Our tiny “master” bathroom had the pipes for the upstairs bathroom running through it. We think they added the upstairs bathroom in the 1940s. Both bathrooms have been remodeled several times since then. To repipe the entire house, I had to find those pipes. This was one of my very first projects. It started a …
Category Archives: Old House
Dining Room Renovation – This Old Dean House
We repiped the house, and the upstairs bathroom was above the dining room. The quest to find the plumbing led to the excavation of the dining room ceiling. This eventually led to the entire drop ceiling coming out to complete the room’s renovation. It was interesting to try to piece together 135 years of home …
Continue reading “Dining Room Renovation – This Old Dean House”
Emily’s Wallpaper Removal Project – This Old Dean House
There were about 5 layers of wallpaper in our 135-year-old foyer. I say ‘were’ because Emily went wild and started rippin”, tearin’, scrapin’ and sprayin’…and now there are zero layers of wallpaper in our foyer. We were going to repaint (or rewallpaper). I say ‘were’ because we decided we ain’t gonna do that.
Flame Thrower Weeding – This Old Dean House
I needed to weed some beds. I didn’t want to use chemicals. But really, I just wanted an excuse to use a flamethrower. Win-Win-Win…especially the flamethrower part! LOL
This Old Dean House – Sideyard Plans
I teamed up with AI to design an outdoor space in our side yard area (off our kitchen). I told it all the stuff I wanted, and it came up with a pretty decent starter plan. Then I went outside to stake it all out. After that, I waited for Emily to get home to …
BEFORE and AFTER – Den Remodel – This Old Dean House
It could have just been some drywall patching and a little paint. It wasn’t. Foundation damage, ceiling damage, and a whole-house plumbing repipe turned what should have been an easy room into a darn big project. I think we moved in and out of the Den four different times over many months as we lived …
Continue reading “BEFORE and AFTER – Den Remodel – This Old Dean House”
“Emergency” Mulching – This Old Dean House
This was the most challenging house project we’ve undertaken so far. But I liked it the most. The area near the street is still a mess, but it is much better than it was. I put this emergency to bed with my trusty shovel and some back-breaking work. Whoever put gravel in this area is …
Continue reading ““Emergency” Mulching – This Old Dean House”
This Old Dean House – Outdoor Renovation List
We’ve been doing inside renovations for several months, but when the weather warmed up, I got to thinking about all the outside projects/renovations. I’d rather be outside than inside almost always. I go from 1) there isn’t that much to do to 2) I’m so overwhelmed I’m crippled really quickly. LOL Emily and I don’t …
Continue reading “This Old Dean House – Outdoor Renovation List”
Finally…Window Treatments – This Old Dean House
The window treatments that were in the house when we moved in had seen better days. It was the first thing I wanted to update (because it had crack house vibes). Also, I don’t want to be walking around half-naked with people looking in at me. Emily said we had to wait until almost everything …
Continue reading “Finally…Window Treatments – This Old Dean House”
There’s A Bird(s) In Our House – This Old Dean House
During renovations, I came in from working outside one afternoon, and there was a bird in our kitchen. I got him/her out (or so I thought). Later, it got back in, and so did Dad/Mom. I’m not sure how many birds came through. At some point, I’m pretty sure I heard them calling in reinforcements …
Continue reading “There’s A Bird(s) In Our House – This Old Dean House”
