We’ve known the sweet Rule family for years… our boys are good friends and we love their family! 

Jodi grew up in Bentonville and then went off to college in Oklahoma. That’s where she met her husband, Phillip, who serves in the military. The first time he was deployed, Jodi came back to her hometown while she waited for him to return. They ended up staying in Bentonville. While the Rule home has a great location – walking distance to a biking/walking trail with a coffee bar (by the way, Jodi loves coffee!), the house needed some updates to keep up with this busy family.   

Since Phillip was getting ready to head off for another long deployment, the plan was for Jodi’s mom, Sue, to move in and be there for Jodi and the kids. But the house was a little tight for all of them. We figured this was perfect timing for adding another bedroom and giving Jodi the updates she’d been wanting.

BEFORE

We didn’t need to make changes to the exterior footprint of the Rule’s home to make it stand out. Paint, shutters and landscaping transformed it into a totally different house. Now the house looks fresh, cheery and welcoming. It actually looks like a newly built home from the outside.

We painted the brick a beautiful creamy color that’s a bit softer than traditional white. Dave built and installed shutters, which we painted in a taupe/gray color to add contrast. We replaced the front door with a beautiful natural wood, and I just love how the front arch adds dimension to the front entrance. Next, we removed the large shrubs that were blocking the front windows; now we can let in more natural light. And lastly, we freshened up the landscaping and swapped out the front light fixtures for larger scale ones.

AFTER

SOURCES

Flag | Allegiance Flag Supply

Exterior Lights | Kichler 

Exterior Paint Color | Sherwin Williams Natural Choice

Exterior Shutters & Back Door | Sherwin Williams Grey Area

BEFORE

The Rules love having a comfy family space where they can hang out and watch sports together, so we wanted to make sure to keep this area casual and kid-friendly. By taking down the wall that was separating the living room from the kitchen, we were able to open up the whole space so that now it’s even easier to grab those game-day snacks or movie popcorn without leaving the room. Even though it’s a casual hangout spot, it’s still a beautiful space. 

The car siding around the living room adds texture and a nod to the farmhouse aesthetic that Jodi loves , and the brick we added to the fireplace anchors the look as traditional and classic. We also installed a new fan and durable LVP flooring throughout the whole house.

AFTER

SOURCES

Furniture | Howse

Living Room Fan | Kichler

Flooring | Audacity Flooring

Wall Paint Color | Benjamin Moore Simply White

BEFORE

This used to be a dining room that opened up to the kitchen, but no one was actually using it as a dining room. Instead of letting it go to waste, we turned it into a bedroom for the Rule brothers to share. Since Dave and I have boys the same age, we had a pretty good idea about what would make them happy. Dave created an amazing wall of basketball hoops that the kids went crazy for. I would say his wall of hoops were a “Slam Dunk!” 😉

We added a wall to close the room off from the kitchen, and Dave built these really fun lofted beds with an alcove underneath. Since this space used to be a dining room, there was no closet. That’s OK because the alcove is big enough for storing their clothes, and we were even able to fit in a gaming nook. Plus, we integrated additional drawers into the steps that lead up to the beds.  

On one of the basketball hoops we added the message “manos,” in their dad’s handwriting as a special message to his boys. 

AFTER

SOURCES

Custom Bunkbeds | Dave Marrs

Furniture | Howse

Flooring | Audacity Flooring

Wall Paint Color | Farrow & Ball Lamp Room Grey

Bunk Bed Paint Color | Farrow & Ball DeNimes

BEFORE

Jodi loves to bake, and I can tell you firsthand, she makes delicious cookies. We wanted to give her a kitchen with plenty of storage for all her baking supplies. Even though we took down a wall to open up the kitchen, we were able to add cabinets back in with a large island. She likes farmhouse style, so we went with cream-colored cabinets, a light blue shade on the island and a farmhouse-inspired tile for the backsplash. I absolutely love the detail and color of these these handmade tiles. Now, the kitchen is cozy and joyful just like this family.

The new built-in hutch holds a cold brew stand handmade by Dave with a sweet message Phillip left for her that says, “I love you more than coffee.”

AFTER

SOURCES

Flooring | Audacity Flooring

Cabinets | Waypoint Living Spaces

Furniture | Howse

Backsplash | Tiles of Ezra

Countertops | MSI Surfaces

Pendant Lights | Wayfair

Dining Room Light | Lumens

Kitchen Wall Paint Color | Benjamin Moore Simply White

Dining Room Wall Paint Color | Farrow & Ball Lamp Room Grey

The plan had been to make a new room for the boys and to give this room to Jodi’s parents for their stay while Phillip is on deployment. What they didn’t know is that we added a surprise guest bathroom. Now, they will have their own bedroom and bathroom and they’ll be so much more comfortable. The bedroom has new flooring, a new ceiling fan and a fresh coat of paint. The bathroom is all new with a vanity and shower.  The blue color is soothing and relaxing while the white tiles make the shower look fresh and classic.

SOURCES

Furniture | Howse

Ceiling Fan | Kichler

Bathroom Vanity Light | Kichler

Bathroom Mirror | The Home Depot

Faucet, Toilet, Shower Head & Hand Shower | Gerber

Shower Wall Tile | Lowes

Shower Floor Tile | Lowes

Bathroom Floor Tile | Lowes

Wall Paint Color | Sherwin Williams Debonair

Ceiling Paint Color | Benjamin Moore Simply White

Bathroom Vanity Paint Color | Farrow & Ball Drop Cloth

The kids bathroom wasn’t part of the original plan, but we gave it a little refresh. We added a new double vanity, new mirrors, new lights and a fresh coat of paint. Now the bathroom has more storage and a fun new color. The whole look is updated and modern.

SOURCES

Sconces | Kichler 

Mirror | Home Depot

Faucet | Gerber 

Runner | Turkish Trunk

Floor Tile | Lowes

Wall, Trim & Vanity Paint Color | Farrow and Ball Pigeon

Thanks to donations from local companies, we were able to create a whole new backyard surprise for Phillip when he comes home. The shed in the back is waiting for him as his man cave. We’ve heard he even likes to grill in the middle of winter. Hopefully, the new pergola and decking will keep him inspired to keep on grilling!

SOURCES

Exterior Lights | Kichler

Decking Materials | Encore Building Products

Pergola | Four Seasons Building Products

Grill | goTRG

Siding Paint Color | Sherwin Williams Natural Choice

Shutters & Back Door Paint Color | Sherwin Williams Grey Area