Leigh and her partner did impressive work renovating their Baltimore rowhouse from the ground up. Here’s her account of the project:
I’m a regular reader of your blog and wanted to share part of our before-and-after transformation in our Baltimore rowhouse. More than a year ago we began renovating after paying a contractor far too much to redo our kitchen. After that experience, we decided to handle almost everything ourselves. We haven’t photographed the entire house yet, but here are photos showing the main living area’s transformation. From installing recessed lighting and new wood floors to framing, drywall, and exposing the brick, we did it all. I never want to go through a renovation like that again, but I’m extremely proud of the hard work my boyfriend and I put in. We learned many valuable skills—personally, I never thought I could install wood floors!
The results are striking. Leigh and her partner took control of the project, learned practical renovation skills, and preserved character—like the exposed brick along the staircase. Their story is a great example of how homeowners can tackle major updates themselves with persistence and care. Thanks to Leigh for sharing the photos and the candid account of the work involved. If you have before-and-after photos of your own renovation, consider sharing them to inspire others.