176: Restoration in Real Time
From True Tales From Old Houses by Stacy Grinsfelder
February 23, 2026 · 51 min · Season 13 · Episode 176
About this episode
Stacy discusses her restoration journey at Blake Hill House and interviews Jessica Rhodes about restoring her Italianate home while navigating public attention.
Just after Stacy announces she is keeping Blake Hill House, winter responds in a very expensive way. She shares the latest twist in her restoration journey before welcoming Jessica Rhodes to discuss restoring an Italianate home in the public eye. They also talk about making decisions that serve real life, not just an audience. The episode concludes with the launch of a new listener feature exploring the state of preservation across the country. First, Stacy reflects on the reality that Mother Nature always wins and old houses respond on their own terms. A recent challenge at Blake Hill House opens the episode. Then, Jessica Rhodes joins Stacy to talk about restoring Danascara Place, her historic Italianate home in upstate New York. She shares the realities of renovating in public, how online attention shapes decision-making, the financial tightrope of owning an old house, and why community support matters more than we think. Finally, Stacy reports on the magical week in Pine Mountain, Kentucky, that sparked a new podcast feature built around your voices. She asked one simple question: What is the state of restoration where you live? You'll hear a couple of the one-minute…
People in this episode
Host: Stacy
Guest: Jessica Rhodes
Topics covered
- restoration
- historic homes
- community support
- preservation
Keywords
- Blake Hill House
- Danascara Place
- Italianate home
- Pine Mountain
- listener feature
Mentioned in this episode
Products: The Repaint Tray, The Repaint Tray's
Places: New York, Pine Mountain, Kentucky
More episodes of True Tales From Old Houses
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- 183: Spring at Blake Hill House · April 13, 2026 · 30 min
- 182: Deal-breakers & Old House Life · April 6, 2026 · 56 min
- 181: From Grange Halls to Sprung Floors · March 30, 2026 · 49 min
- 180: Lead Laws and the Ripple Effect · March 23, 2026 · 51 min
- 179: Tool Talk: Infrared Paint Removers · March 16, 2026 · 47 min
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