A new kitchen and bathroom, refinished floors and bright paint, turned this untouched-for-decades diamond in the rough into a sparkling jewel.When the homeowners bought this apartment, it had been in the previous owner’s hands since the 1970s. It was dingy and dated, but it had a great layout. Working on a very tight budget, we found a way to transform the kitchen and bathroom completely, and make the rest of the apartment look like a bright and cheery space, without inflating the cost. And because the homeowners were willing to put in some sweat equity, by doing bathroom demolition and assembling kitchen cabinets, they had room to splurge on some nicer finishes, like colorful tile and new modern furniture.
LIVING ROOM, AFTER: Refinished original parquet floors, bold colors, and freshly painted walls make this sunken living room come to life
LIVING ROOM, BEFORE: Wall-to-wall carpeting and boring white walls leave this room feeling uninspired.
DINING ROOM, BEFORE: Blank walls and a dated fixture keep this room firmly in the 1960s.
DINING ROOM, AFTER: Updated floors and lighting bring out the strong color choices in this modern dining room setup.
KITCHEN, AFTER: IKEA cabinets and open shelving help keep down the costs of this gut remodel, while full-height storage, base drawers, and streamlined pulls bring the style into the modern era.
KITCHEN, BEFORE
KITCHEN, AFTER: Added storage and a wider doorway make this tight squeeze of a galley kitchen fully functional.
MASTER BEDROOM, AFTER: Exposing the original wood floors and updating the walls and lighting bring new life to this formerly dreary bedroom.
MASTER BEDROOM, BEFORE
BATHROOM, AFTER: A fully tiled walk-in shower with a built-in bench replaces a small tub, creating a bathroom that can transition for homeowners who intend to age in place.
BEDROOM 2, AFTER
BEDROOM 2, BEFORE