Here at This Old House, we have to admit: There's an awful lot of home-improvement talent out there among our readership. You submitted more than 300 of your own remodels. Then you voted on your favorites. Here's a look at 10 of your top picks for whole-house renovations.
After you've gotten a gander at these reclaimed beauties, you can see more—and submit your own—at thisoldhouse.com/yourtoh.
That night I phoned the house mover to track down the owner. In yet another lucky break, she was a nice, preservation-minded woman who'd bought the house to save it from a bank that wanted to build a drive-through in its place. She agreed to sell it to us for $15,000, plus guide us in the house-moving process, which she'd been through when she moved another old house to her own property.
Our luck ran out the minute we handed her the check. The structural movers broke the news that the house would have to be sawn in half if we wanted it to go anywhere at all. Apparently, you can't always transport a 3,900-square-foot house intact. Sharon and I watched anxiously as the home we were trying to hold together got hacked in two. Opting to slice off the top floor and have it rebuilt later was another bleak concession.
Who: Sharon W.
Where: Southlake, Texas
In rebuilding the second story, we attempted to keep the architecture and age of the home in mind. This was our first project, and a big one at that! The completed home is over 4,700 square feet. We hired help for the major parts, but we did a lot of the work ourselves. We hope to retire to this restored beauty someday!
Who did the work: I hired help
Cost: More than $100,000
Who: Justin P.
Where: Grapevine, Texas
I made a few minor layout changes, raised all ceilings, installed Energy Star windows and appliances, and over insulated the entire house. I removed the exterior siding and replaced it with Hardie siding, adding tear drop panels over the porch gable. The project took about a year to complete.
Who did the work: I did most of the work myself
Cost: $50,000 to $100,000
Who: Alexandra R.
Where: Dedham, Massachusetts
As a single mother, redoing an old house like this had been a dream of mine for a while, but was a daunting prospect. In July 2006, I purchased this circa-1895 Victorian. Aside from a new roof and furnace, not much had been done in at least 50 years. The plumbing vented up the exterior of the house. Much of the wiring was still knob-and-tube. The first floor had many doors and two halls, which made it feel smaller and dark.
Who: Alexandra R.
Where: Dedham, Massachusetts
Original moldings were saved and salvaged to be reused on the new larger doorway openings. The result is a space that feels more open, yet looks original. A double-hung window on the stair landing was replaced with a same era "farmer's glass" window from a salvage yard. The fireplace mantel came from behind a steam radiator, and was used for the gas fireplace in the living room. We found evidence of several decorative mantels having been in the house, but no fireplace. I hired people for the project, but worked alongside them, and I'm still working on the house.
Who did the work: I hired help
Cost: $50,000 to $100,000
Who: Patti D.
Where: Charlevoix, Michigan
We gutted to the studs, lifted the house, replaced the bond, dug the Michigan basement deeper, and poured a real cement floor. We added all new wiring, plumbing, heating, and all wood windows to replicate the original windows. Resided with cedar and painted the original colors. Restored the interior Gothic arch and double doors.
Who did the work: I hired help
Cost: More than $100,000
Who: Mike L.
Where: Wirtz, Virginia
We moved in the last day of 1999. After eight years, we have installed a new roof, new windows, and two 1,500-sq.-ft. additions. The original house contains the dining room, master bedroom, central hall, all finished. Not finished: the living room and second bedroom. The additions contain the kitchen, four baths, two bedrooms, and a family room. We saved two fireplace mantels of the five fireplaces and most of the heart pine flooring by removing and planing. Finished rooms now have raised panel wainscoting, seven-piece wood or plaster crown molding of our own making. The heating contractor and our daughter, Tanya, who did nine stained-glass windows, were the only outside help. Materials came from salvage yards when possible. The eight pillars for the front porches were purchased from the Greensboro N.C. Historical Society. We figure we have two to three years to finish our project.
Who did the work: I did most of the work myself
Who: John H.
Where: Stratford, NH
The major difference on this project is that I live in New Jersey, seven hours away, and I've commuted up there 47 times in 22 months. I kid you not. This kind of dedication does not grow on trees. Everything in this house was or will be redone, from the crumbling foundation stone wall to the top of the tower.
Who did the work: I hired help
Cost: More than $100,000
Who: Mike G.
Where: Mendota Heights, Minnesota
In the past 3½ years, we have remodeled or redecorated every room in the house, matching the classic colonial architecture of the house with classic (and hopefully timeless) materials and treatments. Next up: the landscaping.
Who did the work: I did most of the work myself
Cost: More than $100,000
Who: Paul K.
Where: Towson, Maryland
As soon as we saw the dilapidated Craftsman, we knew it was the house for us! We began by ripping down walls, ripping up red shag carpeting, taking down a cast-iron fire escape, closing up doorways, replacing all of the windows and the roof, stripping the wallpaper from EVERY room, adding crown molding and wainscoting in most rooms, painting the entire house inside and out, and re-landscaping. Oh, and tearing down a crumbling stone garage and erecting a privacy fence and a deck!
Who: Paul K.
Where: Towson, Maryland
Our two daughters, 4 and 2 at the time, helped pick out the colors for their rooms—pink, of course—and helped paint their rooms! The house renovation was a family affair, with my father-in-law and mother-in-law helping with rewiring and demolition and my mother painting doors and constantly cleaning, and my wife was the general contractor! The project took a year and a half longer than planned and cost twice as much as planned, but now we have a wonderful home for our family of five—or at least we will when I finish renovating the sun porch and the basement...does it ever end?!
Who did the work: I did most of the work myself
Who: Josh B.
Where: Danville, Vermont
After spending time working as a boat builder, I decided to come home to the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. My intention was to build a house that looked and felt like an old Vermont farmhouse, in the Greek Revival style. After five years of working on the project with friends and family, and almost having it 100 percent complete, my house caught fire.
Who: Josh B.
Where: Danville, Vermont
Devastated by the happenings, my only choice was to rebuild. After gutting and removing all the hand-hewn timbers that I had adzed the first time around we began to replace the interior frame. I salvaged flooring, lighting, windows, doors and fixtures from old barns, churches, tag sales, and salvage yards. This allowed me to save money and get the Vermont farmhouse look and feel that I wanted.
Who did the work: I did most of the work myself
Cost: More than $100,000
