In this week's episode, Stacy shares a mid-season update, tying up a few loose ends, and sharing what's coming up at Blake Hill House, including this summer's window restoration workshops.

She also walks through her outdoor spring to-do list, highlighting the seasonal tasks that come with caring for an old house this time of year.

Then, Stacy introduces a new Q&A format, Good, Better, Best, and uses it to work through common old-house challenges. From musty odors and dampness to uneven floors, she breaks down practical options and explains how to approach each one.

The episode ends with a few thoughts about renaming the Minisode.

Mentioned in this Episode:

• Sign up for the Wood Window Workshop at Blake Hill House
• The Sprung Dance Floor (book) by Steve Jordan
• Rubio Monocoat soap (one bottle lasts forever)
• Dr. Bronner's pure castile soap
• Krud Kutter cleaner/degreaser
• Join Stacy on Substack

Many thanks to the sponsors who help make this show possible. When you shop at the websites and use the codes below (where available), you're directly supporting their small businesses and the podcast, too!

Sutherland Welles - Maker of exceptional polymerized tung oil finishes since 1965. To save 10% on your first order, use the coupon code TRUETALES26.

Brouns & Co. Linseed Oil Paint - Flax plant-derived linseed oil paint and stain. Anti-mold with only trace elements of VOCs. Wicks moisture from wood. Prevents metal from rusting. Brouns & Co. is trusted by preservation professionals and homeowners who value authenticity.

Heritage Supply Co. - Heritage Supply Co. (formerly The Craftsman Store) is the same trusted company you know for window restoration supplies and more. Use code TRUETALES10 for 10% off your entire order. Spend $250 or more, and shipping is free.

The Old House Shop – The store for people who accidentally turn every conversation into a discussion about windows, plaster, or old-growth lumber. Find preservation-minded t-shirts, cozy sweatshirts, mugs, and gifts that celebrate process over perfection. Use code OLDHOUSELIFE for 10% off your order (excluding books).

In this episode, Stacy explores the deal-breakers that shape how people approach buying an old house and how those decisions shift depending on life stage. She also chats with Michelle Bowers of Old House Life, who has watched that play out in real time.

In preparation for this episode, Stacy asked her Instagram and Facebook audience to share their own deal-breakers. The responses covered everything from structural concerns and layout challenges to location, cost, and long-term livability. She shares their responses and explores what stops people in their tracks.

Then, Stacy welcomes Michelle Bowers of Old House Life, who has a front row seat to old house listings across the country. What began as a hobby has grown into a massive Facebook following and something more personal. Michelle found herself unable to pass on certain properties, sometimes at remarkably low prices, gradually building a collection of historic homes of her own.

Her perspective offers a unique look at how deal-breakers play out in real time, both for the people browsing listings and as someone who has stepped in and said yes more than once.

Mentioned in this Episode

• Sign up for the Wood Window Workshop at Blake Hill House
• Join Stacy on Substack
• Follow Old House life on Facebook
• Follow Ramsey Restoration, Inc on Facebook
• Old House Life website
• Alfred Altman Cottage - Video Tour

WE LOVE OUR SPONSORS

Many thanks to the sponsors who help make this show possible. When you shop at the websites and use the codes below (where available), you're directly supporting their small businesses and the podcast, too!

Sutherland Welles - Maker of exceptional polymerized tung oil finishes since 1965. To save 10% on your first order, use the coupon code TRUETALES26.

Brouns & Co. Linseed Oil Paint - Flax plant-derived linseed oil paint and stain. Anti-mold with only trace elements of VOCs. Wicks moisture from wood. Prevents metal from rusting. (Featured on ep. 164) Brouns & Co. is trusted by preservation professionals and homeowners who value authenticity.

Heritage Supply Co. - Heritage Supply Co. (formerly The Craftsman Store) is the same trusted company you know for window restoration supplies and more. Use code TRUETALES10 for 10% off your entire order. Spend $250 or more, and shipping is free.

Repaint Studios - The Repaint Tray from Repaint Studios is the first reusable silicone paint tray liner and lid. The Repaint Tray's airtight lid keeps your paint fresh for weeks. Use the coupon code TRUETALES10 to save 10% off your order.

Intro and Outro music by AudionautiX

In this minisode, Stacy and guest co-host Steve Jordan follow a road-trip-inspired rabbit hole that starts with the Grange and leads to dancing—and the ingenious floors, dating back to the 18th century, that made it possible.

They talk about how rural communities actually spent time together, Grange halls, gatherings, and yes, dancing, which leads straight into Steve's niche obsession: sprung dance floors.

Steve literally wrote the book on them, and they were once fairly commonplace in grand ballrooms, taverns, dance halls, and other community spaces. Long before modern metalworking and the kind of springs we think of today, builders came up with surprisingly clever ways to give a floor enough flex to carry a full night of dancing.

Then, Stacy and Steve spend a few minutes chatting about the State of Restoration project. Steve has more than 30 years in historic preservation, and he shares what he's seeing, especially in Rochester, New York. The interest in saving old buildings is strong, but the number of skilled tradespeople who can actually do the work is another story.

Steve is one of those people who has a deep well of knowledge and isn't afraid to use it.

• Sign up for the Wood Window Workshop at Blake Hill House
• Join Stacy on Substack

Many thanks to the sponsors who help make this show possible. When you shop at the websites and use the codes below (where available), you're directly supporting their small businesses and the podcast, too!

Sutherland Welles - Maker of exceptional polymerized tung oil finishes since 1965. To save 10% on your first order, use the coupon code TRUETALES26.

Brouns & Co. Linseed Oil Paint - Flax plant-derived linseed oil paint and stain. Anti-mold with only trace elements of VOCs. Wicks moisture from wood. Prevents metal from rusting. Brouns & Co. is trusted by preservation professionals and homeowners who value authenticity.

Heritage Supply Co. - Heritage Supply Co. (formerly The Craftsman Store) is the same trusted company you know for window restoration supplies and more. Use code TRUETALES10 for 10% off your entire order. Spend $250 or more, and shipping is free.

The Old House Shop – The store for people who accidentally turn every conversation into a discussion about windows, plaster, or old-growth lumber. Find preservation-minded t-shirts, cozy sweatshirts, mugs, and gifts that celebrate process over perfection. Use code OLDHOUSELIFE for 10% off your order (excluding books).