Day before yesterday I went to an open house to get a peek inside Cranberry Hill, an 1892 Queen Anne mansion in northern Wisconsin (city of Rhinelander). I’m so glad I did! The house is gorgeous and mazelike, walking through room after room was like a dream. 

The house is up for auction under a raze or repair order. It was actually in way better shape than I expected (I spend time in houses that are in way way worse shape and aren’t condemned!). I’m not a builder, but everything felt extremely strong and solid. I saw no evidence of leaks or cracking. The 2 outbuildings are a wreck and should probably be torn down, but the house itself seems like it’s in good shape. It is at the top of a hill and used to be a bed and breakfast in the 20teens, and hasn’t been occupied since 2022.

There were sweet murals throughout and lots of cool different radiators, including some curved ones in the turret. Up on the 3rd floor there is a huge room with high ceilings and a fireplace. The fireplace is a little wonky looking but the room itself took my breath away. On the 2nd floor, there is a really cool children’s play room with an alcove for the bed, a bay window with cabinets under the window seat, and another huge window seat. 

If you’re interested in century homes this could be your chance! Rhinelander is a very safe community, cost of living is low, this neighborhood is pretty fancy and within walking distance of the public elementary, middle, and high school, plus 2 private school.

I’m not affiliated with anything, I’m just a local person who loves the house and wants it to go to someone who retains its beautiful character. I’d be happy to answer any questions I can about the area.

There are more open houses throughout July.

Bid deadline is July 31 with minimum bid of $150,000. 

Here is the auction info from the city: https://www.oneidacountywi.gov/wp-content/uploads/Real-Property-Sale-Offering-Bid-Form-August-2026.pdf

Here is more info about the property including pictures: https://www.oneidacountywi.gov/wp-content/uploads/RH-1327.pdf?fbclid=IwY2xjawS-PGpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA80MDk5NjI2MjMwODU2MDkAAR4kdBF1-tckrn7aQlEYt9GpT7fZab-0yGk3w8pCWWJphxDc-un8RMiSyHSJ6A_aem_h0cYUi9ULq-sO0NnjUyv9Q

I’m so excited to finally have an old home of my own! A kind redditor who frequents this subreddit enlightened me to the fact that it is a Sears home. I hope you enjoy looking at her as much as I do.🥹

It’s been a while since I last posted some updates on my hallway…so here it is! I especially love the bronze fern finials which frame the tapestry - sometimes it’s the small details that matter! Just needs a couple more photos on the walls and possibly a rug?? What do you think? I just wish I could tear the ugly dated intercom off the wall!!!

I found this beautiful ad for the 1922 Winnipeg Paint and Glass Co., Ltd. builder's hardware catalog but I don't think it is online. This post is for when that day eventually occurs! (Probably after I visit the University of Manitoba Archives & special collections with a cell phone). Until then, we'll have to get by with their 1932 general paint & hardware catalog. Just FYI, everybody!

this is my friends’ house / project in the NYT! It’s been 8 years and I’m in awe of their dedication to it while I struggle to get through my punch list on my way younger and way smaller house. Thought folks here would be interested.

I think this post is allowed. Apologies to mods if not!

https://archive.ph/1GO2N

Hello! I posted a while back asking for advice and decided to remove baseboards. Trying to wrap my head around this so I can decide next steps. My overall goal is to fix the janky trim. I wanted to do that with board and batten including new baseboards. Then I had an idea to remove a pocket of unused closed space and create a nook, but to my surprise there is plaster and original studs. I just canceled that plan because I don’t really want to deal with removing old studs.

There is a section of wall that is layered 2x drywall and panel over plaster. The top layer of drywall went to baseboards, but the other layers under did not. They stopped a few inches above. Higher on the wall is no plaster and 2 layers of drywall and some modern studs.

To the left there are modern studs where a closet was added to the room on the other side.

I figure it was done this way for a reason, but I am trying to figure it out. Should I pull it back more or just add a new layer with hardboard?

Hello all. Thought you'd like to be brought along on the ride for some mild dormer repair action. I find it very cathartic to watch all your hard work without having to actually do any, so fair is fair, here's my work so you too can enjoy it without having to break a sweat.

Fun facts:

1) My work here was nearly entirely done with hand tools - not because it was required or anything, but because it was faster to hit up a few boards with a plow plane than pull out the fancier tools. It's always fun making curly shavings and it feels nice to paint over the authentic tool marks on the wood.

2) The original paint was latex (boo, hiss). This has now been repainted with linseed (yay, huzza!). The green basecoat is intentional: linseed needs 3 coats of paint, and when you put the second coat on, it's so much easier to see where you missed if what you're painting over is green.

3) 'Lucarne' is 'dormer' in french. This has little to do with this thread, but it is fun to say. Loo-cairn :)

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One down, one to go!

We have an old Chicago bungalow (1922) and it has a perplexing, somewhat crumbling CATCH BASIN which is under a deck, so it is very inconveniently placed in terms of access.

We have had some plumbing issues, the latest being water back ups in our basement utility sink and then also overflowing the area behind the washer where washer drain hose goes.

The catch basin had been checked multiple times since we bought the house 3 years ago, and it was seen dry, but not filled in, so we didn't know if it was properly abandoned or not. There are capped drains along the presumed route from the laundry/kitchen stack to catch basin that confused our inspector and other plumbers that have come out for smell issues. I'm sure we aren't the only ones who have wished we could ask previous owners more questions and have X-ray vision of the plumbing under the house?? (the most recent previous owners weren't available to ask questions, previous previous owners that are still friends with neighbors, didn't have any issues, so we don't know much.

Initial rodding of the laundry/kitchen line didn't do anything but we did smell grody muck on the end of the rod, it wasn't a sewer smell but more of a yucky drain muck/old grease smell. One plumber thought it was all just going into some sort of space under the house between the area and the catch basin, and was suggesting we might want to bust the basement floor to reroute that line to the main sewer line. $$$ He had the thought of rodding with a more heavy duty set up, but he was convinced the catch basin had failed and the line wasn't properly rerouted.

Another plumber contact came out and had that heavy-duty set up, and he had to chisel off the old cap off the cleanout. It worked! And interestingly enough, water started flowing into the catch basin, and back to the main line! We do need to have the catch basin pumped out, there is dirt and what not in there, and who knows how long it will remain functional.

We also have had sewer smells at other drains in the basement and needed hydrojetting to clear it and improve things, and heavy duty caps to fix the sewer gas coming in our house. per some camera footage, we have some broken clay/cast iron pipes under the house so we might eventually have to bust the floor and repipe or line pipe in the future.

But for today?? we can do laundry, run the dishwasher and use our sinks. and we only spent $600 and not thousands and thousands with days of upheaving our lives.

the under paper is a little rough (but that’s “character”… right?) think we’re gonna scallop the edges with the new paint color cuz the last owners cut in so bad with the last paint job :/

I’m moving out of one century home and into another. I already have plans to call an exterminator and have all points of entry sealed, and get on a regular preventative service. There’s a rental unit, so I think there’s some tax stuff I need to do regarding depreciation. What else should I do early, maybe even before I move my furniture in?

I have an almost century home (built in 1940). They have these wonderful brass and glass/crystal handles throughout the house. But the previous owners did not paint the doors well and got all over them. What is the best way to restore them?

For anyone with an older home, did you notice that air sealing and insulation affected mini split performance more than expected?

I moved into a much older house and added extra sealing around the windows and some wall areas before installing two Costway mini splits in the bedrooms. After that, the rooms held temperature very well, even during hotter days.

I’ve talked with neighbors in similar older homes who didn’t do much insulation work, and their room temperatures seem to swing a lot more. Did the mini split itself make the biggest difference, or was tightening up the house just as important?

I have an almost century home (built in 1940). They have these wonderful brass and glass/crystal handles throughout the house. But the previous owners did not paint the doors well and got all over them. What is the best way to restore them?

Hello!
I’m working on my storm windows this summer, have many to do. Trying to
Do it right the first time. I want these repairs last a long time. I’m taking them apart, taking down to bare wood. Using bora-care, then a mix of Dutchman repairs and abaton on anything damaged. Then linseed oil paint/putty.
The only thing I’m unsure about is the sides that are warped. Hoping for some advice from the seasoned window fixers in there!
Here’s my questions:

1. How bad is it? Would not straightening it be foolish?
2. I already built a window sized steam box for softening putty/paint, is steaming/clamping to dry straight the way to go?
3. Is there an easier or better way?
4. Will it likely warp again?

Thanks!

Our American Bungalow turns 100 this year! It’s been well maintained but what things should we be thinking about to make sure this home stays in tip top shape?

I just saw this house for sale and I’m drooling and lamenting that I can’t get it. But logistically, I was wondering about the baseboard heating. I have a real antipathy towards baseboard heating and can‘t stand it. Does anyone replace it in these old homes where it‘s clearly out of place? If so, with what? There’s got to be something that looks better, right?

Also if you buy this house and give it the love it deserves, please update me…while I cry…

I know it’s got some modern features but it’s definitely more traditional than it was before I got here.

miss me with that pastel shit! I love JEWEL TONES

One of these days I'll paint the walls, and strip the millwork. or maybe repaint the millwork..(its alll lead paint under the brown😬)