This was my first project that really let me dive into the world of flipping. It was a 1930s cottage located in Galveston, Texas’ East End Historic District, and saying this project needed a little elbow grease was an understatement. Not only had the property been neglected and vacant for several years, the home had even weathered numerous tropical storms and a fire. And had the scars to prove it!

It started out as a 2 bedroom, 1 bath with a garage/storage room, but I knew it would be profitable to convert this space into a master suite. I also wanted to keep the design traditional, which is why I opted for touches like white shaker style cabinets, subway tile backsplash with a herringbone lay, and a white fantasy granite that would mimic the look of marble look without requiring the same level of maintenance.

You’ll also notice the opening was widened from the dining room to the kitchen to create more of an open layout. I had the carpenters replicate the angled casing seen in the rest of the house around the new opening for consistency.

For three months, Blu Shields construction put hammer to nail and brought my design to life. The amazing transformation has been documented in the pictures below.

Before

This is the rear side of the home. I removed the door in the middle and framed it in along with the left window. This allowed for the master suite conversion. The window on the right was replaced with a french door that I found at a local salvage shop.

This is the view of the kitchen, a.k.a. a recipe for disaster.

This is a view of the breakfast room, but it doesn’t look too appetizing.

This is a photo of the guest bedroom. Notice the damage to the ceiling which was caused by a fire several years ago and never repaired.

Here’s a hutch that was poorly constructed and out of place.

This is the view of what would eventually become the guest bathroom.

This room once served as a storage room. Notice the new plywood flooring. The floor was built up to match the height of the rest of the home. The view would eventually become the master bathroom.

Here is the view of the backyard and old fence.

After

The hallway was blocked by a poorly crafted hutch that closed off the flow of the house.

Tons of natural light shined through these original wood sash windows.

Here is a close-up of the kitchen. I wanted to keep it simple and elegant.

Not only do pocket doors act as a nice feature to the room, they also save on space. Now, each side of the entry can accommodate a chest of drawers without the interference of swinging doors.

I went with the same shaker style cabinet and counter for the master vanity.

One of the biggest complaints from buyers of a home of this age is the lack of closet space. To remedy this situation, I added his and her closets to the space.

Her closet is a walk-in with double hanging rods and built-in shelving to accommodate jewelry and shoes.

Here is the updated guest bedroom, and those signs of fire damage are long gone.

To keep the elegance and consistency of the rest of the home, I went with the white subway tile for the tub surround and grey paint for the walls.

Because the property lacked a garage, we brought in a brand new storage building and painted it to match the home. We positioned it so that a future homeowner would have space to build a garage or pool without having to move it.

I felt the home needed some outdoor space for the new homeowners. What better way to enjoy those spring & summer days than on a 14’x18′ deck?