Creating a home with personality plus

By Sharon White | Photography by Justin Borja

Temple resident Lori Murdoch will tell you she has never been afraid to knock down a few walls to create a great space for her family. When she and her husband, Doug, moved into their current home in 1999, their busy household included three children; ages 6, 9 and 12. Through the years, their lifestyle changed—and their home has definitely followed suit.

“I get restless with rooms and furniture,” Lori says. “I’ve been known to completely change a space while Doug is away at work. And when he comes home, he just looks around and says, ‘What happened here?”’

This native of Canada says her father, who was a contractor and master wood craftsman, had a huge influence on her growing up. “My dad would take me to job sites and point out the structural elements of buildings. And my mother had a great eye for design. She would never do something halfway. My mom believed in quality.”

Lori says she never gets stressed about renovating. This petite powerhouse has pulled out sinks, put up drywall, painted, pounded, and built eclectic furniture customized to fit her style. She is undaunted by the task. To her, it’s all a lot of fun.

But when it came to some of the larger construction projects, Lori sought professional help. “We actually remodeled in stages. We started with the kitchen in 2010. That took longer than expected because we had to stop work in the middle of the project to plan my oldest daughter’s wedding.”

“I find stuff everywhere. I’ll combine pieces together to create something eclectic.
It’s crazy. I don’t necessarily ‘match’ things, but they all seem to go together.”
— Lori Murdoch

Last year, Lori employed Drews Hunt Builders to help with remodeling the upstairs. “I had a vision of what I wanted and sometimes my ideas may have seemed a little unconventional to the team, but they always tried to work with me,” Lori says. “When I wanted queen-sized bunk beds in one of my bedrooms—instead of the usual twin size—they said it couldn’t be done. I asked, ‘Why not?’ In the end, I got my queen-sized bunks.”

Lori contributed to the design by searching out unique furniture and accessories she knew she wanted to incorporate into each room. She created one-of-a-kind sliding closet doors and headboards using architectural pieces found at salvage yards and combined them with items she bought at retail stores.

“When I see something I love, I buy it. Even if I don’t know quite where I’ll put it. I find stuff everywhere,” says the savvy homeowner. “I order from Wayfair and Overstock.com and I get a lot of things from Hobby Lobby. I’ll combine pieces together to create something eclectic. It’s crazy. I don’t necessarily ‘match’ things, but they all seem to go together.”

Lori includes personal touches and sentimental pieces everywhere in her design. “I have some crystal chandeliers and sconces that belonged to my mom. They aren’t really my style, but they were important to her. I found a place to hang them in my bathroom—near my claw foot tub—and they make me really happy when I see them.”

Lori also used two vintage sewing machines—both with special memories—as side tables in her guest bedroom. “One sewing machine belonged to my grandmother and the other belonged to Doug’s.”

Lori says she learned a lot from the crew at Drews Hunt. “When I asked for a claw-foot tub upstairs in my master bathroom, I never realized that the weight of the tub, plus the weight of the water, plus my own weight inside the tub would all have to take into consideration, to make sure the bathroom floor (which is the ceiling of the first floor) would be able to support it all.”

After 21 years living in a home and a neighborhood they cherish, empty-nesters Lori and Doug Murdoch continue to make memories in the perfect space to accommodate their ever-growing family, which now includes four frequent, energetic visitors: their delightful grandchildren.

What is the difference between a renovation and a remodel?

The key difference in a renovation and a remodel is how deep the changes go. A renovation means updating or changing surface details cosmetically (such as replacing flooring or refinishing existing cabinets).Whereas, a remodel involves altering the actual structure through demolition and construction.

If your house feels a little dated, a renovation can add a fresh look. But a remodel may be better if you want to improve your home’s functionality. For example, knocking down a wall to create more space in the kitchen, or putting up a wall to create an extra bedroom.

Lori’s tips for creating a unique, personal space

• Keep your eye out for unique furniture and accessories at thrift stores, salvage yards, antique markets, online (Wayfair.com, Overstock.com), and from local chains like Hobby Lobby, Pier One and Tuesday Morning.
• If you see something you love, buy it, and figure out where you’ll put it later.
• Think “outside the box” when it comes to lighting and storage. (Lori hangs sconces over her bedside tables to give light and save space.)
• Reveal your personality through artwork, souvenirs from travel and sentimental pieces.
• Find design ideas from online home décor sites and Pinterest.
• Save money on hardware and light fixtures by purchasing from retail stores. (Lori bought all her drawer pulls from Hobby Lobby.)