Before and After images are always intriguing — the photo on the left shows the property at its worst and it’s interesting to see how far it’s come in the image on the right. This series of pictures is no different; we can’t believe this Philadelphia row home looks like such a different place, even though it hasn’t actually been transformed in terms of structure or layout. Take a look at these photos of the rundown home and see just how different it looks now that it’s been given some tender love and care by homeowners who truly wanted to breathe new life into their first home!
The project
This past year, we took on a project that was very close to our hearts – the transformation of a Philadelphia row home. This house had been in our family for generations, and we were determined to bring it back to its former glory. We worked tirelessly day and night, and the results are truly stunning. We couldn’t be more proud of what we’ve accomplished.
From the furniture, which is all hand-made by local artisans using reclaimed wood from old barns, to the plants lining every window sill, this place is just perfect. Not only does it look beautiful inside and out now but with each new addition we made, we tried to honor our family’s legacy as well as do good for the environment at the same time. It feels like this will be a great place for us to start our lives together!
The best part is knowing that while other people might spend decades trying to achieve the kind of green building standards we have here, they won’t be able to enjoy the benefits because their space is so far away from nature. The air quality alone has already changed since moving in–and now I’m confident my baby boy will grow up happy and healthy thanks to all these little changes.
In case you’re wondering how we can afford this kind of lifestyle, it’s actually surprisingly affordable when you consider everything that’s included in one monthly payment. Our mortgage payments include taxes, insurance, property management, lawn care (as needed), utilities (including heating), cable/internet service and even electricity bills! But honestly the biggest benefit is living in such a vibrant community where everyone looks out for one another.
We hope you enjoyed getting a glimpse into our journey!
Installing Lights
The first step in our home transformation was to install new lights. We wanted something that would brighten up the space and make it feel more inviting. We found some great fixtures at a local store and had them installed in no time. The difference was amazing! The room felt so much bigger and more open with the new lights. And even though we had to spend some money on the project, it made a big impact for not too much money.
It was also an easy DIY project that anyone can do! Installing new light fixtures isn’t expensive and you can do it yourself or hire someone if you’re not comfortable doing electrical work. Our favorite part of the whole process was the installation itself because it gave us a sense of accomplishment after all of our hard work on the house so far. All of the tedious tasks were worth it once we saw how much better the rooms looked and felt with just these simple changes.
Exterior Stairs
In case you’re wondering how we can afford this kind of lifestyle, it’s actually surprisingly affordable when you consider everything that’s included in one monthly payment. Our mortgage payments include taxes, insurance, property management, lawn care (as needed), utilities (including heating), cable/internet service, and even electricity bills! But honestly, the biggest benefit is living in such a vibrant community where everyone looks out for one another.
How it turned out in the end.
The best part is knowing that while other people might spend decades trying to achieve the kind of green building standards we have here, they won’t be able to enjoy the benefits because their space is so far away from nature. The air quality alone has already changed since moving in–and now I’m confident my baby boy will grow up happy and healthy thanks to all these little changes.
In case you’re wondering how we can afford this kind of lifestyle, it’s actually surprisingly affordable when you consider everything that’s included in one monthly payment. Our mortgage payments include taxes, insurance, property management, lawn care (as needed), utilities (including heating), cable/internet service, and even electricity bills! But honestly, the biggest benefit is living in such a vibrant community where everyone looks out for one another.