Our Manor Renovation Project

Come along as we transform a 118-year-old commercial building on Main Street into our dream home and mini homestead. In this special series, I share behind-the-scenes renovation updates, old home restoration tips, and the story of turning this historical space into a home filled with European charm and timeless character. It’s a labor of love—and we’re bringing you with us, every step of the way.

Two men are preparing a wall to be framed in a room with brick walls and large windows

Framing Our Dream Home: Step-by-Step Home Construction (Chapter 1)

Framing our dream home has been one of the most exciting and emotional parts of our custom home building journey. I’ve been dreaming about and designing this space in my mind for over 12 years, making changes along the way to ensure it’s as functional and family-friendly as possible. When the first walls went up, it felt surreal—like watching a long-held vision finally come to life. This stage of the home framing process is more than just wood and nails; it’s the moment our ideas begin to take physical form. It’s the first real look at the spaces where our family will grow, gather, and make lifelong memories. In this post, I’m sharing the emotions, key milestones, and valuable lessons we’ve learned during the framing stage of building our dream home.

Tin ceiling tiles with various patinas and colors

Antique Pressed Tin Ceiling Tile Restoration: Part 2 – Repairing, Replacing & Revealing the Final Look

In Part 1 of our Antique Pressed Tin Ceiling Tile Restoration series, we explored the fascinating history of our historic building and revealed the poor condition of the original tin ceiling tiles. We also shared the creative solution we developed to preserve and restore these beautiful antique features. In Part 2, we’ll walk you through the complete tin ceiling tile restoration process—including cleaning, sealing, and showcasing the stunning final result.

Old building with brick walls and pressed tin ceiling

Antique Pressed Tin Ceiling Tile Restoration: Part 1 – Repairing, Replacing & Revealing the Final Look

Our antique pressed tin ceiling tile restoration was one of the most challenging and rewarding projects we’ve taken on—right up there with exposing the original brick walls in our historic manor. When we first bought the property, the tin ceiling was in such disrepair that we thought we’d have to remove it entirely (I know—blasphemy!). But we couldn’t bring ourselves to tear down such a stunning piece of architectural history. Instead, we found a way to repair, replace, and restore the ceiling tiles. After several weeks of intense labor, we brought the ceiling back to life—and now, it’s truly the crown jewel of our downstairs living space.