330 Homes Fall 2022

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T he Green brick split level was loaded with architectural amenities and a unique 1,800-square foot layout with both a great room and lower living room for entertaining, but the interiors were outdated. Some rooms still had down to the faucets. It was exactly the mid century-modern fixer upper that Kelsey and Ryan Mansingh desired, one that exuded this old-house charac ter in an established neighborhood. The young couple their original 1974 decor — the guest bath, for example, was completely pink, right isn’t intimidated by major home renova tions. When they built a two-story home in Ryan’s native Orlando, afford upgrades. So they learned how to make them by watch ing YouTube videos and FaceTiming Kelsey’s brother, who ran her Florida, five years ago, they couldn’t

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family’s Barberton based Helen Scott Custom Builders.

In 2018 the Mansinghs dubbed themselves the Newbuild Newlyweds and began sharing videos under @new build_newlyweds on Instagram and TikTok — the latter made them social media stars with 1.6 million followers. After being laid off from Walt Disney World in March 2020, they relo cated to the Akron area. They bought this two bedroom, 2 1/2-bath abode in August 2021 and Kelsey, now 29, documents its trans formation on TikTok as Ryan, now 28, works as a finish carpenter for Helen Scott. “We wanted to keep the midcentury vibe of the house but also still make it our own

The couple opened up the kitchen by remov ing a wall separating it from the formal entry, demolished a break fast-bar peninsula with overhead cabinetry and replaced the kitchen ceiling with a raised counterpart that elimi nated the surrounding soffit. (Drywall, window installation, electrical and plumbing were left to pros). They laid a foundation for warm neutral decor by painting the walls a creamy white and laying a durable luxury vinyl plank that mimics white oak on the floors.

The first room the Mansinghs designed was the kitchen. They helped an Amish cabinetmaker install custom-made cabine try painted Sherwin Williams Pewter Green and a center island stained a dark espresso, then added a trendy zellige tile backsplash in mottled shades of white, tan, cream and gray. A friend made a round espresso-stained table stationed under a brass drum lighting fixture. While Kelsey bought the brushed-nickel-frame chairs with cane backs

and kind of modern ize it,” Kelsey says.

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