Here’s how you know a renovation went well: the apartment had a renter lined up before the last piece of trim went on.
That’s the story of Unit 6 at 228 Main St in Decatur. A month ago it had worn-out carpet, a kitchen with a base cabinet that was literally falling apart, and appliances that had seen better decades. Today it has a new kitchen, a new bathroom, new floors, new lighting — and someone who calls it home.
Here’s how it got there.
First, Everything Had to Go
You can’t build a good apartment on top of a bad one. So the crew started by taking Unit 6 back to the basics: carpet and old flooring pulled up, cabinets and countertops torn out, the old toilet and garbage disposal removed. The old appliances were lined up by the dumpster to wait for a scrapper.
It’s the least glamorous part of the job. It’s also the part that makes everything after it last.
The Final Push, Day by Day
With the unit cleared, painted, and prepped, the last stretch moved fast. Straight from the crew’s own notes:
Day one. Kitchen ceiling and walls painted. New cabinets set. Countertops cut to fit, right there on site. Bathroom tile floor finished. The entryway into the kitchen and the back landing were leveled so the new floor would sit flat.
Day two. Every light fixture went up. The new toilet was set. The countertops were stained — twice, for a finish that holds up. The entryway flooring was finished, the kitchen floor was carried down the back steps, and the overhead vent went in above the range. Two trash runs kept the place clean.
Day three. Trim went around the floors. Doors went back on their hinges. Outlets and plugs were finished. And the stained countertops went in for good.
A walkthrough and punch list caught the small stuff, and a last round of baseboards, grout, caulk, and new door knobs closed it out.
What’s New in Unit 6
In the kitchen
- New cabinets and custom-cut, hand-stained countertops
- New oven, refrigerator, and dishwasher
- New faucet, sink strainer, and plumbing underneath
- Overhead vent above the range
In the bathroom
- New tile floor
- New toilet and faucet
- Fresh grout and caulk
Throughout
- New flooring and underlayment, front to back
- New light fixtures and a ceiling fan
- New outlets, cover plates, and updated breakers
- New smoke/fire alarms
- Patched drywall and fresh paint on walls and ceilings
- New baseboards, quarter round, and door knobs
- A leveled, refinished back landing and stairway
Why We Do It This Way
Unit 6 isn’t the only thing happening on this stretch of Main Street, either. A few doors down, the commercial spaces at 240 & 242 Main St are ready for their next businesses. New neighbors upstairs, new storefronts at street level — that’s how a block comes back.
Missed Out on Unit 6?
It’s taken, but it won’t be the last one. Browse what’s open on our Houses page, or send us an inquiry with your bedrooms, budget, move-in date, and pets — and we’ll tell you when the next freshly updated home is ready.
