For over 25 years, a passionate DIYer and vintage enthusiast has been transforming her charming bungalow into a timeless treasure.
At 22, Bambi Costanzo (@number131) took on a 1920s fixer-upper—a small, two-bed, one-bath bungalow with no insulation, worn windows, and a dated ceiling. “The charm had been totally stripped out,” she recalls. But what started as a starter home became a lifelong passion project spanning over 25 years.
Soon after buying the house in West Virginia’s northern panhandle, Bambi met her husband, Frank. Together, they updated the home while raising their two kids, Madelyn and Matthew. Years later, they expanded the cottage by converting the garage into a primary bedroom, bathroom, and laundry area. “It’s not perfect,” Bambi admits. “But I’ve come to love its crooked walls, slanted ceilings, and creaky floors.”
Bambi’s love for nature and collecting grew from her childhood on a family hobby farm and outings with her antiques dealer mom. She brings this passion into every corner of the house. “I started with a set of blue-and-white dishes in my 20s, and now they’re everywhere,” she laughs.
For Bambi, this house is a treasure trove of memories—both joyful and bittersweet. “I hope, years from now, the kids will see something, hear something, or smell something that brings them right back to this little house.”
A Dark Exterior
Tucked into a valley beneath towering sycamore trees, Bambi and Frank Costanzo’s 1920s bungalow makes a bold statement with its striking dark exterior. The original full-length front porch was partially enclosed to create space for a cozy library inside.
Layers of Cozy
Bambi turned a small nook by the stairs into a charming focal point with an electric firebox, an antique mantel she restored, and built-in shelves. “I’d always wanted a place to hang our Christmas stockings,” she says. Collected landscape paintings add a sense of history, while striped blue-and-white armchairs create an inviting spot to relax. “Our home isn’t fancy,” Bambi shares. “We put our feet up, eat on the couch, and live big in this little house.”
Home-Cooked Character
Bambi added charm to her kitchen by repurposing a wood dry sink from Facebook Marketplace as a built-in under the window. “It fit the space perfectly,” she says. Her dishware storage is equally creative—she crafted a countertop rack by sanding a wooden box and adding dowel rods. To complete the look, a fabric skirt cleverly conceals the dishwasher.
Lots of Blue & White China
Bambi maximized her pantry’s charm and function with a floor-to-ceiling plate rack made from one-by-four shelves and wood trim. A painted checkerboard floor adds character to the cozy space, which also serves as the landing to the basement.
Comfy and Inviting Seating
One of Bambi’s first projects was replacing the dated gypsum ceiling tiles with cedar boards and beams, painted in an eggshell finish to brighten the space. She also removed the wall-to-wall carpet to reveal beautiful hardwood floors underneath.
In the living room, a white slipcovered sectional is layered with blue-and-white textiles for a cozy vibe. The coffee table, once a neighbor’s kitchen table, was a DIY makeover. Bambi stripped the paint, shortened the legs, trimmed the sides, and stained it. “My husband even carved our initials in a heart on the corner—it’s definitely a keeper,” she says.
A Table Full of Memories
“Our dining table has seen it all—meals, holidays, birthdays, homework, crafts, hard talks, and happy moments,” says Bambi of the sturdy oak table and Windsor chairs she bought 20 years ago. The block-print draperies? Just $5 twin flat sheets from Walmart, hung with ring clips. Overseeing the space is a turkey painting, a gift from Frank to celebrate Bambi’s Thanksgiving-adjacent birthday.
A New “Old” Stepback Cupboard
Bambi transformed an existing piece into the perfect display hutch for her china and pewter. She cut down the sides, removed the glass doors, and swapped the glass shelves for wood to mimic a step-back cupboard. Her collection features timeless patterns like “Blue Willow,” dating back to the 1700s, alongside other cherished designs such as “Blue Onion,” “Liberty Blue,” and “Countryside Blue.”
A Tucked-Away Pet Bed
Bentley’s kennel is cleverly hidden beneath a side table, disguised with a flouncy checked skirt made from two valances hung on a tension rod. Above it, Bambi displays favorite paintings, including a gold-framed seascape she brought back from a vacation in Fernandina Beach, Florida.
Dark Painted Woodwork
Next to the dining room, Bambi created a cozy 7-by-7-foot library. She made the space unique by adding molding to four Ikea bookshelves, giving them the appearance of built-ins. Mossy green walls and brass sconces, customized with patterned fabric on the shades, lend the room an English country charm. Bambi also thrifted a portrait she found appealing, bringing it home to live in the library.
Antiquing Treasures at Every Turn
Bambi’s love for thrifting and antiques is evident in the mudroom, where a rotating display of finds brings character to the space. The pine corner cabinet, a $300 Facebook Marketplace find, originally came from a Pennsylvania farmhouse and now houses Bambi’s quilts and pitchers. The church pew, however, was a steal at just $20. Above it, a chippy shelf displays more treasures, including a fishing creel. “I love using vintage baskets for both decor and storage,” says Bambi, tucking them throughout the house. Her cane collection is neatly arranged in a thrifted blue-and-white umbrella holder.
Soft Green Cabinetry
The laundry room is Bambi’s favorite space, where she delights in arranging freshly cut garden flowers into a variety of pitchers stored on the shelves above the sink. The soft green cabinetry adds a serene touch to this cozy, functional room.
Folksy Wallpaper
On the upstairs landing, Bambi created a cozy nook with ladder-back chairs flanking a $10 dining table she cut in half to fit the narrow space. She fell in love with the folkloric wallpaper, which feels like a reflection of their family life. “If you look closely, you can see where Madelyn colored one of the bunnies black to honor Boomer, her Holland Lop rabbit,” Bambi shares.
Layers of Blue-and-White Textiles
Five years ago, Bambi and Frank expanded their home by converting part of their garage into a much-needed primary bedroom. “I’ve always loved blue and white because it reminds me of the sky, clouds, and water,” says Bambi. This color scheme flows throughout the house and is layered in the bedroom with a mix of prints on the $75 pencil-post bed she found online. The room’s vaulted ceiling and white-painted tongue-and-groove walls add character without overwhelming the space.
Landscapes and Seascapes
The timeless appeal of sailing vessels is reflected in Bambi’s collection of vintage artwork, from amateur paint-by-numbers to professional oil paintings. Many of these framed pieces, often found for under $100 at estate sales and thrift shops, allow anyone to bring a touch of the sea into their home. Bambi hung one of her favorite seascapes above a small desk in the bedroom. This desk, a Facebook Marketplace find, was originally going to be cut down into a coffee table, but after hearing the seller’s story about it being her grandfather’s desk, Bambi promised to take good care of it.
