Before and after: 10 beautiful abandoned house renovations

These rundown residences were given a new lease of life

It's always sad to see a beautiful old building left to languish and another slice of history resigned to the wrecking ball. Luckily, thanks to the efforts of passionate preservationists and renovators, these remarkable abandoned homes, mansions and castles were brought back from the brick and restored to their former glory for future generations to enjoy.

Read on to take a look at these incredible historic residences rescued from ruin...

McClain House: before

When 27-year-old Betsy Sweeny moved to Wheeling West Virginia for work in 2019, she got rather more than she bargained for. Walking around her new neighbourhood, she was immediately captivated by a beautiful old house that had been left to languish. Betsy reached out to the owner, who agreed to sell her the abandoned property for just £13,700 ($18k).

The crumbling house was far from livable and wouldn't qualify for a traditional mortgage. Instead, Betsy arranged a construction loan and sought funding from a local preservation organisation to help her fund the ambitious renovation project.

McClain House: a shadow of its former self

Known as the McClain House, the property dates back to 1892 but had been badly affected by water damage over the years. Pictured here before the renovation began, the sorry state of the property is clear to see, from the exposed wall framing and blistered plasterwork to the gaping hole in the floor.

However, Betsy recognised the home's potential. With a floor plan of 3,025 square feet (281sqm), three bedrooms and one-and-a-half bathrooms, it had all the ingredients to become a welcoming home once more.

McClain House: after

Over a period of 10 months, Betsy poured her time and energy into resurrecting the house. She repointed the entire structure with her partner – an arduous process that took six months alone and saved her around £22,900 ($30k). The roof was fixed and the water-damaged masonry was repaired before work could start on the interior.

Taking on the design of the living spaces herself, Betsy retained as many of the home's historic features as possible. The completed living room includes the original Victorian fireplace, refinished wood floors and replica curved glass windows.

McClain House: revived and restored

The kitchen was one of the last rooms Betsy completed, taking out an extra loan of £26,700 ($35k) to bring her vision to life. Money well spent, the rusted tin ceiling was patched up and painted and the original herringbone wood floors were revived. Vibrant floral wallpaper now defines this magnificent culinary space, offset by a black cooker hood and cabinetry – the perfect fusion of old and new aesthetics.

In December 2021, Betsy finally moved out of her rental apartment nearby and into the McClain House.

McClain House: a homage to the past

While there are still a few projects left to tackle in the home, including landscaping the backyard, Betsy has given McClain House a new lease of life.

As well as making the property suitable for modern living, the considerate renovation has placed the home's history centre stage. For example, in the enchanting master bedroom, the original plasterwork has been preserved across the wall flanking the curtained sleeping alcove.

For updates on Betsy's renovation project, you can follow her progress on Instagram.

Pennsylvania farmhouse: before

With their adult children having upped and left home, Jean and DeWitt Paul were in search of a fixer-upper to sink their teeth into. The couple decided to leave behind their suburban Las Vegas home and set their sights on a project property in Pennsylvania, where they travelled regularly for business.

Browsing Zillow in 2018, Jean came across an abandoned farm that was heading to auction. The dilapidated, 31-acre (12ha) property was in a poor state of repair, but it was an opportunity the Pauls couldn't pass up. While they were initially outbid, the pair finally secured the acreage for just £168,000 ($220k).

Pennsylvania farmhouse: unexpected visitors

The agricultural property dates back to 1890 and offers six buildings, including the main house, a smaller farmhouse, three barns and a garage.

Eager to get stuck into renovations, Jean and DeWitt moved onto the property just three days after they completed on the sale. They turned their attention to the main house, which had an awful lingering smell throughout that they later discovered was caused by cats, who had taken over the living spaces. The couple spent two months clearing out the home and deep-cleaning the interior.

Pennsylvania farmhouse: after

Following an extensive overhaul, the 5,000-square-foot (464sqm) main house is now a beautiful family home once more. Swathes of rotten wood were removed from the exterior and the clapboard façade was painted a crisp white.

Over the course of the project, the Pauls discovered a few hidden secrets in the grounds from the property's past life. When they cleared the surrounding overgrowth, they uncovered a beautiful flagstone path that had been obscured for decades.

Pennsylvania farmhouse: resourceful redesigns

Inside, the kitchen is unrecognisable. One of Jean and DeWitt's favourite places to entertain, the bright room features white cabinetry, a tiled backsplash and new appliances.

The couple designed the space themselves, however, it wasn't all plain sailing. A beam centred above the hob threatened to derail their plans as it was blocking the new position of the ventilation hose. The resourceful couple went back to the drawing board and came up with a new design for the ventilation hood that would work around the home's existing architecture.

Pennsylvania farmhouse: embracing open-plan living

In the living room, the original bay window and handsome wainscotting were carefully preserved and reincorporated into the revived scheme. However, the Pauls did make a significant change to the space by knocking down the wall between the lounge and the kitchen to create an open-plan family room.

While the bulk of the main house and the smaller farmhouse are now renovated, the couple continues to plug away at a few remaining projects in the properties. They've also turned their attention to renovating other areas of the acreage, including the old piggery. Watch this space!

Château Le Fleur: before

Looking to trade the hustle and bustle of Paris for a slice of the good life, fashion designer Anna and filmmaker Philipp took a chance on this breathtaking château in the Calvados region of France. The couple snapped up the remarkable estate in 2019 and were determined to restore it to its former glory, documenting their progress on their YouTube channel.

Pictured here in its forlorn state prior to the renovation, it's not hard to see why Anna and Philipp were enchanted by the property. With its regal proportions and towering, shuttered windows, it's like something from a fairytale.

Château Le Fleur: a project with promise

Inside, the château was still filled with remnants of its grand past life. Faded red brocade wallpaper lined this landing, where a glass-fronted bookcase filled with tomes stood. The structure had good bones and no shortage of breathtaking architectural features, from the sweeping staircase to intricate original mouldings and cornicing.

Over the next four years, Anna and Philipp poured their time, energy and money into Le Fleur. Some of their early renovations were even featured on the Channel 4 TV show Chateau DIY.

Château Le Fleur: after

The project was an arduous undertaking, both mentally and physically, yet Anna and Philipp's shared love of renovation and design ensured its success.

In their first year alone, they connected the château to mains water and sewage – which involved excavating the ground beneath the structure – restored swathes of the façade and repaired and reinstated many of the original windows and doors.

Later on, a grand entrance was added to the estate complete with stone pillars, 19th-century cobblestones and traditionally forged iron gates.

Château Le Fleur: beautifully reimagined

Throughout the house, the plumbing was replaced and new radiators were added to bring it up to scratch for modern living, while the interior was sensitively reimagined in a beautiful heritage aesthetic.

The couple worked with their carpenter, Benoit, to breathe new life into the kitchen, which now features sand-hued cabinetry and a rich, eggshell-green island. The intricate blue and white splashback behind the cooker is clad in ornate tiles that Anna made herself.

Château Le Fleur: handcrafted interiors

Anna put her design skills into action in other areas of the house too. This exquisite bedroom, now known as the Green Room, is decked out with botanical wallpaper that Anna lino-printed. Elsewhere, a newly created washroom features a stunning hand-painted wall mural that channels the château's idyllic rural backdrop.

Anna and Philipp still have a few projects in the pipeline, including the renovation of the master suite, and they've also turned their attention to landscaping the estate's rolling grounds. You can follow along with their progress on Instagram.

Rockwell House: before

Rockwell House in Milledgeville, Georgia was hidden away by overgrown shrubbery and slowly decaying after 70 years of neglect. It was an awful fate for this beautiful house, designed in 1838 by architect Joseph Lane and photographed here by Leland Kent of Abandoned Southeast.

Once the epitome of grandeur, it was constructed for Colonel Samuel Rockwell in the neoclassical Federal style with Greek Revival elements.

Rockwell House: a series of unfortunate events

Over the decades, the house was scorched by fire and ravaged by water damage. You can see how bad the deterioration was in this picture of the master bedroom.

The old house very nearly didn’t survive the 1970s, as a local man wanted to buy the mansion and strip it of the remaining fine interior details. Luckily, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 so the pillaging was prevented, but the property continued to crumble.

Rockwell House: after

Turning around the fortunes of this southern belle, investors Ross Sheppard, Jacob Hawkins and Will Walker bought the abandoned mansion for a bargain £244,000 ($319.5k) in 2019. The trio are Georgia locals with a passion for historic houses – in fact, Sheppard is a realtor specialising in historic home preservation.

The team initially returned the home's exterior to its original sunny yellow hue, however, it's since been painted a crisp white. The steep steps and imposing Ionic columns were also painstakingly restored.

Rockwell House: original features preserved

The renovated sitting room has been sympathetically restored too, with a careful emphasis on retaining all the original features, including the fabulous tall sash windows.

Soft light blue walls beautifully showcase the white woodwork, including the intricately carved surround that frames the doorway. The impressive overhaul has definitely succeeded in preserving the historic spirit of the space.

Rockwell House: considerate conservation project

This is the badly damaged master bedroom – totally transformed! Local mason Mr Woodrow helped restore the ruined room, conserving the fine cornicing over the sash windows. The team also had the help of property conservation expert Kyle Campbell from Preservation South.

Following the renovation, the house was rented out to holidaymakers and marketed as a wedding venue. However, the mansion was listed for sale at the end of 2023 and changed hands in March 2024, according to Zillow's property records. Who knows what the future holds for this historic beauty?

Page Mansion: a crumbling relic of yesteryear

This North Carolina manor was a sorry sight, having stood empty for about 40 years. The Page Mansion is a huge 6,000-square-foot (557sqm) Colonial-style brick house designed in 1913 for timber tycoon Frank Page. It has a huge staircase, parlours and dining rooms, six bedrooms, plus servants’ quarters. But its original owners were crushed by the Great Depression and the mansion began to moulder.

Page Mansion: a crumbling relic of yesteryear

Abandoned for decades, the house was an eerie tableau – pictured here in the dining room, crumbling walls surrounded a dining table still set with fine glassware.

However, the home's next chapter was just around the corner. The Page Mansion’s salvation came in the form of Abby and Trey Brothers. Abby stumbled across the home by chance listed on Zillow in April 2018 while house-hunting. The couple took the plunge and bought the property in July 2018 for £118,300 ($155k).

Page Mansion: after

The pair tackled the ambitious renovation project with gusto. They opted for a modern layout, knocking down interior walls to create a free-flowing dining room and kitchen. Despite the change to the downstairs floor plan, the dining room retains its traditional look and original features, such as the grand fireplace and large sash windows.

Page Mansion: old meets new

Previously, the study was smothered under a thick layer of grime. Following the couple's overhaul, it's unrecognisable. The feature wall now looks stunning, with striking ochre paint and built-in cabinetry framing the fireplace. The shelving also conceals the home's new plumbing and air conditioning units, while the recessed ceiling hides unsightly pipework.

Page Mansion: triumphing against the odds

Originally filled with rubble and debris, you could hardly step inside the master bedroom let alone sleep in it! But after Abby and Trey worked their magic, it now looks like a haven of relaxation.

Despite serious setbacks, including flooding caused by a hurricane, the couple have successfully turned this shell of a building into a family home steeped in historic charm. Follow their journey on Instagram and Facebook.

McDonald House: before

In its heyday, this mid-century home in Birmingham, Alabama was the height of 1960s modern design, with wide horizontal planes used to create a spacious interior. Embracing the tenets of organic architecture, the house celebrates its picturesque location with huge windows and a palette of natural materials.

Photographed here by Leland Kent of Abandoned Southeast, the home's architect, John Randal McDonald, aimed to build affordable, informal living spaces for families.

McDonald House: a diamond in the rough

Once a beloved family home, it fell into disrepair after the owner died. Yet even in this rundown state, you can see the architect’s vision of open-plan living filled with light and space.

McDonald’s buildings were more affordable versions of visionary architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s work. McDonald's designs included jutting rooflines, repeating rectangles, ribbon windows and horizontal lines, but without the expensive masonry, glasswork or costly carpentry of Wright.

McDonald House: after

Happily, the two-bedroom home was rescued from ruin by local investors who spotted its potential. Despite being built in 1960, the house still looks ultra-modern today, with the exterior featuring restored window panes and a manicured lawn with shrubs. The whole property was brought up to 2019 energy codes, with updated electrics, plumbing and a septic tank.

McDonald House: a mid-century modern marvel

Staying true to McDonald's vision, this super-relaxing living room cocoons you in natural materials and exposed brickwork. The green paint and vast windows add to the indoor-outdoor effect. A scoop rocking chair made from wooden slats completes the look.

Featuring a 1,500-square-foot (139sqm) floor plan, the renovated house has an open living area, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a family den, a walk-in closet and a pantry.

McDonald House: organic interior inspiration

Dark wood gives this stylish master bedroom a distinctive look. The low ceilings are cosy and the artwork at the far end creates a playful illusion of a forest just beyond the wall. Meanwhile, the clever use of downlights and table lamps adds atmosphere without the need for a central light fixture.

The restoration carefully retained McDonald’s original vision for the house, while updating the residence for modern living. No wonder it was snapped up, selling for £172,000 ($225k).

Arkansas Victorian house: before

A Victorian beauty left to decay for decades caught the eye of dedicated historic house restorers Kevin and Laine Berry. Having admired the property in her hometown of Conway, Arkansas for years, it was a childhood dream fulfilled for Laine when the couple purchased the house for £80,900 ($106k) in 2011.

However, it was far from a straightforward renovation. After about 70 years of neglect, the house was marked for demolition, plagued by termite damage and dry rot in the foundations.

Arkansas Victorian house: a challenging fixer-upper

Having renovated 20 heritage homes, Kevin and Laine have a talent for bringing fixer-uppers back to life. But this one was quite the challenge. Pictured here, original period features were missing from the living room, with ugly wood slats and ceiling tiles covering the home's natural charm.

Still, the couple was enamoured by the residence's history. While the home was built in 1909, the original owner evidently had a change of heart about its location. In 1925, the house was lifted off its foundations, placed on logs and pulled by mules across the block to be rotated 180 degrees into its final position.

Arkansas Victorian house: after

While not quite akin to moving the house down the block, the couple's first repair was lifting the whole structure so that the rotten foundations beneath the property could be remedied.

As you can see from the renovated cornflower-blue exterior, all the blood, sweat and tears were worth it. But it didn’t come cheap – the first 16 months of the huge project cost an estimated £92,000 ($120.5k).

Arkansas Victorian house: unearthing historic treasures

The old house was full of hidden surprises. The couple discovered 12-foot (3.6m) ceilings disguised under panelling, plus original eight-foot (2.4m) pocket doors hidden in the garage and a fine kitchen sink in a garbage pile.

Pictured here, the dining room is now grand and palatial with the original floor-to-ceiling windows restored. Framed embroidered waistcoats are displayed on the walls, along with a cabinet full of Laine’s grandmother’s china to add an authentic historic feel to the interior.

Arkansas Victorian house: exquisite antiques

The entire back wall of this bedroom was infested by termites and had to be remodelled. Now, it features a dreamy colour scheme accented by intriguing antiques, such as the vintage trunks by the bed.

Elsewhere, a durable paint designed for saltwater boats has been used on the floor throughout the house so the couple’s rescue dogs can run around without ruining the finish.

Laine and Kevin are busy restoring several other historic properties, but they’ve made this charming house their home.

Kilmartin Castle: before

Renovating a rundown 16th-century fortress was no small task for married couple Stef Burgeon and Simon Hunt. Kilmartin Castle on the beautiful west coast of Scotland in Argyll & Bute is a Z-plan tower house consisting of a main three-storey block, with projecting round towers at opposite corners.

The couple fell in love with Scotland during a holiday there. So, when Steph spotted a listing for a Scottish castle for £375,000 ($491k), they decided to take a chance.

Kilmartin Castle: unearthing nasty surprises

During the renovation, the pair came across damp patches on the ground floor, leaving them no option but to lift the original flagstone tiles to investigate. They discovered leaking fertiliser bags under the floor, which had been used as a makeshift solution to stop the encroaching damp. On a builder's advice, they had to dig down a foot (0.3m) to install modern insulation and underfloor heating before relaying the floor. Here you can see Simon in the midst of the task, which took eight weeks.

Thankfully, the formerly derelict fortress is very cosy now!

Kilmartin Castle: after

Look how the cave-like stone walls have been integrated into the beautiful new kitchen while preserving the property’s character. You can see how the massive original fireplace has been turned into a seating booth, featuring a table and benches reclaimed from an old pub. The kitchen has a central island with two ovens and an ingenious herb garden suspended from the ceiling.

Kilmartin Castle: history preserved

Original stonework left exposed around the windows and fireplace in the living room turns the 500-year-old thick stone walls into decorative elements. Beautiful wooden ceiling beams retain the old building’s character.

It’s thought the castle was home to John Carswell, a prominent Protestant reformer during the reign of Mary Queen of Scots. It was later held by the Campbell Clan for about 200 years.

Kilmartin Castle: a labour of love

The overhaul is remarkable given the scale of the project. The upper floor of the castle had mouldering carpet throughout – even in the single bathroom that served the whole building. Luckily, the floorboards were good underneath and these have been beautifully restored.

The dialogue of old and new is showcased in this renovated bedroom, which features the original stonework peeking out from beneath lime plasterwork. Heritage-design fabrics on the headboard and throw give the room a period feel without overpowering the compact space.

After seven years of hard work, Stef and Simon successfully transformed this 500-year-old fortress into a luxury boutique hotel.