DIY Network Blog Cabin 2013: Before and After Pictures
See the transformation of DIY Network's circa-1800s coastal cottage in a series of photos. We capture the dramatic remodel, space by glorious space.
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Before: Property
Nestled on three acres of waterfront property, DIY Network Blog Cabin 2013 is weather-beaten and damaged by termites and water intrusion.
After: Property
Completely reframed in the original home's footprint, DIY Network Blog Cabin 2013 is built to withstand hurricane-force winds. Building materials will ensure its durability.
Before: Front Yard
The home, clad in cedar-shake shingles, features a screened-in porch and kitchen addition constructed during the 1930s.
After: Front Yard
Fiber-cement siding replaces cedar shingles and, with the kitchen addition removed, a grand Southern-style front porch offers breathtaking water views.
Before: Grape Arbor
The grape arbor, overgrown with muscadine vines, blocks water views as one approaches the home from the gravel drive.
Before: Grape Arbor
Blog Cabin show host Chris Grundy and Desperate Landscapes host Jason Cameron load cedar posts and reclaimed pine wood into the truck to construct a new pergola.
Before: Grape Arbor
Beams from an old home in Beaufort, N.C., will form the structure of a pergola.
After: Pergola
Cedar posts, treated with Eco Wood, pair well with old pine wood reclaimed from a demolished home. Five cultivars of muscadine grapevines will grow over the structure and offer shade.
Before: Front Entrance
Brick steps lead to a weathered wooden porch and the home's original — and lackluster — front entrance.
After: Front Entrance
A cellular PVC-clad porch leads to the home's double French doors, which open in to the home's bright and sunny great room.
Before: Great Room
Wicker furnishings and antiques comprise the decor of the living room, where paneled walls and a beadboard ceiling lend cottage style.
After: Great Room
Durable bamboo flooring replaces the original heart pine, and new furnishings, paired with upcycled chic decor, lend beachy style.
Before: Fireplace Mantel
Paint has virtually disappeared from the original fireplace mantel, which suffers from some damage.
After: Fireplace Mantel
Partially rebuilt and painted, the mantel is outfitted with a ventless gas fireplace and houses a remote-controlled flat-screen TV lift.
Before: Great Room
Seven-foot-high ceilings make the first floor feel cramped and devoid of light.
After: Great Room
Ceilings elevated to 8 feet and additional windows and doors allow light to flood into the living room.
Before: Kitchen
Exterior shingles on the kitchen wall are a telltale sign that this space was added onto the home sometime after its original construction.
After: Kitchen
The new kitchen boasts European-style cabinetry, mosaic tile walls and state-of-the-art appliances.
Before: Master Bedroom
Located in the rear of the home, the master bedroom is cooled by a window air conditioning unit.
After: Master Bedroom
In its same location, the bedroom now benefits from new flooring, bright ocean-blue walls and comfortable furnishings fashioned with reclaimed building materials.
Before: Master Bathroom
A cramped space with outdated fixtures, the bathroom is far from a spa.
After: Master Bathroom
A new room with vaulted ceilings, burlap-clad walls and a granite-topped vanity feels light, bright and airy.
Before: Staircase
Coined "the jump," the ship ladder-style staircase that leads from first to second floor spaces is dangerously steep and not up to current-day building codes.
After: Staircase
A switchback staircase, fashioned from oak and hickory, becomes an important light source in the home.
Before: Landing
Cramped and clad in wood paneling, the second-floor landing lacks personality.
After: Landing
Illuminated by a cupola, the landing boasts a built-in library and hand-scraped bamboo flooring with an inset compass medallion.
Before: Guest Bedroom
Low ceilings and drab furnishings contribute to a less-than-inspiring sleeping space.
After: Guest Bedroom
A reclaimed-chic design style, selected by online voters, makes the guest bedroom pop with personality.
Before: Guest Bathroom
A rusted metal cabinet and tarnished bathroom fixtures tell a story of a home in need of TLC.
After: Guest Bathroom
A subtle nod to nautical goes a long way in the newly envisioned shared bathroom, where brightly colored towels and a granite-topped vanity induce smiles.
Before: Media Room
A space once composed of two bedrooms, a hallway and a dangerously steep staircase will be transformed into a home theater and guest space.
After: Media Room
With the ceiling vaulted and double French doors to a dedicated balcony installed, the media room becomes a center for family gatherings and relaxation.
Before: Mechanical Room
An add-on that stores cleaning supplies, the mechanical room is below adjacent grade and shows signs of flood damage.
After: Laundry Room
With the mechanical room dismantled, space is carved out for a dedicated laundry room, where state-of-the-art appliances and pantry shelving find a home.
Before: Side Porch
The screened-in porch houses the fireplace chimney and entrance to the living room.
After: Sunroom
With the original porch dismantled, square footage is dedicated to a cozy sunroom that serves as a makeshift foyer. The ceiling is clad in wood from the original dock.
Before: East Entry
Overgrown landscaping elements and a screened-in porch clad in lattice offer little to be desired.
After: East Entry
Partially shaded by the property's original cedar trees, a side entrance with cellular PVC decking and composite shingles welcomes visitors.
Before: West Porch
Kitchen and mechanical room additions rob the home of its original charm and character.
After: West Porch
In keeping with coastal style, a wraparound porch with entrance into the home's mud hall and laundry room offers a spot to sit, relax and enjoy water views.
Before: Waterview Porch
A well-used wicker swing and rockers define meager porch furnishings.
After: Waterview Porch
Opened up and defined by a unique stainless steel and Ipe wood railing system, the porch is furnished with durable acacia wood rockers and synthetic-wicker chairs.
Before: Kitchen Addition
A cedar-shingle-clad kitchen, circa 1930s, replaces a detached cooking shed.
After: Outdoor Shower
With the kitchen addition removed, space is carved out for an outdoor shower, clad in the home's original cedar shingles.
Before: Dock
Storms ripped decking off the dock, propped precariously atop piers embedded only two feet into the sandy soil.
After: Dock
Completely reconstructed, the dock features 50 piers embedded 8 feet into the ground and a kiln-dried Southern pine deck, protected by a coating of ultraviolet-light-blocking stain.
