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In the past couple years, we all spent an unprecedented amount of time in our homes. So no wonder so many people rolled up their sleeves and decided to either fix things that had been bugging them for too long to remember, or just go into full DIY renovation mode. And truth to be told, not everyone seems to have succeeded, as this previous article we published recently suggests.

But this time, we are taking a look at the incredible examples of renovation projects that completely transformed people’s homes. Whether it’s brightening up a blank room by repainting walls, redecorating an entire apartment, remodeling a living room, or creating something entirely new from scratch, like a bookcase that perfectly blends into the wall, there’s no limit to people’s persistence and creativity.

And thanks to this great online group on Reddit that’s devoted to sharing original content of “real people and their real rooms,” we have a lot of wonderful inspiration to scroll through. Upvote your favorite home renewal projects and ideas, and if you’re also working on something like this, be sure to share it in the comment section!

#1

The After And Before Of My Teeny Tiny Studio Apartment In NYC

The After And Before Of My Teeny Tiny Studio Apartment In NYC

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GoddessOdd
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A place for everything, and everything in it's place. Very comfy looking.

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#2

The Before And The After

The Before And The After

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GoddessOdd
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

GREAT desk. I had a giant L shaped desk, but I gave it away because it was so huge and heavy... now I wish I still had it.

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#3

Small Bathroom Remodel. Before&after

Small Bathroom Remodel. Before&after

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GoddessOdd
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I saved the 'after' photo to show my designer... it's definitely my style.

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In order to find out more about common home improvement and renovation mistakes to avoid, Bored Panda reached out to Philippa Mainthe professional realtor from Tampa Bay who went viral for her brilliant and insanely funny listing description about “the worst house on the street” a while back. Philippa happily shared some very useful advice with our readers, so if you have a project on your mind, be sure to see what she had to say.

The realtor explained that there are so many errors people make when doing home renovations, but they can be summed up by the idea that it is more expensive to try to do something cheaply. “Because it will inevitably cost you more in the long run when it has to be redone in order to make it right,” she added.

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#4

Before And After Renovation Of My Tiny Scottish Apartment Bathroom

Before And After Renovation Of My Tiny Scottish Apartment Bathroom

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#5

Bathroom DIY Upgrade. Before And After

Bathroom DIY Upgrade. Before And After

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kate h
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nice except that center cabinet. I have always hated them - they look awkward and take up counter space. There are better options if you truly need more storage space. (which this particular bathroom does not - plenty in the cabinets below.)

Blue Purple
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Personally, I feel it would look a lot bigger without the center cabinet, not that it looks bad now tho :)

Okiedokie
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The pillar between the sinks would drive me nuts, but otherwise it's beautiful.

Gerard Neaux
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Astounding change after painting and changing the shape of the mirrors. The best one so far

Curtis Seal
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why are soft grays and chalky aquatic colors just so comforting

Joan Zatorski
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lovely job! But I agree about removing the center vertical storage; it makes the space feel too closed in. Otherwise, a beautiful job!

Random Panda
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Personally I prefer the before cabinet color. I really don't like that gray.

Klaatu Verrata (Cough)
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not a fan of the center column. It looked awkward in both pictures. Out of place. Otherwise, great job.

Satan Laughs
Community Member
2 years ago

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Paint and store-bought mirrors. New light fixtures. New rugs. New sink. New hardware. New floor. Other than that, DIY. Seriously.

Random Panda
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You seem to have a very narrow view of what DIY means. If they installed all the new stuff themselves, then it's DIY.

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#6

Before And After Of My Small Apartment Kitchen. I Don't Miss The Orange! (Louth, Ireland)

Before And After Of My Small Apartment Kitchen. I Don't Miss The Orange! (Louth, Ireland)

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MyOpinionHasBeenServed
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My theory why apartments are often brown, beige, yellow-ish orange is to hide the nicotine so when a smoker moves out the landlord won't feel they have to clean and paint everything. I had to wash all my walls and every fixture was splattered in orange nicotine in my suite.

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Another common mistake to avoid when renovating a home is hiring unlicensed professionals to do the work, and that’s very common practice among people. “I had a client go under contract on a home recently that was in the process of having a covered patio installed,” Philippa recounted.

“During inspections (before the covered roof was even complete) the home inspector discovered none of it was up to code and it could have potentially been a hazard in high wind situations. In order for it to pass county inspections and for the buyer to feel comfortable moving forward with buying the home, the sellers had to replace the entire structure. So they paid once for it to be done poorly, then paid to have the materials removed, and then paid for new materials and for a professional to properly install it.”

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Philippa continued: “On top of that, the unqualified person they first hired to do the job actually ruined the main roof of the home during the installation, so they had to hire a roofer to repair their roof as well.” The realtor assured that all that could have been avoided if they had hired a professional who was licensed and insured to do that kind of job from the start.

#7

Living Room After/Before, Nova Scotia

Living Room After/Before, Nova Scotia

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Mazer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Love it. You might think about putting UV blocker tint on the windows, that sunshine is going to fade everything super fast.

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#8

Before And After Of My Patio

Before And After Of My Patio

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#9

I Remodeled My Parent’s Upstate NY Kitchen During Covid. I Did A Lot Of This By Hand, Myself And This Is My First Time Ever Doing Anything Like It. I Had A Blast. Would Love To Hear Your Thoughts! Before And After(S) Below!

I Remodeled My Parent’s Upstate NY Kitchen During Covid. I Did A Lot Of This By Hand, Myself And This Is My First Time Ever Doing Anything Like It. I Had A Blast. Would Love To Hear Your Thoughts! Before And After(S) Below!

NYsoul Report

Another useful tip from the realtor is knowing what to save on and what not to. “People may try to save $200 by not pulling a permit, but when a buyer discovers that when the owner goes to sell, it could cost the seller a lost sale or thousands of dollars to get it properly permitted after the fact,” she said.

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“One of my biggest pet peeves is when people replace flooring but only some of it, especially when the areas are adjoining (like replacing the carpet in the living room with wood plank, but leaving the kitchen that connects to it with original 1980s ceramic tile). It makes it difficult for the new owner to properly match it (even if you leave them materials) because of the way the floor is installed, so they either have to live with the ugly tile, or pay to replace the whole floor,” Philippa explained.

#10

A Before And After Ft. A Poor Man's Backsplash - Done While Being Stuck At Home. Detroit, Mi

A Before And After Ft. A Poor Man's Backsplash - Done While Being Stuck At Home. Detroit, Mi

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#11

Living Room Before & After

Living Room Before & After

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#12

Above Pic Is Before We Moved Into Our New House In Ohio.... Bottom Pic Is After A Solid Paint Job!! Feels So Much More Open And Airy Now And I Love It

Above Pic Is Before We Moved Into Our New House In Ohio.... Bottom Pic Is After A Solid Paint Job!! Feels So Much More Open And Airy Now And I Love It

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GoddessOdd
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It does brighten the place up. I am always torn about painting wood trim. I've spent a lot of time stripping bad paint jobs off beautiful old millwork, but as you've shown so well, it really changes the feel of the room.

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#13

Bedroom Makeover For My 9 Year Old Son. Denver, Co. After vs. Before

Bedroom Makeover For My 9 Year Old Son. Denver, Co. After vs. Before

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#14

Dull Stairway, Before And After. Scotland, UK

Dull Stairway, Before And After. Scotland, UK

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GoddessOdd
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That really brightened things up, didn't it? Going upstairs looks like a good thing now!

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#16

Under $100 Bathroom Overhaul In My Jellybean Rowhouse; St. John’s, Newfoundland

Under $100 Bathroom Overhaul In My Jellybean Rowhouse; St. John’s, Newfoundland

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ispeak catanese
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Jellybean row houses are row homes with adorable exterior paint jobs. Had to look it up.

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#17

Before And After Of Lake Side Cottage In Ontario, Canada.

Before And After Of Lake Side Cottage In Ontario, Canada.

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Laura Jackson
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Really captured that coastal vibe with the white and blue. Perfect for lakeside living!

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#18

Hexagons Are The Bestagons. Bathroom Remodel In San José, Ca.

Hexagons Are The Bestagons. Bathroom Remodel In San José, Ca.

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Deja Katz
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As much as I like the monochrome bathroom style it’s become quite common. Which means it’s probably going to date quickly. It can be hard to choose styling that’s bang up to date but different enough to avoid cookie-cutter trends.

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#19

Before And After Of My Renovated Bathroom - Nj

Before And After Of My Renovated Bathroom - Nj

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#20

Before & After, Rennovated Hallway. 1890's Victorian Terraced, UK

Before & After, Rennovated Hallway. 1890's Victorian Terraced, UK

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Mazer
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The light, door and floor make such a big difference

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#21

My Parents’ Family Home They Bought In 2007 And Renovated Themselves! So Proud Of Their Vision And Work

My Parents’ Family Home They Bought In 2007 And Renovated Themselves! So Proud Of Their Vision And Work

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#22

Our Kitchen Renovation In Bath, England, Before & After

Our Kitchen Renovation In Bath, England, Before & After

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#23

Our Bathroom Is Complete. Total Gut, New Subfloor, Added Window, Moved Plumbing From The Floor Into The Wall

Our Bathroom Is Complete. Total Gut, New Subfloor, Added Window, Moved Plumbing From The Floor Into The Wall

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#24

Our Living Room, Brooklyn, NY (After / Before)

Our Living Room, Brooklyn, NY (After / Before)

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GoddessOdd
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You are so lucky to have such high ceilings, and the new couch makes the place look bigger.

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#25

Our Bathroom Remodel In Austin, Tx. Before And After

Our Bathroom Remodel In Austin, Tx. Before And After

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Mazer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Soooooo much better. I never would have considered that flooring but it pulls everything together

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#26

Feb 2020 To July 2020. I Wanted To Make My 650sq Ft Apartment A Place I Can Actually Feel Comfortable During The Quarantine! (Excuse The Laundry On The Floor) - Astoria, NY

Feb 2020 To July 2020. I Wanted To Make My 650sq Ft Apartment A Place I Can Actually Feel Comfortable During The Quarantine! (Excuse The Laundry On The Floor) - Astoria, NY

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#27

Living Room Before-And-After. Had To Work With The Existing Dining Table And Chairs, And Media Cabinet. Feels More Home-Y Now!

Living Room Before-And-After. Had To Work With The Existing Dining Table And Chairs, And Media Cabinet. Feels More Home-Y Now!

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#28

Redid My Bathroom During Quarantine (Aurora, Co)

Redid My Bathroom During Quarantine (Aurora, Co)

coloradoguy1989 Report

#29

Before & After Of Bedroom Office Space (Atlanta,ga)

Before & After Of Bedroom Office Space (Atlanta,ga)

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GoddessOdd
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Very cool lighting, but I love the floor lamp in the 'before' photo

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#30

Ensuite Redesign Incl Before & After Pics, Norwich, UK

Ensuite Redesign Incl Before & After Pics, Norwich, UK

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#31

Seattle Retro-Renovation! I Turned My Ugly Powder Room Into An Atomic Half Bath

Seattle Retro-Renovation! I Turned My Ugly Powder Room Into An Atomic Half Bath

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#32

Pretty Proud Of This Project That I Completed By Myself Here In New Jersey!

Pretty Proud Of This Project That I Completed By Myself Here In New Jersey!

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#33

Dining Room - Edmonton, Ab

Dining Room - Edmonton, Ab

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#34

Covid Delayed Our Couch Delivery By Almost 12 Weeks But It Was Absolutely Worth The Wait! [lakeville, Mn]

Covid Delayed Our Couch Delivery By Almost 12 Weeks But It Was Absolutely Worth The Wait! [lakeville, Mn]

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Mazer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love that odd little end table, I have never seen on like it before. So cute. The couch is miles better, I love the color

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#35

Kitchen Update - Bristol, UK

Kitchen Update - Bristol, UK

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#36

Before And After Of My Kitchen Update

Before And After Of My Kitchen Update

Jenniferdean1492 Report

#37

Finally Finishing Out Our 4 Month Kitchen Reno [reston, Va]

Finally Finishing Out Our 4 Month Kitchen Reno [reston, Va]

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Mazer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Knocking that wall out was genius!!! And putting in the island in place of the L shaped counter. Spot on

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#38

We Bought A Fixer Upper. Here’s The Before And After Of Our Living Room! Tulsa, Ok

We Bought A Fixer Upper. Here’s The Before And After Of Our Living Room! Tulsa, Ok

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#41

Dartmouth, Nova Scotia - I Just Finished My Bathroom Reno!!! It Took A Month And I Had To Shower In My Backyard Through The Whole Thing

Dartmouth, Nova Scotia - I Just Finished My Bathroom Reno!!! It Took A Month And I Had To Shower In My Backyard Through The Whole Thing

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#42

Guest Bedroom Before And After | Austin, Tx

Guest Bedroom Before And After | Austin, Tx

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Deja Katz
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would rotate the rug to lie lengthwise, but that’s just me. The after photo looks so fresh and light

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#43

Before And After Of Our Kitchen Upgrade / Sydney, Australia

Before And After Of Our Kitchen Upgrade / Sydney, Australia

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Norma
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I LOVE a white kitchen. Easy to see where the crud actually is and keep clean!!

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#44

After 5 Years, We Finally Updated Our Ugly Master Bathroom!

After 5 Years, We Finally Updated Our Ugly Master Bathroom!

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#45

Just Wanted To Share My (Mostly) DIY Bathroom Reno. I'm Proud Of Myself And I Hope You Guys Dig It! :)

Just Wanted To Share My (Mostly) DIY Bathroom Reno. I'm Proud Of Myself And I Hope You Guys Dig It! :)

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#46

Makeover Of Our Tiny Kitchen. Still Small But Now Cleaner And More Functional - Manila, Phl

Makeover Of Our Tiny Kitchen. Still Small But Now Cleaner And More Functional - Manila, Phl

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#47

Master Bath Remodel - Colorado Springs, Co (Before/After)

Master Bath Remodel - Colorado Springs, Co (Before/After)

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#48

Completed The Guest Room Just In Time For Our Guests Tomorrow! [guest Room In Small Town South Carolina]

Completed The Guest Room Just In Time For Our Guests Tomorrow! [guest Room In Small Town South Carolina]

PharmingSC Report

#49

Before & After! We Renovated An 1800s Cabin In Upstate New York

Before & After! We Renovated An 1800s Cabin In Upstate New York

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#50

Five Years Ago I Used The First Time Home Buyer's Credit To Install New Cabinets. Thanks, Obama. (Before And After)

Five Years Ago I Used The First Time Home Buyer's Credit To Install New Cabinets. Thanks, Obama. (Before And After)

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#51

Before And After If Our Dining Room

Before And After If Our Dining Room

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GoddessOdd
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Were those gorgeous floors underneath the manky carpet? Lucky you!

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#53

Before And After Of My Renovated Kitchen - Nj

Before And After Of My Renovated Kitchen - Nj

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GoddessOdd
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The enclosure for the fridge is a great idea. Very streamlined, and much better lighting!

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#54

A Before & After Transformation Of My (Now) Favorite Room In The House! Dallas, Tx.

A Before & After Transformation Of My (Now) Favorite Room In The House! Dallas, Tx.

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#55

Before/After Kitchen Remodel (Bay Area, Ca)

Before/After Kitchen Remodel (Bay Area, Ca)

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GoddessOdd
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow... that was a lot of work. I am cottagecore, so I thought the before was cute, but the new one looks great with the glass front cabinets.

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#56

Kitchen Remodel In Our 1920s California Bungalow (After/Before)

Kitchen Remodel In Our 1920s California Bungalow (After/Before)

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Laura Jackson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm trying to figure out the angles of the pics with the windows, stove hood, etc and I can't get it straight in my noggin. Is it just me or was this a major, major overhaul?

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#57

It’s Crazy What A Little Elbow Grease And Paint Can Do. My Kitchen Before/After (Kansas City, Mo)

It’s Crazy What A Little Elbow Grease And Paint Can Do. My Kitchen Before/After (Kansas City, Mo)

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#59

Before And After - East Machias, Maine

Before And After - East Machias, Maine

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Zoe's Mom
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Somebody bought a fixer upper and slammed it. Really nice job.

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#60

So Proud - I Did This All By Myself! Kcmo

So Proud - I Did This All By Myself! Kcmo

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#61

New Kitchen Before And After. UK.

New Kitchen Before And After. UK.

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#62

(After/Before) Our Living Room, Beaverton

(After/Before) Our Living Room, Beaverton

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GoddessOdd
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I want to bring the dog to my house for a play date with my two girl Bostons.

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#63

My Bedroom Before (From The Listing) And After I Got My Hands On It. Portland, Or

My Bedroom Before (From The Listing) And After I Got My Hands On It. Portland, Or

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#64

Before And After Of My New Wfh Space! Northern California

Before And After Of My New Wfh Space! Northern California

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#65

Before And After Of My First Interior Decorating Project As A Sole Proprietor! Downingtown, Pa

Before And After Of My First Interior Decorating Project As A Sole Proprietor! Downingtown, Pa

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Cold Contagious
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Needs a nice dark or medium warm toned color on at least one wall to give it a more cozy feel. I feel the old white-ish color is a little cold.

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#66

Philly Suburbs Living Room: Before (Previous Homeowners) & After

Philly Suburbs Living Room: Before (Previous Homeowners) & After

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#67

1 Year Transformation Of My Small Bedroom!

1 Year Transformation Of My Small Bedroom!

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#68

Finally Done With Our Bright Living Room In Our New Home In Orange County, Ca! Before Photo Included

Finally Done With Our Bright Living Room In Our New Home In Orange County, Ca! Before Photo Included

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#69

Before And After Of My Son's Room. I Didn't Have Any Real Before Pics.

Before And After Of My Son's Room. I Didn't Have Any Real Before Pics.

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