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If you enjoy room makeovers, you’ll love the ROOM TOURS section on The Inspired Room.
If you’ve ever taken on the bold project of buying an extreme fixer-upper, you know some rooms aren’t salvageable with a few accessories or a pretty lamp.
It’s a bit like putting lipstick on a donkey—sometimes the room needs structural attention or a full redo before any decorating will help. When you’re on a budget, that kind of work can take time.
In our Portland house there was a lower-level room I truly disliked. For lack of a better word, it was icky: dated faux 1970s paneling that was downright hideous. It even had an unpleasant smell, so painting alone wasn’t an option.
I regret not having a true “before” photo from the very beginning (those were pre-blogging days), but I do have pictures of the demolition and the renovation process.
This room wasn’t a top priority at first, so with our limited budget it sat ugly while we finished higher-priority projects.
About two years ago we finally tackled the space to create a flexible room that could serve as a guest room and office, and someday appeal to buyers as a library, media, or game room.
Fortunately, my uncle was able to help for a few weeks and we removed the awful faux paneling. Had the walls been in good condition, paint might have worked, but in an older home quick fixes aren’t always possible. We decided to install new mahogany paneling to coordinate with the original woodwork in the nearby living room.
The living room’s original 1930s mahogany paneling inspired the makeover—the old wood’s rich character guided our choices.
We purchased mahogany panels from a lumber store and stained them to match the original woodwork. We painted the trim, doors, and ceiling antique white to create contrast with the deep, warm tones of the wood.
When we tore out the faux paneling we discovered a layer of interesting wallpaper underneath—one of those surprising finds that can appear when you start a renovation.
BEFORE WITH WINDOW
AFTER WITH DOORS
We replaced an old window with double glass doors to bring in more light and provide access to the patio. That change alone transformed the room’s feeling; it was no longer closed off from the outside.
In about a month the space went from a dingy basement room to an elegant, library-inspired room that fit the house’s style. With the room finally looking right, decorating it became a much more enjoyable prospect. We eventually moved to a new house that didn’t need major demolition, but the transformation here was rewarding.
BEFORE
AFTER
(yes, that is a deep sunken tub in the bathroom!)
If you missed my kitchen redo, see the kitchen makeover post. Or read the story of the house for more background.
Have you ever considered buying a fixer-upper? Or have you actually taken on one that required more than surface fixes? Share your extreme room makeover experiences—was the process fun, or did you regret it?
Explore ROOM TOURS by clicking the big button on the site.
