When my clients, Kane and Emily, found this Lake Martin cabin last summer, they liked the whole package.  The home felt like a lake house, the lot was flat and wooded, there was plenty of shoreline.  It wasn’t too much house or too much lot.  It was just right.

And they knew that with a little tweaking, just a little renovation, it could be even better.  It could become “theirs.”

They’ve allowed me to share their before and after pictures of the remodel of their Lake Martin home. These photos show that simple changes like removing carpet can have a big impact.  New sod and covered entry can make a home look new.  Take a look and see how they made a difference by making smart changes during the renovation project.

Outside:

BEFORE – The street side entrance

AFTER – a covered entrance and new landscaping

The new porch on the street side of the home is not a huge addition, but adds a more welcoming (and sheltered) spot to enter the home.  The lake side of the home is similar – small additions were made, building on what was already good about the lot.  The docks and sea wall were already there, and so was the hammock between the trees.  But adding new landscaping, a sandy beach area and a fire pit, makes this yard even more liveable, and really personalized to their needs:

BEFORE – A view of the home from the dock.

AFTER – New sod and landscaping, plus a sandy beach.

AFTER: Sandy beach where a boat ramp once was.

AFTER: The view from the screened porch.

Inside:  The Kitchen and Dining Area

Inside, the changes of the redo were simple, but with great effect as well.  The floor plan remains the same, the kitchen and baths have not been radically altered.  But small changes like removing carpet make a big difference:

BEFORE: The kitchen/eating area.

BEFORE: Another view of the kitchen area.

AFTER: No more blue carpet. New lighting.

AFTER: The floors lighten the room.

AFTER: The eating area gets new lighting.

The Living Room

Here’s the living room – it was already in good shape.  Let’s face it, in a second home like this on Lake Martin, you’re likely to spend a lot of your time hanging out. Kane and Emily realized this, and moved the TV over the fireplace and brought in their own furniture:

BEFORE

BEFORE

AFTER

AFTER – The TV was moved over the fireplace.

AFTER

The Master Bedroom

And finally, they removed the carpet in the lakeside master suite and it makes a huge difference!  I really had to look twice at the pictures to make sure this was the same room:

BEFORE – Carpeted master suite.

BEFORE – Door and window looking to the water.

AFTER – Wood floors instead of carpet in the master bedroom.

AFTER – This looks like a new room.

Kane and Emily started out with a great cabin. As a matter of fact, I liked it so much, I showed it to my wife and my dad a couple of years before this. So from ground zero, they had a really nice Lake Martin home. But, by calling this a “simple” renovation, I run the risk of minimizing the amount of thought, effort and resources the new homeowners put into this transformation – perhaps I should say “smart” renovation instead.  Kane and Emily didn’t go overboard.  Instead they played up their cabin’s strengths.  This is what I mean by “smart” and I think they hit a home run!

If you’re looking for a cute cabin with good bones, but you just can’t see past the orange shag carpet and faux paneled walls, give me a call 334  221 5862 or email me here.  Let’s talk about your dream home, let’s discuss what is really essential in a good Lake Martin home  investment (the dirt, the view, the waterfront) and what things can be changed or overlooked for the time being (the choice of counter material, the screened porch that could be bigger).  I’d love to help and I’d love to be your Lake Martin real estate agent.