By Elizabeth Finkelstein. I first fell in love with the wonderful Amy Heavilin of Vivacious Victorian years ago, when I began reading about her adventures restoring her incredible Victorian house with her husband. And guess what? She's still married! Amy and her husband are an inspiration to all young couples out there who would love to restore an old house but don't know where to begin. The best part?...
by Amy Dorsch Heavilin of Vivacious Victorian One of my goals in life has been to take down the (as I call it) the HGTV myth : that restoring a house, or taking on a renovation, is an automatic death blow to any relationship. Of course, TV shows are meant for drama, and I’m sure a lot of people DO get into spats during the stress of a renovation. But everyone is different! And when people find out that...
by Candice Whitlow Have you ever been working on your old house and suddenly lose your drive? If you answered yes to my question you are not alone! ...
by Amy Dorsch Heavilin of Vivacious Victorian My husband Doug and I are beginning year three of bringing our 1902 Queen Anne Victorian back to life. Twenty-two rooms, and we're in the middle of restoring just room FIVE. To be fair, the exterior restoration was a beast, and it was completely done during the first two years. We are doing all of the interior work ourselves, because when it comes to...
by Candice Whitlow Have your own vintage fixtures that need to be refinished? Grab your supplies and get started! ...
by Candice Whitlow Alright restoration raiders, how many of these apply to you? ...
by Amy Dorsch Heavilin (photo above: Amy's very own fixer-upper!) Thinking of a buying a fixer-upper, but scared to death? Of course you are -- we've all seen The Money Pit! To help clam your fears, we asked the lovely Amy of Vivacious Victorian to share with us all she’s learned about fixing up a beautiful Queen Anne home on a small budget. ...
by Candice Whitlow It’s no secret that old houses (especially fixer uppers) become victims of trends over the years. These trends could be the shag carpet and paneling from the 1970’s, or the cheap, polished brass fixtures from the 1980’s and 1990’s. Fortunately, many people have woken up to the fact that trends don’t always compliment old houses, and the restoration movement is growing by the...
by Candice Whitlow (photo above: Candi's very own fixer-upper!) So, you’ve bought a fixer upper? Congratulations! Like me, you have an eye for the beauty that is hiding beneath the rough surface. You can see that underneath the overgrown landscape, the paint-blistered siding, and the collapsed front porch is a showstopper of a home! Through all the haunted house qualities you picture a manicured yard...
