Last week we gave you all of the exciting details on the exterior transformation of our duplex renovation. But today, we’re shifting our focus indoors to celebrate a monumental development that truly marks a turning point in any home project: the installation of **DRYWALL!** This stage brings an almost magical sense of progress, transforming raw studs and wires into defined spaces that are beginning to feel like actual rooms.
The Transformative Power of Drywall: Defining Spaces and Bringing Visions to Life
It’s easy to forget just how significant the drywall phase truly is until you experience it firsthand. The feeling of seeing walls go up, enclosing the intricate network of new plumbing, electrical wiring, and HVAC systems, quickly brought back a flood of emotions – much like when we reached this milestone during our pink house renovation last summer. Suddenly, what were once mere frameworks of studs and open air are now distinct rooms, each with its own character and purpose. This isn’t just about covering up the guts of the house; it’s about solidifying the floor plan, giving tangible form to our initial design vision, and making the dream of a finished home feel remarkably real.
To truly grasp the scope of this interior transformation, Sherry filmed an insightful video tour, guiding you through each room and explaining our detailed plans – from furniture placement for beds and couches to the strategic positioning of cabinets and appliances. Before we dive into the current state, let’s take a quick walk down memory lane, reflecting on where this incredible journey began. Below is a glimpse of the living room on the left side of the duplex (the right side is a mirror image) as it appeared when we first purchased this property last September.
From Demolition to Rebuilding: A Foundation of Renewal
The initial step, as with many older properties, was comprehensive demolition. This vital stage allowed us to strip back decades of wear and tear, revealing the true condition of the underlying structure. What we uncovered was not entirely unexpected: significant portions of rotted framing requiring extensive reinforcement, pervasive water damage, and even some unpleasant mold. This phase, while messy and challenging, was absolutely crucial for creating a clean, safe, and stable foundation for the extensive duplex renovation ahead. It’s the less glamorous side of home remodeling, but undeniably the most important. You can delve deeper into the nitty-gritty details of our demo experience here.
Following the interior gutting, we moved onto the exterior demolition. Our plans for the duplex included entirely new siding and roofing, not just for aesthetic purposes, but critically, to reinforce the entire structure, significantly improve insulation, and permanently address the issues of leaks and water damage that plagued the original house. During this period, the living room took on an astonishingly “open concept” feel, with exterior walls temporarily removed to facilitate the necessary structural work. It was a stark reminder of the massive undertaking, providing a rare glimpse into the skeleton of the home before its new skin was applied.
The majority of the last few months have been dedicated to the intensive rebuilding, reframing, and refitting of the interior. This involved installing all the essential, yet largely unseen, components that make a modern home functional and comfortable: a completely new plumbing system, updated electrical wiring throughout, and an efficient HVAC system. These critical infrastructures must be meticulously planned and installed within the walls before they are ever closed up with drywall. While these aren’t the visually exciting elements of a renovation, they are undeniably the most vital, representing a significant investment in the long-term integrity and livability of the property.
This long and arduous journey through demolition and infrastructure installation makes the arrival of drywall feel truly momentous. Seeing actual walls again, even in their unfinished state, is an incredibly rewarding experience. You might notice some large boxes in the middle of the room in the image below; these are our three stylish bathroom vanities for this side of the duplex, which arrived ahead of schedule. We carefully selected this one, this one, and this one, envisioning how they will contribute to the finished aesthetic.
To get a comprehensive visual tour of the interior and hear about our detailed design plans, be sure to watch Sherry’s insightful video. She walks you through one side of the duplex, highlighting key changes, outlining the next steps on our renovation checklist, and even discussing some potentially unconventional furniture placements. You can watch the full video tour here on YouTube. (Apologies for the vertical orientation – Sherry was in Instagram Story mode and briefly forgot how the rest of the internet typically operates!)
A Detailed Look Inside: Kitchen, Living, and Entryway Transformations
For those unable to watch the video immediately, let’s explore some of the exciting highlights through additional photos and detailed descriptions. The view below looks into what will soon become our vibrant kitchen. I’m standing near those large vanity boxes, which occupy the living room half of this expansive main living area. The other half will comfortably accommodate a dining table, with a convenient powder room tucked away to the right (where this specific sink vanity will be installed), and the kitchen extending gracefully beyond it. This thoughtful open-concept design aims to create a fluid and inviting space for both everyday living and entertaining.
One of our favorite preserved features is the original brick chimney, which we’ve intentionally left exposed. This architectural element will serve as a striking and unique accent in the kitchen, adding warmth, character, and a touch of historic charm to the modern design. Our plans include centering the kitchen sink beneath that back window, while the stove will be precisely centered on the right wall in the photo below. The refrigerator will find its designated spot in the corner, just out of frame on the right side, ensuring a highly functional and aesthetically pleasing kitchen layout.
Peeking in on the left of the image above, you can catch a glimpse of one of our distinctive diamond doors. This leads into the practical mudroom and laundry area. We’ve incorporated elegant pocket doors for this space, allowing occupants to seamlessly close it off from the kitchen when desired, offering both privacy and a clean aesthetic. This blend of historic detail and modern functionality is central to our duplex design philosophy.
Turning our gaze back towards the front door, this half of the main room is designated as the living area. Picture a comfortable arrangement of chairs and a couch, thoughtfully positioned to face a TV mounted on the wall near the stairs. The cleverly designed closet beneath the staircase will serve multiple practical purposes: housing the HVAC system, the hot water heater, and acting as a secure, locked owner’s closet. This ensures that guests will enjoy an uncluttered and aesthetically pleasing environment without ever needing to see these essential utility components.
We are particularly thrilled with how this entryway view has evolved. While it might seem trivial to some, the effort we invested in opening up this space has yielded dramatic results. Previously, the initial five bottom steps of the staircase were completely hidden by a wall, making the entire area feel incredibly dark, confined, and tunnel-like. By strategically opening it up, the stairs now feel much more airy and inviting. Furthermore, the beautiful transom window above the front door, once obscured, is now fully visible, thanks to our decision to both raise and widen the doorway. This architectural adjustment has fundamentally transformed the entire entryway, creating a grander, brighter, and more welcoming first impression.
To truly appreciate the extent of this transformation, consider the original opening. As you can see, the area was incredibly tiny and closed off. Imagine that space with solid walls blocking all natural light, making the entryway feel significantly cramped and unwelcoming. The old layout featured a small, low doorway leading into the living room, which completely hid the elegant transom window. The new configuration, experienced in person, offers a vastly superior sense of space, light, and flow, embodying the true spirit of thoughtful home renovation.
Upstairs: Adding Character to Private Retreats
Moving upstairs, the bedrooms, currently in their freshly drywalled state, present a more generic “box-like” appearance. However, we’ve already incorporated several thoughtful details that are beginning to define their individual character. In the back bedroom, for instance, we’ve exposed a section of the brick chimney. This will be beautifully enhanced with custom-built shelves in the alcove, creating a charming, brick-backed niche perfect for books, decorative items, or personal treasures. Additionally, the new window visible from the top of the stairs has made an enormous difference to the landing area, previously quite dark, now bathed in natural light and feeling much more open and inviting.
Each of the main bedrooms features a distinct portion of the exposed brick chimney – the image above shows the right side, while below is the left. In her video, Sherry elaborates on our specific plans for creating integrated shelving within these brick nooks. She also details our strategic decision to place the bed on the wall pictured, an unconventional choice driven by practical considerations and a desire to maximize comfort and flow, despite other options having compelling downsides. This thoughtful approach ensures that even the most private spaces are optimized for both aesthetics and functionality in our duplex interior design.
One of the doorways above leads into the luxurious en-suite bathroom, while the other marks the entrance to one of two newly added closets in each main bedroom. These strategically integrated closets will not only provide abundant storage solutions but also create a perfect alcove for a charming window bench. We believe these thoughtful, smaller details are key to injecting unique character and comfort into what might otherwise be perceived as standard, boxy rooms. To further enhance this feature, we’ve even installed a fixture box above the future window bench, allowing for the elegant placement of a pendant light – perhaps something as stylish as this beautiful option – to create a cozy reading nook or a delightful focal point.
It’s worth noting a subtle, yet charming, difference: the closet cutouts you see above are slightly different from those Sherry showcased in the video. This is because we are proudly reusing some beautiful old doors for the other side of the duplex (the side Sherry toured), which are naturally shorter than the standard new doors destined for this side. Having only two of those unique antique doors meant we couldn’t outfit both sides identically, leading to delightful individual variations.
Indeed, it’s exciting to witness each side of the duplex develop its own distinct personality and features. For instance, the side graced with those character-filled old doors for the main bedroom closets also boasts a lovely mint-colored X-paned door in the back. Conversely, the side that may initially seem to “miss out” on the antique bedroom doors upstairs receives a truly stunning, all-wood X-paned door – an absolute showstopper! This intentional approach ensures that both sides of our duplex renovation project will be filled with unique perks, charming touches, and a sense of individual identity, making each unit special.
What’s Next: Bringing Finishes to Life and DIY Adventures
With the essential drywall now complete, our agenda is packed with the exciting stages that will truly transform these spaces into finished homes. Next up are priming, painting, and the meticulous installation of trim. These steps will rapidly advance the duplex’s appearance, making it look even more like a real, livable house in the coming weeks. Following that, we’ll dive into the intricate work of tile installation. We’re eagerly planning to tackle both laundry rooms, both kitchen backsplashes, and all six bathrooms ourselves – a significant DIY renovation undertaking that will bring our design choices to life with personalized craftsmanship. Simultaneously, a few other major installations will commence, culminating in the assembly and installation of our Ikea kitchens, which we also intend to do ourselves once the spaces are ready. In short, the autumn months promise to be exceptionally busy, rewarding, and filled with significant progress as we move closer to completing this ambitious duplex transformation.
P.S. For a comprehensive look at our entire duplex journey, including how we acquired the property, planned the distinct style for each side, and have been meticulously renovating it over the past year, you can explore our dedicated category here. Dive into every detail of this ongoing home remodeling adventure!
*This post contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission on purchases made through them, at no extra cost to you. Your support helps us continue sharing our renovation journey!*