you have to be crazy to love old homes, but I'm overqualified. And I'd rather take things slow than do a slapdash job or go into debt.
Sounds like you did a marvelous job. I absolutely love bead board but I suppose it could go in the kitchen.
What do you think - would a dark stain cover the glue spots on the floor? I don't mind dark floors - I have 2 room size rugs that would cover most of the wood anyway. I've also heard about a homemade wood stain used in the 1800's that would actually harden like brick over time, but I've never found the formula and can't imagine what it might be. Any guesses?
At any rate I was lucky with this place in many ways, one being that it actually came with an unbroken title chain, all original papers, so I know who the previous owners were though not the renters. It was built around an 1845 slave cabin; in the Midwest frontier, these were often sturdily built log homes rather than flimsy shacks because they had to withstand harsh winters and attacks from indigenous tribes who understandably wanted their land back. It shouldn't be too hard to get on the national register for historic places but I don't want to even try until I'm finished with everything. While they have a grand mission, I'd never be able to afford some of their requirements - so I'll wait until I'm done and then take my chances. All the rooms are at least 15' square too, except for what used to be the 4th upstairs bedroom but is now the main bath.
One thing I want to do that they'd never tolerate is to push the styling back a few years. The porch columns are carved, but by the Queen Anne period it was getting popular to forego gingerbread, and I love that. The rare times I get too mad at the neighbors, I secretly plot to turn the house into a real painted lady - with a minimum of 5 bold, clashing colors. They'd really hate that!
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