You nailed it with that. In my 1920s place, the original bath walls were practically a science experiment after decades of “just paint it again.” I le...
Hardwax oils have been a bit of a game changer for me, honestly. I used them on the oak floors in my dining room—high-traffic, lots of chair scraping—...
I’ve always wondered how much those moisture alarms really help in the long run. I’ve had a couple false alarms too—one time it turned out to be conde...
I hear you on the vinegar—tried that myself years ago and ended up with floors that looked like they’d aged a decade overnight. I’ve got original hard...
I get the hesitation—mixing tech with an old house feels weird at first. I was convinced my 1915 door would look ridiculous with a keypad, but honestl...
That’s exactly it—the line between intentional and wild gets blurry fast, especially with groundcovers. I’ve had my share of battles with creeping Jen...
I agree, frequent seasonal redecorating can indeed clash with the timeless appeal of reclaimed pieces. One practical approach I've found is to keep th...
Interesting, lavender actually worked quite well around our porch—though it took a couple seasons to really establish. Mint, however, became invasive ...
I had a similar experience renovating our historic home—initially thought cellulose insulation and thicker drywall would cut it, but quickly realized ...
I get the appeal of mechanical backups—especially after dealing with finicky smart locks myself. But honestly, in my historic home, installing new har...
I get your point about airflow, but I'd argue that timer switches can still be effective if paired with a stronger exhaust fan. Older homes often have...
That's exactly the kind of organization I wish I'd had when we renovated our historic home. Between the insulation upgrades, energy-efficient windows,...
Couldn't agree more about BIN primer—it's nasty stuff but gets the job done. I always use a respirator now after one particularly rough afternoon spen...
Good points all around, especially about native landscaping. I've been restoring a historic property in a flood-prone area for the past decade, and on...
You're spot-on about scribbling directly on walls. When I tackled my historic home, I initially relied on digital notes and photos, but quickly realiz...