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.