Always intrigued by the Hayselton/Boone area, where sidewalks are ample, neighbors are friendly and older home character is abundant, Tami Turner found this colonial 1930s home irresistible from the moment she stepped inside.

“It felt like this house wrapped its arms around me as soon as I walked through the door,” Turner says. “My friend, who went with me, turned and said, ‘Tami, this is your house.’ From there, we walked room to room, and I could visualize everything I wanted to update. It was easy to see this was once a loved, well-kept home. It just needed to be loved again.”

The real challenge came about not because Turner envisioned major renovations but because she wanted the house move-in ready in 90 days.

“I knew I didn’t want to live in the house through the mess and stress of construction,” Turner says. “Scott Schaeperkoetter, contractor, quickly pulled a crew together. His immediate response was, ‘If you need it done, we will do it.’”

The daily transformation, according to Turner, was amazing and fun to experience. “Scott and his crew made what might have been an impossible project so easy,” she says. “While I wanted updates, I also wanted to remain true to the original architecture, and their expertise did not cease to amaze me along the way.”

Scott Schaeperkoetter, owner of Signature Homes, set his crew in action to knock out a parlor wall, completely renovate the kitchen, reconfigure the upstairs from four bedrooms to three to add a master bath and walk-in closet, remove baby-blue shag carpeting to reveal hardwood floors and connect the side screened-in porch with the back deck.

“Once we had a plan, it became all about scheduling,” Schaeperkoetter says. “Our company has 10 full-time carpenters and a talented group of subcontractors, so we are equipped to handle a project like this.

“Tami was a big part of the success of this project,” Schaeperkoetter continues. “She doesn’t struggle with decisions and was accessible whenever we had questions or needed to change course. We could talk open and freely about different issues. She trusts us, and that is the only way we could have completed the job, especially so quickly.

“Older home remodels can be particularly tricky because a torn-down wall can bring about unexpected issues,” Schaeperkoetter adds. “Unlike new homes where you begin and end with the original plan, client, contractor and builder have to remain fluid on remodels because plans can quickly change. Tami excelled at communication.”

Both Turner and Schaeperkoetter agree that the removal of a wall completely transformed the kitchen, and this room stands out as their favorite part of the renovation. All new appliances, marble countertops and fresh white cottage cabinetry add to its appeal.

The most challenging part of the renovation, they both agree, was the two-story back sunroom. According to Schaeperkoetter: “It was in rough shape. It took a lot of structural work to bring it around, but I like the way we were able to make it work and keep with the integrity of the original home.”

For interior design, Turner called on both Scruggs Lumber and Signature Homes. “This is the third home where I’ve worked with Tina Davis, so we have a great relationship,” she says. “This time around, we also pulled in Angie Zimmerman from Signature Homes. I had certain things I wanted to accomplish, and I would tell them, ‘This is what I want, and here is my price point.’ The three of us worked well together.”

The neighborhood is a bonus for Turner in a number of ways. “I love my neighbors,” she says. “People on Hayselton open their doors to whoever moves in. Don Roark, who also lives on the street, takes care of my yard and several others on the block. He hooks up and turns off my sprinklers every day in the summer. While I live in the house, my yard belongs to Don.

“No matter what has gone on in my day, I love coming home,” Turner adds. “I am privileged to be the one who took a well-loved home into the 21st century.”

Turner enjoys mixing inherited pieces with new to recreate a sense of old elegance. “I loved it when my mother and grandmother hosted teas and luncheons,” she says. “Everyone was so dressed up and formal. They were very special events.” Easter brunch, set in the dining room, features a mixture of her grandmother’s pink rose china, Turner’s white squared plates and other treasures mixed in from around her home.

Reuse, Recycle, Rotate

By Jill Bednar
Here’s a great way to refresh that mantel or tabletop with an inspired new look: Use what you already have! Your accessories speak volumes and tell a story about who you are and what you like. Here are a few tips that may help you showcase your stuff with maximum impact.

1. Three of a kind make a collection. The items can vary greatly as long as they have one underlying element in common, such as color.

2. Gather like pieces together. Chances are you’ll find bits and pieces of related things all over the house that could be brought
together to tell a fresh new story.

3. Rotate collections. What was on the mantel in the living room could be used in the bedroom, what was on the buffet in the
dining room could be moved to the living room, and don’t forget the basement — anything is fair game!

Resource List

Contractor: Signature Homes, Windows, flooring, paint and etc.
Materials: Scruggs Lumber
Granite countertops: Martellaro Marble & Granite
Cabinets: Ron Irvin
Bedding: The Schaefer House, Pottery Barn
Painted furniture: Brenda Voss
Accessories: Southbank Gift Co., Hobby Lobby, The Schaefer House
Lighting: La Belle Cabinetry & Lighting
Furniture: J.C. Mattress Factory, The Schaefer House