Couple Buys 109-Year-Old Mansion, Today It’s Unrecognizable

Not every dream home starts with a licensed realtor. Some home enthusiasts are willing to start from scratch, which is exactly what Abby Brothers and her husband did when they came across a mysterious mansion from 1913...

Meet Trey & Abby

Trey Brothers, 33, married husband Abby, 31, and were searching for their forever home as newlyweds and new parents! The couple was eager to find something challenging, but little did they know how difficult it would be.

After rumbling through real estate websites and talking for hours on end with estate agents, it was hopeless. There was not one house on the market that caught their attention - until they came across the Page Mansion. Situated in North Carolina, Abby and Trey were willing to make a quick pit stop and check out the situation.

Taking a Risk

At the time, the couple was living in Baltimore, Maryland. Abby was a registered nurse, and Trey was in the middle of serving military duties but was slowly planning his departure. While they both grew up in North Carolina, it had a special place in their hearts, encouraging them to start fresh where it all began.

A mansion was nowhere near what they had in mind, but the century-old home immediately attracted Abby - and it was clear why. The property had significant potential, so the couple took a risk but didn't waste any time. They purchased the mansion in June 2018 for $155,000. Their DIY up-scale renovation was officially underway.

About Page Mansion

Page Mansion was built in 1913 for the Page-Wilder family in a town called Aberdeen, located in North Carolina. The property is about 6,000-square-foot with 6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, an exaggerated foyer with a grand staircase, a dining area, outside porches, and much more. Abby knew this project would take their creative minds to the limit.

She expressed to the Daily Mail, "It was originally built for a family, and we wanted to keep her that way." Though she described it as "sad and dilapidated," this would not be the case for much longer. Their friends thought they were crazy, but they knew the 9-month project would be worth it in the end. It was time to get to work.

Starting From Scratch

Where does one start with a property that has been abandoned for 30 years? Due to the neglect, the house was falling to pieces by the minute. Still, this was only pushing them to get a move on. Though it was Abby and Trey's to tear the house apart, it was initially very intimidating; as shown below, this was what Abby and Trey faced.

Windows were out of their sockets, mold was growing out of the walls, and banisters were on their last nail. It was a complete disaster. Not to mention, the surrounding greenery was so overgrown, it was hard to approach the house. Thankfully, there was a small path that led them to start their project. They instantly removed the porch.

The Grand Disaster

The porch wasn't the first point of the house they began working on, but it did give them a headstart and a gateway to the inside. In the main hall, Abby and Trey were welcomed with an open-plan space. They really hit the jackpot with this one, especially given its grand staircase planted in the middle of the foyer.

Abby and Trey didn't want to change much about the entrance. On their renovation Instagram account, Abby wrote, "We have never been so excited to peek through the transom windows." Abby then told Love Property, "They walk through the front door and say how gorgeous it is, and that's what I (also) say whenever I walk in the door."

Traveling Through Time

With every home, some homeowners prefer separate spaces or open plans. Abby and Trey decided to do both. Of course, it's all about the transition between each room. Each door invites guests and residents into a different environment of the home. Whether this is to cook, clean, sleep, or read, there is a doorway that takes them there.

Each room signified a different meaning. This way, they tore down the entire interior of the mansion and started from scratch. They decided as a team to know which room would be completely separate from the house and which rooms would conjoin to make a beautiful open-plan living space so the whole family could get together.

Tearing Down the Walls

Speaking of open-plan, that's exactly what they had in mind for the kitchen/dining area. As the couple wrote perfectly, "The walls are officially down! We removed the walls between the kitchen and dining room (the only floorplan change)." The comment section was very positive, as one user wrote, "Better natural light filtering in."

It's exciting to think that, considering the house was built over 100 years ago, some blueprints were far ahead of their time. Most people like to agree that the kitchen is the heart of the home, so there is no reason that it should be secluded. The kitchen is where most family time is spent, so might as well have the space for it!

Time To Dine

Speaking of the heart of the home, what about the stomach? Yes, it's where the big celebrations are held with the finest feasts. We are sure that some rather classy dining adventures were held here during the 1900s. Shown below is the dining room before the walls were knocked down, so that tiny archway on the left is no more!

On their Instagram, this picture was captioned, "When we purchased our home, we could only walk a couple of feet into the dining room before feeling the floor giving way beneath us. Instead of giving in to that falling feeling - we fell in love with our forever home." In a blink of an eye, a masterpiece dining area was created.

Time To Unwind

Abby told the Daily Mail, "For the most part, everything is original." So, we aren't surprised that Abby and Trey kept this layout for their living room space. The perfectly curved built room was one of the easier spaces to clean. The walls needed a complete strip down, the floors needed polishing, and new furniture would do the trick.

Abby admitted on their living room update post, "Sanding floors and picking out stains! It is very difficult to determine the original color of the floors - as they are rather dirty and distressed!" She then emphasized how she envisioned "comfy couches" to replace the "broken wicker chairs." Looking good, folks!

The Downstairs Bathroom

It's always nice to have the option to go to the bathroom as soon as we enter someone's home. Who knows how long one's journey was! So, Abby and Trey thought very practically, and we have to give kudos to them for installing a downstairs half bath! Though it seems like under the stairs storage, they fixed it up quite nicely.

They wrote in the Instagram post, "What was once the telephone closet (under the stairs) - is now being transformed into a half bath!!!!! It's always wonderful to see progress in our home - especially in areas we have made changes." There's nothing better than achievement, especially with a grand project like this!

Good News & Bad News

DIY renovation is no walk in the park. The couple prepared for the worst so they could pick up the pieces when necessary, and when it came to renovating the mansion's 'study,' their project really started. Abby and Trey reported on Instagram, "Good News: The insulation passed inspection! Bad News: The drywall installers quit!"

Yes, Abby and Trey committed to doing most of the work themselves. However, they are not qualified electricians, plumbers, or carpenters. It's no surprise they had to bring in a few professionals. But, after a price increase and misleading contracts, Abby and Trey learned a valuable lesson when it came to hiring people for the job.

Perching on the Porch

The porch is always a great escape to any home. It might be the second relaxing space in an entire house, where the bedroom obviously comes first. But seriously, you can't beat a quaint and serenity-filled outside area - and Abby and Trey had some big plans for theirs.

However, they had to dig out the excess build from previous ruins. In the early 2000s, a huge snowstorm hit, and the porch ultimately collapsed. Instead of trying to fix it, they decided to rebuild it from scratch. As Abby envisioned, "Can't wait to spend fall evenings relaxing on the sleeping porch watching the colorful leaves fall."

Window Details

Let's talk windows. Believe it or not, they are essential to any household, or even room for that matter. They are the source of natural light as well as access to the outside world or to look inside for a sneak peek. When it came to selecting which windows to keep and which to get rid of, it came down to what they had to offer.

The windows, as shown above, offered something "odd and charming," as explained in their Instagram post. It continued, "The grey piece was in the home when we bought her - we decided to sand and paint it once we repaired the areas of water damage. After that, we added a few family moments… " The end result was everything they had dreamt.

Leveling Up

It's hard to believe this photo was taken just one year before the final product. Still, while the ground floor entrance sets off quite a first impression, the entrance to level one is just as important. Who would have thought it would take just one coat of paint to create a century-long transformation?

Considering this was an entire top floor renovation, "Everything needed to be updated, everything was original, the plumbing, electricity, windows, walls, were all from 1913," Abby told the Daily Mail. There were leaks in the roof from water damage and crooked floors. But they rose to the challenge and created one sturdy space.

Be Our Guest

With every home, a guest room is always a special treat! Whether it's family or friends coming to stay, near or far, a guest room adds that extra bit of privacy for the temporary resident of the household. While Abby and Trey were thoughtful enough to build in an extra room, it wasn't easy at all. At first, the flooring couldn't hold!

Their Instagram caption read, "Standing in the corner (by the closet) of the guest bedroom. It's the first time we have ever been able to stand in this part of the room, as the floors were unstable and falling through! The room looks so much bigger from this perspective! We hope our guest enjoy this room as much as we already do!"

Second Bedroom

Don't be alarmed. This isn't a film set in a horror film but a 'before' picture taken by Abby and Trey when they visited the ancient mansion in 2018! It is not established how the room got in this condition, but they did know they needed to act fast before things started to grow out of the walls!

With a baby son in the picture, it's never too early to start building a second room. Whether they turn the original nursery into a bedroom or have a second child on the way, a second bedroom in addition to the guest room is never a doubted decision. Let's face it, this room has really been through it all.

Master of The House

If there's anything better than the master bedroom, it's the en suite bathroom located just a private doorway away. The bathroom is where we start our days. A splash of water followed by our beloved skincare and freshening up routine… there's no better feeling. So, it's likely this room was made to be extra aesthetic.

The bathrooms were by no means in any state to do business in. It was a cry for help. Due to water damage, half of the original hardwoods had to be removed and replaced with dining room hardwoods. As well this room used to be an old sunroom, but now, it is a bathroom with added walls that form a walk-in closet.

Stairway to Heaven

After a year of blood, sweat, and tears during major renovations, Abby and Trey put it all on the line and ultimately created their dream home. But don't think it's over just yet! However, they kicked things off: the grand staircase. Due to building standards in North Carolina, the layout had to stay the same, but that wasn't an issue.

This staircase remained a nostalgic and historical sentiment. They wrote, "We had the pleasure of meeting one of the former residents of our home - he brought us a flash drive filled with pictures of the home when his mother still lived here. It was such a joy to see our home "way back when" and compare it with how she looks now."

Room to Room

Before getting the doors locked and loaded in, Trey joked about Abby missing "being able to walk 'through' the walls." We can't lie. There is something freeing about a completely empty home with all the room to run around and explore. But now, they couldn't be happier with the results.

They said, "all of the trim and doors are original, with updates to stain and paint." They were even able to reuse cabinet doors for the study and other rooms. The house is full of history, it would be a shame not to have a small reminder left built-in. They specifically pointed out, "It's the color transitions for me!"

Let's Get Cookin'

It's that fresh kitchen smell for us! Not only have they adorned this incredible open-plan space with a white and grey subtle historic aesthetic, but the gorgeous appliances are the cherry on the cake. From cramped utilities to a modern delight, this is one of the couple's favorite spots in the house - and we can see why!

They explained, "Trey, his mom, and stepdad laid all of the tile in the kitchen and bathrooms… Trey refinished the terrazzo floors in the bathrooms and made the concrete countertops in the kitchen/pantry." The concrete kitchen jungle has become a modern masterpiece, a 10/10 if we say so ourselves!

Dinner Is Served

The dining area needed updating - from top to bottom, inside and out. They pretty much had to peel off the entire wallpaper and create an entirely new room, not to mention they knocked down the wall to create one large dining/kitchen space. From damp wallpaper to burning wood fireplaces, this room was meant for family.

While it is an open space, the dining room section is specifically closed off from the rest of the house, so there is a smidge of privacy for those quaint and intimate family evenings. More importantly, they noted how the downstairs of the house is more modern but intertwines the original elements, including the fireplace.

Lounging Around

Let's just say this room was given a lot of TLC. Comparing the after to the before layout, it was nothing but something out of a horror movie. It was the perfect scene for a haunted house with abandoned wicker chairs and antique items. However, Abby and Trey stripped the room completely and transformed it into a chic and modern space.

With DIY, the end game is unpredictable. At first, the walls were painted a chic navy color, but Abby announced, "We are going to pick new paint for the living room." So, they went for something a little brighter and swapped out the couches for a third time! If they are creating a room from scratch, it might as well be perfect.

A Hidden Gem of a Bathroom

This bathroom is one of the prime examples where creativity comes into place. That's right, this tiny room under the stairs used to be a phone closet. But who uses phone closets these days? Plus, you can never have too many bathrooms! They come in handy, especially when placed all around the house. So this half-bath was perfect.

They wrote on Instagram, "We half to admit, we love our little bathroom under the stairs!" While some users joked about the bathroom with Harry Potter references, they're not wrong! The 'under the staircase' aesthetic is accurate, but their followers still agreed that it was a great addition, supporting their color choices and design.

Study Time

A study can be a workspace or simply a room for peace and quiet. Before the renovation, Abby and Trey had to deal with major piping issues around the house, so the study's brand-new ceiling conceals their new piping arrangement. With a dash of paint on the walls and revamped furniture, their vision turned into a reality.

The walls are painted a bright ochre yellow color, great for an optimistic environment. The study is one of those rooms which aren't used often and sometimes just for show, due to its stylish nature. It's hard not to complement those built-in cabinets. The couch, made in 1873, was completely reupholstered, and voila! Good as new.

The Perfect Porch

Two porches were also built; The sleeping porch on the first floor - perfect for peaceful naps during the day - and the second porch outside in the front yard. These features predominantly completed the whole house. While they wanted to keep as much of the same style as possible, both were rebuilt with a twist, specifically outside.

They told the Daily Mail, "The front porch roof isn't original, but was replaced in the same fashion… we tried our hardest to keep the home original, but with modern amenities." Now, it is much lighter and built efficiently. The cozy swing bench that looks over the driveway is the cherry on the cake during sunshine and rain.

Window Wonders

Sometimes, it's all about the selling point. According to Love Property, all it took was a quick glance, "Looking through the windows, the couple got a peek at the grand staircase, which was the final selling point." According to CNBC, Trey mentioned nearly all the windows were broken, which was completely unacceptable.

All windows were completely replaced, but a few sections in the house stood out. They wanted to equally transform the windows while keeping a few features that reminded them why they bought the house. In the area shown above, they repaired areas of water damage and added a few family moments, creating a charming little nook!

First Floor Debates

There are lots of little projects inside one big one. Once guests have had a full tour of the downstairs area, that's only a teaser of what they're in store for upstairs! Upstairs is where the sleeping porch is, all the bedrooms, and brand-new bathrooms! Not to mention the grand upstairs foyer.

With the same hardwood floors, they built a mini relaxation station behind the banister on the first floor with two couches and a rug. While there is an incredible birds-eye view below, they said if any changes were to be made, "the entire staircase would have had to be removed - the railings do not meet today's building code."

The Second Bedroom: Part 2

This bedroom process was a little different from how the other rooms went. Instead of tearing the room apart, they kept the exact layout without knocking down any walls or adding any extra build. In this transformation Instagram post, Abby and Trey posted three pictures, one after another, showing the stunning transition from 1970 to now.

Of course, the room's decor was scrapped and replaced with modern antique-style furniture. A built-in sink that was attached to the wall was removed and replaced with a set of drawers. The windows stayed in their original place but spruced up a little, so there was no creaking. This bedroom has really traveled through the years!

Welcoming Guests

The bedrooms were completely unliveable. Abby described it as "a time capsule." Mounts of rubble piled on top of each other were removed, and there was a large hole in the guest room that had to be filled. Plus, extra paint was needed to cover up the scribbled initials on the wall from a woman who previously lived in the house. Creepy!

Extensive renovation was well and truly underway. Today, the rooms are unrecognizable! But it wasn't all smooth sailing as Abby and Trey experienced a hurricane during renovation and watched water pour into the - then - unfinished basement! They felt "defeated." But that didn't stop them from creating the guest room of dreams!

Master Bathroom

With help from family and friends, brand-new tiles and appliances were added, creating a fresh bathroom smell and lighting. Not to mention, specifically in the master bathroom, they added a bathtub for those extra stressful days. Before the renovation, the bathrooms were far from clean, completely going against the point of the room.

The simple yet modern sleek bathtub was placed right next to the windows while terrazzo tiles completed all bathroom aesthetics. Abby said, "the master bathroom was originally a sun porch, a wall was added to create a closet and room for the toilet, and plumbing was added to accommodate a double sink, large shower, and clawfoot tub."

Welcome Home!

Well, here it is! With a spacious front yard and grounds for lovely walks around the property. Originally, they set themselves a budget between $250,000-$275,000 and committed to their goal - only now, the value increased by $745,000, bringing the value to nearly $1 million! They spent $268,494 in total, with some rooms more expensive than others.

This is probably one of the most inspiring DIY home renovation projects we have ever seen, and totally worth the hard work. Abby told CNBC, "We have every intention on living here forever." They even have plans to pass it down to their children! It is now a home full of family, love, and financial and emotional commitments...