Best Whole House Before and Afters 2008
2
×
Before: Queen Anne Top Sliced Off
Before: Queen Anne Top Sliced Off
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.
3
×
Rescued Queen Anne Beauty: After
Rescued Queen Anne Beauty: After
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
4
×
Pre-War Bungalow: Before
Pre-War Bungalow: Before
Who: Justin P.
Where: Grapevine, Texas
When I purchased this 1947 Bungalow, there were no walls, ceilings, or floors. The house sat abandoned for about 4 years, and we think it was a product of some sort of black mold scam.
5
×
Pre-War Bungalow: After
Pre-War Bungalow: After
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
6
×
Frat House Reclaimed: Before
Frat House Reclaimed: Before
Who: Mike C.
Where: Chico, California
This is a 1903 house that we bought in 2003. It had been a fraternity house for the previous 17 years.
7
×
Frat House Reclaimed: After
Frat House Reclaimed: After
Who: Mike C.
Where: Chico, California
We did a whole-house remodel, converting into three separate flats: a five-bedroom unit on the top floor, four-bedroom unit in the middle, and a three-bedroom unit in the basement.
Who did the work: I hired help
8
×
Turn-of-the-Century Victorian: Before
Turn-of-the-Century Victorian: Before
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.
9
×
Turn-of-the-Century Victorian: After
Turn-of-the-Century Victorian: After
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
10
×
Gothic Revival: Before
Gothic Revival: Before
Who: Patti D.
Where: Charlevoix, Michigan
An 1860s Gothic Revival home, left in disrepair for years.
11
×
Gothic Revival: After
Gothic Revival: After
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
12
×
1700s Brick Federal: Before
1700s Brick Federal: Before
Who: Mike L.
Where: Wirtz, Virginia
1771 brick Federal, a basket case. Roof leaking, windows broken, abandoned for 30 years. Floor ruined by a leaky roof, brick needing tuck-pointing.
13
×
1700s Brick Federal: After
1700s Brick Federal: After
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
14
×
The Return of the Queen Anne: Before
The Return of the Queen Anne: Before
Who: John H.
Where: Stratford, New Hampshire
Total renovation of this Queen Anne in Stratford, New Hampshire. Did much of the work myself, with help from some local guys on the bigger stuff.
15
×
The Return of the Queen Anne: After
The Return of the Queen Anne: After
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
16
×
Classed Up Colonial: Living Room After
Classed Up Colonial: Living Room After
Who: Mike G.
Where: Mendota Heights, Minnesota
Our house is not very "old" (built in 1988) but was in desperate need of remodeling when we bought it in 2004. The entire house was trapped in the quintessential 1980's "honey oak."
17
×
Classed-Up Colonial: Kitchen After
Classed-Up Colonial: Kitchen After
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
18
×
Craftsman Comeback: Before
Craftsman Comeback: Before
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!
19
×
Craftsman Comeback: After
Craftsman Comeback: After
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
20
×
Hand-Built Farmhouse: Before
Hand-Built Farmhouse: Before
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.
21
×
Hand-Built Farmhouse: After
Hand-Built Farmhouse: After
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