

How This Whole Thing Started
When people find out we bought a farmhouse that was built in 1848 and needs a complete renovation, they are mostly unsurprised. To grasp why, you must first get acquainted with the men of the Papineau family: Brendon, his dad, and his uncles, who I like to joke that if you put them in the middle of the field, they could build a house with their bare hands. … Continue reading How This Whole Thing Started

Siding
We’ve spent a lot of time doing things at Woodside that you’ll never really get to see. Plumbing, electric, HVAC – all very important, but not much to look at. Siding, on the other hand, has completely transformed the exterior of the house! In order for our new siding to qualify for historic tax credits, we had to install either wood or Hardie Board siding. … Continue reading Siding

Woodside: The Third Year
Can you believe it’s been three years since we started work on Woodside? The progress isn’t as noticeable when you see the house every single day like we do, but when I look back at pictures from the first year and second year – WOW, we have come a long way! The biggest change (for us, at least) is that we now live at the … Continue reading Woodside: The Third Year

Basement Living
Greetings from the Woodside Basement! That’s right, we live here now! And boy has it been a whirlwind of a few months. After putting our house in Richmond Heights on the market, we spent a few months housesitting. Once that gig was finished a couple of weeks ago, we moved into the basement of the farmhouse (and put most of our stuff into a storage … Continue reading Basement Living

Insulation + Drywall
Guys, we have (some) walls! After finishing up the electrical and plumbing in the basement and first floor, we got to work insulating those areas. We used traditional insulation in the basement, and then opted for spray foam insulation throughout the rest of the house. Why spray foam? Although it is more expensive, spray foam has a higher R-value, which will make Woodside more energy … Continue reading Insulation + Drywall

Plumbing
Happy New Year! Yes, I am aware it’s almost February, but a lot has been going on. With the usual winter weather here in St. Louis, we haven’t been able to do much exterior work at Woodside, but we’ve kept mighty busy the last couple of months with interior projects. Our plumbers finished all of their work in the basement and first floor, which means … Continue reading Plumbing