Jenny Cureton Real Estate | Dripping Springs • Wimberley • Fredericksburg

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Before + After: What I Renovated at 210 E Travis in Fredericksburg (and Why It Paid Off)

Getting a house ready to sell in the Austin Hill Country with Jenny Cureton Realtor

Every project starts with a feeling, but it has to end with results.

At 210 E Travis, the goal wasn’t just to make it pretty. It was to create a space that felt elevated, photographed beautifully, rented well, and appraised strong. That only happens when you know where to spend — and where to pull back.

As both a designer and an experienced real estate agent, I renovate with one eye on aesthetics and the other on resale, revenue, and buyer psychology.

1. Kitchens: Spend Smart, Not Wild

210 E Travis BEFORE Photo
Before Photo of Kitchen at 210 E Travis
After Kitchen
After Kitchen with fun tile, new cabinets and wallpaper
After Kitchen with fun tile, new cabinets and wallpaper

This kitchen didn’t need luxury for luxury’s sake. It needed:

  • Strong layout
  • Timeless finishes
  • Great lighting
  • High-impact details

Worth it:

  • Quality cabinet fronts (even if boxes are standard)
  • Stone or quartz counters
  • Statement lighting
  • Hardware that feels intentional

Not worth it:

  • Ultra-custom cabinetry
  • Overly trendy materials that date fast
  • Professional-grade appliances buyers won’t use

Buyers remember kitchens. Renters photograph kitchens. Appraisers respect kitchens.

2. Bathrooms: Tile and Fixtures Do the Heavy Lifting

Before Bathroom Photo at 210 E Travis
After Photo with unique tile, new paint and lighting and fixtures

Bathrooms are emotional spaces. You don’t need size — you need polish.

Worth it:

  • Interesting tile choices
  • Clean glass
  • Good mirrors and lighting
  • Cohesive finishes

Skip:

  • Fancy plumbing features no one understands
  • Expensive tubs that never get used
  • Overdesigning secondary baths

At 210 E Travis, the tile did the talking. Everything else supported it.

3. Floors and Paint: The Quiet Heroes

210 E Travis Living Room Before

If I had to pick two things that impact value more than almost anything else:

  • Flooring
  • Paint color

Worth it:

  • Continuous flooring where possible
  • Warm, neutral paint tones that photograph well
  • Consistency throughout the home

Waste of money:

  • Over-custom stains
  • Chasing trends that feel dated in two years

These are the things buyers feel immediately, even if they can’t articulate why.

Where NOT to Overspend (Common Renovation Traps)

1. Over-Improving for the Neighborhood

This is where real estate experience matters.

I design to the buyer pool, not my ego.
At 210 E Travis, every decision was filtered through:

  • Who will buy this
  • Who will rent this
  • What nearby comps support

A $90k kitchen in a $600k market doesn’t return like people think it will.

2. Finishes Buyers Don’t Notice

If a buyer has to read the spec sheet to appreciate it, it probably wasn’t worth the spend.

Spend where people:

  • Touch
  • Photograph
  • Experience daily
  • The Result at 210 E Travis
  • The finished home felt:
  • Elevated but approachable
  • Design-forward but timeless
  • Ready to live in or perform as an STR
  • That’s not an accident. That’s strategy.
  • This is the difference between renovating for Pinterest and renovating for real value.
  • Final Takeaway: Renovate With the End in Mind
  • Whether you’re:
  • Updating your primary home
  • Preparing to sell
  • Designing a short-term rental
  • Considering a flip
  • The best renovations balance beauty and restraint.
  • That’s the heart of Bungalows by Barb design that feels special and makes financial sense.

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