The couple removed the split-entry of the 鈥70s home and raised and moved the entry to be at the same level of the rest of the main floor. The brick and aluminum siding exterior was removed and replaced with stone and PVC board and batten siding. New gables were added to the roof to tie the porch to the house in a cohesive way. Part of the roof was removed and new trusses installed to create the gables and create a vaulted ceiling indoors.
The spacious new front porch extending along the front of the house is a space where the Pougnets and their dogs love to spend time and view their front yard water feature. The porch extends the living space outdoors and feels warm and cosy due to its cedar tongue-and-groove ceiling. The ceiling fan adds a cooling breeze during hot days.
Inside, the couple raised the roof to create a vaulted ceiling in the living room, dining room, kitchen, and removed one small wall. To add warmth and tie into the outside porch ceiling, they used stained tongue and groove white hardwood flooring on the ceiling, complemented by white beams and inset pot lights. The floor-to-ceiling gas fireplace with man-made stone is a focal point. Installing the stone was a first for the couple. They have built-in cabinets and shelving on each side of the fireplace; one side is where dishes, glassware for the dining area is stored behind reeded glass doors; the other side has a pull-down screen cleverly hidden, a window seat and more storage.
The kitchen was the last area renovated inside. The island was rebuilt to be larger, new ready-to-paint cabinet doors added, along with taller upper cabinets, and painted creamy white. Some lower cabinets with doors were changed to drawers for better storage. A large window was added to take advantage of the views to the beautiful backyard and pool, and the appliances were upgraded.
In the backyard, the Pougnets created lush gardens, a firepit and restored a pool that had been closed for 20 years. They replaced all the boards on the huge deck, restained it, added a glass railing and a gazebo with string lights and outdoor projector screen to create a beautiful outdoor oasis.
Sabrina and Andrew Pougnet loved the garage spaces the 1970s鈥 bungalow offered, and the large yard that provided a canvas for their landscaping dreams. What they didn鈥檛 love was the outdated front split-entry. What to do?
Andrew, a journeyman carpenter, and Sabrina, who worked in the health care field, became social media sensations after posting videos of their DIY projects on TikTok during COVID.
They decided to ditch the split-entry of the 1,500-square-foot Hamilton area home they bought in 2020. That project and accompanying interior renovations inspired their YouTube series, Ditching the Split, Sabrina & Andrew 鈥 YouTube, which has 1.4 million subscribers. (Their TikTok account, AspenAckley has 2.5 million followers).
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They recently completed the reno that started in spring 2024.
鈥淲e鈥檇 done some renos before, but not to this scale,鈥 Sabrina says. 鈥淚鈥檝e always been a crafty person and I love decorating and design, but had no formal training. Andrew taught me everything I needed to know.鈥 They did all the work for the reno themselves, except for shingling the roof, and Andrew鈥檚 bricklayer dad assisted with stonework.
鈥淚鈥檇 never seen anyone do this before,鈥 Sabrina says of ditching the split-entry. 鈥淲e planned it ourselves. We wanted the exterior to look cohesive, not obviously like an old house with a new reno.鈥
Andrew created the visuals on Auto CAD, then an architectural designer created 3D renderings and drawings to submit for permits.
They started by digging post holes for new footings for the porch, then removed the exterior brick. Because they were adding gables, new roof trusses proved less expensive than modifying the old ones. They removed half of the old roof and vaulted the ceiling in the open concept living, dining and kitchen area.
The most challenging aspects were building the porch during a heat wave, lifting heavy plywood and rushing to finish the roof in one week before a storm moved in. They shot the YouTube series themselves while simultaneously doing the work.
鈥淲e kept moments of tension in the videos, as we felt that made it more relatable,鈥 says Sabrina. 鈥淲e鈥檝e been together 14 years. This isn鈥檛 our first project. It鈥檚 so much more fun doing it with your spouse when you love to spend time together.鈥
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The success of their videos resulted in them becoming full-time content-creators, although Andrew still takes on carpentry jobs.
Now, they are creating a pond and doing more landscaping in the backyard.
鈥淲e are reaching the point where we are ready to relax after five years doing projects on this house,鈥 says Sabrina. 鈥淲e want to enjoy summer and appreciate the work we鈥檝e done.鈥
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