10 of the Best Before & After Makeovers You Will Ever See
Take a look at some of the best transformations we've seen on Houzz, compiled into an astonishing collection
1. A gem in the rough
When Rob and Andrew Gray, the brothers behind Graya Construction, took on the mammoth task of transforming this rubbish-filled home in Brisbane, they didn’t expect they would make it so beautiful that it would be hard to move out of. They bought the Queenslander with rubbish included; “It took 12 trips with a 10-cubic-metre tip truck to get rid of it,” Rob recalls. “It was a horrible experience for everyone involved. The smell lasted for about three months and then one day, it just went.”
The rooms were completely gutted and an upstairs level added to create a more spacious abode with high ceilings and an open-plan approach to living. The brothers both now live in the house, enjoying the fruits of their labour.
See the rest of this home
When Rob and Andrew Gray, the brothers behind Graya Construction, took on the mammoth task of transforming this rubbish-filled home in Brisbane, they didn’t expect they would make it so beautiful that it would be hard to move out of. They bought the Queenslander with rubbish included; “It took 12 trips with a 10-cubic-metre tip truck to get rid of it,” Rob recalls. “It was a horrible experience for everyone involved. The smell lasted for about three months and then one day, it just went.”
The rooms were completely gutted and an upstairs level added to create a more spacious abode with high ceilings and an open-plan approach to living. The brothers both now live in the house, enjoying the fruits of their labour.
See the rest of this home
2. A former junk room becomes a crafting haven
Maya Anderson is a self-confessed design junkie and loves crafting at home. When she and her husband moved into their new home, they wound up stowing most of their miscellaneous items in the spare room. It was a dark, uninspiring space that Anderson said made her shudder every time she walked past.
She decided she wanted to turn her ‘junk room’ into her very own crafting room. With a fresh lick of paint, sheer curtains and using secondhand or pre-existing pieces of furniture, the room was completely transformed. Maya now uses it for hours of crafting and gift wrapping.
Take a look at the full transformation
Maya Anderson is a self-confessed design junkie and loves crafting at home. When she and her husband moved into their new home, they wound up stowing most of their miscellaneous items in the spare room. It was a dark, uninspiring space that Anderson said made her shudder every time she walked past.
She decided she wanted to turn her ‘junk room’ into her very own crafting room. With a fresh lick of paint, sheer curtains and using secondhand or pre-existing pieces of furniture, the room was completely transformed. Maya now uses it for hours of crafting and gift wrapping.
Take a look at the full transformation
3. Worn-down kitchen to study nook
When this young couple took on the task of renovating a heritage home, the results were impressive to say the least. Jose Barroso, the principal builder of Barroso Building, and his partner Phoebe Valter renovated the original cottage to bring it into the 21st century, and added on a contemporary extension. The former kitchen of the cottage became the entrance joining the old and new buildings, and is also used as a study nook.
Barroso and Valter kept the original floorboards, timber panelled wall and window and simply added a statuario marble bench and industrial pendant lights to turn it into a small work space.
Get a closer look at this makeover
When this young couple took on the task of renovating a heritage home, the results were impressive to say the least. Jose Barroso, the principal builder of Barroso Building, and his partner Phoebe Valter renovated the original cottage to bring it into the 21st century, and added on a contemporary extension. The former kitchen of the cottage became the entrance joining the old and new buildings, and is also used as a study nook.
Barroso and Valter kept the original floorboards, timber panelled wall and window and simply added a statuario marble bench and industrial pendant lights to turn it into a small work space.
Get a closer look at this makeover
4. A renovation 25 years in the making
Starting in the 1980s, the couple behind this project worked on their dream home on and off while living in it, until the renovation was finally completed in 2014. The updated home suits contemporary indoor-outdoor living style. While the layout of the kitchen remained the same, it received a fresh coat of paint and new cabinetry.
What this before-and-after truly demonstrates is what a difference just a few small updates can make to a kitchen.
See inside the rest of this home
Starting in the 1980s, the couple behind this project worked on their dream home on and off while living in it, until the renovation was finally completed in 2014. The updated home suits contemporary indoor-outdoor living style. While the layout of the kitchen remained the same, it received a fresh coat of paint and new cabinetry.
What this before-and-after truly demonstrates is what a difference just a few small updates can make to a kitchen.
See inside the rest of this home
5. Making something out of nothing
This playroom by Donna Guyler featured a very uninspiring study nook, a space that would have made it hard to sit down and get stuck into a textbook. The blank walls and limited storage needed to be fixed before it became a proper study nook.
By adding some sky blue paint to the wall, cube storage cupboards and a filing cabinet under the desk, the formerly forgotten area became a feature of the room.
Take a look at the rest of this makeover
This playroom by Donna Guyler featured a very uninspiring study nook, a space that would have made it hard to sit down and get stuck into a textbook. The blank walls and limited storage needed to be fixed before it became a proper study nook.
By adding some sky blue paint to the wall, cube storage cupboards and a filing cabinet under the desk, the formerly forgotten area became a feature of the room.
Take a look at the rest of this makeover
6. A tin shed becomes dream home
A couple who travelled across Australia in a caravan for seven years finally let the dust settle when they moved into their new home. The basic tin shed home they bought was built in the ’60s and was in need of an update, with mismatched floors, windows and doors. The couple’s son-in-law Leigh Boss (who is also a builder) helped with the renovation.
The home was re-stumped, the ceilings were raised, all of the rooms were gutted and rebuilt, and a large deck was added to the back of the house. The result is a relaxed home that suits the couple and their love of the outdoors.
Check out the rest of this forever home
A couple who travelled across Australia in a caravan for seven years finally let the dust settle when they moved into their new home. The basic tin shed home they bought was built in the ’60s and was in need of an update, with mismatched floors, windows and doors. The couple’s son-in-law Leigh Boss (who is also a builder) helped with the renovation.
The home was re-stumped, the ceilings were raised, all of the rooms were gutted and rebuilt, and a large deck was added to the back of the house. The result is a relaxed home that suits the couple and their love of the outdoors.
Check out the rest of this forever home
7. Grafitti-tagged kitchen wins design awards
Faced with a formerly abandoned and graffiti-tagged house in Crows Nest, Sydney, Darren Genner of Minosa took on the task of transforming the kitchen. The space had remnants of the original ’60s design, however, nothing could be salvaged.
Genner added a cleverly designed four-metre-long kitchen island made of Calacatta marble, complete with a double-bowl sink. Timber cabinetry with a hidden laundry complements the darker tones of the grey patterned tiles on the walls. The design even won the KBDi Award for its ingenuity.
Explore this kitchen
Faced with a formerly abandoned and graffiti-tagged house in Crows Nest, Sydney, Darren Genner of Minosa took on the task of transforming the kitchen. The space had remnants of the original ’60s design, however, nothing could be salvaged.
Genner added a cleverly designed four-metre-long kitchen island made of Calacatta marble, complete with a double-bowl sink. Timber cabinetry with a hidden laundry complements the darker tones of the grey patterned tiles on the walls. The design even won the KBDi Award for its ingenuity.
Explore this kitchen
8. Abandoned terrace house gets the ultimate revamp
This 100-year-old terrace home in Woollhara, Sydney, lay unoccupied for 40 years. It wasn’t until interior designer Debra Cronin became the tenant that the home not only received the TLC it needed, but was turned into a showcase of Cronin’s work. Every room was updated with the designer’s quirky, eclectic style.
The only features that give any indication that this is the same room are the windows. New floorboards, wallpaper and vintage decor have completely changed up this space.
This 100-year-old terrace home in Woollhara, Sydney, lay unoccupied for 40 years. It wasn’t until interior designer Debra Cronin became the tenant that the home not only received the TLC it needed, but was turned into a showcase of Cronin’s work. Every room was updated with the designer’s quirky, eclectic style.
The only features that give any indication that this is the same room are the windows. New floorboards, wallpaper and vintage decor have completely changed up this space.
9. Creating the perfect outdoor entertaining area
For many across the world, outdoor living is an essential way of life. This means that our outdoor entertaining areas need to be on point. With this in mind, ASAP Home Improvements turned this small outdoor patio into a spacious entertainer’s paradise.
Kwila timber decking boards and bi-fold doors were used to make the indoor-outdoor connection more seamless. Since the upgrade, there’s much more space for the homeowners and their guests to spread out and enjoy the area.
For many across the world, outdoor living is an essential way of life. This means that our outdoor entertaining areas need to be on point. With this in mind, ASAP Home Improvements turned this small outdoor patio into a spacious entertainer’s paradise.
Kwila timber decking boards and bi-fold doors were used to make the indoor-outdoor connection more seamless. Since the upgrade, there’s much more space for the homeowners and their guests to spread out and enjoy the area.
10. A warehouse becomes an artist’s home
Warehouse spaces are typically just one big room with a roller door. This means that architects have the freedom to work with a completely blank space. This warehouse provided artist Donna North with the perfect space to decorate the large-scale walls with her art.
The transformation has to be seen to be believed. By adding a mezzanine, painting the walls and adding beautiful black steel-framed windows to the space, it has been made into a funky home fit for a creative mind.
Read more:
Before & After: 24 Unbelievable Kitchen Makeovers by Houzzers
Tell us
Do you have an impressive before-and-after project to share? Show us by posting a photo in the Comments section.
Warehouse spaces are typically just one big room with a roller door. This means that architects have the freedom to work with a completely blank space. This warehouse provided artist Donna North with the perfect space to decorate the large-scale walls with her art.
The transformation has to be seen to be believed. By adding a mezzanine, painting the walls and adding beautiful black steel-framed windows to the space, it has been made into a funky home fit for a creative mind.
Read more:
Before & After: 24 Unbelievable Kitchen Makeovers by Houzzers
Tell us
Do you have an impressive before-and-after project to share? Show us by posting a photo in the Comments section.
These Houzz architects, interior designers, landscapers and homeowners have transformed spaces, which most would class as eyesores, into light-filled, open and attractive areas that became some of the best features of each house. Here are 10 of the coolest before-and-after transformations we’ve spotted on Houzz.