Reimagining a 1960s home in Albany, NY

From Smart Planning to Modern Living
—on a Budget

This renovation wasn’t defined by dramatic structural changes, but by meaningful home updates that turned an outdated house into a bright, functional, and personality-filled space. It’s a reminder that home remodeling doesn’t have to be major to make a meaningful impact.

Kitchen renovation
BEFORE / AFTER

About

We helped the client sell their townhouse and purchase this new home with a clear plan in mind: renovate when the time was right.

As both their real estate agent and home renovation partner, we helped them see the potential from the start—and later led the planning, design, and execution to create a space that feels true to their lifestyle, personality, and budget.

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This 1960s ranch-style home had solid bones, but the finishes were long outdated.

From the start, the client envisioned a brighter, more functional space—starting with the removal of the original yellow lacquer kitchen cabinets. But as the design evolved, we embraced a creative twist: keeping the lacquered cabinets and repainting them in a soft yet still vibrant blue. This unexpected move became the heart of the kitchen, adding eclectic charm and sparking conversation.

Instead of a full gut, we enhanced the existing kitchen layout with drawer roll-outs, a custom wall cabinet, a floral backsplash, upgraded appliances, and decorative lighting—all carefully chosen home renovations that add value both functionally and visually.
The project also included refreshing the dated foyer and powder room and adding mid-century-inspired touches throughout, all while increasing natural light and staying true to the client’s vision and budget.
While the kitchen was the star of the renovation, subtle updates throughout the rest of the home made a noticeable difference. From refreshed wallpaper and updated lighting to streamlined flooring and modernized finishes, each change was intentional. Though none of the updates were dramatic on their own, together they brought cohesion, warmth, and a renewed sense of personality to the entire home.
With each home renovation project, we develop a detailed and efficient scope of work tailored to both the client and our subcontractors. For this project, the majority of the transformation centered around refinishing the kitchen cabinets, which required a carefully phased approach.
The schedule was strategically planned: new lighting needed to be installed first, followed by painting, which had to be completed before the cabinet refinishing could begin.
From there, the timeline moved quickly—countertops were installed, followed by the backsplash, and finally the new appliances were brought in according to the scheduled sequence. This organized approach ensured a smooth process and allowed each trade to work efficiently without delays.
This renovation came with a few key constraints—nothing major structurally, but several challenges that required thoughtful planning and flexibility:
- Budget evolution: We began with a full wishlist and carefully scoped the design to stay within budget. However, midway through, the client chose to increase their investment to include additional finishes and upgrades. This required pivoting on materials and timelines without losing sight of the overall vision.
- Design within limits: The client had a clear design direction, but we needed to prioritize elements that would make the biggest impact—refining the scope to balance aesthetics, functionality, and cost.
- Existing conditions: While we didn’t rework the layout, we had to creatively address uneven floor heights across rooms, ensuring the new hardwood installation felt cohesive throughout.

“Rather than focusing solely on resale value, we prioritized aligning the design vision with the client’s budget. By identifying the elements that would make the greatest impact, we delivered a renovation that felt personal, polished, and cost-conscious.”

— Dana Farrell | Bundle It Home