A British woman has transformed a rundown Victorian house into the home of her dreams, buying the property for just 1 pound (US$1.27) after it sat unoccupied for 15 years. Maxine Sharples from Liverpool in England learned about her city’s 1-pound home scheme since she lived locally around the homes for sale. She applied in…
Woman Transforms Rundown $1.27 House Into a Stunning Home, Here’s How It Looks
Man Transforms Abandoned 1940s Water Tower Into $2.5 Million Luxury Home—Here’s How It Looks Inside
In a massively ambitious renovation, a British man has transformed an abandoned water tower from the 1940s into a unique luxury home worth millions. The concrete water tower, which was built in the 1940s, is situated at Clovelly Cross, about 15 minutes from the port town of Bideford in southwest England. It was decommissioned in…
For More Attic Space, Build With Special Trusses
Dear James: I want to use my attic area for storage and a new room addition I am planning. My contractor says the trusses will block the space. Is he correct?—Jason U. Dear Jason: Look for a new contractor. Special designs of roof trusses are available, some not priced much higher than standard trusses, specifically…
3 Men Buy Abandoned High School and Turn It Into Luxury Apartments—Here’s How It Looks Now
A group of three men with grand ambitions have turned an abandoned high school building into 31 luxury apartments. With the success of this massive renovation, they’re doing it all over again with the high school across the street. When Pittsburgh realtor Jesse Wig found the abandoned former Auberle Education Center in Homestead, Pennsylvania, listed for…
How to Make Your Bathroom Floor Warm
You may find this hard to believe, but I didn’t build the house I currently live in. It’s a long story, but this current house in central New Hampshire was supposed to be a transition home while I built a Queen Anne Victorian house for my family. Those plans were dashed by the horrible economic…
Use Aromatic Cedar Wood to Line Closet
Dear James: Our bedroom has a cedar closet, but the scent is almost gone, and I plan to build a second cedar closet. How can I restore the scent, and do you have any tips for the new one?—Melanie F. Dear Melanie: Cedar closets are not as common as they used to be, but they…
Husband Buys Wife’s Childhood Historic Home Built in 1906, Transforms It Back to Its Former Glory
Brimming with history and wistful ruminations, Jessica Miller’s old childhood home sits nestled on Union Street in the heart of downtown Concord, North Carolina. She and her family first moved in around the late 1980s, but its once-glorious Edwardian architecture—displaying a grand columned façade—was originally erected in 1906 by the Archibalds, according to the current…
Remodeling Your Home? Get Everything in Writing
By Katherine Reynolds Lewis From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance A successful home renovation begins with a contract. When you and a contractor agree to terms in writing, there’s less chance of disputes and greater likelihood that the work will be done within the price and time frame you expect. “A contract is about managing expectations,” says…
Couple Breathes New Life Into Crumbling 17th Century Farmhouse in Epic 4-Year Renovation
A young couple with a growing family near Munich, Germany, were inspired to undertake an epic home renovation by a huge empty farmhouse owned by their family since the 17th century. The project grew far larger than they had anticipated, but now, four years later, they have created a masterpiece they can proudly call home….
Renovating an Old Building
Not a week goes by that I don’t receive an email asking me about what’s involved in renovating an old building. Most who reach out to me realize it can be an expensive endeavor, but the allure of restoring a sound old building to either its former glory or transforming it into an attractive modern…
-
Recent Posts
-
Archives
- May 2025
- April 2025
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- September 2013
- July 2013
- March 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- December 1
-
Meta