TAYLOR’S RENOVATION QUICK TIPS

DIG DEEP: Don’t forget to check and see what’s hiding underneath as you begin demolition. Taylor found a brick chimney next to the refrigerator, which she exposed one afternoon while her children were napping. In addition, her kitchen’s flooring is the original ³₄-inch maple hardwood that was covered by two layers of linoleum.

TURN TO THE PROS: Once you find the perfect antique, it’s worth paying the professionals to clean it up. Taylor bought a 1928 apron farmhouse sink through Craigslist for $100, then sent it off to be restored. “It cost me $400 but was well worth it,” she says. “I like to think about how many babies have taken a bath in it or how many dishes it has washed in its lifetime.”

KEEP CALM, RESTORE ON: Taylor says it’s important to remember that restoring an old house requires patience—and a willingness to change course as necessary. “Know that there are always bumps in the road and hidden surprises,” she says. “Keep an open mind and be flexible enough to accommodate the unexpected.”