Best Before and After Home Renovations

Erica George Dines

Face it: we all love a Cinderella story, especially when it’s something as simple and inspiring as a one-day porch makeover. Have a weekend or longer? Choose to tackle something a little more complicated and create your own before-and-after story. Home renovation can be tough, stressful, and downright unpleasant. Don’t think of it that way. Instead, consider yourself armed with our best home renovation ideas, and your own creativity–which means the sky’s the limit. We’ve gathered some of our favorite home renovation ideas here, so whether it’s a drab kitchen, an awkward porch, or a bland bedroom, we’ve got ideas here for you. Need some inspiration? Look no further than this collection of before and after renovations–some are as simple as the right fresh shade of paint, and others might inspire a more involved renovation project. Whatever the case, get ready for pots of paint, loads of linens, and tons of tile.

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Before: One-Day Porch Makeover

Laurey W. Glenn

When homeowners Kelly and Walker Burley moved in to their farmhouse in Cullman, AL, they focused on the interior of the home. As a result, the outside became a collecting ground for a hodgepodge of furniture that was the wrong scale and size for the space.

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After: One-Day Porch Makeover

Laurey W. Glenn

With a few easy and cheerful touches, this porch went from drab to fab. Furnishings with an interior influence like the rug, sofa, and lamps look great in an outdoor room too. Colorful blooming containers in varying sizes create a garden setting.

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Before: Drab & Dark Kitchen

Have you recently bought an older house with “good bones” that’s sorely in need of a remodel? Or has your tiny, isolated kitchen bothered you for years? Whether you’re just starting to dream or ready to bring in the wrecking ball, these stories of renovation and remodeling will fill you with inspiration. Our editors have compiled this collection of our most creative and clever makeovers—loaded with ideas and advice from some of the South’s best designers and architects. Get ready to let the dust fly!

Here, in our first "before" kitchen, the old, dark wood cabinetry; a heavy island; and a dark brick stove enclosure made the large room feel cramped.See more of this Lighten Up Kitchen Update

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After: Lightened Up Kitchen

Erica George Dines

Designer Suzanne Kasler painted everything white for a serene feel and replaced the cabinetry to strengthen its architectural envelope. With Design Galleria’s Matthew Quinn, she designed the floor-to-ceiling cabinets and a handsome, furniture-like island. Glass door fronts lighten the main wall. Alabama white marble countertops, a white tile backsplash, and neutral barstools add texture to the monochromatic look.

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Before: An Entertainer's Kitchen

Nadia NeJamie, a real estate agent in Washington, D.C., sees kitchens all the time. So when she decided to update the one in her 1914 Foursquare Colonial, she knew exactly how to relay her wishes to her interior designer, Christopher Patrick. “You can always tell a seventies or eighties kitchen,” says Nejaime, whose kitchen was last renovated in 2000. “What I craved was something classic—nothing super trendy that would go out of style in 10 years. And I wanted white. If you can see the dirt, you know it’s time to clean it!”

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After: An Entertainer's Kitchen

Robert Radifera

A new island serves as a buffet when entertaining. The bold color of the base cabinets (Blue Lagoon; omegacabinetry.com) and warm walnut top make it the focal point of the room. Nejaime wanted the kitchen to feel inspired by the history of the house,” says Patrick. Handmade glazed subway tile, marble countertops, and more traditional cabinet doors—Shaker style with bead detailing—all feel classic. “Even the hardware has a vintage feel: The flair on the edges is inspired by 1920s materials. Hiding the fridge, dishwasher, and vent hood behind cabinetry gives the kitchen a seamless look and disguises modern amenities.

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Before: Not-Too-Bad Den

Walls of windows made this room architecturally pleasing, but a blank white canvas screamed for a little color.

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After: Colorful & Cozy Den

Photo: Erica George Dines

An all-white palette spills over from the kitchen to the family room for a light-filled and timeless look. With its walls of windows, the room didn’t need much architecturally, so Suzanne strategically layered in color and patterns. Dark accents in small doses, such as the newly refinished dark wood floors and wooden coffee table, contrast with the white backdrop without overwhelming it. Suzanne softened the look with a floral pattern upholstered onto slipper chairs, which is repeated for emphasis in adjacent spaces.

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Before: Stark Seating Area

Before, the breakfast nook was a light-filled space, but it lacked warmth.

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After: Sunny Breakfast Nook

Photo: Erica George Dines

Suzanne transformed the existing windowed corner into a cozy eating area with substantial built-in benches that mimic the kitchen cabinetry and provide extra storage. To make the space intimate, she placed slipcovered armchairs on one side of the metal bistro table and colorful draperies above the pillowed benches on the other side.

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Before: Claustrophobic Water Closet

The existing bath was overly decorated, a bit claustrophobic, and without adequate closet space.

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After: Elegant Master Bath

Photo: Erica George Dines

The room was stripped down to the studs, leaving only the windows intact. Valuable floorspace was saved with narrow vanities. Just above, recessed niches with inset mirrors offer the feeling of more space. Pavers made of white marble further the airy feel underfoot.

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Before: Lake House Living Room

When Southern Living Style Director Heather Chadduck Hillegas got the call from a childhood friend to renovate and decorate a cottage on Arkasas' Greers Ferry Lake, she didn't have to think twice.

Here, a stained cedar ceiling paired with stone columns give the living room a heavy feel.

See more of this Nature-Inspired Lake House

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After: Lake House Living Room

Photo: Erica George Dines

The juxtaposition of wood-clad walls and ceilings with the original stone columns and concrete floors plays up Heather’s textural, earthy palette and strikes the right balance between cozy rustic and modern industrial. She painted the stained cedar ceiling to brighten the space and then added bench-cushion sofas, a foot-friendly sisal rug, a large overhead light fixture, and a one-of-a-kind coffee table.

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Before: Lake House Kitchen

The tucked-away kitchen was dark but had good bones.

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After: Lake House Kitchen

Photo: Nancy Nolan

Heather brightened the space with a backsplash made of 3- by 6-inch honed Carrara marble subway tiles and installed a grid of 16 flush-mount light fixtures controlled by a dimmer switch to cast even light throughout. To pick up the gray tones in the floor, she selected durable, hand-poured, concrete countertops.

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Before: Lake House Dining Room

The dining room had lots of natural light, but heavy beams in the ceiling closed in the space.

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After: Lake House Dining Room

Photo: Nancy Nolan

Beams were removed to allow more light to enter the room from above. Heather designed a 12-foot wooden table with a beveled zinc top to fit the narrow room. Two giant lanterns lend symmetry and balance and set the area apart from the surrounding spaces. With a skylight overhead and an expansive windowed wall, the room feels at one with nature.

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Before: Lake House Guest Room

A soaring ceiling made this space rife with possibilities.

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After: Lake House Guest Room

Photo: Nancy Nolan

Three space-saving bunk beds stack all the way to the nearly 20-foot ceiling in the guest quarters. Heather opted for an arrangement of four chairs in a circle to facilitate conversation. For a grand yet earthy statement overhead, a 6-foot-tall empire chandelier made of rope fills the space above eye level.

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Before: Lake House Screened Porch

A set of cabinets lacks the authority to be a focal point of the space.

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After: Lake House Screened Porch

Photo: Nancy Nolan

The addition of a large stacked-stone fireplace creates a focal point, adds a heat source, and visually links the porch with the rock columns inside the home. Heather flanked the fireplace with handy storage for stacked wood. The furniture is made with weather-resistant materials (teak, indoor/outdoor textiles, and water-resistant cushion fill).

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Before: Neutral Update Living Room

Lindsay Bond Meadows had a lot of listening up to do when she set out to redecorate the home of a young family. To achieve the understated elegance she wanted, Lindsey couldn't wait to rid the rooms of their heavy window coverings and dark walls.

In the living room, dark colors dominated the palette making it a heavy space.

See more of this Neutral Home Update

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After: Neutral Update Living Room

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Losing the dark colors, window headers, and formal draperies, Lindsey created a blank slate. New window shades welcome natural light, and black-and-white geometric prints make the room current. She reupholstered the sofa (formerly pink) in a white outdoor fabric, which resulted in a more up-to-date piece with classic lines.

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Before: Neutral Update Breakfast Room

This nook needed a complete overhaul that included banishing the dark furniture and heavy chandelier.

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After: Neutral Update Breakfast Room

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Creating a sunny nook here meant starting over. Lindsey chose a lacquered table that reflects light and a contemporary take on a traditional candelabra. She surrounded the table with rustic chairs and an upholstered bench, mixing in shades of white in varying textures.

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Before: Neutral Update Kitchen

The kitchen layout works, but the color and accessories were in need of an update.

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After: Neutral Update Kitchen

Keeping the existing cabinetry, Lindsey looked to finishes and furnishings to give this cookspace a fresh feel. Soft gray paint coats the original olive cabinets, making the kitchen’s palette cohesive with the rest of the house. Lindsey replaced the stainless steel backsplash with subway tile (grouted in dark gray for a graphic look) and gave the existing barstools a face-lift with simple slipcovers made of durable outdoor fabric.

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Before: Neutral Update Den

Oversized furniture cluttered and dwarfed the space.

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After: Neutral Update Den

Lindsey simplified the seating with a few large yet sleek pieces. A collection of patterned pillows maximizes visual interest. She strategically framed the view by hanging draperies over the walls instead of the windows.

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Before: Neutral Update Dining Room

A lack of light was an issue in this dining room, pre-renovation. Brown walls and brown-on-brown furniture made it a dreary space.

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After: Neutral Update Dining Room

Light was definitely in order here. Brown walls were painted white, and brown-on-brown furniture was shown the door. Chairs upholstered in off-white leather lend a smooth look. a round, chunky,stone table replaced the oval one, which didn’t suit the room’s dimensions. Lindsey left the existing chandelier for a spot of glamour overhead. Up the wow factor—go with open shelving with distinctive lines for an artful display area.

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Before: Historic Single House Front Exterior

Olivia and Walker Brock looked at dozens of Charleston’s iconic Single Houses before they found one with their coveted “Three Ps”—porch, privacy, and parking. Unfortunately, the house lacked a fourth “P”—period authenticity. Olivia, who has a master’s degree in historic preservation, considered every detail, from the shutters to the light switches, to make sure they were appropriate to the home’s era.

At the front of the house, the existing period-discordant, ornate fence and iron gate were hampering the charm.

See more of this Charleston Rebuild with Character

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After: Historic Single House Front Exterior

Photo: Francesco Lagnese

With the multi-storied porches restored, the couple replaced the existing fence and gate with welcoming wooden ones. Clapboard siding was painted a light green with cream trim, and the fixtures were backdated with reproductions. Not least, the front door was painted a classic navy.

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Before: Historic Single House Living Room

Thick, formal moldings and faux plaster fireplace appliqués seemed out of place.

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After: Historic Single House Living Room

Photo: Francesco Lagnese

The homeowners removed the moldings and appliqués and simplified the room’s architecture. They also added bookshelves on either side of the fireplace and replaced louvered plantation shutters with solid panels hinged in three places to perfectly align with the windowpane muntins. They coated the walls in shades of gray for a warm, subtle backdrop and filled the room with accents that lend an English Colonial flavor.

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Before: Historic Single House Kitchen

The existing kitchen looked dark and dreary.

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Our Most Inspiring Before & After Makeovers

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Before: One-Day Porch Makeover

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After: One-Day Porch Makeover

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Before: Drab & Dark Kitchen

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After: Lightened Up Kitchen

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Before: An Entertainer's Kitchen

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After: An Entertainer's Kitchen

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Before: Not-Too-Bad Den

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After: Colorful & Cozy Den

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Before: Stark Seating Area

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After: Sunny Breakfast Nook

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Before: Claustrophobic Water Closet

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After: Elegant Master Bath

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Before: Lake House Living Room

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After: Lake House Living Room

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Before: Lake House Kitchen

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After: Lake House Kitchen

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Before: Lake House Dining Room

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After: Lake House Dining Room

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Before: Lake House Guest Room

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After: Lake House Guest Room

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Before: Lake House Screened Porch

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After: Lake House Screened Porch

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Before: Neutral Update Living Room

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After: Neutral Update Living Room

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Before: Neutral Update Breakfast Room

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After: Neutral Update Breakfast Room