True Tales From Old Houses

Do you need to hire an architect? In today's episode, Stacy talks to Katelyn Parker from Bungalow Roots in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Katelyn explains how architects can help owners of old houses make sympathetic changes for modern life. Furthermore, she describes how architects, engineers, and designers differ.  Also, Stacy and John Rodgers discuss their favorite paints and stains. Spoiler, John's favorite...

In today's episode, Stacy enjoys a conversation with Joe Peterson, longtime listener, first-time guest. Joe is at the tail end of restoring his childhood home, an authentic farmhouse in New Brunswick, Canada. Also, Stacy talks to Aaron, founder of the Plunjr app. They discuss ways to avoid plumbing disasters, especially during the holidays.  PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS For 10% off The Window Cours...

On today's show, recorded in front of a live audience in Hudson Valley, New York, Stacy chats with Susan and William Brinson from House of Brinson . Eight years ago, Susan and Will left New York City and bought Stony Ford, a large country estate with a rich and colorful history.   Also, Devyn Caldwell is back for another Listener Q&A. He and Stacy discuss when and if the layout of an old house sho...

On today's show, the first in front of a live audience in beautiful Hudson Valley, New York, Stacy talks to the always hilarious Daniel Kanter about revitalizing his community through the Kingston City Land Bank. Also, Stacy meets her previous co-host Devyn Caldwell , in person for the first time, and they answer the listener question together. PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS For 10% off The Window Co...

In today's episode, you'll meet artist Leisa Collins . Leisa traveled across the United States, creating paintings of old homes and buildings along the way. She turned her art into a beautiful coffee table book filled with love and reverence for history and architecture.  Also, Stacy and Alex share some resources for hard-to-find hardware and supplies.  SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS For 10% off The Window...

In this episode, Stacy wonders, If you inherit a ghost, do you have to keep it? Guests Denise, Molly, and Brianna, share three different paranormal experiences that pique Stacy's curiosity about that moral conundrum. October is ghost story month, so get ready for some goosebumps. Also, during listener Q&A, Stacy discusses plaster repair basics with Alex from Old Town Home. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS For...

In this episode, Stacy welcomes Architect Keith Stachowiak from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Three years ago, Keith and his wife Elisa bought a former funeral home to convert into their primary residence. Keith's story is the first of two spooky, fun October shows. Also, during listener Q&A, Stacy admits her greatest fears about buying Blake Hill House.

In today's episode, Stacy is thrilled to welcome back Elizabeth Finkelstein from the wildly popular Instagram Account and recent HGTV and Discovery+ TV Series, Cheap Old Houses. Also, during listener Q&A, Stacy welcomes back John Rodgers. Stacy and John discuss managing expectations with contractors.

On today's episode, Stacy enjoys a conversation with Greg, a fun-loving Brit best known as Man with a Hammer, on Instagram.  Also, during listener Q&A, Stacy welcomes back John Rodgers. Stacy and John discuss ways to find a good contractor. 

In this episode, Steve Jordan, preservation specialist, author of The Window Sash Bible, and longtime contributing editor to Old House Journal, talks about a lifetime of work in the building trades and offers helpful do-it-yourself advice too.  Also, Stacy and Christopher Hewitt share plumbing tips during listener Q&A.

In this episode, Stacy chats with Christopher Hewitt. Christopher started My Old House fix, a blog, website, and Facebook group to offer a place for old house owners to find the answers to their DIY questions and dilemmas. Also, Stacy discusses spontaneous combustion and safety.  

Stacy is away for the long holiday weekend. So, for today's episode, she's sharing previously recorded content that never aired, including more information about writing historic register nominations, the importance of documenting your projects with notes and photos, and what it's like to be a kid growing up in an old house. 

In this episode, Stacy chats with Amy, who now lives in Detroit, Michigan. Amy and her husband relocated to the US from Toronto, Canada, and she talks about the triumphs and hurdles of falling in love with an old house and pursuing homeownership in a new country.  Also, during listener Q & A, Stacy and Alex discuss some different ways to acquire DIY skills.

For today's special field trip episode, Stacy travels to historic St. Joseph, Missouri, to visit John Rodgers of Phoenix Preservation. Stacy and John chat about his path to the trades, what he wishes old house owners would stop doing, and the special camaraderie within the old house community. Also, Ashley Goldman and Stacy revisit a past listener question about simple and inexpensive ways to incr...

One of the most popular old house questions is, "What color should I paint my house?" Kristine Teno from Teno Interiors is here with some tips and ideas for choosing an exterior paint color you'll love. Also, Alex from Old Town Home is back to help answer a listener question about the first steps of project planning. 

In this episode, Stacy learns about Elfreth's Alley, the nation's oldest residential street, which is located in Philadelphia. She chats with Ted Maust, director of the Elfreth's Alley Museum, and long-time residents of the alley, Rob and Sue Kettell.  Also, Bill from Enon Hall is back to help Stacy answer a listener question about adding modern amenities, such as kitchens and baths, into old hous...

In this episode, Stacy chats with Karyn Norwood, an architectural historian and teacher. Karyn founded the popular Instagram account, What Style is That? an educational and fun side-project where she photographs, identifies, and labels the defining features of old American architecture.  Also, Stacy and Ashley discuss when, and if it's ever ok to "fake" historic features using modern replacements....

In this episode, Stacy asks Natalie Yon-Eriksson from Earth and Flax all the linseed oil paint questions she's been wondering about over the years. Is it easy to use? How is it made? What are the benefits and limitations of linseed oil paint? Natalie has the answers to all of those questions and plenty more. Also, Stacy and Alex from Old Town Home discuss the best first project to tackle when you...

In this, the 50th episode, Stacy is on location visiting Robert Goller, historian for the town of Aurora and village of East Aurora, New York. Stacy and Robert discuss methods for researching the history of an old house and how local lore often becomes the last word even when the stories are incorrect. Additionally, Robert talks about the importance of documenting and sharing uncomfortable history...

In this episode, Stacy welcomes back long-time friend of the show, Scott Sidler, from The Craftsman Blog. Stacy and Scott discuss the high-quality formulas hidden behind the paint store counter and best practices for a beautiful, long-lasting finish. Scott wraps up the show with info about his new self-paced window restoration course for DIYers. Stacy and Lindsay from Blind Eye Restoration also di...

In this episode, Stacy and Bill from Enon Hall discuss momentum and maintaining enthusiasm for long-term projects. Later, Stacy is on location at The Tool Library in Buffalo, New York. The city of Buffalo is comprised of around 90% old house inventory. Guests Darren and Maddie explain The Tool Library's origins and how the sharing economy benefits renters, homeowners, and communities. 

In this episode, Stacy and Ashley from The Gold Hive discuss oddball additions to historic structures.  Later, Stacy welcomes Lindsay Jones from Blind Eye Restoration, a woman-owned architectural conservation company in Columbus, Ohio. Lindsay shares about preservation from a construction perspective.

In this first episode of Season five, Stacy is flying solo. Feeling lonely, she invites a past podcast guest to join her for listener Q&A.   Later, she talks to Laine and Kevin Berry of Our Restoration Nation about their preservation projects and life post-Louise, the Big Little House in Louisville, Georgia.  

In Devyn's final episode as co-host, he and Stacy discuss their house goals for 2021.  Later, they welcome Stephen and David St. Russel, owners of a Boston-area Victorian. Driven by boundless energy and curiosity, Stephen and David talk about adding character back to the shell of a house they bought, the One Room Challenge, and beekeeping. 

In this episode, Stacy and Devyn discuss how they determine which work to DIY and which to hire out. Safety first! Later, they welcome Karolyn Fuller, also known as Lady Dukart, on Instagram. As a child, Karolyn biked the backroads around her rural home, exploring abandoned old houses and daydreaming about restoring one of her own. Now, her dream has come true. Through her camera's lens, Karolyn s...