Mobile Home Living

Category: Double Wides

Beautiful remodeling and decorating ideas for double wides, regardless of age or builder.

Double wide manufactured homes are great homes for families of all sizes. We’ve featured dozens of beautiful double wide mobile homes that have been beautifully remodeled and decorated over the last 15 years.

Craftsman Style Double Wide Transformation

One of the great advantages of manufactured homes is their affordability and adaptability. They can be turned into an ultimate dream home for any style. This particular homeowner dreamed of a craftsman style bungalow and she achieved that dream with a double wide transformation you won’t soon forget!

Before

Here’s the home before the transformation took place. It’s your standard double wide, really. The large lot provides plenty of room for additional square footage though and that’s exactly what the homeowners did.

After

A little know-how, a lot of creativity and hard work really pay off. Here’s the home after 2 years of hard work:

This is an amazing double wide transformation! The home looks much bigger now and the outdoor space is a perfect place to relax in the cool afternoon shade. The extension of the porch with beautiful stonework makes a statement and gives the home the look of true Craftsman Style that the homeowner wanted. The deep red color definitely makes a statement, too!

Related: 10 Great Home Exterior Designs Ides for Double Wides.

I found this home on one of my favorite sites, HGTV’s Rate My Space. If you have time to sift through all the gorgeous homes it’s a great place to find mobile home remodels and updates.

I would love to see the interior of the home and see what they have done in there. If you own this home, contact me!

As always, thank you so much for reading Mobile & Manufactured Home Living.

October 9, 2013
Monica’s Double Wide Home Improvements

Monica has a beautiful 1999 Fleetwood Brookfield 44×24 square foot double wide in Montana that just keeps getting better and better! With her do-it-yourself attitude and talents, she has made several double wide home improvements that have increased the value of the home and make it even more beautiful.

Latest Projects

Her latest exterior projects consisted of replacing and extending her deck with redwood and recycling the old deck boards for the homes skirting as well as completely remodeling the master bathroom.

New Look for the Exterior

You can see the home below with the new decking and skirting. The design of the deck has a partially covered section that is perfect for outdoor parties and lounging. The deck is built around a tree, too, which is a great way to allow shade and add visual appeal.

As you can see the angles and pitches that have been added to the home make this double wide look remarkably like a stick built home. The extended eaves, higher pitch and multiple angles of the roof are all great ideas for any home and lends toward the look of the popular craftsman style.

Related: Craftsman Style Double Wide Transformation.

Notice the brackets attaching the roof to the posts on the porch? Those are Monica’s own welding talents on display! She not only made the brackets exactly how she wanted them but she saved a lot of money in the process, too.

Here’s a better look at the underside of the roof for the deck. You can see the numerous brackets that she made.

Monica states, “I used rebar for the balusters. It’s great because I can take them right out when I go to treat the deck again. I have lived here for 14 years. I did have it re-shingled and have seamless gutters installed. Just trying to take good care!”

Good care indeed! This home is gorgeous!

Below is a great look at the new skirting from the old deck boards. The warm wood color makes a great base for the home and gives the tan facade a perfect base. Notice the gate matches. The patio of pavers was also a home improvement project.

Here’s the home before the old decking replaced the white tin skirting she originally had. The wood is very solid because it was treated and there has been no rot at all after being a deck for 12 years. It will last many years more as skirting. She built the stairs this summer and a friend helped her install the pavers last fall.

Bathroom Remodel

Monica also completely gutted and remodeled her bathroom. Below are a few shots during the project as well as the finished bathroom. She had all the plumbing replaced in the area as well as having the drain moved away from the center of the tub, which is common with a mobile home. If you are gutting a bathroom you might as well replace everything you can while you can do it easily.

There was a leak in the shutoff valve along the exterior wall that created condensation inside the wall. Luckily no damage! All of the walls were stripped down to bare studs which allowed for the new tub surround to be attached directly to the studs. Mold resistant sheetrock was installed everywhere else.

The bathroom and closet doors were replaced as well as vinyl flooring laid. The double doors look great!

The complete bathroom remodel included a new vanity, sink, mirror, medicine cabinet, light fixture, and molding. Below are the new tub and glass doors.

The vanity was purchased from a custom cabinet maker. Monica stated that she wasn’t happy with what the big box stores offered for the size she needed so she splurged a bit and got exactly what she wanted. Custom made pieces are usually stronger than anything you can buy in a store. By splurging a bit more upfront, you can almost guarantee the piece will have maximum durability and longevity. You also get the exact dimensions and style you want.

Related: 4 Ideas We Love to Update Your Mobile Home Bathroom.

Monica has transformed her double wide into a gorgeous home. The exterior is a remarkable example of what decking can do for a home as well as angles and pitches. If you are planning your own decking or porch installation, consider adding additional lines or using a shape that’s not square. It will add depth and interest both far away and up close. Re-use materials as much as possible for the sake of your wallet and the environment and don’t be scared to splurge on a piece that is a central focus of a room. One custom piece can make the entire room feel custom.

She has a lot more planned for the future and hopefully, she’ll let us share those too. Thank you, Monica, for sharing your beautiful home with us! You’ve done a remarkable job with your double wide home improvements and should be very proud.

As always, thank you for reading Mobile and Manufactured Home Living!

October 7, 2013
Shannon’s Shabby Chic Double Wide Makeover

This double wide makeover is what MMHL is all about.

Shannon Olson, the publisher of Southern Belle with Northern Roots, is an amazingly talented woman. She calls a 1979 double wide home and has transformed it into a shabby chic paradise, and I am so honored to get to feature it today!

The home was a typical late 70’s double wide with wood paneling, semi-shag carpet, and cathedral ceilings with wooden beams that were so trendy in that era. The floor plan is well laid out, and the home is spacious.

While it was a fine place to call home, Shannon was able to see the promise and potential. Her creativity and can-do attitude soared and she ended up with a double wide makeover that is fit for the cover of any home decor magazine out there.

It’s a fresh country, shabby-chic blend, and it is gorgeous.

Since this article’s publication we have been lucky enough to check in with Shannon again. Be sure to check out her Shabby Chic Remodel Update.

Kitchen in Double Wide Makeover

Kitchens with curved counters and plenty of storage space is a mark of the late 70’s manufactured homes. Regardless of the shape, kitchens are hard to makeover – there are so many different surfaces that must be considered in the overall design. Fortunately, Shannon took on the double wide makeover with creativity and focus – the end result is amazing!

Below is a photo of the kitchen before the shabby-chic double wide home makeover:

The kitchen now:

The style could best be described as country charming, flea market fabulous, and shabby chic.

A white and cream base allows the warm oak trim and colorful tin tiles to make a statement. Distressing details throughout the room lends to the farmhouse look as well. Pops of color make a grand statement as well.

Dining Room in a Double Wide Makeover

The dining room extends from the kitchen in an open floor plan design. Did I mention how spacious the home is?

The prominent feature of this room is the fireplace. Imagine getting to look at such a beautiful feature while cooking!

Here’s the room before Shannon made her mark:

The dining room after the transformation:

Shannon transformed a salvaged door into a shelf feature that holds her collection of antique scales. She removed the glass in the cabinets facing the dining room and replaced it with chicken wire. Smart storage solutions are used throughout the home. Here, the wine rack holds several bottles within a space that was previously unused.

The small details in this house are remarkable!

The fireplace is a gorgeous example of the country primitive style.

Shannon’s antique collection is vast. Her use of different textures and materials is a perfect compliment to the style

By grouping like items within a setting, you can make a large focal point that will pull the eye in.

Living Room – Double Wide Makeover

The living room has high cathedral ceilings that can make decorating difficult. Shannon pulled the makeover off like a pro.

Here’s the living room before the transformation:

Removing Fake Beams on Manufactured Home Ceilings

Removing the fake ‘wooden’ beams attached to the ceilings is a great idea to modernize a manufactured home.

Most beams are usually just hollow 3 sided boxes attached to the ceiling with L-brackets that are used to cover up the seams. They have no structural integrity at all.

The dark color and angled lines have a tendency to make the ceiling seem daunting and lower. Removing them is hard work but as you can see, the end result is well worth it. Shannon covered the old ceiling with new panels and trim.

Here’s the living room after the makeover:

Master Bedroom – Double Wide Makeover

The master bedroom in this double wide manufactured home was outdated and dark. Shannon changed that quickly.

Master Bedroom Before Makeover

Master Bedroom After Makeover:

The new master bedroom is a place of pure tranquility!

The clean white of the walls matched with light linens and soothing decor makes this room a superb place to relax.

Colorful details add a dramatic effect.

Guest Bathrooms and Bedrooms

This double wide has 2 bathrooms and 2 bedrooms in addition to the master bedroom.

Shannon’s children have grown and left the home so she turned one of the bedrooms into a man cave and the other into a beautiful guest bedroom.

First, we’ll take a look at the before photo of one bathroom:

The bathroom after the shabby chic double wide makeover:

The new bedroom-turned-mancave:

Guest Bedroom After Makeover

The second bedroom is a show-stopper!

Black chalkboard paint is a perfect contrast to the crisp white walls and ceiling. The frames, the antique dresser, and the muted decor are a perfect combination!

Interior Door Makeover

Before we close, I wanted to share one of Shannon’s projects.

This is one of the most creative and easy ways to transform an interior door. She took small trim and used it to create 2 rectangles on the top of the door and then painted over it. It instantly adds depth and makes a typical manufactured home interior door (that is usually hollow and unappealing) into a great feature.

Shannon’s blog has many more details about the transformations. It covers home decor, gardening, scrapbooking and everything in between.

She speaks honestly of the issues she encountered and the lessons she learned during her manufactured home transformation, too.

Double Wide Makeover – The Interview

Shannon was kind enough to answer a few questions about this marvelous double wide makeover for us. Interviews are a great way to get insider tips and advice!

In your opinion, what are the benefits and advantages of manufactured homes? The disadvantages?

The benefits of mobile home living in our particular area are taxes. We pay a fraction of what even small homes pay in our community. I also like that we “split” the repair deal, so to speak. If a water main breaks it is the courts to fix, we just deal with what is above ground and in our home, a potential major expense.

Disadvantages- repairs, often older homes used less than standard PVC, screws, and hardware, which can mean several trips to the hardware store.

What was the most difficult issue you’ve faced during the makeover?

Our most difficult issue was a slow water leak caused by a previous recall on some water tubing that had been used in most mobile homes. We didn’t live here when the recall happened and so we were unaware, after a long slow leak we smelled must, then rot and then the floor began to give way causing the washer and water heater to sink! It was major and even required having the entire heating/ air unit pulled since it was right next to the water heater! Expensive and time-consuming. Shannon writes about the issue and the repair in a post called Laundry Room Redo.

The room is cheerful, colorful and well organized. Check it out for some great tips!

If you had to choose only 3 projects to transform a home what would they be?

My top 3 home project transformations would be, make the kitchen fun to cook in, whatever that means, appliances that work or storage for your pots and pans- make your master bedroom a place of retreat and relaxation by using soothing color, and comfortable fabrics.- and…make your living room a place where people are comfortable and want to hang out. Have enough seating, throw some blankets around and have it livable, a place you can put your feet up and eat popcorn while watching the game or a movie.

What are your favorite rooms in your home?

My favorite room is my bedroom, it is a refreshing restful burst every time I walk in it. The setting sun comes in the window casting a glow that says…stay, take a nap!

Any insider tips or tricks you can share about updating a manufactured home?

Tips for updating manufactured homes would be, think outside the box. Use what you have and embellish, like the door I redid, a few pieces of wood and a coat of paint means a minimal cost and a minimal time investment. Use your room how you like, if you need the designated bedroom to be a family room, go for it! Paint, it is cheap and easily changed, paintable wallpaper is also a great idea, it helps you cover the unsightly seams of mobile home walls and not have the typical wallpaper look. I have used many different wall coverings from sheetrock to torn paper.

How do you get ideas for your projects?

I am always looking online at blogs and Pinterest for decorating ideas. I love magazines and have quite a collection, I would say my brain is saturated with ideas and occasionally one escapes!

What tools do you use most often?

My tools are paint brushes, a good cordless drill and a bit that is square shaped to rid the home of those dumb square screws!

What’s the best advice you can give to someone that’s about to tackle their first project?

If you are about to tackle a project, spend a moment to plan, dive in wholeheartedly and be flexible. If something isn’t working…don’t give up. Make a party out of a project, throw something in the crockpot, turn up your favorite CD and hide the clock and your phone.

Any future plans for the home?

Our future plans include…when the money gets here..a new floor in the living room, and some exterior boards on the home need to replace which means a new paint job. Hopefully one-day siding. sigh

How would you describe what living in a manufactured home is like to someone that’s never been in or around one?

When we first moved into a mobile home I had never really been in many. I was worried it would be uneven or wobbly! Now, I rarely think I am in a mobile home…in fact, most people that read my blog never realize I am in one until I say something. A home is what you make it, I think our society has placed too much emphasis on size and features, typical homes have 3 car garages, oddly small bedrooms and huge ceilings. People are enslaved by house payments and taxes, I say…downsize and enjoy life a little more. Mobile homes are comfortable and cheaper, I say we beat back the stigma of living in the trailer hood and make our homes the most welcoming and comfortable place your friends have ever visited.

You can follow Shannon on Pinterest, Facebook, Etsy, and HomeTalk.

Thank you, Shannon, for allowing me to feature your wonderful home. It is a true inspiration!

As always, thank you for reading Mobile and Manufactured Home Living!

July 14, 2013
Country Style Double Wide

This country double wide found on HGTV Rate My Space is perfect for all you country and primitive loving readers!

Nature is front and center with this Georgian Mountain manufactured homestead.

The kitchen shows some great creativity. The wooden spoons used as a garland is a great feature for the country-primitive style.

The backsplash is old fence boards painted. A nature-inspired color palette makes a statement.

If you look closely you can see the stove vent is wrapped in copper sheeting.

Small details really make a space. Look for places you can add texture or color in your own home.

The living room is another great example of using textures and color with lots of primitive decor to make the room comfy and stylish and showoff this country double wide decor.

The “Long Guns Made Good” sign is handmade by the homeowners. The owner told us that her husband cut the letters and mounted the antique gun on the vintage board. The feathers are from a relative’s Tennessee farm.

The owner writes that this photo was taken before the molding was added to the top of the golden-yellow wall. I’m sure it matches the wood wall stain and gives the eye a continuous line that makes the 2 separate wall colors cohesive.

The guest bathroom has all the makings of a country-primitive setting.

The owners made the mirror frame, the twig tissue box cover, and the outhouse.

Primitive handmade items truly capture the country style. Using what is available is a big part of being ‘country’. Twigs and branches are everywhere in the country – use them in your decor!

The owners didn’t just stop with the interior of their home. They added special one-of-a-kind features on the outside, too.

The fence and gate were made of natural materials. The pathway is made with cement forms which are an affordable way to make stepping-stones, rock formations and large pebbles for all your outdoor decor needs.

A pathway with creeping thyme grow.

The gate is awesome!

I love this home!

I just came from a weekend in Gatlinburg, TN and the country – primitive style is what the Smoky Mountains are all about.

Unfortunately, the handmade look is expensive but you can save money by making elements yourself. Using what you have around you, just like the owners did here, is the best way to get this look at an affordable price. Plus, it’s fun to make!

Handmade Craft Ideas

Here are a few country crafts I found on Pinterest that could help you get this same look:

Spoon Garland

Dollar Tree wooden spoons painted matte black with a little sanding and attached to twine isa different take on the homeowners natural wooden spoon garland. Source.

Twig Wreaths

Twig wreaths with natural garland is a great way to add a country look to your home. Source.

Window Frames

Old window frames are a staple in the country and primitive theme. The berry garland is also another well used feature. Source.

I hope you enjoyed this home as much as I did! It’s a beautiful style that fits well with most any home but especially those nestled in the woods. Can’t get enough of the primitive decor theme? Then you will love this home we featured: Country Primitive Decor in a Mobile Home!

Thank you for reading Mobile & Manufactured Home Living!

June 24, 2013
NY Double Wide With Awesome Manufactured Home Remodeling Ideas

If you’ve read Mobile Home Living, you know how I much I love to share gorgeous manufactured homes. Especially ones that are personalized by the owners. Whether it be a complete remodel or a simple update, those are the ones that inspire me the most. It proves, without a shadow of a doubt, that our homes can become anything we want. This gorgeous New York state double wide has so many great manufactured home remodeling ideas and decorating inspirations. It is a marvelous example of what a manufactured home is all about.

Related: A Dreamy Double Wide for Sale in Palm Desert.

I found this home on a site called Syracuse.com. It’s a home that was/is for sale and was named their “Home of the Week’ on the blog. Once you see it, you’ll understand why.

Looks Can Be Deceiving

From the outside, you see a standard 2000 model double wide that doesn’t look too special at all. Here’s the front and back view:

Amazing Interior

There’s nothing standard or basic about this double wide though. Nothing at all. Here’s the interior:

THIS DOUBLE WIDE IS AWESOME! I can’t get over how beautiful it is. The zebra flooring, the glass tile kitchen backsplash, the dark cabinetry, the stainless steel, the butcher top…I could go on and on and on!

Here’s what the writer of the post, Kathleen Poliquin, The Post-Standard had to say about it:

If you look at the pictures of this week’s “House of the Week,” you’ll see what may appear to be a chic million-dollar Manhattan apartment.

But the property isn’t in the Big Apple. It’s at 109 Morey Road, West Monroe.

And forget the million-dollar price tag — the asking price is $124,900. Also, it’s not an apartment, it’s a double-wide mobile home with three bedrooms and two baths on more than 4 acres of land. And here’s something you won’t see on the Upper West Side or in SoHo: a 2,000-square-foot barn with three 12-foot bay doors and a second-floor storage space.

Christopher and Kristen Zimmer bought the property and had the former model home installed in 2000. The home is manufactured with 2 by 6-inch framing, upgraded windows, and double insulation. The Zimmers added the barn in 2008, installed vinyl siding in 2010 and replaced the roof with architectural shingles in November.

The home, at the end of a long crushed-stone driveway that ends in a circle, is oriented so the only entrance faces the back of the rural property. Chris planned it that way so the majority of the windows in the open-plan living, dining room and kitchen would overlook the front of the property as well as acres of open land beyond.The Zimmers have been busy updating and decorating the home. Chris, a welder by day, has a keen interest in design, remodeling, and cooking The home truly reflects his hobbies and talents.

One wall of the living room, which used to house a gas fireplace, now holds a 65-inch flat screen TV, which the Zimmers are taking with them. Tall double-hung windows provide natural light and laminate floors add to the clean, modern look.
A stainless steel and glass free-standing wood stove between the living and dining areas is eye-catching, even when not in use. Chris said the stove heats the home so effectively they rarely use the forced-air propane furnace.

When Chris remodeled the kitchen, he elevated the floor a few inches and covered it with 16- by 16-inch laminate tiles that look like slate. The lower cabinets have a black lacquer or enamel finish and the upper cabinets, some of which have translucent white glass fronts, tip up to open. All doors and drawers are “soft closing,” which prevents slamming.

The backsplash is made of very thin horizontal glass and stone tiles, which coordinate well with the gray solid surface counters and cabinets. The stainless steel appliances include a high-end extractor hood/vent with halogen lights installed above a range with five propane gas burners and an electric convection oven. There is a dishwasher as well as a French door refrigerator that will stay in the house.

A 6-foot-wide window set above the extra-deep stainless steel sink overlooks the back of the property and the two-tiered deck.

A butcher-block-topped island provides seating for three and is plumbed for the possible installation of a small prep sink.

The home has a separate laundry room across from an updated full bath. It includes a round stainless steel sink, a combination fiberglass tub and shower and a laminate floor that looks like pickled or whitewashed oak.

There are two carpeted bedrooms on that end of the home. The master suite is on the other end. It includes a vaulted ceiling, walk-in closet and plenty of space for a king-size bed.

Chris remodeled the master bath, adding ceramic tile floors and walls and a walk-in shower with an oversized square chrome shower head. Glass blocks top a ceramic tile wall that divides the shower from the commode. His and hers vanities each have rectangular porcelain vessel sinks.

While the many upgrades are reminiscent of finishes and features you might see in a SoHo loft, unlike its downstate counterparts this property has a well, a septic system and plenty of space for parking.

For more information, contact Kellie Jo Maher, of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties, at 427-0307.

At a glance
SIZE: 1,792 square feet.
LOT SIZE: 4.08 acres.
MONTHLY MORTGAGE: 471.*
TAXES: $4,322.
BUILT: 1996.
SCHOOL DISTRICT: Central Square

A home this beautiful would easily run you a couple hundred thousand but it’s $124,900 and that includes the land. Manufactured homes really do allow you to have a dream home that’s affordable. This more than proves the point. It’s a beautiful home and whoever buys it is one lucky person!

As always, thank you so much for reading Mobile and Manufactured Home Living!

May 27, 2013
1978 Double Wide Kitchen Remodel
This 1978 double wide kitchen remodel is a great example of what opening a wall up can do for your entire home. Until the open floor concept became so popular over a decade ago, most kitchens were walled-in and completely separated from the other rooms. This was true with both stick built homes and manufactured homes.

1978 Double Wide Kitchen Remodel

Now, it’s all changed. We want everything open and airy. We want to watch the chef and be able to interact with them while they cook. So, what do you do if you want to open up the kitchen in your 1978 double wide? Well, you simply do it!

It sounds a bit easier than it really is though. Don’t think you can just take a sledgehammer to the wall you no longer want. There are some safety precautions, of course, and some serious issues you need to consider before doing it:
- First, is it a load bearing wall? There is a difference in manufactured homes and stick-built homes when it comes to load bearing walls so definitely, definitely do your homework! Typically, the marriage wall and exterior walls in double wides and the exterior walls in single wides are load-bearing walls. You can still modify a load-bearing wall but it will need to be re-engineered with headers and load-bearing horizontal studs (joists). It’s expensive and complex.
Related: Questions About Removing Walls in a Mobile Home.
- Second, are there wires or pipes in the wall? If so, you can still remove/modify the wall, you just need to re-route them. I won’t get into all that either.
Let’s start from the beginning: The owner wanted to update their 1978 double wide. At first, they painted the wall that separated the kitchen and living room but didn’t like it (See, it happens to all of us! Don’t let a wrong color discourage you though, keep at it and you’ll find the perfect option. I promise!)

What happened after that is gorgeous!

Here’s the home (above) and below is the painted wall and original dining room built-ins. The owner painted it back to the original white and began thinking up a way to get the look and style they wanted.

Freshly painted wall and original dining room built-ins.

They painted the wall back to the original white.

After trying a new color and deciding it wasn’t for them, they decided to cut a window or pass-thru out of the wall that would allow a new hood to become a feature and give the home an eat-in breakfast bar. The cabinetry, countertop, range and wall oven was on the other side of that wall so all that had to be removed first. All the work was worth it though!

This is what was on the other side of that wall.

Once the plan was made and the cabinets, stove, and range were removed, they began to slowly remove the sheet-rock. There was wiring because of the stove and oven so they removed one side of the wall and then the other very carefully. Never take a saw and start sawing through the wall, go slowly and in layers.
Once they had the opening, they rerouted the wiring. This should be done by a licensed electrician!

Once the window was made and the wiring was taken care of, they removed the studs (due diligence is required anytime you modify a home) and sheetrocked the opening to make it one seamless wall. They also installed new cabinets, counter, stove and stainless steel hood and added a bar to the living room side of the wall as well as stools. New flooring was installed in all the rooms, too.

The bar was added with shelf brackets. The flooring is a great touch, too.

Below is the other side of the wall. The cabinets are gone and the 2 piece oven and countertop range are replaced with a single unit stove. The opening instantly brightens the kitchen and the shiny stainless steel hood provides a modern look to the whole home.

This remodel also included updating the dining room built-ins. They removed the mirror and the doors and painted everything. The black counter adds a great touch as does the new chandelier. Here’s the photo of the original and the new so you can compare:

After:

Here are some more photos of the completed remodel:

This is a great remodel that I found on HGTV Rate My Space. They don’t have many manufactured homes but the ones they do have are awesome!

Remodeling a manufactured home is not that different from a stick-built home. You have the exact same options and possibilities but there’s a small difference in how things are done. If you can dream it or imagine it, you absolutely can make it happen in a manufactured home. That’s what makes them such awesome homes!

Related: Budget-Friendly Mobile Home Kitchen Makeover.

As always, thank you for reading Mobile and Manufactured Home Living!
May 3, 2013
French Country Gourmet Kitchen in a Manufactured Home

This gourmet kitchen in a manufactured home is spectacular! It’s a true French country gourmet kitchen with all the bells and whistles.

This manufactured home, in Albuquerque, NM, proves you can have a dreamy gourmet kitchen in a manufactured home, regardless of the size, the make, or the age of the home.

Spectacular Gourmet Kitchen in a Manufactured Home

We spend a lot of time in kitchens so it makes sense to make the space exactly how you want it. That’s exactly what the owner of this double wide manufactured home did:

As you walk toward the kitchen from the living room you are met with a gorgeous slab of granite wrapped with beautifully detailed cabinetry. You can see from the start that this kitchen is a work of art. Very functional art.

Related: Awesome and Affordable Mobile Home Kitchen Remodeling Ideas

What is a Gourmet Kitchen?

Trulia describes a gourmet kitchen as “a kitchen with professional appliances…. Easy-to-clean surfaces, and storage for specialty items. A spice collection. The kitchen should be set up by stations where to prepare food, cook, clean and serve food. A big variety of good quality professional pots.”

And this gourmet kitchen has it all!

Custom panels hide the dishwasher located in the island. Dentil molding is used on the panels and throughout the gourmet kitchen in a manufactured home.

Molding can be one of the easiest ways to add depth and detail to any room.

Santa Cecilia granite with a waterfall edging was used for the counter tops in this gorgeous gourmet kitchen in a manufactured home.

The rich colors plays off the custom cabinetry perfectly.

Creating a Functional Gourmet Kitchen in a Manufactured Home

This gourmet kitchen in a manufactured home is as functional as it is beautiful. The owner was able to create a true chef’s space by incorporating smart features into her kitchen remodel.

Space is always an issue in kitchens so you may need to get creative.

The owner has put every inch of her kitchen to work. For instance, pullout spice racks were installed on both sides of the stove. Of course, these cabinets were all custom built but that doesn’t mean you can’t do something similar.

There are wire and wood racks with wheels available in many home improvement and big box stores. You could attach a board or spindle on one side to make the rack less obvious and give the kitchen a custom look.

All the cabinets and pull outs are designed for optimal storage and convenience.

Pull out racks for small appliances give each item a home that is out of sight yet, easily easy to get to. The appliances are already plugged in and ready to go, all she has to do is open the cabinet and pull! Each cabinet pull out can hold up to 100 pounds!

True gourmet isn’t cheap but it can be done on a smaller budget

It’s not cheap to install granite, Dentil molding, or high-end appliances but it’s fairly easy to replicate the look with more affordable materials.

Choose More Affordable Materials

Instead of granite go with soapstone or concrete. There are so many great substitutes available. Here are HGTV’s 18 kitchen countertop ideas.

Used or Slightly Dented Appliances

Another way to create a gourmet kitchen in a manufactured home without spending a lot of money is to buy used or slightly damaged appliances. Small dents and scratches happen all the time on floor model displays and most can be repaired or at least hidden.

DIY instead of Hiring Experts

It’s always a good idea to hire professionals in many situations, but you can do a lot of work yourself to reduce costs. Demolition is a great DIY job that can save you a lot of money. Laying tile is not a difficult job if you have the right tools and saws. Painting is another great DIY project many homeowners can do.

Budget for a Wow Factor

Every detail of this gourmet kitchen was planned to make it a reality. The owner shopped for materials, appliances, and other decorative items on eBay to save money so she could spend the majority of her budget hiring a talented cabinet maker. Each cabinet was customized for the space and it shows. Spend your money on a wow factor or an area of the remodel that will make the biggest impact.

Related: 10 Foolproof Tips for Hiring Home Improvement Professionals

Summary: Creating a Gourmet Kitchen in a Manufactured Home

The owner originally shared her beautiful kitchen on the HGTV Rate My Space blog. She wanted a gourmet kitchen in her manufactured home and understood that it would be a challenge:

“I live in a manufactured home but wanted a gourmet kitchen. I knew it would be a challenge to get what I wanted so I hired a talented local cabinet maker to accomplish my dreams…As you probably have heard manufactured homes aren’t the easiest to remodel. (I) bought all appliances, sink, faucets on Ebay to keep costs down and I now enjoy all the bells & whistles of a custom kitchen!”

Follow this owner’s lead and plan the remodel down to the smallest detail. If you can afford to hire an expert cabinet maker that’s awesome but it isn’t absolutely necessary. Many home improvement centers can plan your cabinetry down to the centimeter and you can choose from many styles.

Related: Bright and Modern Manufactured Home Kitchen Remodel

If your dream is a gourmet kitchen with that French country and Tucson flair, this is a great example of what you can do in your own home. The owners absolutely nailed it!

Have you remodeled or created your own gourmet kitchen in a manufactured home? We would love to add it to our growing library of inspiration here on Mobile Home Living.

As always, thank you for reading Mobile and Manufactured Home Living!

March 28, 2013
Double Wide Bathroom Remodel

Bathrooms and kitchens are the top 2 rooms that get remodeled and updated most in our homes. Changing styles, new technology and repair issues are the main reasons for most makeovers.

However, bathrooms are hard to remodel. They aren’t like bedrooms where you just pick a new paint color and flooring and have a whole new look for your room. You have to plan ahead and think about the location and layout of your plumbing. You have to utilize all sorts of different talents to come up with a room that you will love! We have a great mobile home bathroom guide that can help you get started on your own remodel.

There are so many things you have to deal with before you even get to the fun part of picking the colors and fixtures during a bathroom remodel.

Kimberly Carte managed a great double wide bathroom remodel in her Gold Medal double wide and the outcome is terrific!

Kim and a friend completely replaced all the standard vinyl coated walls with drywall, removed the garden tub and installed an awesome shower and removed the double sinks and installed a single vanity. New Allure laminate tiling and a great paint color complete the room.

Before

We all know these walls! Typical vinyl coated wall boards with the dreaded strips that cover the seams and with a pattern. It’s a feature that became popular in the early 80’s after the paneling craze and it’s just now ending. Of course, in 25 years it will be probably come back in style.

The plastic sinks are another well known feature that is used more for its light weight than its style but they are easily replaced and should be replaced. Once a home is moved onto a location it is rarely moved again and can be updated easily with whatever materials you want.

Here’s the demolition.

The sinks were replaced with this attractive and modern furniture piece with a great top. The flooring adds a great foundation for any color but the blue of the walls really makes a statement!

After

The corner shower opens a lot of room up in this small space. The thick white trim gives the room a great cohesive look.

This remodel costs less than $2,500 and that’s a great price for a bathroom remodel. This room is vibrant, fun, modern and a perfect place to get away from it all!

We asked Kim a couple of questions:

What advice would you give someone that’s about to remodel a room?

The advise I’d give would be to expect anything to happen. No remodeling project whether it’s in a manufactured home or a stick built is going to go smoothly. There will be problems and issues you didn’t plan for. Just try to not let them stress you out.

Any tips or tricks?

I think I was most frustrated by the start and stopping of my project but that wasn’t anything I could help at the time. I’m just very excited it’s over and very pleased with the final outcome. ~

In your opinion, what are the advantages of manufactured homes?

Manufactured homes get a lot of negative feedback but if they are well maintained and people invest the time and effort into making them a home, they could look just as nice as anything else.

Thanks, Kim, for sharing your bathroom remodel!

As always, thank you for reading Mobile and Manufactured Home Living!

March 23, 2013
Double Wide Exterior Remodel

I found this double wide exterior remodel on GardenWebs.com and fell in love! It’s a great use of multiple materials and colors and it is one gorgeous home!

The owners replaced all the windows and added a box window with a bench seat beside the entrance. Since most manufactured homes are straight lines on all sides, giving a little depth and dimension is a great idea. The bench seating is also a great way to add seating and storage to a home.

Before

Here’s the before:

After

The stone siding is a perfect feature to any home. It adds detail and dimension as well and can be a great way to set apart the entrance way. It is a bit expensive per square foot but the results are worth every dime!

The color choice is pleasing and the white accents are perfect. This home is a great example of what can be achieved with new siding, windows, and doors. I’m sure the power bill went down a bit as well. There are tax credits available for energy efficient replacements, too. It’s a win-win all the way around!

The newly built front porch/deck is a terrific feature of this home. I love the way they did the base, too! I’ve never been a big fan of lattice boards used for the bottoms of decks. Lattice (the 4×8 sheets of small 1″ boards crisscrossing) certainly adds dimension but if you use it on the bottom of a deck or porch, it doesn’t allow you to utilize the area for storage much. It’s also not the strongest material and if someone wants something all they have to do it kick through to get it.

Related: 9 Beautiful Manufactured Home Porch Ideas.

With this base, they can store anything they want and no one will know what’s under there. That’s smart!

Overall, this is one superb exterior makeover. I love everything about it! It’s cohesive and eye-pleasing and I bet the owners love it more every day!

Thanks so much for reading Mobile and Manufactured Home Living! We have some great features coming up so be sure to check back soon!

Note: I found these photos from GardenWebs.com. I have not been able to contact the owners although I did try. If you know who owns this home or if you are the owner, please get in touch with me. I would love to feature the rest of your home!

March 4, 2013
Great Manufactured Home Kitchen Remodel Ideas

Here’s 3 great manufactured home kitchen remodel ideas that I found on HGTV’s Rate My Space. They only have a few manufactured home makeovers but the few they do have are great examples of what can be achieved. Kitchens renovations and updates are one of the most popular makeovers in manufactured homes. While the standard kitchens are usually fine and usable, they often lack the most updated features available. Of course, if you’re buying a new manufactured home you can have it built any way you want but if you have an older home or purchased a used home, you’re probably gonna want to change a few things to make it all yours.

Double Wide Kitchen Remodel

Our first kitchen is in a standard double wide. They added all the bells and whistles! Tile, new appliances and great attention to details really make this room special.

The before:

The after:

Another Great Double Wide Kitchen Remodel

The next kitchen remodel shows how granite, new appliances, and a new backsplash can transform a kitchen. It truly shines now! I’ve always liked the octagon islands that came out in the mid to late 90’s. It’s hard to have anything round-like in a rectangle so the designers were really thinking out of the box with this concept. New appliances often come with tax credits so they can often pay for themselves in energy reduction alone. I’m really impressed with the storage this home has, too!

The before:

The after:

Single Wide Kitchen Remodel

The last kitchen I found didn’t include a before photo and to be honest, we don’t need one. We’ve all seen the single wide kitchens. They are usually in an L-shaped form and sometimes have an island in the middle. What these owners did was reface the cabinetry, added track lighting and just spiffed it up a bit. It doesn’t take much to give a whole new look to a room and this proves it.

You can go as cheap or as expensive as you want and still have a room that anyone would be proud to cook in. Whether you’ve been wanting that gourmet kitchen or just a little extra style, you can achieve it with some research and a little elbow grease.

Related: 6 Great Mobile Home Kitchen Makeovers.

If you have a kitchen remodel or any room for that matter, we would love to feature it. Just contact me through the comments or through the “Get Featured” page. I’d be honored to share it!

As always, thank you for reading Mobile and Manufactured Home Living!

February 17, 2013