True Tales From Old Houses

In this episode of True Tales From Old Houses, Stacy talks with Ariana Makau, principal conservator and founder of Nzilani Glass Conservation, about her decision to purchase a long-neglected industrial building in Oakland, California. After hearing from so many listeners interested in historic commercial buildings, Stacy invited Ariana to share her experience taking on an old industrial property and turning it into a space that works for both her business and her broader mission. Ariana explains what drew her to the building, how she determined whether the project was realistic, and the vision she has for the property's future as a home for Nzilani Glass and her non-profit, The Fillet Foundation. Stacy and Ariana discuss adaptive reuse, balancing passion with practicality, and the importance of planning before taking on a major rehabilitation project. The conversation also explores the often-overlooked people behind preservation work. Ariana explains why she wants to recognize every craftsperson, contractor, and tradesperson who contributes to the building's transformation, and why their work deserves to be celebrated alongside the finished project. Mentioned in this Episode: Sign up for the Wood Window Workshop at Blake Hill House Join Stacy on Substack Nzilani Glass Conservation (website) The Fillet Foundation (website) Red Wing Wall of Honor (website) @Nzilani_Glass (Instagram) @the_fillet_foundation (Instagram) @aubadeproperty (Instagram) 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). Intro and Outro music by AudionautiX

In this Memorial Day episode, Stacy wraps up Preservation Month with listener follow-ups, one final round of State of Restoration conversations from Pine Mountain, and a practical look into the complicated realities behind rehabbing historic commercial buildings. After touring a long-empty downtown building, Stacy started asking a much bigger question: What does it realistically take to save a building like that and turn it into a financially viable project? The answer involves far more than passion and vision. From tax credits and tenants to deferred maintenance and demolition by neglect, this episode explores why bringing historic buildings back to life can be so difficult, even when people care deeply about saving them. Mentioned in this Episode: Sign up for the Wood Window Workshop at Blake Hill House Join Stacy on Substack Enter to win A Field Guide to American Houses by Virginia Savage McAlester Catalog Archive from Ken at OldHouseGuy.com 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). Intro and Outro music by AudionautiX

In this episode, Preservation Month continues with another State of Restoration check-in and a look at one of the most overlooked forms of historic preservation: historic cemetery and headstone care. First, Stacy checks back in with the State of Restoration project, where one theme starting to emerge is that preservation often follows money. Then, she is joined by Justin Frost from Past Preservation to talk about historic cemetery preservation, headstone cleaning, and headstone repair. They discuss proper gravestone cleaning methods, common preservation mistakes, and the difference between helping and accidentally causing damage. Justin also shares what inspired him to begin this work and what continues to motivate him today. With Memorial Day approaching, this episode is especially helpful for anyone planning to visit family gravesites, volunteer in a historic cemetery, or learn more about proper cemetery preservation and respectful headstone care. Mentioned in this Episode: Sign up for the Wood Window Workshop at Blake Hill House Join Stacy on Substack Enter to win A Field Guide to American Houses by Virginia Savage McAlester Follow Justin/Past Preservation LLC on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube 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). Intro and Outro music by AudionautiX

In this week's episode, Stacy shares a few updates from Blake Hill House and finally settles the Minisode name question. Then, she works through a listener question using the Good, Better, Best format, tackling a common old house challenge: rooms that get too hot in the summer. From simple adjustments to more involved solutions, she breaks down practical ways to improve comfort without losing sight of how old houses are meant to function. At the end of the episode, Stacy reflects on a video that's been circulating online and why it didn't sit quite right. It's a conversation about the responsibility that comes with sharing "expert" advice, especially when character-defining features are involved. We all have a role to play—expecting better information and holding companies accountable, even when they carry a legacy that makes them feel untouchable. Mentioned in this Episode: Sign up for the Wood Window Workshop at Blake Hill House Join Stacy on Substack Enter to win Skiing Sun Valley: A History from Union Pacific to the Holdings by John Lundin The Case for Historic Windows (book) Velvet Thermal Blackout Curtains (affiliate) Cellular Shade (Cut-to-width available in store) 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). Intro and Outro music by AudionautiX

After an extended hiatus, Stacy Grinsfelder and Daniel Kanter return to True Tales From Old Houses to kick off Season 13 with personal updates, a major announcement from Daniel, and two ghost stories to celebrate a belated version of spooky season. 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. 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.

In this season finale of True Tales From Old Houses, Stacy and Daniel look back on standout moments from Season 12, answer a listener question about bathroom ventilation, and reflect on what's next for the show. Then, Kathryn Holloway joins the conversation to share her inspiring journey restoring a 12,000-square-foot historic home. Known online as To the Shire Born across social media, Kathryn uncovered a stunning tiled floor hidden beneath layers of old material. The unexpected discovery and subsequent restoration is one of her most widely-known projects, and it changed the trajectory of the entire renovation. With a background in graphic design and a passion for hands-on work, she talks about the joys and challenges of managing such a large restoration and the excitement of learning from skilled tradespeople. It's a refreshingly honest look at what it takes to bring a big old house back to life. WE LOVE OUR SPONSORS If you love True Tales From Old Houses as much as we love making it, please consider supporting the small businesses that sponsor our show—they help keep these stories (and our old house shenanigans) alive! Sutherland Welles - Maker of exceptional polymerized tung oil finishes since 1965. To save 10% on your first order, use the coupon code truetales. The Window Course from Scott Sidler of The Craftsman Blog - Learn everything you need to know to restore your wood windows. For 10% off The Window Course, use the coupon code truetales. Repaint Studios The Repaint Tray from Repaint Studios is the first reusable silicone paint tray liner and lid. The Repaint Tray's air-tight lid keeps your paint fresh for weeks. Use the coupon code truetales10 to save 10% off your order. Old House Hub from My Old House Fix - An exclusive online community that connects passionate old house owners and enthusiasts with experts and service providers. Join for expert advice, valuable resources, and a supportive community. Use the coupon code truetales for a free one-year membership. Mentioned in this Episode Wood Window Workshop at Silver Lake - Join the waitlist! (closed 6/20/25) Buy a copy of The Case for Historic Windows: The Truth About Energy Efficiency and Old Windows by Scott Sidler and Stacy Grinsfelder Window fan with reversible blades and thermostat (affiliate link) To the Shire Born - TikTok YouTube Instagram Facebook

In this episode of True Tales From Old Houses, Stacy and Daniel answer a listener's question about what to do with an unused chimney. Should it stay or should it go? They weigh the pros and cons, sharing stories from their own restoration projects, and consider how to balance architectural integrity with practical updates, especially when a chimney no longer serves its original purpose. Later, Stacy and Daniel chat with Olivia Wood, the eleventh-generation steward of Poplar Grove, a historic family home with deep roots. Olivia shares how she's embracing the responsibility of preservation while also making the space her own. From uncovering centuries-old documents, including ones related to the site's history with slavery, to navigating family dynamics and building a design team, Olivia's story is one of patience, creativity, and respect for the past. She also opens up about her growing confidence during the whole house renovation and her dream of turning Poplar Grove into a resource for historical education. This episode is a reminder that old houses hold stories, decisions, and opportunities to shape the future by honoring the past. WE LOVE OUR SPONSORS If you love True Tales From Old Houses as much as we love making it, please consider supporting the small businesses that sponsor our show—they help keep these stories (and our old house shenanigans) alive! Sutherland Welles - Maker of exceptional polymerized tung oil finishes since 1965. To save 10% on your first order, use the coupon code truetales. The Window Course from Scott Sidler of The Craftsman Blog - Learn everything you need to know to restore your wood windows. For 10% off The Window Course, use the coupon code truetales. Repaint Studios The Repaint Tray from Repaint Studios is the first reusable silicone paint tray liner and lid. The Repaint Tray's air-tight lid keeps your paint fresh for weeks. Use the coupon code truetales10 to save 10% off your order. Old House Hub from My Old House Fix - An exclusive online community that connects passionate old house owners and enthusiasts with experts and service providers. Join for expert advice, valuable resources, and a supportive community. Use the coupon code truetales for a free one-year membership. Mentioned in this Episode Enter to win a signed copy of The Case for Historic Windows by Scott Sidler and Stacy Grinsfelder. (The giveaway ends 6/6/25.) Follow the Poplar Grove Project on Instagram. Follow Shannon Claire Interiors on Instagram. Learn more about the Slave Dwelling Project: Instagram | Website Sleeping with the Ancestors by Joseph McGill (book)