The Big Sanders House.  Karen and Mina purchased this four-bedroom, four bath, 4300-square-foot house on Sanders Street for $50,000. "'I'm so incredibly excited about this house," said Mina prior to the renovation, "but also absolutely terrified because it's massive." The house came with a formal parlor and living room on the first floor and a third-floor attic space that could easily be converted into a large bonus room. Some of the downsides: extensive termite damage and rot on the front exterior and deteriorated siding on the back.

The Big Sanders House. The exterior gets a facelift with a fully rebuilt porch with stained bead-board ceiling, new roof and guttering and improved landscaping. To help maintain the home's vintage charm, the original wood siding was retained and painted in soft gray with white trim.

This view is from the original kitchen, looking into one of the home's front rooms. The new first-floor design plan calls for knocking down some existing walls to create a more open and free-flowing living space on the first floor.

The remodeled living room has a spacious feel and opens onto the new kitchen and dining nook. Some of the home's original features, like operational pocket doors, were retained and incorporated into the new design.