A before-and-after blog

Hi. I’m Megan.

(Hi, Megan.)

And I live in a 1954 rancher.

While many people cringe at the thought of living in a ‘50s rancher, my husband and I love our house. First of all, it’s easy. With two young kids, I’m grateful to have an attached garage and a fairly open floor plan. Rushing back into the house for a sippy cup after buckling everyone into the car is no big deal. (Running back in for a teddy bear, a forgotten pair of shoes, some Cheerios, etc., gets a little old.)

It’s also a tank of a house. Solidly built and wide, making it a given that we have a larger-than-normal backyard.

Ranchers aren’t for everyone, though, and ours certainly has its share of to-do projects.

While Googling for ideas on how to transform our scary basement laundry room into something less dungeon-like, I came across a couple working on their own rancher across the country.

Sherry and John, of thisyounghouse.com , blog about their adventures remodeling a 1,300-square-foot house they bought three years ago in Virginia. They don’t just write about the process, they share the how-tos. How to paint a brick fireplace. How to stain a concrete floor. How to install a toilet.

Their before-and-after photos are downright stunning.

Sherry and John’s blog led me to Century Finds , an online store that offers unique, mostly vintage products—the kinds of items that add personality to a room. For a child’s room, I’m loving this globe . To top a birthday cake, I’d love this kitschy little deer set .

Whether you live in a rancher or not, you might find some inspiration on those sites.