After: Photo by Kim Leeson
Before
Kercheville residence
White Rock Valley
Remodeled in: 2013
The mission: Turn a former bed and breakfast into a home.
Before landing in their woodsy Lake Highlands neighborhood, Patrick and Christy Kercheville lived a few miles away in a home that they spent a good portion of their married years perfecting. They looked at Better Homes and Gardens magazine for ideas. That’s where Christy spotted the exact bathroom she wanted. The dream bathroom happened to be nearby, inside the Courtyard on the Trail bed and breakfast located in the 8000 block of Forest Trail. Owner Alan Kagan, was happy to give the Kerchevilles a tour, during which the couple seriously told him, “If you ever decide to sell this place, let us know … He said he probably never would,” Christy says. However, around the time the Kerchevilles put the finishing touches on their new bathrooms and the rest of their flawless home, Kagan called to say he was ready to sell. The Kerchevilles easily sold their remodeled to-a-tee East Dallas home. Within a month, they were living in the former B&B and taking inventory of all the necessary remodels. Christy says that the reputation of Lake Highlands schools influenced the decision to move. “We were starting a family at that point and figured we would save money by using public schools.” The kitchen, bathrooms and two living areas needed to be redone, Christy says, but because of expenses following a flood, it took a few years to get started. Eventually they employed the help of Eric Cantu Construction and designer Virginia Krejci and love the results, Christy says. They turned a downstairs bathroom into a half bath and used the extra space for kitchen storage. The kitchen—a space where Christy, Patrick and two children hang out frequently—is roomier, and the island serves as the perfect casual gathering spot, Christy says. “That island was probably the most important piece of the whole kitchen remodel. We even lived with a temporary island for a few weeks to make sure we were OK with the size.” Christy says hiring the right architects, contractors and designers is key to a good remodeling experience. “Patrick is very statistical—checking references, reading reviews, researching, interviewing prospects—and I am very intuitive—I like ‘em or don’t—so it was a combination [of our methods] that I think helped us find the right team for the job.”
