When you see the photos in this post, you’ll agree that Meghan and her husband achieved a dramatic transformation. What makes their project even more impressive is the story behind it—how a dated, orange-paneled space became a room that stops you in your tracks. Read on for the full renovation tale and the design choices that made it work.
“Like the two of you, my husband and I bought a house that needed work, though in our case we couldn’t reuse much thanks to some frugal prior owners. We decided to gut our kitchen, family room, dining room, and bathroom down to the studs and subfloor when our first child was just 12 weeks old. We both worked full time and DIY’ed everything because my husband is ambitious (and budget-conscious). There were a lot of late nights and weekends, and our son learned to sleep to the sound of a nail gun. We even kept a refrigerator in the garage and would go outside in the middle of the night for a bottle during 2 AM feedings. You’d think we’d have learned our lesson, but we’ve since renovated most of the rest of the house with two additional babies. Three boys in under three years while renovating a home DIY-style. Do not try this at home.
Here are some before shots, orange paneling and all. Notice the back and left-side walls—you could see them before…
…and now they’re gone. We removed walls, opened up sightlines, and reimagined how the space functions. We also changed the configuration of openings: all the doors became windows and a window became a door, which added more light and a better flow through the house. Yes, it sounded like a roundabout way to do things, but it solved practical layout issues and created a brighter, more usable home.
We shut down the heat for a week to move the baseboards around when it was freezing outside, so our poor son slept bundled up with mittens—but he didn’t seem to mind. The cabinets, windows, and sliding door (really almost everything in the room) are from Home Depot. The lighting is Restoration Hardware—one of my two splurges. The other splurge was a Ming Green marble backsplash. The toy boxes under the console table are actually Ikea end tables, and most of the accessories came from HomeGoods and Ikea. Thanks for letting me share!” – Meghan
The combination of big structural changes and thoughtful finishing touches is what makes this renovation stand out. Opening up the space by removing walls and adding windows immediately improved light and sightlines. Replacing doors with windows and moving a window to become a door created a more functional layout that invites movement between rooms and better connects indoor and outdoor areas. These are changes that affect daily life, not just aesthetic appeal.
On the design and material side, Meghan balanced splurges and savvy savings. High-impact items—like pendant lighting and a distinctive marble backsplash—elevate the room’s look. Meanwhile, sourcing cabinets, windows, and bulk components from a large home improvement store, and finding décor at affordable retailers, kept the overall budget manageable. Combining a couple of standout pieces with accessible, well-chosen basics is a practical approach for many homeowners planning a renovation.
There’s also a personal element to the project: the family’s willingness to live through disruption and to work late nights and weekends to get results. Renovating with a newborn and then two more kids shortly after is a feat of stamina and dedication. The story emphasizes that significant home transformations often involve sacrifice, careful planning, and a do-it-yourself spirit—balanced with the decision to splurge selectively when it matters most.
So, is anyone else exhausted just hearing that story? Many of us find it challenging to DIY projects with one toddler; imagining a full-gut renovation with a 12-week-old makes the accomplishment feel even more remarkable. Meghan and her husband pulled off a huge change that now reads as cohesive, comfortable, and thoughtfully appointed. The house truly feels like a different home.
What’s your favorite part of the renovation? Some people love the thick crown molding for its classic, finished look, while others are drawn to the striking pendant lights and the dramatic backsplash. Either way, the transformation is a great example of how thoughtful planning, a mix of investment pieces and affordable finds, and a willingness to roll up your sleeves can turn an outdated space into a beautiful, functional home.