There’s no better feeling than when hard work pays off, and getting to show off the fruits of your labor is just the cherry on top! On Dec. 8 through Dec. 9, 2018, the Auburn Preservation League will host its 12th Annual Loveliest Village Christmas Tour of Homes and Buildings. While we look forward to the tour every year, this year is extra special. That’s because a recently-remodeled Ryan Roberts home will appear on the Loveliest Village Christmas Tour of Homes this winter.
The home
The three-bedroom, two-bathroom home at 233 Marion Circle was built in 1949 by the Mockeridge family, who owned the home up until this year. After living in a new construction home in Auburn previously, the character and charm of 233 Marion Circle attracted the Roberts’ family—despite downsizing from about 2,800 square feet to 1,560 square feet. Ryan and his wife, Ashlyn, with the help of local contractors, started the renovation on the ranch-style 233 Marion Circle in July 2018 and wrapped it up in September 2018.
The renovation
The idea with this remodel was to maintain charm while upgrading the home’s features and amenities to meet modern lifestyle needs—all while maximizing the available space. As the home had six doors leading outside, it is suspected that 233 Marion Circle may have been rented out to students and/or multiple families over the years. The Roberts’ removed and closed unnecessary doors to enhance the flow of the space.
In the living room, the Roberts’ gave the existing brick fireplace an upgrade by covering it with gray soapstone, adding a custom mantel and incorporating a nickel gap accent. The fireplace now serves as a focal point for this area of the home. To create space for a dining room, renovations involved opening up what was previously a porch space and removing an exterior door there.
The kitchen, another hub of the home, proved challenging, as it is a much smaller space than the Roberts family was used to. One solution involved Ryan’s great grandmother’s china cabinet to use as everyday storage, which also serves as an aesthetic point of interest in the kitchen. Custom cabinets and closets were added throughout the home to solve the storage issue.
The renovation also involved the creation of a 90 square-foot addition that houses the laundry, master closet and master bathroom. While much was redone completely, features like the original doors and hardware, as well as white oak hardwoods throughout the home (minus the kitchen and bathrooms), were preserved.
The tour
As the remodeled Ryan Roberts home will appear on the Loveliest Village Christmas Tour of Homes, tour attendees will have the opportunity to take a look at the transformation first-hand. This year’s tour will be Saturday, Dec. 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 9, from 1 to 4 p.m. Tickets are $20, which gives you access to all homes on the tour. Stay tuned to an upcoming blog for further details, including a listing of other homes and buildings on the tour!
More photos
Check out more photos of the renovation!
To keep up with what’s going on in the Auburn-Opelika area, continue to follow the Ryan Roberts Realtor blog! And for your real estate needs in Auburn, Opelika and Lake Martin, contact Ryan today at www.ryanrobertsrealtor.com/contact.