Before & After

Before & After: Decorating a 1950s Bungalow

Michelle and Brian are newlyweds enjoying first-time home ownership in a 1950s bungalow. She says, "It's been a labor of love, and we’ve enjoyed the challenge of turning our small, dark space into a bright and happy one." Here's how ... Keep Reading

Adding a New Bathroom to an Upstairs Landing

Erin wrote me about the master bath they added to their house. This is how the upstairs landing looked before, when it was "nothing but a useless dormer area with a low ceiling that few normal-sized people could even walk into." And ... Keep Reading

“Farmhousing Up” a Basic Bathroom

Andrea's bathroom was okay before, but it bugged her that it didn't fit with the style of the rest of their home: "We live in a 122-year old farmhouse, and this cookie-cutter bathroom just didn't cut it. So we brightened and farmhoused this ... Keep Reading

Stefania’s Bathroom Remodel in Italy

I love hearing from readers in other countries about their house projects. This one comes from Stefania, who says: "The renovation process is very complicated in Italy because our walls are made of bricks and tiles are cemented on walls ... Keep Reading

After a Fire: Restoring a Queen Anne Victorian in Maryland

A reader named Joy wrote me about her historic Queen Anne Victorian known as the Brady House in Garrett Park, Maryland. It was built in the 1890s for the town's mayor. She and her husband bought it after it had been severely damaged by ... Keep Reading