Home Improvement Before the Energy Retrofit

The Wilsons liked the whitewashed brick façade and bay windows of this Cape Cod-style house. The 1940s kit house had about 1,000 square feet and needed TLC, but it was in a great neighborhood with lots of character.

The living room had dingy walls and blue-gray trim and felt cramped because of the kids' playpen and play tent. Note the built-in bookshelf — this will be taken out to make a door to the adjoining kitchen to improve the house's flow on the first floor.

Notice the new entryway where the built-in bookshelf used to be. Small homes benefit from open floor plans, which Jeff's house didn't have originally.

The old galley kitchen (7' x 10') was in dire need of an upgrade. The wall of cabinets was directly behind the built-in bookshelf in the living room so these had to be removed to create a more open kitchen.