Oh, hello! Come on in, take your shoes off, and stay awhile. I’m so glad you’re here!
Welcome to my happy place – my 1877 Victorian home.
I closed on this beautiful gem one year ago today (Happy Anniversary, House!), amidst a housing shortage and riiiiiiiiight before the price of wood skyrocketed. I have a real knack for my timing, huh? But, I knew I wanted to own a home and so I went for it!
This isn’t just about owning a home, though. Owning and restoring a Victorian house has always been a dream of mine, a dream that my parents (whether they realize it or not) influenced heavily.
Growing up in our house meant putting 100% into everything you did, taking the time to learn how things work, building what you needed versus purchasing items whenever possible, and spending summers at their jobsites watching them build houses, renovate kitchens, and fix literally everything. As a family, would often visit Cape May and admire the Victorian houses, talking about the different architectural elements and discussing how incredible it was that 100+ year old homes were still standing today. Through these moments, my parents taught me about quality workmanship, having integrity and pride in your work, and of course, a positive work ethic. (Thanks, mom & dad!)
And because of their influence, they now have the elite pleasure of spending every weekend at 7 Maple with me, restoring every last piece of trim so the Victorian elements of my home can shine through once again! (You’re welcome, mom & dad!)
Together in this past year, we tackled falling plaster and lath (which I cried over), outdated electric, and rotted footings. We also uncovered a hidden thimble for a wood burning stove, a section of framing where a window used to be, and so. many. newspapers! This Victorian house restoration journey has been nothing short of an adventure!
(Hint: it was not by choice, but instead poor craftsmanship from the past.)
I have learned more than I ever could have imagined in this past year, and there is still so much more to go.
While we’ve accomplished a lot, we’re nowhere near done. I’m going to start from the beginning in the coming days and weeks and bring you up to speed. This is, without a doubt, a labor of love. And I can tell you that I am loving every second.
So, grab a cup of tea (or coffee!), put your feet up, and enjoy the journey along with us as I reclaim 7 Maple as my own.
Welcome home.