Client of West + Main agent Kendra Clark: Kalyn Denno
“It turned out to be one of our best decisions, as we not only had the opportunity to live comfortably during our renovation, but now we have an ADU that can be utilized for friends, family and potential rental income”
When West + Main Agent Kendra Clark's client, Kalyn Denno, bought this amazing property, they weren’t even looking to move, and they had just finished another huge renovation...but sometimes those casual late-night Real Estate portal sessions uncover new dreams!
"I am a sucker for an old home and couldn’t ignore the endless potential of this property,” said Kalyn. “The original idea was to simply renovate the home on the property and use the 2-stable barn as a workshop for my husband’s woodworking interests and for my furniture flipping and DIY pursuits. However, once we saw the scope of work to get the home where we wanted it and the onset of the pandemic, we quickly realized that we would have to move out for at least a year or more!”
Upon that realization, Kalyn turned to her husband and said, “I have a crazy idea... but hear me out. What if we turned our barn into a 2 bedroom house and moved into it while our home is being renovated? It will take a bit more time and a bit more money, but we wouldn’t be throwing money away renting somewhere else, but rather would invest it back into our own property." And, so they did!
Kalyn is a self-professed old-home addict who has a passion for design and all things old and is always searching for that special home that needs saving.
When we first saw this home it was old, musty, in need of repair...and I loved it!!” Kalyn and her family eventually aim to have a home that pays for itself and have utilized many opportunities from hosting small events + workshops at the barn, to short term rental opportunities, to selling farm stand products that come from our property.
"We purchased a long, handmade cabinet from Facebook Marketplace and have re-purposed it into an ‘on your honor’ farm stand. We plan on selling lavender from our fields, fruit from our trees and vegetables from our gardens. All of these accumulate and help us to achieve our goals each Summer."
Kalyn’s design style is a combination of traditional, vintage, boho and eclectic, and this home is the perfect showcase for her skills!
"I try to recreate the look and feel of an old home, but with new (up to code) bones. I find that the best way to accomplish this is to actually incorporate old things back into the home! The majority of our home decor (furniture included) is thrifted or second hand. I find that blending old with the new creates a ‘storied’ home...one that’s filled with warmth, charm and character. We also tried to honor our home’s history by incorporating as many elements back into it as possible. Salvaged items in our home include the original horse stable barn doors and track, furniture left by the previous home owners (the repurposed cubbies in the barn bedroom and the white bench in the mudroom), and a ton of the beams and barn wood were worked back into areas, such as mudroom nook ceiling, over the bar windows and into the barn and main home's hood vents."
Related Links
As Featured in West + Main Home Magazine: Renovation Revelations!
As Featured in West + Main Home Magazine: From Inspiration to Renovation
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