A dedicated space for all things related to renovating your home, from progress updates to tips and challenges.
A few years ago, we installed the windows in our old house. At the time, it felt like a huge milestone in our renovation journey. The house suddenly looked more complete, more protected from the weather, and a little closer to becoming the home we had imagined. Now we’re preparing for the next stage: finishing … More Important Life Decisions
I was never a huge IKEA fan, but… it turns out I’m spending quite a lot of money there and even all of our holidays building their furniture. My first real encounter with IKEA was last summer, when we decided to buy temporary bedroom furniture. It turned out to be easy to install and looked … More Our Holidays, Apparently, Are for Building IKEA
This week we finally installed lamps on our huge window. They aren’t meant to be the main light in the room but more of a gentle mood light. I’ve been craving that kind of soft glow—something that doesn’t overwhelm but adds a quiet atmosphere once the evening sets in. Right now, I’m not sure how … More Lamps by the Big Window
This week was finally the moment we’ve been waiting for — time to install the decorative corbels on the arch! ✨ We had to make a few adjustments to the arch itself first. Nothing ever goes completely smoothly in renovation, but with a bit of grinding down and reshaping, we got it ready. We spray-painted … More Adding Corbels to Our Arch
This weekend was supposed to be about unwrapping memories. And it was—but not quite the way I expected. Among the many boxes we brought back from storage, there was one I was especially excited to open: my vintage German porcelain from Seltmann Weiden. I bought that set during my mom’s 60th birthday party—the one we … More Let’s Talk About Weekend or Seltmann Weiden Service
On Saturday and Sunday, we finally brought home all my china from storage, along with my grandmother’s buffet. (Or is it a cupboard? Honestly, I never know the right word in English—please, comment below). It’s a beautiful piece with the history, made in 1880, and has been in my family ever since. I grew up … More Monday
Right now, I’m sitting in the living room—in our old chair, laptop on my lap. On the right, the windowsill is full of plants soaking up the light. On the left, an absolute army of tomato seedlings—around 120 in total. They’ve taken over the space, tall and cheerful, stretching toward the sun as if they … More A Nice Living Room Moment
BIG RENOVATION UPDATE! The wallpaper is finally up, and I absolutely love it—it’s exactly how I imagined! The green hue is so peaceful and blends beautifully with the scenery. It really feels like we’re getting close to finishing! The formal dining area will feature the old black oak dining set from my grandmother. I’m sure … More Renovation Update: The Wallpaper Is In!
After a recent snowfall, kids cleared the snow off our solar panels, and the difference was amazing! Before cleaning, the panels were barely producing 1 kW, but after removing the snow, the output jumped to 3 kW. It was a clear reminder of how much snow can block energy production on a sunny day. If … More Cleaning Snow Boosts Solar Panel Efficiency
All the walls and ceilings are sanded and primed—finally! It was a long and dusty process, but it feels so good to see smooth, fresh surfaces ready for the next stage. Now it’s time to add the ceiling cornice! Remember when I was debating which trim to choose? (This blog post here here.) It was … More Renovation Update: Instaling cornice
I’ve been struggling to decide on the trim for our ceiling and wall corners—it’s one of those small but important details! To help, Jānis brought in three different trims and placed them in the room so I could see how they look in person. It’s really helpful to visualize them in the space, and now … More Choosing Trim for the Ceiling and Wall Corners
Just when we thought we’d hit another bump in the road, life surprised us. The heating system was nearly ready, but a tiny rubber O-ring—something so simple, costing just about 1 euro—was damaged. Of course, it’s the weekend, the holidays, and all the repair shops are closed! The thought of waiting until Monday loomed heavy, … More A Small Town Miracle
As I write this, I’m relieved to say it’s not cold inside, despite the slight hiccup with the heating system. The professionals we had scheduled to fix the compressor couldn’t make it today. Their earliest availability is December 27th—a date that couldn’t be more inconvenient for me. That’s the same day I need to be … More Not Cold Inside, but Timing Is Everything
I know it might seem a bit early, or maybe not, but I’m already choosing wallpaper for our home! With most of the big renovation tasks behind us and the vinyl flooring decided (you can read about that adventure here), it’s time to focus on adding the finishing touches. I ordered a lot of samples, … More Is It Too Early to Pick Wallpaper? Maybe Not!
For a while now, it felt like everything was piling up—work, renovation, family commitments, and life in general. I’ve been juggling so many responsibilities, and it has become overwhelming. It felt as if I were trapped in a series of dark tunnels with no end in sight. The weight of it all pressed down and … More Sunday: Finding the Light in One of Many Tunnels
Last night’s sunset at Chestnut Manor was nothing short of breathtaking. There’s a certain magic in the way the light kisses the land here, as if the day itself is softly saying goodbye before slipping into night. In the midst of this golden glow stood our caravan—our cozy hideaway throughout the renovation. It’s almost time … More A Bittersweet Sunset: Reflecting on Our Journey at Chestnut Manor
I’m excited to share that we will be starting our heating system this autumn! This means we can continue the renovation through the winter and move into the first floor. However, this post will focus on the decisions we made in September of last year (2023). As winter approached last year (2023), we faced the … More Post 5: Preparing for Winter: Reflecting on Last Year’s Renovation Decisions and Looking Ahead
As the renovation progressed, we finally started seeing the fruits of our labor with the installation of the new triple-glazed windows. Once the windows were in, the house magically began to come together. The triple-glazed windows were a big investment, but they made all the difference. They weren’t just about looks—they’re essential for keeping the … More Post 4: A New Beginning with Modern Comforts
The real work began when we started rebuilding from the ground up—literally. The original flooring, like much of the wood in the house, was beyond repair. But the issues didn’t stop there. Beneath the floors, we found clay, which is not good. So, we had to remove that and fill it with the sand. Since … More Part 3: Rebuilding from the Ground Up
Taking on a house that hadn’t been lived in for over 30 years was no small feat. When we finally purchased the property in late 2019, it felt like we had taken on more than just a house—we had inherited years of neglect, worn-down materials, and the challenge of preserving something that was quickly falling … More Part 2: The Challenges of Breathing New Life: Chestnut Manor
Ilze and her family embarked on a transformative journey when they stumbled upon Chestnut Manor in 2008. After years of fascination, they finally became the proud owners of the 1880s farmhouse in 2019. Despite its neglected state, the unique craftsmanship and potential of the home instilled in them a deep sense of belonging and purpose. … More Falling in Love with a Forgotten Gem: Chestnut Manor
Thank you for your vote! Ilze
Hello, everyone! I’ve recently been deep in the process of selecting floor boards for our home, and I wanted to share my experience with you. This journey was a lot more involved than I initially expected, but it’s one of those decisions that we’ll live with for the next 20 years. Here’s a glimpse into … More My Journey to Choosing the Perfect (for us) Floor Boards
The other day a package came and I asked – what is it? The answer was something totally unexpected: drywall stilts. Yes, there are tall, wobbly things construction workers use to reach high ceilings. The moment I saw them, I thought, This is crazy! You know we like to do everything on our own, but… … More I know what makes me anxious: Draywall Stilts!
Yesterday evening was a moment of pure serenity, a fitting farewell before we returned to the flat. We usually spend our weekends at our renovation site, depending on the weather and the work we plan to do. This time, we decided to extend our stay, arriving early on Friday morning and making the most of … More An Evening to Remember Before Heading Back to the Flat
Hello everyone, It’s been a while since I last wrote here (2020 – almost four years). The truth is, life has been overwhelming—so much so that writing felt like an impossible task. But today, I’m sharing my story, hoping it might resonate with some of you or at least give me the strength to keep … More A Road Less Traveled: Starting Over, One Step at a Time
It all started five years ago when we were living in Ozolkalns (small village near Gulbene, Latvia) for a year. We couldn’t decide to stay here or buy our property somewhere else. We even thought about moving to Germany, that sounded real with two small kids :). But we are Latvians and wanted to stay … More Old Chestnut tree and its manor!