To everyone who’s asked where our House Crashing posts have been — thank you for your patience. We’re excited to share this long-awaited home tour packed with inspiration, affordable finds, and a distinctly original style. Lindsay and her husband started with a house that needed a lot of work, but they saw the potential and transformed it beautifully. They’ve generously shared plenty of before-and-after photos, so let’s take a look around. Lindsay lives in Greenville, South Carolina with her husband and their Great Dane, Gracie, and she kindly invited us in for a virtual visit.
The living room’s original condition shows how much work they had ahead of them…
…and here’s that same wall after the overhaul. They removed an old laundry closet that had been in the living room and replaced it with custom bookshelves that dramatically changed the look and function of the space.
The lights above the built-ins are inexpensive outdoor fixtures from The Home Depot, priced around $20 each. The colorful, patterned rug started as a $19 thrift-store find that was all pastel — Lindsay brightened it up with fabric paint. The mid-century coffee table was a $10 thrift find, and the tufted leather sofa came from Craigslist. Lindsay also revived a leather ottoman by covering it with inexpensive rag rugs, adding color and texture on a tiny budget.
The old kitchen sat in a cramped, awkward corner of the house — so they moved it into what had been an old garage. The original kitchen footprint then became a spacious and inviting dining area.
The buffalo art and the dark woven chandelier are standout pieces. That chandelier started life as a clearance lamp from HomeGoods — Lindsay flipped it, painted it, and turned it into a dramatic focal point. The dining setup feels casual, layered, and effortless, with a mix of chairs that somehow work together perfectly. The rug was a clearance find at Garden Ridge for about $25.
The hutch is an exceptional thrift-store find for roughly $60, and the dining table was made by Lindsay’s husband based on Ana White plans for their first Christmas together. Lindsay wanted a large buffalo image blown up; she had it printed at an office store as a 3 x 5-foot black-and-white piece for under $7, mounted it onto a plexiglass sheet from Home Depot, and secured it to the wall with double-sided tape and screws for a clean, modern display.
Here’s the before photo of the room that became the new kitchen — an old garage that had been poorly converted into a bedroom, complete with carpet laid directly over concrete.
Now the space features open shelving, a colorful island, and casual, budget-friendly finishes. Lindsay leans on white throughout the house for a fresh base, then layers color, texture, and pattern through rugs, collected accessories, and paint choices. The open shelving and hood are from Ikea, and most dishes and accents were sourced secondhand. For example, a set of vintage brass and copper canisters was a $20 yard-sale find, and the kilim rug is an antique Turkish piece purchased on eBay.
This detail shot highlights the beadboard walls, farmhouse sink, and warm copper and wood accents that bring character and charm to the kitchen.
Here’s a before image of the casual sitting room — the space they call the lounge — before it was updated.
After the renovation it feels cozy and layered, with a delightful mix of textures and homey accents. The mantel remains a focal point even without a working fireplace, and playful details like a disco-ball-topped tree add personality.
The colorful candles, garlands, and stacked suitcases in front of the mantel create a charming vignette. Lindsay’s favorite score is a navajo-print rug she found during The Longest Yard Sale. She spotted it at the bottom of a trailer, negotiated to buy it for $5 despite its dirtiness, and walked away thrilled with the find.
The mudroom area mixes rustic wood, a shiny silver clock, and layered textiles for a lived-in, cozy feel — a small but thoughtful space that sets the tone for the home.
Lindsay and her husband didn’t stop inside. They turned a dirt backyard into a welcoming outdoor living space by installing a crushed-granite patio — an affordable option that adds casual charm. They furnished it with a free secondhand wicker sofa, a chiminea, and a low, industrial-style coffee table found at an antique yard.
The outdoor dining area is wonderfully eclectic: a homemade picnic table, a collection of mismatched thrift-store chairs (mostly $5 each), and a relaxed atmosphere perfect for gatherings. The mix-and-match approach is a clear through-line in their decorating — effortless, layered, and full of personality.
A big thank-you to Lindsay, her husband, and Gracie for letting us peek into their thoughtfully crafted home. Their creativity, thrift-store finds, and DIY spirit make this house feel both collected and cozy. Now for the favorite-part game: the chandelier-turned-lamp and the built-ins in the living room are my picks; Lindsay’s husband gets dibs on the colorful kitchen island and the dining hutch. What are yours?
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