Currently Reading: Humphreys House

The evolution of the Humphreys House mudroom and breezeway continued this past weekend. We have taken baby steps getting this room together because it has been on the lower-end of the priority list, but we have been steadily chipping away as … Continue reading →

One of the first things that we did  when we moved into the Humphrey House was to install some new door knobs and deadbolts. We live in a safe town. I feel comfortable letting my children walk to the corner … Continue reading →

One of the things that struck us about this home at first were the beautiful stained glass windows original to the home. We have said all along that we will do whatever we can to keep them; they are a … Continue reading →

A rainy weekend is a good time to turn back to the inside of the house to finish up some trim. The old kitchen had a small window above the sink.  We decided that replacing the window with double casement … Continue reading →

Following along on our journey of historic renovation, you have seen the lessons we have learned along the way. Making adjustments and changes to adapt to the structure or budget, while making the compromise to allow for maximum use of … Continue reading →

This January at the Humphreys House has been a busy one, and rightfully so. Today is the Chinese New Year, and last night we celebrated the Chinese New Year's Eve for our daughter's birthday wish. Ever since she was 4, … Continue reading →

My dad says “I really enjoy building stuff, opposed to taking stuff down”.     Of course he is concerned and has been from the beginning that this project is “a lot of work”.  In his defense he is right, … Continue reading →

  Even after a full week of work, things at the Humphreys House look as if little progress was made. In reality, though, a lot of work was done recently, but most of it was reframing underneath the home. That … Continue reading →

Now into our second month of renovations at the Humphreys House in Berlin, we’ve already done more demolition than we originally expected. Turns out that when you’re renovating an old home, you often don't know what you have ahead of … Continue reading →

English Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens, 'Suffruticosa') a cultivar of American Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens, 'Arborescens'), is a slower grower and more compact than the latter. "Man's oldest garden oriental" was first introduced to North America from Europe in the mid-1600's when it … Continue reading →

Renovating a historic home brings with it a lot of discoveries within the structure. One aspect of the home, which isn’t always a top priority, is the existing landscaping. With this home came English boxwood shrubs that have become so … Continue reading →

No natural disasters, or tragic losses this week. Looking ahead to the hard work still to do. We have had good discoveries, and bad. Breaking down the wall from the kitchen to the dining room, to open the back stairwell, … Continue reading →