Laine and Kevin Berry love to restore old houses.
What people love about their work (and their channel) is they try to keep and maintain as many details as possible rather than changing everything to look new.
It’s restoration at its finest, and whoever would soon own the houses they restored is blessed with the place’s rich history.
This time the couple bought an abandoned 1897 Queen Ann Victorian mansion.
Located in Montecillo, Arkansas, the couple won this 3-acre property in an auction. Aside from the mansion, the property came with a 1937 bungalow next door and a vast land that could be a pretty garden.
Laine shared their plans on how to restore this home and her favorite parts of the property.
One thing that she noticed around the house was all the fabric on the ceilings and walls.
In that era, people used cheesecloth to stick their wallpapers because sticking it directly to the wood (which could contract or expand with the weather) eventually ruined the wallpaper.
With all the cheesecloth hanging loose, Laine said they would remove this and restore the wooden cladding of this home.
They’re also keeping much of the wood and glass work in the house.
Laine particularly pointed out the eight-foot pockets doors that used the faux bois technique used on it. It is a French term used to describe a faux or false finish to make it look like a different wood species.
She also loved the stained glass on some doors and windows of the house.
Would you believe that these glass pieces have not been replaced since? It is the original stained glass, and you can even see any cracks! Laine loved this detail in the house and planned to keep it as it was.
The doors also came with a spoon—carved design, and it’s simply beautiful.
The corner blocks of each room also caught Laine’s keen eye.
She noticed how each one was unique in every room. Although people might see these as tiny details, Laine loved these little things that made the house special.
She singled out the sparrow design because it was her favorite bird, and the coincidence was just perfect.
Laine wanted to retain the look of the stairs.
It showed some aging, but the wood looked good. It had this elegant curve on the handrail. The wood wasn’t old or rotten, only dirty.
A little cleaning will do, and she didn’t mind if it had some faded color or chipped parts because it’s all part of the house’s authenticity.
She and her husband, Kevin, planned to restore the rooms as much as possible.
The paint of the ceiling of each room differs, but Laine found a piece of beauty in them. Most of the rooms also have closets, and she wanted to turn them into a bathroom for some of the rooms.
The aim was to make it a 4-bedroom, 3-bathroom property that would be lovely for a big family vacation.
Want to follow their restoration journey? Watch the video below for their entire plan, then proceed to their playlist for their restoration projects.
