Best Whole House Before and Afters 2012

Who: Gail M.
Where: Coxsackie, NY

When I first saw the property, I asked my friend-carpenter, who would eventually do the work, "Can I take enough of the walls down so that you can have a sense of the views to the Hudson River when you walk in the front door?" He said "Yes," and I said, "Sold." After an initial consultation with an architect about the space, I did most of the design myself. I sourced and bought the appliances, hardware, and building materials online, and whenever I could sand, paint, or stain, I did. In the end, my dream became a reality.

Who did the work: I did some of the work myself, but a contractor did most of it.
Cost: More than $100,000