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Before: Run-Down Ranch
photographed by Thomas Story; courtesy of sunset.com
With a dumpster parked in the driveway and an overgrown lawn, it was easy to drive down the street and miss this powder-blue ranch. The backyard, already equipped with an in-ground pool, was in better shape. Matthew and Jennifer, the new owners, wanted a low-maintenance landscape and a fresh look for the home’s exterior. Tapped out from the down payment, they decided to take on most of the remodeling work themselves.
Related: 15 Cheap Home Repairs That Could Save You Thousands
After: Retro Revival
photographed by Thomas Story; courtesy of sunset.com
Determined to stay true to the home’s retro look, the duo knocked out the the back wall and replaced it with windows and sliding glass doors to flood the house with light. Instead of trying to nurse the lawn back to health, they filled the pool surround with rocks edged with concrete. A few strategically-placed bushes and square grass patches keeps watering and mowing to a minimum.
Before: Dated and Dirty
photographed by Thomas Story; courtesy of sunset.com
This little house had solid bones, but the front yard and exterior needed some help. For one thing, the stained brick facade wasn’t aging well. And in the scorching Phoenix summer, the dried-out lawn wasn’t faring much better. The asymmetrical walkway wasted space in the tiny yard, and looked out of place.
Related: 7 Remedies to Rescue a Dying Lawn
After: Southwest Style
photographed by Thomas Story; courtesy of sunset.com
The homeowners hired a landscaper to replace the lawn with mulch, drought-tolerant deer grass, and a mix of succulents. Mesquite saplings planted during the remodel will eventually shade most of the yard, creating a cool hangout spot for guests. Painting the brick shaved years off the house, and warm white is the perfect backdrop for the tall grasses and cacti framing the entrance. With its wider path and clean lines, the new walkway is much more welcoming.
Related: 20 Tiny Backyards We Love
Before: Cabin Catastrophe
photographed by Thomas Story; courtesy of sunset.com
Abandoned for six years, this Alaskan cabin was a true fixer-upper. And it wasn’t just the outside that needed work, either: the basement walls had rotted, and a tree was growing through the roof.
After: All Decked Out
photographed by Thomas Story; courtesy of sunset.com
The new owners, Noah and Jennifer, picked up the house for a song. The couple spent the first few weeks of the remodel clearing out bags of moldy trash and cast-off furniture. A former carpenter, Noah replaced the rotted siding with cedar shingles and built a bi-level deck for the waterfront home.
Before: Condemned in California
photographed by Thomas Story; courtesy of sunset.com
With a $300,000 budget, John and Kalli knew that they would have to sacrifice to own a home in Venice Beach. One of the few properties in their price range was a dilapidated surf shack. Built in the 1920s, the house didn’t have studs or insulation—but it did have a rat problem, a crumbling roof, and a shaky foundation.
After: Beachside Bungalow
photographed by Thomas Story; courtesy of sunset.com
With plenty of work to do, the couple hired a few contractors to help. John had some woodworking experience from working on movie sets, but left the custom addition, drywall, and stucco application to the pros. As a tribute to the old shack, John milled the original Douglas Fir siding into baseboards, trim, and beams. Outside, the pair designed a drought-friendly landscape with hardy plants, pea gravel, and concrete pavers.
Before: Scrappy Starter Home
photographed by Thomas Story; courtesy of sunset.com
In 2003, the real estate bubble sent home prices skyrocketing. It was also the year that Chad and Leah decided to buy their first house. The pair had their sights set on Seattle, where they found a 1,300 sq. ft. property with a high sticker price. With a patchy paint job, a lawn that had more dandelions than grass, and a few scraggly garden beds, the house needed some TLC.
After: No Shrinking Violet
photographed by Thomas Story; courtesy of sunset.com
On a tight budget, the couple gave their new home a fresh coat of purple paint and refreshed the trim with taupe. The boxwood hedges pop against the purple siding, define the front walk, and seriously step up the curb appeal.
Related: 8 Tiny Homes You Can Buy for the Price of a Luxury Car
Before: Front Lawn Fixer-Upper
photographed by Thomas Story; courtesy of sunset.com
Nick and Lisa didn’t start off with much when they bought their Bay Area home. Patchy grass surrounded the property, and the few plants they had were in containers. The path to the front door—three worn-out wooden steps—stopped right in the middle of the yard.
After: Modern Marvel
photographed by Thomas Story; courtesy of sunset.com
The DIY duo started by extending the front walkway with concrete for a clean, modern look. Paired with the painted retaining wall, the path sets the garden apart—making the small yard look a lot bigger. Nick and Lisa did their own landscaping, planting drought-tolerant grasses and shrubs to cut down on yardwork.
