The Incredible Transformation of a Charleston Craftsman
In Restoring Charleston, Trent Fasnacht goes to pain-staking lengths to save this 1895 Charleston Craftsman that has been abandoned for decades. Get a sneak peek of the house's unbelievable restoration, here.
By:
Jessica Galliart
Show:
Restoring Charleston
Charleston Charmer
It may look stunning now, but this 1895 "Queen Anne Craftsman" in historic Charleston was once the epitome of an eyesore.
BEFORE: The Outside
Once contractor Trent Fasnacht got into the nooks and crannies of the house's exterior, he discovered live termites, among other critters.
BEFORE: The Outside
Trent calls houses like these -- delapidated, condemned -- "pig's ears." They're worse than fixer uppers and usually require more work to restore than to simply tear down.
AFTER: The Outside
The outside of the home was practically rebuilt from scratch with new balisters, a new roof and a pop of color on the siding.
AFTER: The Outside
The porch was also newly constructed but in line with the house's former (glorious) wrap-around.
BEFORE: Foyer
The house's grand entrance is in the style of classic Charleston Queen Anne homes and badly in need of repair.
AFTER: Foyer
Preserving and restoring the foyer was key in making it a focal point in the home as it was originally meant to be.
BEFORE: Foyer
There are wood floors somewhere under all that dust.
AFTER: Foyer
New drywall was installed, but the original wainscoting and floors in the foyer were restored.
BEFORE: Front Door
The original pine door was in excellent shape, but the casing needed a bit of TLC.
AFTER: Front Door
Trent was able to restore the finish of the original door and even repair its original doorbell.
BEFORE: Bathroom
The original porch bathroom was not exactly in usable shape.
AFTER: Master Bathroom
The brand new bathroom features a handmade vanity made from salvaged cupboard doors
AFTER: Master Bathroom
One of six restored fireplaces in the home is in the master bathroom, which also has repurposed beadboard walls.
AFTER: Master Bathroom
The master suite now has a walk-in closet off the bathroom for ample storage.
BEFORE: Guest Bedroom
With walls you could see through and more enough mysterious junk to fill an apartment, the potential of the guest bedroom wasn't quite clear in the beginning.
AFTER: Guest Bedroom
New drywall, windows and a fresh coat of yellow paint make the new bedroom a place anyone would be excited about staying the night in.
BEFORE: Guest Bedroom
Can you see a promising fireplace mantle just beyond the stray toilet?
AFTER: Guest Bedroom
The restored fireplace didn't need much more than a bit of polishing.
AFTER: Guest Bedroom
Trent was able to restore and repurpose pocket doors found in the house for the guest bedroom's entryway.
