Upgrade Your Space: Professional home flipper shares design tips

By JOHNJOHN MONTELONGO | Photos by JANE GIBSON

When some see an old, broken-down house, they may dismiss it as an eyesore — something to tear down or turn away from. But for Taryn Cox, those same walls tell a different story. To her, each weathered home is a blank canvas, a work of art waiting patiently to be unveiled.

Cox, owner of TABS Renovation and Design, approaches every project with an artist’s eye and an intuitive sense of flow. From the moment she steps inside, she begins to envision what the home can become. Each room is treated as its own creative space, designed to carry a personality and purpose all its own. From the interior down to the smallest finishing touches — and extending all the way to the home’s exterior — nothing is accidental. Every detail is considered, planned, and intentionally placed as she moves through waves of creative momentum.

“What’s hot right now (in home upgrades) is warmth. The days of cool colors are gone. People are drawn to earthy colors and textures, as well as natural materials. In addition, changing rarely used spaces into areas that are visited every day,” Cox said. “For example, the come-back of the scullery or butler’s pantry. I’ve been able to repurpose unused formal dining rooms to areas of fantastic function.”

Finding the right canvas is part of the art. Cox works closely with a trusted friend and Realtor to identify properties that spark her imagination — homes that offer both challenge and possibility. Once acquired, she transforms them with a signature style that has become a hallmark of her work. Every home bears her artistic fingerprint, a quiet but unmistakable cohesion that sets her renovations apart.

Yet, Cox is the first to admit she does not do this alone. At the core of every renovation is her family and trusted specialty contractors. From large-scale construction to the tiniest detail, they all play a role in bringing the vision to life. Their involvement is more than labor — it’s encouragement, trust, and shared purpose. With her husband’s steady support, both big and small, the process becomes a collective effort, one that fuels her confidence and sustains her creativity.

That confidence shows in the results. Cox flips approximately three to four homes each year, and they rarely stay on the market long — often selling in less than a week. In fact, the longest one of her remodeled homes has stayed on the market is 16 days. Success, however, does not mean the absence of struggle. Renovating homes in historic districts comes with its own set of challenges: regulations, permits, delays, and inevitable setbacks. Still, with patience and persistence, everything eventually aligns, and another home is ready to welcome a new family.

Cox said home renovations vary widely in price ranges. Kitchen and bathrooms are usually the most popular areas of a home to upgrade. The cost associated with upgrading varies greatly depending on size, quality of finishes and the value of the home.

“Because I sell the homes I renovate, it’s important that the kitchen matches the home’s value,” she said. “If I were renovating my own home, I would definitely spend my money in the kitchen. It is the most utilized area of your home and you want it to be functional and beautiful while spending time in it.”

For a simple way to transform the look and feel of your home, Cox said there’s no better way to make a visual difference than paint.

“Comparatively, paint offers the biggest bang for your buck,” she said. “You can paint walls, ceilings, create design, paint furniture and other home accessories to completely change the look of any room.”

Another simple but cost-effective way to make a difference in the look of your home is to simply change out the hardware. That includes anything from cabinet hardware to plumbing.

Offering her best advice for someone looking to remodel their own home, she said to think about the long game plan.

“Do you plan to eventually renovate other areas of the home? Will what you want to do later fit with what you are planning to do now?” she said. “Do you plan on having the same flooring throughout? If so, buy enough for the entire house now even if you are only doing one room now. It is not likely that you will find the flooring you need later. In addition, if the renovation is planned to cost $20k, try to have an additional reserve of 20%. Sometimes, staying on budget works out. More often, you forgot about something in your estimating, or you change your mind along the way. Always better to be prepared for those surprises.”

Beyond her work in real estate, Cox is deeply rooted in her community. She is a proud member of Altrusa, a service organization dedicated to improving communities through personal service. She was named the 2025 Altrusan of the Year for Altrusa International of Temple. One recent project brought Altrusa members to the Ronald McDonald House, where they renovated four rooms — offering comfort and care to families during difficult times.

Cox is more than a house flipper. She is a creator, a collaborator, and a steward of spaces meant to hold memories. When you step into a home she has renovated, you are stepping into a place shaped by intention, pride, and heart. Each detail has been carefully considered, each choice made with purpose. What you are buying is not just a house — it is creativity, quality, and care.

As Cox herself puts it, “building relationships is more important.” And with each project, as she continues to grow and evolve, she reminds herself, “you learn with every single property, you learn more and more.”