The Demo Begins

Just two days after we signed the documents to officially purchase Pauline Manor, the demolition began. We started by removing the flooring that was in the main part of the house, and we were delighted to discover the original hardwood floors underneath.

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It isn’t perfect, it needs work (hey, she looks good for 114+ years old!), and we do not yet know if we will finish the floors or just protect them and then cover them… but seeing them was amazing.

This is the master bedroom, which we were told was the “great room” of the home originally. There are some interesting patterns in the coloring of the flooring and places that have been repaired throughout the years, but the original hardwood floors are solid and in terrific shape.

Our plan is to remove all of the flooring throughout the house so that we can assess the original hardwood on both floors. In the rooms where we can restore, we will, but either way, we will do what we can to seal and protect the flooring before we properly cover it with a moisture barrier and high-quality flooring.

Also, we had never closed the master bedroom door during any of our walk-throughs… imagine our surprise finding these beautiful skeleton keys hanging in the door.

We are just getting started in what we think will be about a five-year project, but we are beyond excited about the future. The goal isn't just to make the house livable, but to blend the old and the new together in a way that honors the past while still keeping the modern conveniences we know and love.

We have goals to put in a garden to grow veggies and herbs, to turn the glass building where the former owners raised fish into a functional greenhouse, to turn the pig pen into a space to keep our equipment or maybe even park the cars, to turn the shed into Mike's workspace, and maybe… just maybe do something with the three ovens that came with the house.

We keep reminding ourselves that this isn’t just a renovation. It’s a chance to create the kind of life we’ve always talked about. One that’s slower and more intentional… a life we never need a vacation from. It might take five years, maybe longer, but we’re in no rush. Every project, every little change, brings us closer to the home and the rhythm we’ve been craving. This is where it all begins.