DC Townhouse

This quaint 1950s semi-detached home was transformed from dated to charming almost entirely through DIY work on a tight budget. The approach was to honor the bones of the house while layering in character — restoring the original hardwood floors, repainting throughout in a soft off-white, and adding woodwork details like beadboard, box molding, and wainscoting to give each room a more intentional, finished feel. The biggest transformation was the kitchen: two non-load-bearing walls were removed to open up the layout, then new cabinetry was built out using IKEA boxes with Semihandmade cabinet fronts, subway tile, quartz counters, and a butcher block island. Costs were kept down across the board, with a few strategic splurges reserved for appliances, lighting, and plumbing fixtures — where the quality would actually be felt every day. Photography by Amanda Archibald.