying watching the progress of your new home. I love the farmhouse style. Looking forward to the next video
Laurie Suz says
Simply beautiful! I am looking forward to seeing you all make this house your home.
Debra Penney says
Lisa and family,
Your home is so beautiful even in the “work in progress” state that it’s in. I have always dreamed of a home like this…but I am so happy for you all. I pray that you make many happy memories in this home and in some strange way you do it for those of us that will never be able to have this experience.
May God bless your home…and our family, with kind regards, Debra
Lisa says
Thank you! 😊
Linda says
It looks so beautiful! I love it! It’s so brite & airy. Congrats on a job well done. Love your choices!
Kim says
Love everything
Karen says
You are absolutely amazing!! With some many children & a baby, you have accomplished sooo much!! I love your hutch & you are right, the blue just pops!!
Linda says
You made great choices for your “blank slate”. I’m looking forward to seeing it all unfold. Thanks for sharing.
Dianne Gingrich says
Love what you’ve done so far. Now for the fun projects.
Thanks for sharing.
Pam wick says
Lisa
Your home looks beautiful! I love how you kept it bright. The furniture choices are perfect.
So many memories to be made with your family.
Thanks for sharing
Lisa says
Thanks!
Danita says
What an amazing job getting that clean slate! I grew up in a very old New England farm house, your tour brought back some fond memories! Your hutch is amazing and so beautiful! Can’t wait to see what you do next!
Lisa says
😊😊 Thank You
Megan says
I love the floors! What a difference refinishing them made! You’ve inspired me to consider refinishing my wood floors. I love how much lighter they are!
Lisa says
Thanks! 😊 We are very happy with the new floors!
Jan says
I ❤️your farmhouse! You’ve done an amazing job & it’s beautiful!
Lisa says
Thanks 😊
Kimberly says
Totally in love with your beautifully stained floors and painted walls! I can’t wait to see how you transform your blank canvas into a work of art! Congratulations on your new farmhouse!
Jeanne says
Wow! I really enjoy watching all of your projects. You are so inspiring!
Brenda Collette says
Incredible home. Rich foresight. and great execution of your vision is so inspiring.
I love everything that you have accomplished with gusto and passion. That is what
makes the mundane things in life ROCK…
Lisa says
Thank you so very much Brenda!
Bill says
WOW that farmhouse is nice! And you are making it beautiful. I was wondering since it is an old place, if you had it checked for mold before you moved in?
I just found your videos today, love the sourdough and fermented food recipes!
Bill
sky says
Wow! What a wonderful transformation,it looks amazing!! I love it all!
Judy says
It all looks really lovely. I sometimes wish I could live in a white house like that, but it’s too bright for me (my husband calls me his forest elf, though I’m far from elven). I need blues and greens and natural wood. By the way, have you considered an old cedar chest as a coffee table? We have a lovely maple (?) one that my Mom found at a garage sale, which also serves double duty as storage for throws and pillows that change between cold and warm seasons.
jennifer fredericks says
Just Love Your Home xx
Michelle says
It’s amazing what some paint can do. I love your changes and cannot wait to see the rest!
Vincent Porlock says
Wow! Great job on recreating a 19th century sanitarium vibe.
Bonnie says
Most adorable family, home and post! Watched a ton of posts and love your casual honest style. Your life looks like a dream.
Thanks for sharing.
If only I could convince my husband to move and redo a farmhouse.😯
Also, Loved the pic of your husband’s raggedy cuttoffs and his tshirt on wrong side out. 😁
🌺🌺🌺💕
Barbara says
You don’t have any pictures on your walls. Where do you put all of your family pics of your beautiful children? Also, where do you keep all of the clutter that everyone always has. I have never seen anything like it! Congrats!
Cindy says
Your home is Gorgeous! You inspired me to make farmhouse decor changes to my home. Thank you for sharing
Cate says
The house itself is beautiful but the white walls over and over and over again make the house very sterile and boring. Millennials = boring white or gray walls with no coziness to make a house a home.
Virginia says
Love your home and what you have done. Enjoy it with your wonderful family. It is so fun at your age to do this and enjoy it. Time passes as it has for me and all the laughter etc. Leaves us alone with out memories. Which you will have wonderful ones. Make as many as you can and truly enjoy every step . God Bless you and your family always
Janet Vucinich says
looks beautiful….great choices. Can you give any more comment on white wall color choices. i am planning to do all rooms of small old house in white dove (BM).