Let's say you're a first-time homebuyer in the Austin area who's looking for that $150,000 gem as close to downtown as possible. (By the way, that's probably the most common search request I've gotten this year - - - in large part spurred on by the $8000 First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit.) You'll probably end up in one of a handful of neighborhoods, like Windsor Park by the old Mueller Airport, or maybe somewhere off William Cannon between I-35 and MOPAC. (I'm proud to call the latter my home turf.)
Either way, you're probably going to end up with a smaller 1960's or early 1970's one-story brick home, and there's about an 80% chance that somewhere in the house you'll encounter the era's decorating hallmark: wood paneling. So what's a cash-poor property virgin to do? Paint, paint, paint! Check out the before and after photos of a crazy-good example of working with what you've got:
Follow the link below to the blogging couple who have accomplished my favorite painted paneling transformation ever! It's really astounding what they've been able to do with the place.
How To Paint Wood Paneling