Farmhouse Renovation
Renovating a Farmhouse
No matter the size of the project, there is a lot of thought, research and work that goes with it. Oftentimes renovations are done by the homeowner over a period of time. Other projects might require the expertise of a contractor or professional in the business. Regardless of the size and the builder, the ultimate decision and vision is done by the homeowner. We hope to help homeowners who are renovating old homes with a few tips and tricks and guidance to make your life easier and your decisions more informed.
Where to Begin
No matter what house you currently live in or what house you decide to buy, there will always be things you’ll want to change, add to, or remove. This is one of the joys of home ownership. Well, it can be a joy, or it can be a curse, but we like to think of it as an opportunity to improve. We try to improve ourselves everyday, why not improve our homes as well. If you went to a busy street and asked the people if there was anything they would change about their home, 99% of them would have at least one thing they wish they could change. This puts home renovation at the center of our lives. But where do you begin?
When you buy an old home, there seems to be an endless list of things to change. This is exactly where to begin. Create a list, this is obvious but if it’s not actually written down via pencil and paper or phone or list app, then it’s likely it will get lost in the big picture. So, step 1. Create a list. When we first moved to the farmhouse, room by room we wrote down all the idea we came up with for each room. We also allowed ourselves plenty if time to put those ideas into action.
Demo is a mess, but it does mean success! If you are about to demo your home, or if you are in the middle of the project, don’t loose your cool. Change your mindset from seeing the mess, to seeing success. Yes there will be dust on every inch of your home, even if you dont think it’s there, it is. And yes once you clean it up, it somehow reappears within a day. Dont worry, this is progress. You will live through it. It will all pay off in the end. And that’s just it, it will end.
Renovate Within the First Five Years...
…or you’ll never do it! More than one person told us this and I cannot tell you how wrong they were. If you renovate your home within the first few years of living in it, have you really “lived” in it long enough to get a feel for what you need? Have you taken the time to understand the flow of the home? Figuring out the flow of the home for your family and continually going back to that original list, making tweaks and changes as needed. Then you will not find yourself ‘wishing’ you would have done it differently. Take time to appreciate the home as it is for a little while before taking out any walls.
We have learned from mistakes we made the first few years. We were eager to change it all and didn’t take time to understand the logic behind the original 1912 builder. Home builders of the past built homes in specific ways to protect them from the weather. They built then to suit their families requirements not for aesthetics and passions.
Have you ever noticed why nearly every farmhouse is built on the south side of the woods? Have you heard the old addage “For dry barns it’s always best to clear the trees that face west”? Or heard the saying “if stagnant air, don’t build there”? Or “Slope your roof to the winter”? Old homes were often built with great consideration for prevailing winds and the exposure to the sun. A small hill or grove of trees were not regarded only decorative but as insurance of a fine working fireplace, elimination of mildew, freedom from snow drifts, and unfavorable winds. We once owned a newer home built in a farmer’s field. It was not only in a field on an east facing hill. We had all the elements against us. Homes today are often built ornamentally rather than meteorological. Take time to understand the reasons behind each wall and door. There is probably a good logical reason for it.