Couple Transforms 116-Year-Old Hardware Store Into Luxury Home

Meet Paul and Cheryl Saunders. These two were living their best life with big dreams. With a project in mind, they turned to social media for motivation and went viral for their success. Here's their story.

Meet Paul & Cheryl

Paul and Cheryl Saunders, both 50 years old, embarked on a happy and simple journey after being each other's high school sweethearts. After years of being in love, they started a beautiful life together.

They welcomed two daughters into the world and brought up the entire family in Elizabeth Township, Pennsylvania. They were very content here and had never looked into what the future held for the family in terms of living space. Why would they move? They had no reason to; all of their friends were there, and it was home - for now...

An 'Empty Nest'

They never considered moving or selling their childhood home, but when both of their daughters graduated from college and moved out of Pennsylvania, something sparked in Paul and Cheryl. It suddenly occurred to them: while their daughters are taking on a new life elsewhere, what journey could they embark upon next?

Their daughters graduated a day apart, and it was an "instant empty nest." Not that having each other by their side wasn't enough, but it was time to start a new and exciting adventure. Just because the first part of their life was coming to an end didn't mean it should stop there. So, the couple began crafting some ideas.

Downsizing

They'd had a family home, and when their daughters left, it was far too empty and quiet. They realized this was what they were missing and agreed that downsizing was the right way to move forward. Something about having too much extra space just didn't sit right, and they wanted a fresh start.

They wanted to sell the house, and with the money received, they didn't want to invest in another typical suburban home. They wanted to do something out of the ordinary, and particularly, something which kept them busy now that taking care of the kids was out of the question. The answer was buying a two-story building for $325,000.

Welcome To Ligonier

They found the old hardware store online, which stood out to them because "the history and the character of the building were just so unique and charming." Built in 1906, it was located in a small town called Ligonier in Pennsylvania - with a population of 6,000 and close to their family home - it was the perfect find.

Though it was old, nothing can't be fixed with a little TLC. They didn't waste any time getting to work and had undergone a complete DIY home transformation, turning a 116-year-old home into something that would last forever. It was a true milestone in their relationship, so naturally, they had to document the journey.

TikTok Fame

While Paul and Cheryl captured plenty of footage during their renovation, they thought it would be just for memories. But, the couple told Business Insider, "Our daughter kept telling us we should post about our renovation. We were never even on TikTok before." But soon enough, all of that was about to change...

They decided to take on the social media challenge. What did they have to lose? They posted their first TikTok on February 7th, 2022, telling the story of how they turned the old hardware store into a luxury home. Their video had gone viral with 13 million views, and they became DIY TikTok sensations overnight!

A Modern Touch

Paul and Cheryl spent over 2,000 hours knocking down doors, re-applying hardwood floors, and decorating the home to perfection. Working through the store was no walk in the park, and it took a lot of blueprint planning. However, there were a few elements they didn't want to change.

The couple fell in love with the history of the building. They wanted to keep the vintage aspect of the house and only add a modern touch to it. For example, they kept the tin ceiling and "antique heart pine flooring. The original cash register station is also still there." But that wasn't all...

The Entrance

Pulling up to an old hardware store, knowing it's about to be your forever home, is always a risk. We should never judge a book by its cover, especially when there is lots of potential. Luckily, Paul and Cheryl saw it immediately. More so, the longevity of the building added a wholesome element to their project.

The store had been the local facility for over 100 years, and the Saunders were carrying on its legacy, just slightly differently. Back in 1916, just like any store, customers entered through a door front and center on the sidewalk with a sign reading 'Ligonier Hardware' hanging above. But, they added a unique twist after the renovation.

The Fireplace

A fireplace is a staple in anyone's home - and over time, it has been revolutionized to fit in with modern designs. Whatever the type of home, you can expect a wood-burning fireplace that requires manual work or a snazzy, electric fireplace that adorns a Saturday night with the gang gathered around.

As for Paul and Cheryl, they found themselves with a living room that had a fireplace with a classic black metal railing surrounding the debris and smoke. There was no way they would replace this historical element of the house with a fake fire controlled by a remote.

Brown Beams

We might think ceilings aren't a big deal. Who looks up when they enter a room anyway? Still, the couple had plans to retouch the above. When they walked into the old store, the ceilings consisted of plain, brown beams and tons electric wires. But more importantly, some of the beams didn't look like they'd hold much longer.

Lights were hanging from the ceiling with no thoughtful decoration behind them. They couldn't bare to look at them anymore! Although, when looking at the room as a whole, they knew the beams had potential. With a toolbox and a bucket of white paint at the ready, they knew they could create something 1916-chic!

Brick Walls

It's no secret bricks need touching up every few years, but these babies had been left for a bit too long. Then again, no one ever thought someone would buy the property and turn it into a home! Whether the couple completely tore down the walls and started from scratch is unknown, but something had to be done.

With dust breathing out of each brick, they grabbed the essential tools; a circular saw, an angle grinder, and a reciprocating saw. With a little elbow grease here and there, they were able to keep the same brick layout, only one that added an essence of a classic suburban home.

Staining The Floors

Up until now, the walls and ceiling were the easy part. What required more effort was working on the floors while trending around each section to make sure it didn't get ruined. So, they had to hire a bit of extra help from a private contractor.

What we haven't mentioned about Paul yet is that he used to own a construction company. Over the years, Cheryl would sit and watch him work, and eventually, Paul taught his high school sweetheart how to work with paint and cement. Who knew that these skills would come in handy years later in a surprise home project?

Living Room

The living room as a whole was a completely different room before renovation. With broken brick walls, dust and dirt falling from all ends of the room, and a completely different perspective, the couple was excited to get started on the living room. They knew there were a few missing pieces.

Not only did they refurbish everything that needed to be fixed, but they had the idea of taking old elements from the hardware store and re-using them. Not only this, but they made further adjustments to the living space, which completely expanded the home!

Master Bedroom

Let's make our way over to the master bedroom. Sure, it's nice to walk into an aesthetic living room, but at the end of the day, it's important to have a bedroom that will only have us dreaming of more renovations! The point of this experiment was not only to do this for themselves but to inspire those who visit their profile.

When it came to the master bedroom, the 'before' and 'after' results were completely different. While they had already moved on from the living room and entrance space of the home, there were some aspects of the home they wanted to generalize throughout every room.

Side Entrances & Spiral Staircases

The entrance to any home should set the tone for its guests' experience. For starters, this DIY hardware home is unlike any other, but Paul and Cheryl added a unique twist when it came to their entrance. In one TikTok video, they addressed how many people were asking to see their entrance. The people asked, and Cheryl delivered.

Their TikTok video read, "The side entrance takes us to this spiral staircase." So not only is the entrance on the side of the house, as opposed to being on the noisy main road, but it also has a firehouse aesthetic that takes people upstairs into its magical abode. "Small town living!!" they captioned it.

Losing A Yard, Gaining A Rooftop Deck

Living in a suburban area and growing up with two kids, a yard was essential for the Saunders family. But making this move and taking on the DIY challenge meant they had to give up their precious outdoor space… or so they thought. While they lost a yard, they "gained a rooftop deck."

That's right; this was their "renovation priority #1." Built above the second floor, this outdoor space is "a spot to relax and unwind." With a slightly leveled deck, the space was decorated with garden lights from one end to the other, gorgeous furniture, and a hot tub. They said this is their "favorite part," and we can see why.

Rustic Walls

Whereas the walls before were "exposed brick from the original building," this was something that could be left so easily. Not only were the bricks completely overdue, but the gaps in the paint, revealing more bricklayer, were unappealing. So, they grabbed their tools and got to work.

In the blink of an eye - and with a swift video transition - the brick walls were as good as new! Not only was all the dust gone, but it blended in perfectly with their room design, meaning they didn't have to go to extreme lengths throughout the renovation. Everything transformed the way it was supposed to.

Ceiling Beams

We're heading back to the beam ceilings. As we've established, they couldn't say no to the beams. There was something visually creative and unique about having them over an ordinary ceiling. Of course, the beams had to be properly replastered. Typically made from timber, the beams were wood and finished with a few strokes of paint.

They separated the beams to paint them and brighten the room for a modern yet historical aesthetic. After removing the ceiling fans, they filled in the gaps with wood planks to create a completely white ceiling. One user wrote, "And whoever says too much white, I don’t think it’s too much. Looks so fresh and crisp with the brick."

Tin Ceiling

In the actual store itself, the tin ceilings were just one of the many elements Paul and Cheryl couldn't eliminate completely. While this was a tear-down renovation, they could have easily spruced up the rooms with brand-new ceilings, modern chandeliers, and new lighting. But they just couldn't do it.

In one of the posted TikTok videos, Cheryl puts a voice-over on one of the renovation sections. She explains the tin ceilings were "just so gorgeous with so much character." It was like love at first sight. Who knew tin ceilings could be so appealing? Of course, it still needed a little tweak for that modern twist they were going for.

Crown Molding

Speaking of tin ceilings, they had the same aesthetic inspiration for this element of the home. When they initially bought the space, crown molding had already been installed, and Cheryl adored the design. Not only did it offer a classy feel to the room, but also had a smidge of nostalgia.

While they didn't tear it away between the walls, they decided to upkeep the design. Sheryl says on the TikTok video regarding the tin crown molding, "it just has such beautiful detail in it. I fell in love with it." She's not wrong. The form of a cornice offers a modern and decorative separation design while keeping things unique.

Shiny New Floors

There's nothing pleasant about walking along floors with the risk of having splinters on your feet with every step. Well, Paul and Cheryl had a detailed vision in mind when it came to the floors and chose to have shiny hardwood covering the entire grounds of the house.

Just look at the smile on Cheryl's face as she slides her hands against the perfectly polished 'heart pine' floors. Nothing beats the feeling of accomplishment after hours of hard work. Let's just say, we could stay on these floors for hours on end - and it seems the couple is pretty happy with the end result.

Hardware Store Sign

Remember when Paul and Cheryl mentioned wanting to keep a few historical elements? Well, one of those was the original hardware store sign that hung above the sidewalk entrance. The sign adds a beautiful element of nostalgia to their home and acts like a small reminder of where their journey began.

The best part is that these are the real letters from 1916. Cheryl explained how the original letters are "still here and still in pretty good condition." Why replace them or make a dupe when you can have the real thing? They placed them near the ceiling, shadowing underneath the crown molding for a subtle yet effective masterpiece.

Original Store Counter

Another store item that was kept for their home sense was the original store counter. Now, we know what you're thinking: What would anyone do with an old counter when there are more sufficient ones out there? But, in the spirit of the project, Paul and Cheryl took every idea into their stride and powered through with creativity.

They decided to refurbish the counter and bring it upstairs into the living room. It was not placed in the room as any ordinary counter; rather, they turned it into a bar for their living room! Now that's one way to welcome new guests, with a drink in hand while taking in all the details in a brand new living space.

Elevator Door

Since going public on social media, Paul and Cheryl have used their creative power but have also reached out to their fellow passionate DIY followers to ask for advice. While some ideas have immediately come to their minds, they have struggled with a few elements, which is totally normal. Talk about a mind block.

When Paul and Cheryl came across the elevator door, they scrambled. They loved it but also didn't know how to incorporate such an iconic piece from 1916. So they asked their followers. A few users suggested using the door to separate living spaces or even refurbishing it as a sliding door. The couple loved the ideas!

Relighting The Fire

We think the fireplace might be a crowd favorite. Not only did the couple share their renovated fireplace, but posted again at Christmas time to truly reveal the renovation magic. The room was painted completely white but allowed a major contrast, so this part of the room stood out.

While the surrounding area was painted white, they replaced black metal doors with a single frame to avoid flying debris. They kept the flames natural with burning wood, avoiding any electrical application. One user noted, "Love old buildings like this can’t imagine the energy left after a hundred years of being used love this."

Bringing Life Back To The Living Room

Aside from the pinpointed areas, the entire living room transformation is mesmerizing. Anyone would think the entire room was torn down and renovated from scratch. But Paul & Cheryl were eager to take something old and bring it back to life. With brand-new furniture and matching aesthetics, it was good to go.

Followers were very impressed and inspired by the transformation. One user said, "I neeeed to know where the couch came from. It is beautiful and looks beyond comfy," while another applauded them, saying, "Hardware store with a bar? Genius." More so, the perfect combination of natural and artificial light sets a scene all year round!

Home For Christmas

Furniture is never an easy bargain. A lot of thought and couch testing has to go into the process to make sure those relaxing weekend evenings will be perfect. The windows were sealed perfectly with white edges to compliment the sealings, while the pillows and surrounding decor were as warm and welcoming as the fireplace.

Not only did the white paint brighten up the entire room, but when Christmas came around, Paul and Cheryl were not afraid to show off their on-brand living room. With white stockings and a gold and white-lit Christmas tree perched in the corner, this marked only the beginning of their journey in their hardware store turned home.

Master Bedroom

To create smooth transitions between the rooms, the couple made the master bedroom fairly similar to the living room. Although, the master bedroom was renovated to outshine any other part of the house. Before, the walls were bland and yellow, ceiling fans were on their last limb, and it had crooked floors.

The TikTok video played image after image in video format. White brick walls were applied for a rustic feel, along with crown molding and heart pine floors to match the house. The bedroom is now black and white, similar to a modern cottage. One user wrote, "absolutely gorgeous turnout …I love it."

A New Ligonier Legacy

When it comes down to the exterior of the building, it is uncertain how much of it was the work of Paul and Cheryl's DIY. However, the before and after on their Instagram profile not only inspired people, but also reinforced the emotional aspect behind their idea.

The hardware store beforehand was a simple roadside shop, but Paul and Cheryl are seen in front of a white and red building holding a 'sold' key-shaped sign. They're definitely spreading positive energy when it comes to DIY transformations. Followers even commented to share they had done something similar. What a DIY community!

And The Total Is

So, 2,000 hours of renovations later - between the two of them - the couple confirmed the entire renovation cost around $50,000. To be honest, that's not too shabby for a project like this. This included completely swapping out an old hardware store for a brand-new rustic-modern home with additional features.

Though Paul and Cheryl never shared what they had expected to spend, it seemed like the final result was totally worth it. Not only have they allowed themselves a fresh start and close to their family home, but they also got to share their experience over time. It's as if every room holds a different memory.

What's Next?

The couple did not expect to go viral. At first, the Saunders and TikTok were complete strangers to each other, and before they knew it, their profile had gained 180,000 people. They said, "I think our content is inspirational to people because they can see it's possible to do fun things after your kids grow up."

They have revealed their plan to turn "the downstairs section of the house into an Airbnb so their relatives can stay over, especially since one of their daughters is currently pregnant. They plan to continue posting videos about the house transformation and become 'TikTok grandparents.'"