A couple bought a decaying historic home in North Carolina for $85,000, and they spent 18 months and $90,000 renovating it — take a look at the before-and-after photos

Zoë EttingerJul 23, 2020, 01:56 IST

Pat and Ellen Flannery's home before and after renovation.Ellen Flannery

Pat and Ellen Flannery spent nearly 18 months renovating a historic home in Washington, North Carolina, and in June, it received an honorable mention for a local preservation award.
In 2018, the Flannerys fell in love with the home for its beautiful historic features, and even though it needed a ton of work, they were up for the job.
The home hadn't been lived in for about 40 years, and it had rotting wood, peeling wallpaper, and mold throughout, Ellen Flannery told Insider.
Though they enlisted the help of a local contractor, the Flannerys did much of the work themselves, and the final renovation honors the history of the home.

Ellen Flannery is originally from Washington, North Carolina, and while she and her husband, Pat, were visiting from their former home city of Phoenix, Arizona, they fell in love with a historic home in the area.

They first saw the house in spring 2018, and they purchased it in the summer of that year. Though the home needed an extensive renovation, it had many beautiful historic features, like original fireplaces and light fixtures, that were worth saving.

The previous owner was born and raised in the home, but hadn't lived there for about 40 years. Many of the wood floors had rotted, the wallpaper was peeling in many rooms, and they found mold all over.

The Flannerys worked with a contractor who helped them with the larger parts of the renovation, but they did much of the work themselves, including a remodel of the kitchen.

After the renovation was complete, the Flannerys' real estate agent, Scott Campbell, nominated them for the Terrell Award for Best Residential Rehab, which is given out by the local historic preservation committee, and they received an honorable mention.

Take a look at the incredible before-and-after photos of their stunning renovation.

"I fell in love with the house as soon as I walked in," Ellen Flannery told Insider. "It needed a lot of TLC, but it had a lot of character."

Pat and Ellen Flannery's home before and after renovation. Ellen Flannery

The Flannerys knew that they would have to redo "pretty much everything," since the home hadn't ever been remodeled or renovated.

The porch ceiling before and after. Ellen Flannery

When Pat Flannery started renovating inside the home, he found that "there were critters all inside the walls," and all the plaster needed to be redone.

The kitchen hall before and after. Ellen Flannery

Though there was much work ahead of them, some original details of the home, like the staircase, needed only to be restored rather than redone.

The staircase before and after. Ellen Flannery

"The house had hardwood floors throughout, but they had been covered over with carpeting for years and years," Pat Flannery said.

The fireplace before and after. Ellen Flannery

The Flannerys had to work with the town's historic preservation committee to make sure the renovation didn't disrupt the home's historic features.

Living room before and after. Ellen Flannery

The kitchen had a washing machine sitting in the middle of the floor, pictured left, and wasn't in great shape.

The kitchen before and after. Ellen Flannery

"The kitchen was the original since a remodel in the late '40s or early '50s," Ellen Flannery said.

The kitchen before and after renovation. Ellen Flannery

The Flannerys had done some remodeling in the past, but this was their first major undertaking.

Bedroom before and after. Ellen Flannery

They kept the original tile tub and sink in the upstairs bathroom, and just repainted and wallpapered the space.

The upstairs bathroom before and after. Ellen Flannery

All the plumbing had to be redone so it met current standards.

The downstairs bathroom sink before and after. Ellen Flannery

The house's electrical had to be rewired and brought up to code, as well.

The upstairs hall before and after. Ellen Flannery

Pat Flannery restored some old doors, as pictured below, which gave the house a historic feel even after the remodel.

Bedroom door before and after. Ellen Flannery

The Flannerys received an honorable mention for the Terrell Award for Best Residential Rehab for their renovation.

The foyer before and after. Ellen Flannery

It took the Flannerys about 18 months to renovate the home, and they said they spent about $90,000 on the work.

Pat and Ellen Flannery. Ellen Flannery

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