There was no need for Lisa to look for an old house to renovate – she already had one.
The house, located in the forested part of Sweden, in Småland, was part of her husband’s family heritage. It was built in 1912, and her husband’s grandmother spent time here when she was a child. Accordingly, they had fond memories of the house.
After the death of the old man who lived here, Lisa’s husband’s father acquired the house and the surrounding land. Since then, her husband, who was still her fiancé at the time, dreamed of restoring it.
When Lisa first saw the house in the summer, it seemed neglected: the paintwork was faded, the garden was overgrown, and the house clearly needed some TLC. However, Lisa was charmed by its antique floors, original double doors, spacious rooms, and fireplaces.
Despite their youth, both of them already dreamed of restoring this house. They fell in love with it so much that they decided to buy it. In the fall of 2016, after receiving a loan, the young couple became the owners of the house. They were just starting their careers and did not have much savings, so they did the repairs manually, using the resources that were available.
They worked on the house every weekend and even after their main job. This project was so important to them that they gave up vacations abroad and expensive purchases, investing all their money in the restoration. At the same time, their relatives also supported them as much as they could.
Learning all aspects of renovation from the ground up, they learned how to replace windows, do exterior finishing, install plumbing, replace plumbing fixtures, lay tile, and renovate a kitchen. Even the simple process of painting furniture was new to them.
This process took more than two years, and during the last 9 months Lisa was expecting a child.
The main goal was to preserve the historic spirit of the house while providing modern conveniences. So they chose vintage-style wooden windows, restored fireplaces, and renovated the porch by protecting it with oil.
The interior of the house is a harmony of Swedish country and French elegant style. To furnish the space, high-quality second-hand furniture was chosen, guided by the principle of quality for a long time.
In the spring of 2019, Lisa, her husband, and their newborn daughter moved into the house. Although not all the work was completed, the house was ready for occupancy.
The house is still a work in progress. Many tasks, especially those related to the garden and other buildings on the property, remain unfinished. However, for the family, this is not a burden, but rather an endless project that brings joy.
For Lisa and her family, this home is a dream come true and a place where they plan to raise their children.
Looking at the photos of this house, it is difficult not to appreciate the effort and care that went into it.
