Coastal Carolina

How an East Coast couple DIY-ed their way through the renovation of this dreamy beach getaway in North Carolina.

- LAUREN HOFER

With stunning views in almost all directions, this Ocean Isle Beach home in North Carolina was irresistible to husband and wife Sean and Sheri Reaser from the moment they first walked inside. “We literally fell in love with the view,” Sean says. For the innovative, do-it-yourself duo, who joked that they bought this vacation house because they ran out of projects at their Pennsylvania residence, even the existing blue shag carpet and popcorn ceilings couldn’t stop them from making the purchase. “We realized right away that we needed to gut this thing and really start from scratch. So that’s what we did,” Sean says.

RENOVATION STATION

Since Sheri and Sean are practically pros when it comes to renovations, they were ready to tackle updating this 1,800-square-foot vacation home with gusto, even though they lived ten hours away. “The first major change was the flooring,” Sheri says. They quickly ousted the dated blue shag and installed white oak hardwood floors throughout the entire house. While they brought in a contractor to update the exterior siding, windows, and roofing, the interior became their DIY playground.

Shiplap walls were a major addition that subtly and effortlessly achieved the beach vibe. “We like the texture of it,” Sean says. “It just adds interest while keeping things white.” Fresh paint, kitchen and bathroom upgrades and other creative additions were conquered weekend by weekend as the two were able to make the trek. “Doing a remodel project from ten hours away is not easy,” Sean says. “It’s not for the faint of heart, but it was exciting nonetheless.”

INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS