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one time. I can see the appeal. Logistically, • In today’s housing market, waiving
updating things all at once makes sense. inspections is the norm. With an old home that
For better or worse, that is not the route can be a huge risk. If a house has sold in the last
we have taken. few years, it may be safe to make some assump-
Living in a house while slowly updat- tions about its condition. But if it has been in
ing it over many years is not for the faint the same family for 90 years (like ours) it’s
of heart. You don’t really get a break. You important to know what you are getting into.
are always thinking about the things you
haven’t done yet. You never know what • Be prepared to pay a lot for homeowners’
insurance. I expected it to be high but not as
high as it is.

• If you are in a committed relationship,
make sure your partner wants it too. Old houses
require a lot of communication, teamwork, and
sacrifices. I’ll just leave it at that!
The kitchen halfway through our initial update.
• If you have young children (or plan to),
there are many safety concerns to consider.
At right: We hope to fully renovate the kitchen Lead paint and asbestos are not uncommon in
within the next few years, but with paint,
new hardware, and reclaimed wood old houses. They don’t have to be a deal-breaker
counters, it is cozy and functional. but are something to be aware of and become
educated about.

The neighborhood wildlife had also
made itself at home in the house over the
years. Early on we discovered we had
200+ bats in the attic. We had them humanely will suddenly become an unexpected priority.
“excluded” and two years later they are all back. But it also means you get to know your house
We are in a constant battle with mice. Quite a and how you live in it before doing anything
lot of mice. And we have a very healthy snake rash. And when things do get completed, I like
population that is here to help. Recently, one to think the success is a little bit sweeter.
(very small) snake managed to climb up a radi- In between all of our projects, mini-
ator pipe from the basement to our second- disasters, and wildlife adventures, we have
floor bedroom. This was another one of those already come a long way in turning the house
moments where I questioned our life choices. into a home that we love. Most days I would
I’ll also never forget the days that a porcupine tell you I have no regrets. We are honored to
and a weasel visited me in the carriage house. live here, and we have learned a lot about old
Every day is an adventure! houses and ourselves along the way. On an off
day, well, maybe just don’t ask! And if you do
ever find yourself considering a very old home
for the first time, here are some tips.
• Make sure you have the time, energy, and
money it will require. You don’t want to be the
one that lets the house deteriorate. I have heard
people say to estimate what you think it needs The walkthrough pantry to the dining room was one
and then double the time and money you of the things that made me fall in love with the house.
expect it to take.
• Learn the history of the house and the
families who lived there. This is something my
kids have really enjoyed.
The dining room gets amazing light from • Take lots of photos because some days
huge windows and french doors that were
added in 1935. No room in the house looking at how far you’ve come is the only
is finished, but this room is getting close. thing that helps you to keep going.

• Do your best to enjoy the process,
It’s All in the Approach embrace the chaos, and take breaks when you
There are always discussions within the need to. Think of all you’ve accomplished.
old house community about restoration vs
renovation. People have very strong feelings on Some of
both sides. We have found ourselves some- the objects
where in the middle. We care deeply about the recovered from
house and our top priority is making sure it the yard with
a metal
survives another 100+ years. We don’t want to detector. We
destroy any original details, but the house has also recently
already gone through many changes over the found a trash
years and will continue to evolve with us. pile from the
While it seems like we have been working 1800s and
non-stop for over two years on this little while most of
pandemic project of ours, the progress has been The main living area of the house is one large the glass and
slow. At least that is how it feels sometimes. On L-shaped room that would have originally been four china were
HGTV and even in real life, old houses are separate smaller rooms. This was done in 1935. Purists broken, we did
often bought and immediately gutted to make may not appreciate the change, but it works well for find a few
all the changes the new owners want to make at our family and is one of the things we loved about it. intact bottles
and an inkwell.
30 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles