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If you enjoy room transformations, you’ll love the ROOM TOURS section on The Inspired Room.
If you’ve ever taken on the ambitious idea of buying an extreme fixer‑upper, you know some rooms can’t be saved with just a few accessories or a pretty lamp.
It’s a bit like putting lipstick on a donkey — sometimes a room needs work from the studs out. When you’re on a tight budget, those larger repairs can take time.
In our Portland house there was a lower-level room I truly disliked. The faux 1970s paneling made it feel icky. The smell alone convinced me painting wouldn’t be enough — it had to go.
I regret not having a true before photo from the 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 limited funds it stayed ugly for a couple of years while we tackled other projects.
About two years ago we finally moved forward, planning the space as a guest room and office with flexibility to later appeal to buyers as a library, media, or game room.
Thankfully my uncle had time to help remove the old paneling. If the existing walls had been in good condition, paint might have done the trick. With an older home, quick fixes aren’t always possible. We chose to install new mahogany paneling to match the original woodwork in the main living room down the hall.
The original 1930s mahogany in the living room became our inspiration — the wood’s rich tone and character guided the makeover.
We purchased mahogany panels from a lumber supplier, stained them to complement the original paneling, and painted the trim, doors, and ceiling antique white to contrast with the deep wood tones.
When the faux paneling came out, we even discovered an interesting wallpaper underneath — a reminder that demolition can reveal unexpected layers of a home’s history.
BEFORE WITH WINDOW
AFTER WITH DOORS
We replaced an old window with double glass doors to bring in more light and provide direct access to the patio. That change alone transformed the feel of the room; it was no longer closed off to the outdoors.
In about a month the space went from a dingy basement room to a refined, library‑inspired room that suited the house’s original style. Now that the room looks right, decorating it will be far more enjoyable — though we moved before getting to that chapter, to a new home that didn’t need major repairs.
BEFORE
AFTER
(yes, that is a deep sunken tub in the bathroom!)
If you missed the kitchen redo, you can find that project in the archives. There’s also a post that tells the story of the house and the larger renovation journey.
Have you ever considered buying a fixer‑upper? Or did you actually buy one that needed more than a fresh coat of paint? Share your extreme makeover experiences — was the process rewarding or regrettable?
Explore ROOM TOURS and discover more inspiring transformations.
