In the Middle of the Mess (And the Progress)

Luckily, we’re almost halfway through this renovation… kind of.

Looking back, it’s wild to see how far this old farmhouse has come—and just how much it’s taken to get here.

We started with a house that had minimal heat, a single window A/C unit, drafty windows, uneven floors, and electrical run through old barn cable. And the bugs… so many dead bugs.

It didn’t take long to realize this wasn’t going to be a quick refresh. If we wanted to do it right, we needed insulation, all new electrical, plumbing, and HVAC. Which meant a full demo down to the studs.

Step one was clearing everything out. Which sounds simple until you’re dealing with five generations’ worth of stuff. Once that was done, we tackled plaster and lath removal. That alone felt like a project within a project. Every exterior wall seemed to have extra layers, bigger nails, and more struggles than expected. Once we found a rhythm (and accepted the reality of it), we pushed through—with plenty of frustration and a few choice words along the way. Demo days were not nearly as fun as TV makes them look.

After demo, the electricians stepped in while we shifted focus outside, repairing a rotting sill board and fixing a leaking roof. The sill board alone took a couple of summers as we worked through how to properly tackle it.

Eventually, we were ready for insulation. We chose Rockwool, especially after researching what works best in older homes. Once we got going, it was surprisingly manageable and moved quickly. From there, we jumped into sheetrock. With help from family, borrowed tools, and a lot of learning as we went, we got it up faster than expected. Taping and mudding slowed us down (as it does), but we stuck with it. We’re no professionals, but most of the rooms turned out pretty seamless. A couple weekends later added texture and paint and suddenly it started to feel like a home again.

Opening up the wall by the stairway and adding natural light made a huge difference. For the first time, we could really see the vision coming together.

Then things slowed down.

Life got busy. Progress felt slower. We worked through flooring, moved our bedroom upstairs, and debated how to handle rebuilding the old window sashes. Projects dragged out longer than we expected, especially alongside everything else life was throwing at us.

Now, coming out of winter, we’re close to finishing the upstairs. Most of the windows are rebuilt, trim boards have been stripped and stained, and we even squeezed in a few “fun” projects to keep motivation alive. There’s still work to do—glass to glaze, trim to install, and carpet to lay—but we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel up there.

Of course… that just means it’s time to start all over again on the main floor.

We’re excited about what’s ahead, even knowing how long the road will be. We’re dreaming of simple things. A sink that doesn’t drain into a bucket, a washer and dryer in the same room, and consistent heat throughout the house.

This process hasn’t been easy, but it’s been meaningful in ways we didn’t expect. There have been plenty of moments where we’ve had to slow down, trust the timing, and keep going even when progress felt invisible.

We’re not finished yet, but we’re getting there.

Follow along as I share more of the projects, the setbacks, and the small wins that kept us moving forward. Every step came with its own challenges, and if you find yourself in a similar place someday, maybe our story will help you push through too.