A 30-Day Renovation: The Cockrell Home

When Kaily and Conner Cockrell said, “I do,” they didn’t quite realize how many other “doers” would be involved in putting the finishing touches on their new home the very next week while they were on their honeymoon. Just a few short weeks prior, the Cockrells purchased a home in a cul-de-sac just minutes away from Kaily’s parents in Soso, where she grew up. They closed on the home April 16th and managed the majority of the renovation - floors, painting, light fixtures and more – prior to the wedding day. And when they returned from their honeymoon, they came home to a wonderful gift - the moving, decorating and heavy lifting had been done for them by their parents and grandparents.

Front door from City Home Center

 The House Search

After their engagement, Kaily and Conner began the home search, looking for houses throughout Jones County. “We looked for houses inside and outside of Laurel and found something so close to home it was almost too good to be true,” said Kaily. The house was listed by the current home owners, who Kaily’s grandmother knew, so they were confident it had been well kept. The home, though tailored to the style of the previous homeowners, was a well-built house, allowing them to primarily invest in cosmetic upgrades to bring the home up to date. “Although there was a lot I knew I wanted to change, I could definitely see the potential,” Kaily said.

With a short timeline of one month, Kaily and Conner purchased the home and planned to be in the house by the time they returned from their honeymoon. This was no small feat considering the house was just one of the many life-changing events for their families over the course of that month. Kaily’s brother and his wife had a baby on April 5th, then Conner’s brother and his wife had a baby on April 10th, they closed the house on April 16th and the wedding was on May 5th. Needless to say, it was a busy time for the couple

The Renovation

The first thing Kaily and Conner did after purchasing the house was visit City Home Center, where Deana Stevison and the team helped the couple make the biggest decisions – flooring, carpet, countertops and replacing the front door and fireplace. “We went to City Home Center first, and it made the rest of the process so easy” said Kaily. “Deana measured and measured and made several trips to our house to help us with the perfect plan that would allow us to stay within our budget.”

Painting the interior of entire house, top to bottom, came first.  Going from a dark red dining room and other various bold paint colors to a completely neutral palette was a drastic change.

“One of the great things that Deana taught us was that you don’t always have to tear up to put down,” Kaily said. There was tile throughout the home with carpet in living room. We were able to place a beautiful laminate wood floor over the existing tile. Also, the new front door from City Home Center was an easy decision that completely changed the look of the home’s exterior.

Laminate wood floor from City Home Center

Kaily’s favorite outcome of the renovation was the fireplace. By simply replacing the covering of the fireplace and keeping the same hearth, the living room focal point took on a whole new look.

The REALLY Fun Part, Decorating!

As a engaged couple, Kaily and Conner registered at Rubies Home Furnishings. During the home renovation, Kaily found herself walking from City Home Center to Rubies next door to pull all the various components of the home together. “Deana, my mom, my grandmother and I would walk back and forth comparing colors, design elements and décor items to be sure we had everything just right,” Kaily said.

Once the light fixtures were hung, decorating was the one thing that remained, but they didn’t have quite enough time to finish before the wedding. Luckily, Kaily had received a significant amount of home décor items prior to the wedding. And, as with all couples who register at Rubies, Kaily received 10% store credit back from the total spent on her registry. This allowed the two of them to purchase living room furniture.  “Because of the value Rubies offers on gifts and home decor, friends and family could go purchase items at any price range,” Kaily said. “This allowed us to get not only the big items but the small things as well, which really added to the finished look.”

With everything purchased, the last thing to do was decorate. As Kaily and Conner were enjoining a honeymoon in Punta Cana, their parents and grandparents were working hard placing furniture and adding the finishing touches. One of their favorite accessories today was a bench from Rubies that served as inspiration for the dining room. “I matched some paint from City Home Center to the bench, and it resulted in a DIY project I’m really proud to have accomplished.”

All in all, the quick turnaround on the renovation allowed the couple to start from day one in their home – perfectly designed within their budget and suited to their needs. While Kaily and Conner are quite happy with their new nest, they have aspirations of updating the exterior of the home next. We’ll be sure to share when they have photos to show us!

Meet Our Designer: Deana Stevison

When Deana Stevison studied cost accounting as a student at Jones County Junior College, she never expected to become one of Laurel, Mississippi’s most preferred specialists in home design at a time where the town sits in a national spotlight. Having inherited a hard work ethic from her father, Deana claims that starting her career with a boss who took her under his wing was a major factor in inspiring her to always be eager to learn new things. This has positioned Deana as one of the most knowledgeable and coveted home designers in the community.

Throughout her career, Deana has worked for a fabric manufacturer, a carpet company, a furniture store, a paint and decorating store and, now, at City Home Center. “Looking back, every place I worked through the years seemed like a new opportunity to hone my craft and improve upon my design skills in different ways,” said Deana. In her roles at each company, she felt a consistent thread of ‘outside the box’ learning, even to the point of completing numerous sewing and art projects as the bookkeeper at McLaurin Carpet in Soso. 

 For the last eight years, Deana has been become a fixture as a lead designer at City Home Center. While most schedule appointments to get Deana’s undivided attention, any given day, you will notice people waiting in line outside Deana’s door to pick her brain on their design projects. Perhaps one of Deana’s most coveted skills – the ability to make a project work well for the client rather than simply to look good. “I’m about the pretty, but I’m also about the functional and technical,” said Deana. 

After nearly 34 years in the business, Deana has been involved in both commercial and residential projects throughout the state. She is now finding that many of her new clients are often children of couples she helped design homes for decades ago. She has also found that repeat customers become the norm. “I have several clients I’ve done four or more homes or projects for over the years,” Deana said. “My clients are like family."

Her jack-of-all-trades reputation has been especially beneficial for customers of City Home Center. Regardless of the need, customers can expect Deana to play the role of measurer, designer, painter, contractor or just a friend with a knack for what flooring works best for pets. Needless to say, everyone needs a Deana. 

Deana notes that, after years at City Home Center, she is surprised to find that people underestimate the selection available that is available right here in Laurel. “We not only carry new, unique inventory available, but we carry discontinued lines, which means we can offer really great prices on our products,” she said. “The selection at City Home Center is as good or better than anywhere in the country.”  

As far as her family life, Deana is proud to call Jones County home and have three daughters and three grandchildren who live close to her. “Family is so dear to me, but I often feel like I have little pieces of my heart scattered all over our community,” Deana said of the many projects she has worked on within Jones County. “I drive around town with a grin from ear to ear knowing that I had a hand in helping make so many houses dream homes for my clients.”

Low Budget, DIY Tricks to Improve Your Home

Are you on a budget but want to spruce up your home? We’ve got some great ideas for easy DIY projects that will bring a lot of BANG for your BUCK. While we sure do love watching entire home renovations in under an hour on HGTV, it’s hard to be realistic about what you can accomplish in your own home on the weekend. But even our very own HGTV stars work with what they have in each episode of HGTV Hometown. There is a lot you can do if you just get creative and are willing to put in a little elbow grease!

DROP [it like it’s] CLOTH CURTAINS
While you’re in the paint aisle grabbing countertop paint for your kitchen, pick up some drop cloths and follow these instructions for easy, no sew, drop-cloth curtains that will soften your windows and give your home lovely neutral tones to play with.

Iron-on hems are a lifesaver... TRUST US. Not all of us know how to sew, and that’s ok! If you have an iron, you can accomplish a lot.   

RE-USED, RE-CLAIMED, RE-LOVED.
Some of our favorite pieces are used or salvaged items. By giving old furniture just a little bit of love, you can bring a lot of exciting décor into your home. Check out this step-by-step guide to rehab an old dresser. Don’t be afraid to search your garage and see what you can dig up. And don’t be too proud to stop on the side of the road and pick up what looks like junk. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

We’ve seen many a dining room table headed to the dumpster, then picked up and reclaimed and loved by a generation. With a little TLC, you’d never know that it didn’t come off the show room floor. Any local flea market will like have dining room chairs that, with little paint and a few yards of fabric later, you’d think they came out of a catalogue.

Check out goodwill. Check out estate sales. Check out your momma’s attic! No telling what kind of finds you’ll discover up there. And NEVER pass up a yard sale. Hidden gems galore.

YOUR OWN VAN GOGH
Did you know that (many of you) have your own artist right in your home? For less than the cost of finger-paints, you can commission this artist whenever you need something new to hang in your home! That’s right, it’s your kid! What’s more special than something they’ve created?

Pick up a nice frame to add sophistication and design to your home, and it might even cover up that dent in the sheetrock from when you were moving in… Plus, you get to showcase your little artist’s masterpiece!

Big Impact, Small Budget

If you’re a homeowner who has put off a repair or home project, you are not alone. In fact, one  of the most common reasons people postpone selling their home is because of the time and financial investment it will take them to make updates to put it on the market. At City Home Center, we see customers daily who have a home improvement list a mile long, and we love to help them determine which projects will give them the most bang for their buck in the long run.

Cabinets are one of the best and easiest ways to make a big impact to the look of your home without a major expense. A simple change of paint and hardware can give a kitchen or bathroom an entirely new look. As a first and most important step, the condition of existing cabinets needs to be considered, ensuring the wood is in good shape before making any changes. If the wood isn’t in good shape, you can visit City Home Center or your local hardware store to discuss options for replacing damaged cabinets. Once the condition of those cabinets is in check, you’re free to have fun taking on any of these easy weekend projects to transform your kitchen or bathroom.

Paint
For paint updates, there so many great options. You can choose a single, simple neutral color for all cabinets. Or, you could opt for one of our favorite cabinet paint trends which is choosing two colors – one for top and one for bottom. We love a dark/light contrast to really make a statement. Another great trend is going with a neutral top and bottom cabinet with a nice, rich color on the island. Any way you choose to update with paint is sure to provide a great return on investment.

Hardware
One thing that’s a sure as the setting sun is that the trends in cabinet hardware will change. While traditional gold and silver always are a good choice, styles change. An update to hardware can make a whole room look different. Right now, brass is very popular, along with glass or colored knobs. We also love the look of these Jeffrey Alexander drawer pulls to add some variety to the look of your cabinets. So, if you’re not up the task for paint, a simple change in hardware may be your best bet to freshen up your space.

Cabinet Facings
If the design on your cabinets dates your kitchen back to the 50s, 60s or 70s, and there’s no paint powerful enough to cover the outdated design, replacing your cabinet facings is just what the doctor ordered. An update to you cabinet facings is comparable to the best facial you’ve ever had, taking years off your kitchen in no time. Choosing something flat and simple is the best way to ensure you won’t be making this update again in the near future.

Another option is to remove the top cabinet facings altogether and keep things open, or even removing the center portion of your existing cabinets too glass or another transparent material.  This is especially beneficial for small kitchens that need to look bigger. However, we warn packrats with messy kitchen cabinets to stay away from open cabinets. The look is definitely compromised when those open cabinets are a mess.

Whether you are completely remodeling or simply freshening things up, cabinets are a great place to start. And we’d love to help you explore options at City Home Center. We often offer specials for cabinet makeovers, so be sure to join our mailing list to stay in the loop and get discounts from us!

Downtown Dreams but Reality Sings – The Laurel Renovation Story of Kaitlyn Smith

When Kaitlyn Smith started house hunting in Laurel, she had a downtown mindset. The charming, craftsman-style home was what she hoped for, and she knew that the perfect one was calling her name. But when she started crunching numbers, she began to realize that the homes she was interested in buying needed more work than her budget allowed. So, it was time to think outside the box. “My realtor called and suggested I look at a house located off of Highway 84,” said Kaitlyn. "While I wasn’t particularly interested in that location, I decided to go since my downtown search wasn’t proving to be as successful as I had hoped,” she said. 

Kaitlyn’s mother, Kim Smith, and aunt Karlyn Pugh are owners of Rubies Home Furnishings and City Home Center. With over a decade in the renovation and décor industry, Kim and Karlyn have eyes to see beyond what a few decades can do to the cosmetic surfaces of homes. When Kaitlyn walked into the home for the first time, the green bathroom, wood paneling and general style of the home made it challenging to see the vision. The house, while outdated, would not require any major restructuring, and the neighborhood was great. “Thankfully, my mom and aunt Karlyn know the importance of a well-structured home because I couldn’t see past the brick on the front of the house” she said.

What to Keep
Once Kaitlyn purchased the home, she, Kim and Karlyn went to work. City Home Center supplied the majority of the renovation supplies, and the Rubies Home Furnishings team helped piece the furniture and décor together. “The most important step was not to see what should be changed but what should be kept,” said Kim. “Most of the house had sheetrock underneath the paneling and the cabinets were in good shape, they just needed refacing.” Morgan Brothers Millwork helped Kaitlyn get the cabinets looking like new.

What to Change
There were obvious minor changes like light fixtures and cabinet hardware. One unexpected change was the kitchen floor. While Kaitlyn had planned to use laminate wood flooring for the majority of the house with carpet in the bedrooms, the kitchen floor was going to remain as it was. But when they pulled up the baseboards, the floor came with them. In an effort to keep things in budget, Kaitlyn chose a patterned linoleum for her kitchen. “It was one of the most fun, unexpected surprises of the renovation,” said Kaitlyn. “The countertops and backsplash were neutral, so a patterned floor really added some personality to the room.” 

Donna Jones at Jerry Ford Real Estate in Ellisville was the realtor for Kaitlyn’s first home. “Donna was so much more than just a realtor and walked through the entire process with me,” said Kim. Donna gave Kaitlyn the name of Marletta Ford from Taylorsville who owns Perma Bright, a business that specializes in bathtub refinishing. “Marletta change the color of the outdated tile in the bathrooms, and saved us so much money,” said Kaitlyn. “We were thrilled with the results.”

As with any project, painting takes up a considerable part of the budget. However, it is arguably one of the most impactful investments in a home renovation. Kaitlyn was having the interior and exterior of the home painted, and she commends painter Randy Rayner for his work. “They say never judge a book by its cover, but the brick outside the home was the first thing that made me question buying it,” said Kaitlyn. “When I saw the finished product, I knew I had made the right decision.” 

Decorating
While sometimes decorating a home can seem daunting, Kaitlyn comes from a lineage of skilled decorators, so she was prepared for the task. Karlyn took on the job of head designer and helped Kaitlyn and Kim piece things together. The convenience of City Home Center and Rubies Home Furnishings being next door to one another was key. “We probably walked 100 miles going back and forth between City Home Center and Rubies,” Karlyn said. “But I think the end result proves that we did have a method to our madness.” 

Karlyn’s tip for decorating any home is to pick one thing in each room for inspiration. “Whether it was a pillow or fabric swatch, taking something and building a room around it can make a home renovation so much less overwhelming,” Karlyn advises. Kaitlyn added some finishing touches of prints framed by Frames Unlimited in Laurel. One of the final pieces of artwork was the painting of a mermaid in the bathroom by artist, Katherine Ezell. “Kaitlyn has always loved mermaids since she looks like Ariel on The Little Mermaid, and Karlyn and I knew we wanted to give her something special to inspire her and remind her that she is loved,” said Kim. “Your first home is a big deal, and the memories Kaitlyn already has from the remodel and will continue to have as she entertains friends and family will last her forever.” Karlyn added, “We have done a lot of projects together, but this was by far my favorite.”