An Artist Had to Gut-Reno a 1960s House After Discovering Termites and Faulty Wiring

Artist Morgan Purdy, who is from the Virgin Islands but has lived in Asheville, North Carolina, for 30 years, was actually planning on turning this house into a long-term rental after doing just a few “light renovations” when she purchased it three years ago.

“But after contractors found termites and faulty wiring, I knew I had to put a lot more money into this to make it right,” she explains. It turns out the 800-square-foot house, originally built in 1962, would need a full gut renovation, and Morgan had to take out another loan, eventially spending $120K.

“The house was the previous owner’s ‘mountain cabin’ but unfortunately wasn’t well-cared-for. It had minimal furniture and things just felt drab and unloved,” she describes of the house before she bought it.

“After finding termites in the floor and electrical fires under the drywall, I had to gut everything!…