Remember our friends Carey and Jordan? Earlier this year we visited their home and fell in love with their mudroom. This time we toured another one of their projects: a renovated rental in the Richmond area that’s been staged as a long-term furnished rental and occasionally listed on Airbnb. It’s a great example of how thoughtful design, smart sourcing, and a few budget-friendly upgrades can completely transform a home.
The house mixes pieces at a variety of price points: thrifted finds, affordable retail staples, and a few elevated items that lift the overall look. You’ll spot a mix of HomeGoods, Target, and secondhand treasures alongside higher-end details like Restoration Hardware hardware and a few custom finishes. That combination keeps the space warm, layered, and approachable for renters.
Rug / Baskets / Hooks / Door color: Poppy (Benjamin Moore)
The living room and foyer are a good example of how paint and a few select changes can make a dramatic difference. They repainted many spaces in a neutral gray, creating an open, cohesive feeling. Carey and Jordan also repainted a bright red door in a deep moody black, swapped in a sculptural pendant, and added simple styling elements like a small console table, lamp, and framed prints to make the entry feel intentional and welcoming.
The kitchen is another striking before-and-after. The cabinets are the same bones as before — they didn’t replace the cabinetry. Instead, a local carpenter made new inset doors, everything was painted a bright white, and the space was updated with new hardware, black countertops, a classic subway tile backsplash, and a glass pendant over the sink. Adding hardwood floors and modern appliances helped the kitchen feel polished and cohesive with the rest of the house.
Small choices—like switching out a bulky fluorescent fixture for layered lighting, removing an ornate header, and installing clean-lined open shelving—made the window wall and sink area feel fresh and modern. They also squeezed in a small cafe table across from the sink to add casual dining function without crowding the room.
One smart rental-friendly decision was to use an outdoor rug under the kitchen table. Outdoor rugs are durable, easy to clean, and ideal for high-traffic or messy areas—perfect for rentals or homes with kids. Carey also layered colorful art and approachable furnishings to keep the space lively and guest-friendly.
The dining room was another dramatic makeover. Wallpaper and dated finishes were removed in favor of a bold wall color balanced by crisp white curtains, a light wood table, and reflective accents like a large mirror that amplifies light. Choosing a saturated paint color for an accent wall can be a high-impact, low-cost way to give a room personality, especially when paired with lighter, calming textiles.
Adjacent to the dining room is a small brick-walled nook transformed into a cozy office and reading corner. Fun, non-neutral choices—like a pink accent chair and a cheerful blue filing cabinet—bring character without overwhelming the space. Thoughtful styling and a few statement pieces make this compact area feel curated and useful.
The master bedroom was refreshed by removing dated wallpaper, painting the walls a warm, cozy tone, and using crisp white bedding and trim for contrast. A mix of textured rugs, a bench at the foot of the bed, and layered lighting make the room feel both restful and designed. Many of the bedroom accents are affordable finds that contribute to a polished, hotel-like feel without breaking the bank.
Bathrooms received practical yet stylish updates: classic tile floors, a warm wood vanity crafted by a carpenter, updated mirrors and sconces, and added storage. These simple investments—good lighting, classic tile, and functional storage—create a clean, high-end feel that renters appreciate.
Overall, this Richmond rental shows how a combination of paint, selective carpentry, smart sourcing, and thoughtful styling can transform an older home into a desirable, comfortable rental. Carey and Jordan’s approach is a great blueprint for homeowners or landlords who want meaningful impact without full-scale demolition. Thoughtful investments—like repainting, updating doors and hardware, improving lighting, and adding practical, durable textiles—deliver big returns in both look and functionality.
Thanks to Carey and Jordan for letting us tour and photograph this project. If you’re inspired by these transformations, focus on the small, strategic changes first: paint, hardware, lighting, and flooring continuity. Those moves will refresh a space dramatically and boost appeal for renters or future buyers.
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