Bloomington homeowner tackles massive remodeling on her own

Lorri Kreuschers extreme makeover started with an extreme personal loss.

Her husband of more than three decades died in 2010, just as they were beginning the process of building a house a couple of miles from their longtime home in Bloomington.

I was devastated, she said.

Theyd started clearing the lot and developing plans, but she put the project on hiatus. My heart wasnt in that anymore to go through all that by myself. I was left trying to figure out what in the world to do.

She found herself reluctant to leave the home where they had raised their family. I had dreams of selling the house and terribly regretting it, she said. So instead of building a new home, she stayed in her old one, grieving and adjusting to life on her own. Im very independent, she said. But I had never lived alone before.

After about a year, Kreuscher decided it was time to make a few home improvements.

I started tearing down trees, she recalled. Views were important to me. I love gardens and pretty things outside.

Then she went to see a neighbors remodeling and got inspired to redo her brick fireplace. One thing led to another, and soon Kreuscher was redoing her entire house.

I got the bug, she said. The massive makeover project kept her busy, and she started to get excited about the possibilities of a home that reflected her taste and personality. Kreuscher and her late husband had done some piecemeal remodeling over the years, but their homes original 1963 floor plan and facade were largely intact.

It was a typical rambler a lot of separate rooms, she said, including a formal living room that was rarely used. I had people in there probably 10 times during all the years she lived in her home.

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Bloomington homeowner tackles massive remodeling on her own