What Stays, What Goes?

Tiffany shares her tips on how to tackle a major renovation and redesign.

• ASK YOURSELF, IS ANYTHING WORTH KEEPING? We loved the charming half nib walls separating the bed/bath zone from the rest of the home, and the original cedar-clad walls and ceiling in the front of the cottage had serious potential. We even kept a couple of lamps and side tables.

• BE SAFE AND FACTOR IN UNFORESEEN COSTS. Under the dated shag carpeting, we found asbestos tile, and behind the drywall in the bathroom was insufficient plumbing. It was costly to fix these issues, so be sure to budget accordingly.

• TRY TO IMAGINE THE SPACE AS A BLANK CANVAS. Don’t get hung up on things that are easy to change like removing wallpaper or painting the walls.