Do you remember our friends Carey and Jordan? We “House Crashed” them earlier this year and their mudroom still makes me smile every time I see it. This time we visited another of their projects — a newly renovated and furnished rental that’s packed with smart, budget-friendly ideas you can borrow for your own home.
Rug / Round baskets / Hooks / Rectangle baskets / Door color: Poppy by Benjamin Moore
The house is a charming ranch in the Richmond area that functions as a long-term furnished rental and an occasional short-term Airbnb between tenants. The furnishings are a mix of thrift-store finds, HomeGoods steals, Target accessories and a few elevated pieces that give the space a polished feel — like Restoration Hardware cabinet pulls that make the kitchen look high-end without the high-end price tag.
Carey also tracked down bargains in unexpected places, such as the rug she picked up at a deep discount from a local showhouse after the event ended — it happened to be a Justina Blakeney design for Loloi. A marble coffee table and sectional came from CB2, but she acquired them secondhand from a friend who was moving, which is a great way to score quality pieces for less.
Rug / Coffee table / Sofa / Gold mirror / Foyer light fixture
One of the most striking parts of this refresh is seeing the before photos — they show how dramatic a difference small, affordable changes can make. A new paint color, new hardware and a few well-chosen accents transformed this living room and the adjoining foyer. They used Agreeable Gray by Sherwin-Williams on walls for an open, cohesive feel.
In the foyer Carey and Jordan painted the red front door a moody black (Caviar by Sherwin-Williams) and added a sculptural pendant that anchors the entry. A simple console and lamp from HomeGoods and small framed prints by a local Richmond artist complete the space, proving that small budget pieces can be incredibly effective when layered thoughtfully.
Rug / Light / Art / Wall color: SW Agreeable Gray / Door color: SW Caviar
The kitchen reveals one of the best tricks: they kept the existing cabinets and had a local carpenter build new inset doors, then painted everything Extra White by Sherwin-Williams. Combined with classic subway tile, black granite countertops, Restoration Hardware hardware and updated lighting, the result is a kitchen that looks custom and expensive but was achieved without full demolition.
The glass pendant above the sink, hardwood flooring to connect the kitchen to the rest of the home, and a small cafe table that seats four make the room feel open and functional. These kinds of details — coordinating flooring, thoughtful lighting and a few elevated finishes — help a rental feel like home without overspending.
Before-and-after photos of the sink area are particularly satisfying: simple changes like removing an old header, replacing a fluorescent light and installing clean-lined shelving completely modernized the space.
Similar rug / Similar table / Chairs / Cabinet hardware / Art prints / Light over sink
The kitchen table and chairs are Target finds (the table is discontinued but a similar option works just as well). Carey pointed out that a durable outdoor rug under the table is a smart rental-friendly choice — it’s easy to clean and holds up to spills and heavy use.
In the dining room, they removed dated wallpaper and painted the walls a bold Indigo Batik by Sherwin-Williams. To keep the color from feeling heavy they added airy white curtains, a light-colored chandelier shade, and warm wood tones in the table and sideboard. A large mirror above the sideboard bounces light around the room — a simple trick that brightens darker or richly colored spaces.
Rug / Metal chairs / End chairs / Table / Lamps / Chandelier / Curtains
Off the dining area is a cozy brick-walled nook turned into a small office/reading space. A playful pink chair and a blue filing cabinet add personality, while a faux fiddle leaf fig and a small desk make it functional. Little touches like color coordination and secondhand finds make the room feel curated without a big budget.
Desk / Pink chair / Desk chair / File cabinet / Similar rug / Similar copper table / Blue wall: SW North Star
The master bedroom received a refresh too: wallpaper removed, trim and bedding in crisp white to contrast the warm, cozy wall color (Roycroft Pewter by Sherwin-Williams). A rug, bench and pin-tuck bedding add texture and comfort, while affordable bedside pieces from Target and Crate & Barrel round out the look.
Headboard / White bedding / Nightstands / Black & white pillow / Rug / Bench: HomeGoods
The bathrooms are clean and classic, with smart storage solutions and vintage-inspired floor tile. A rich wood vanity built by their carpenter contrasts beautifully with white hex floor tile. Thoughtful fixtures like a Pottery Barn mirror and silver sconces elevate the space, and colorful rugs add warmth and pattern.
Mirror / Sconce / White hex floor tile / Similar rug
Throughout the home you’ll see a mix of secondhand finds and thoughtfully chosen new pieces. Carey and I laugh about how we often buy the same things by accident — little coincidences that make the styling feel relatable and approachable. Many of the rugs and accessories in this home were sourced locally or found secondhand, proving that a polished rental can be achieved without a huge budget.
Thanks to Carey and Jordan for letting us tour the home and photograph their work. If you’re local and interested in renovating or buying an older home, they help homebuyers in the area bring houses back to life. If you’re looking for a rental in the Richmond area, they manage properties as well. And if you ever meet Carey in town, befriend her — her gumbo is seriously delicious.
Stay tuned — holiday gift guides and a big house-decorating post are on the to-do list. In the meantime, try slipping “off the chain” into conversation for fun; you’ll feel oddly triumphant each time.
P.S. If you missed Carey and Jordan’s earlier House Crashing post from February, it’s worth a look for more inspiration.
*This post contains affiliate links*