Photography by Nathan Satran
A Home to Flip Over
Couple joins forces on a large scale renovation
When it comes to flipping houses, Kendra and Josh Allen make a great pair. Owners of J & K Signature Properties, this husband-and-wife team combine their talents and skills to turn outdated dwellings into modern marvels. They know from personal experience what it takes to deliver the joy of home ownership.
“Josh and I have been married seven years,” Kendra says. “The first home we bought together was our very first ‘small’ remodel project. We lived in that and it is now a rental. We've done three big remodel projects together since then.”
As with their starter home, Kendra and Josh lived in each of the renovations. Their newly completed five-bedroom, three-bath beauty, however, tells a different story.
“The Rimrock house is the first one we haven’t lived in,” says Kendra. “It’s the first house we’ve put on the market right away.”
Nestled on just over a half-acre lot on the corner of Rimrock Road and Brayton Street, the nearly 3,700-square-foot, two-level rancher delivers a sweet package. Its solid structure features original red brick exterior with new black-trim windows, giving the property a contemporary, stately look.
“Homes clad in brick are one of the most challenging to replace windows in,” notes Aaron Reay of 406 Window Co., “however, Alex (Shin) created an awesome game plan for the trim and flashing details. Alex provided some glazing wizardry by specifying a glass that has insane sound protection,” says Aaron. “Luke Gerhardt and our installation team executed and built off this plan. The result speaks for itself.”
The large windows afford amazing views to the tree-lined road in front. Toward the back of the home, an inspiring view of the Rimrocks rises from across the sprawling backyard. In plain sight, Zimmerman Trail winds its way up the Rims. Both views allow natural light to bathe the space.
The color scheme Kendra chose adds even more warmth. As the designer for all the couple’s projects, she chose an earthy color called Ivory Lace for the walls and Bungalow Beige for the trim.
“I love the trim with its clean lines,” she says. The trim and baseboard work, along with interior doors, was completed by Benchmark Window & Door.
The timeless look achieved in this total revamp liberates the once dark boxy house with skinny doorways, rewarding it with sophistication. “It takes a lot of back work to make an already-built home flow,” says Kendra. “We took this house down to the studs.”
The demolition required Josh and his team to remove old lath and plaster, an exercise in patience. “Especially with the wire mesh attached to it around the windows,” Kendra says.
Walls were torn down, new electrical work put in, and new plumbing by Christoferson Plumbing was installed.
The result of the open concept layout reveals a stunningly detailed classic home with modern flair. An impressive rock fireplace reaching from floor to ceiling lends a dynamic element to the expansive area. The wrap-around wood-burning fireplace with hearth caters to the living room, as well as the dining area.
The backside of this multi-purposed fireplace supplies romantic ambiance to the outdoor covered patio while extending its earthy vibe and warmth to the modified lower level. Kendra opted to paint the two indoor fireplaces a rich black. This bold shade adds both character and depth. “Josh is a painter,” says Kendra. “He owns Signature Painters, so we had it made!”
The J & K team, with a myriad of artisan work from local businesses, breathed new life into the “Rimrock” house. Kendra worked closely with designer Ragan Yetley of Beyond the Box Design Center. The collaboration revived the closed-off and severely outdated kitchen.
“Kendra and I went with a two-tone kitchen,” says Ragan. The base cabinets are painted “greige,” a combination of grey and beige. They juxtapose seamlessly with tall light-wood upper cabinets.
“Both of these warm tones help bring an overall cozy feeling to the space,” Ragan adds. “The wood helps the space feel more timeless while the slab door style adds a touch of modern.”
“It’s really a fun design,” Kendra says. “Beyond the Box draws out everything. This is very helpful. Even though the kitchen had been walled off previously, we moved it around to function better.”
A generous built-in pantry surrounding a black stainless fridge displays the same warm wood cabinetry as the upper cabinets. Located at the far end of the space it sets this hub of the home on a grand scale.
Durable water-resistant laminate flooring from the Floor Trader flows throughout most of the main level. The beige and brown shades of this wood plank-look flooring is “Woodside” by Inhaus. It coalesces flawlessly with the kitchen cabinetry.
The neutral creaminess of quartz countertops, the white tile backsplash and the non-traditional stove hood give this room its finishing touches. “It’s a very airy, bright and clean feeling,” says Kendra.
“The clay-color backsplash adds to the warm color palette, and covering the wall with the tile gives a focal point and ‘wow’ feature for the space,” adds Ragan.
The luscious tile combined with the kitchen’s clean lines charge the atmosphere with personality. “The hood ties it together,” says Kendra. “I wanted the wall to be one piece so the hood is framed in like a box. It’s simple. And, the tiles make it pop.”
This chic simplicity carries through to the master suite situated down the hall. During the high impact transformation, a small bedroom and a tiny pink bathroom were consumed by the new suite.
The large room stays loyal to the rest of the home’s color scheme with walls and trim dressed in ivory and beige. Like the guest bedroom across the hall, along with the three lower level bedrooms, this sizeable suite is luxuriously carpeted.
The spa-like ensuite offers a feast for the eyes with dual-color tile flooring. “These wood plank tiles are angled to lead you into the space and immediately bring your eye to the beautiful free-standing tub,” Ragan says. “Just like in the kitchen, the wood brings timelessness and helps tie all the warm tones together.”
A floating bath vanity dazzles in a muted green hue presenting a “pop of color,” says Kendra. Grandiose gilded-frame mirrors above the vanity’s sinks enhance the elegance.
A distinctive walk-in shower featuring slider-style glass door and “cocoa” color tile completes this well-designed bath. “The two different patterns on the shower walls help bring interest to the shower while not being overwhelming,” comments Ragan.
The entirety of this “flip” home imparts design done well. The amenities including a super large driveway, double garage and a private covered breezeway. The back patio area complements the grounds.
“When Josh and I first looked at it,” says Kendra, “I loved the square-footage, the location, size of lot and the big kitchen.”
It takes a great pair of house flippers to take on an immense project like this. The couple used their talents and skills. Teamwork enabled them to rejuvenate an outdated home turning it into a modern marvel.
“We do well together,” says Kendra. “We make a pretty good team.”
