Renovating & Remodeling Skills & How Tos

You know when something doesn’t quite fit. For Violaine and Gaëtan, the style of their country kitchen just wasn’t a reflection of their preferred industrial style. A Belgian architect now living in Montreal, Gaëtan designed the new kitchen himself in his spare time. They sold the old cabinets, tiles and appliances on the internet and grabbed a hammer to start renovating. The result is unique and simply gorgeous.

It features a once-graveyard transformed into a child-friendly sanctuary. In other words, it did not disappoint.

Even more reasons to use these rental-friendly finds.

After no updates in at least 35 years, this living room was ready to shine.

Bye, mauve carpet!

If the pros won't do it, why should you?

These homeowners got their keys at 4 p.m. on a Friday, and by 6 p.m. had already started tearing out the carpet.

Name: Graeme & Rebekah Molloy Type of Project: Kitchen Remodel Location: Chautauqua Park, Des Moines, Iowa Type of building: 1920 Tudor The Renovation Diaries are a collaboration with our community in which we feature your step by step renovation progress and provide monetary support towards getting it done in style. See all of our Reno Diaries here. Graeme and Rebekah crossed the finish line!

This ruddy red (marsala?) room color is quite nice, but perhaps not entirely suited to its 2-year-old occupant, Vera. Her mother, Petra Probstner, took a big risk and painted murals on all four walls mimicking the urban landscape of Chicago that lay outside the windows. The result is, frankly, breathtaking. Amazing, right?? As you can see in the progress photo below, she taped the mural off and then filled it in with grey, mint green and peachy-pink paint. Thanks for sharing, Petra Probstner!

Last time I took a visit to Annette and Gustavo’s 100 year old craftsman home in Beachwood Canyon, we were greeted by gorgeous landscaping and one of the coziest family homes I’ve ever seen. Annette is the co-owner of lovely garden shop POTTED in Los Feliz, and her green thumb is all over the family’s recent garage remodel. They gutted the entire 420 square feet and added a fully working kitchen and bathroom, a laundry room, and access to the backyard, complete with a pool.

A "before & after" bonanza of reader-submitted projects, organized by budget.

The reclaimed wood wall has been popular for a while now, and I’ve been wanting to get the look in my garage. I love the earthy hues and honest feel of reclaimed wood, but after realizing the time it would take to scour Craigslist and salvage yards for enough material, I decided to forego that nightmare and instead pursue a DIY approach using a wood-charring method called Shou Sugi Ban.

It’s like an amazing episode of House Hunters International: photographer Jérémie Buchholtz was searching for the rare affordable apartment in Bordeaux, France, but all he could find within his price range was an abandoned and neglected 441 square foot garage primarily used to store an assortment of junk.

When Lee moved into his apartment rental, the kitchen was stark white and sterile. Check out what some color and black and white self adhesive floor tiles can do…With the help of a hair dryer, he removed the old, cracked vinyl tiles, and replaced them with Armstrong self adhesive floor tiles (cost $90). By positioning them at an angle, he created a diamond pattern that helps to distracts the eye from the railroad apartment’s “long & skinny” shape.

Chip & Jo would be proud.

Here's what you need to know.

Knocking out a wall made this space way more inviting.

There was a lot of pretty stuff hiding under all that beige paint!

Here's the great reason why.

White kitchens have their place, but these might just be better.

Buh-bye, popcorn ceiling!

And neither should you.

Our guide to whether your job needs a handyman, a contractor, a kitchen designer, or an architect.

Honestly? I'd live in this nursery.

You'll want to steal the new cabinet color ASAP.

Take it from the pros: There's a right way to do a home reno to ensure your health and safety.

Inspiring ideas for one of the most commonly neglected areas of the home.

The wallpaper will give you serious heart-eyes.

The littlest things make a huge difference.

Decidedly aspirational, but still highly inspirational.

This unexpected marriage transforms a utilitarian bathroom or kitchen into a bold style statement.

It adds character and interest to your space, without all the effort.

You'll love the newly added window seat.

It's been a go-to resource for me.

You've never seen subway tile look so moody (in the best way).

You may have to give up your gas range for the greater good.

It's a little last century, a little this century, and a lot stylish.

If your 2020 includes remodeling plans, start here.

A redo of a 1912 home's galley kitchen makes room for bold pattern.

Wall trim is a strong visual signal, conveying the architectural style of a room in a glance. Panel molding and chair rails are most closely associated with traditional homes, but wood trim in geometric and repetitive shapes can easily look modern. Use one of these ideas as an inexpensive way to transform flat surfaces with pattern and texture.

Open, airy, with farmhouse flair? Count us in.

I learned this one the hard way.

The after is SERIOUSLY dreamy.

Small done right.

It can be done.

This DIY gut job yielded seriously impressive results.

The "after" is a whole lot brighter, but still exactly right for this 140-year-old house.

We've got the expert take on where to start, and what to look for.