Transformation Stories: Amazing Whole-House Renovation ResultsWhat to Focus On Initially When Updating an Aging Home 20
A few years ago, I stood in the passage and realized I couldn't stand it. Not in a “burn it down” kind of way. More like when you outgrow something slowly. Like a stale jacket, or a shirt that starts smelling weird no matter how often it's washed.
It was claustrophobic, and there was this awkward spot where the paint peeled like dry pastry. Just a wall. But somehow it felt like it was part of the issue. Of what? No idea. Everything, maybe.
I didn't set out to redo the house. I planned to patch that spot. Maybe swap the fitting. Then I nudged some old panelling, and underneath… well. Swirly beige. Looked like it was straight out of the ‘70s. The kind of wallpaper that makes you frown.
And that's how it begins. You pull one thread, and the house responds like it was ready.
Next thing I knew, I was Googling things I'd never heard of. Caulking guns. I developed obsessions for undercoat brands. I joined forums like it was a sport. Still don't know why one caulking gun's $12 and another's $48, but I'll fight you over which is better.
But this wasn't just about fixing things. It was about admitting something felt wrong, and that I was tired of tiptoeing. I used to hop over a creaky floorboard by the bathroom even after I fixed it. Muscle memory is ridiculous like that.
Some days went well. Some didn't. I once installed a power point upside down and didn't notice for ages. Only realized it when my sister flipped it and asked why “off” turned the light *on*.
But that's the point, isn't it?. You laugh, and then suddenly the space feels… yours. Not perfect. Not staged. But not borrowed anymore. That wall? Still narrow. And the paint line by the stairs? Wobbly. But it's something I chose.
It's not about what your neighbour just did. It's about saying no to stuff here that makes you sigh at 7am. If you hang the art too high, just call it character. That's what I do. Or at least that's what I tell guests.