Wait, They Actually Restored These Amazing Old Houses?

Check this out: a San Francisco house that got totally stripped down in the 1950s (we’re talking slapped with plain stucco and all its fancy bits removed). Fast forward to the ‘70s, and someone said, "Nope, we’re bringing the sass back!" The ornate details were restored, and this Italianate gem reclaimed its crown. The best part? The photos showing 'before' and 'after' are like night and day. Proof that with dedicated TLC, you can bring old charm back to life.

Walking the streets of New Orleans, you never know what’s hiding under the surface. This project peeled back some modern layers and discovered an entire historic double porch with all its fancy trims still intact! Almost like finding a secret treasure chest, right? The porch, with its turned posts and stylish brackets, had been hiding in plain sight all along, just waiting for someone to fall in love and restore it to glory.

This charming Queen Anne house was once sliced up into apartments, with its wrap-around porch boxed off. The owners rolled up their sleeves and spent 14 years bringing it back to its single-family glory, with a porch to match. The difference? Night and day! Opening up that porch again gave this home its "wow" factor back, turning a slice of real estate into a real dream home.

Imagine a Queen Anne house that was once sliced into six tiny apartments and lost its iconic tower and porch. Then a group makes a plan based on the original blueprints and brings it all back - tower, porch, wood details and all. That’s this house in Knoxville, a perfect mix of history and hustle. It’s like a historic house glow-up, with the help of some serious preservation pros.

This Manchester, NH house was nearly taken out by fire way back in 1886 and then faced decades of neglect recently. Enter Craig St. Pierre, who bought the place in 2019 and has been buzzing around restoring every nook and cranny - often doing the work himself. From stained glass windows to overgrown yards, Craig’s bringing it back to life, one project at a time. This isn’t your average couch potato kind of renovation!

These houses in DC’s Anacostia neighborhood went from neglected and forgotten to cozy homes for teachers, health care workers, and government employees. Thanks to a non-profit’s passion for preservation and community, what was once abandoned is now lively and lived in. Preservation doesn’t have to be fancy or pricey - sometimes it’s just about giving homes a second life and folks a fair chance.

Check out this Queen Anne beauty in Blacksburg, VA, that got a second chance by literally moving to a new neighborhood! When a development threatened the old place, the town bought it, cut it into sections, and rolled it over to its new home - porch reopened and tower roof restored. Now it’s a museum and cultural center, proving sometimes the best move is to... move.

This Stick Style house in Portland, Maine, had been dressed up in vinyl siding, but the owners decided that wasn’t the look they wanted. So, over five years, they stripped back to the original clapboards, shingles, and beadboard siding. The transformation is like waking up from a long vinyl nightmare and stepping into a classic woodsy dream.

Remember Sandy? This historic beach house got tossed around by the storm surge but didn’t give up. They raised it up on a taller foundation so future floods can slide right under. It’s smart, sustainable, and a shining example of preserving history while fighting for the future. Saving old houses isn’t just cozy, it’s eco-friendly too!

This old Italianate house in Readfield, Maine, looked like it was ready for the trash bin. But some folks saw its incredible bones and went to work. Multiple decades and a whole lot of heart later, the house is a star again, dominating the village with its charm and style. Who says you can’t bring back the past in style?

Monticello is more than Thomas Jefferson’s pad; it’s a layered story. Early preservation focused on the “Great Man” and glossed over the enslaved people who built and ran the place. Today, the history includes everyone who lived and worked there, painting a fuller, richer picture. History is messy and fascinating, and preserving these sites helps us understand all the players, not just the headline makers.

This Second Empire house went through the wringer - broken up into apartments, porch pulled off, important trim ripped out. The city stepped in and landmarked it, saving the day. Today it wears its fancy tower and porch like a crown, all thanks to a community that refused to give up on its history. Proof that sometimes, fighting for preservation really pays off.

Welcome summer with a peek at this Queen Anne-style towered cottage on a Maine island. Built in 1892, it went from neglected to stunning thanks to some thoughtful owners and expert restoration. It’s a summer dream, complete with a story that inspired a whole book about restoration magic. Talk about coastal cool!

When Laine and Kevin Berry spotted this charming Queen Anne house up for demolition, they saw past the dust and decay to a diamond in the rough. Their restoration journey, full of sweat, laughs, and the occasional ugly mess, is shared with no filters on their socials. They’re not about the gloss, just real talk - and seriously fabulous results. Be inspired, and maybe a lil’ bit jealous!

This is a feel-good story of restoring a Second Empire gems in Carlisle. Built for middle-class families in the 19th century, places like this often got left behind but are now back in the spotlight as folks crawl back to the city. With some love and elbow grease from a determined family team, this house went from sad and forgotten to chic and cozy.

Nestled in San Francisco’s Richmond District, this Stick Style cottage was tired and neglected back in 2010. Fast forward a year, and it found new owners who brought it back to life, showing that even the smallest houses can have big personalities - all without trashing that vintage, quirky vibe.

The Leamans are the heroes here, rescuing this York, PA house from demolition and giving it a makeover that’s so good it landed on the cover of a major restoration guide. They weren’t rolling in cash or fancy contractors - just love, patience, and a whole lot of elbow grease. Their story is proof everyone can make a difference, one historic house at a time.

This Italianate beauty in rural Vermont was ready to be written off, but someone saw its potential and turned things around. With a dramatic restoration, it’s now a point of pride for the town, proving that historic houses are what makes a community unique and memorable. Great houses, great stories!

Way back in 2018, this Alabama house was all set for the wrecking ball to make room for a parking lot. Thank goodness local preservationists thought otherwise and got it moved - sections and all - to a new neighborhood. The cherry on top? The new owners brought back the porch and the iconic tower roof. Proof that sometimes to save history, you just have to pick it up and move furniture-style!

In the 19th century, some factory bosses thought, “Hey, maybe happy workers live in nice homes.” This millworker cottage in Freeport, Maine is a perfect example. It had been empty and broken down but got a high-tech energy retrofit that didn’t mess with its historic soul. Old meets new and everyone wins!

Meet this simple farmhouse in Louisiana that was empty for nearly four decades before it got a serious makeover. It’s not a mansion, but that’s what makes it special - showcasing the everyday homes that make up a community’s real history. Sometimes it’s these humble places with stories to tell that need saving the most.

Ary and her hubby weren’t afraid to roll up their sleeves for this Pasadena bungalow. It’s not just a house, it’s a nod to a style that swept America in the early 1900s. From peeling and patchy to polished and proud - this restoration proves that even a ‘tear down’ can come to life again with some know-how and loving care.

"Old Yeller" wasn’t a happy camper when Britt and Keith got it. Vandalized, trashed, and with plenty of folks saying to just knock it down, these two saw the charm hiding under all the junk. After nearly a decade of love and serious sweat, this house is back, better than ever, with original plaster, trim, and windows lovingly saved and new systems tucked inside. Definitely not a quick flip - this is a forever kind of restoration.

Built for Natchez’s first Black doctor, this house was more than a home - it was an NAACP headquarters and civil rights hub with a powerful history. After suffering neglect, it was lovingly restored and now serves as a museum, sharing the stories of the past in all their bravery and complexity. A real-life reminder that houses carry history.

This Queen Anne with a Colonial Revival twist belonged to Dr. J.D. Gehring, a therapist of the rich and famous. After years of neglect and vandalism threats, new owners swooped in and saved the house, restoring every last detail - down to the original paint colors. Proof that even notable history and classic charm can sit side-by-side in a stunning restoration.

This isn’t your typical before-and-after - it’s more like before, gone, and then back again! The John Crump House in Williamsburg was in ruins by the early 20th century. Thanks to meticulous archaeology and historic photos, it was rebuilt brick-by-brick to match the original. Sometimes, restoration means a full-on resurrection, and this house did it with style.

John Wesley Work III was a musical pioneer, and his home on Fisk University’s campus faced decay before restoration brought it back to life. Restored to its 1930s look - complete with historic paint colors - this house is a fantastic example of saving not just a building, but a cultural legacy worth celebrating.

This little Indiana house was rehabbed with love and smart funding to provide affordable housing without losing its historic charm. Groups like Bloomington Restorations show that preservation isn't just for the wealthy - it’s for people who just want a solid place to call home. Good vibes and great results all around.

Perched high in Maine’s easternmost town, this Stick Style house features all the trimmings: bracketed eaves, patterned siding panels, and towers (oh my!). Named by architectural guru Vincent Scully, this style is a Queen Anne cousin with loads of character. A perfect spot that’s just waiting for a good story (and maybe some lobster).

Burned out and forgotten? Not for long! The Colonel Samuel Rockwell House had its share of hardships but was brought back to life in 2019 by some passionate investors who turned it into a stunning inn and event center. Talk about rising from the ashes with style and grace.

Mount Vernon, the home of our first president, was almost lost until some visionary folks got together mid-1800s to save it. They removed later additions and restored it to the look George himself knew, and now it’s one of the most cherished historic sites in the country. Plus, new interpretations include the stories of the enslaved people who made it all happen - history with layers!

This 1784 Federal house in upstate New York got a major facelift in the late 1800s, becoming a classic Second Empire style with a signature mansard roof and full porch. Even when styles change, these houses show how owners put their personal stamp on a place, blending eras and making history their own.

This gorgeous Queen Anne house, with its projecting tower and shingle siding textures, was one of the popular designs in R.W. Shoppell’s 1887 plan book. Back in the day, these books made it easy for folks to build fancy houses without hiring an architect. A sweet snapshot of Victorian style, ready to roll!

See how paint can make or break a house? This Portland, Maine Queen Anne went from pale yellow to a deep green, and the difference is wild. The contrast makes all those fancy details pop, breathing new life into the façade. Sometimes history’s all about the right shade!

Here’s a small-town bungalow that was a little worse for wear but still standing strong. A few good decisions and some TLC later, and it’s a cozy, colorful charmer again. No crazy flips, just steady, smart care proving you can keep the heart of a house without breaking the bank.

Think caulking is a fix for missing mortar in brick walls? Think again! Someone “helped” this house by slapping caulk in the gaps, which traps moisture and can wreck your bricks over time. Thankfully, real restoration happened when the caulk was removed and proper repointing was done with mortar that actually belongs there. Brick walls deserve better, and so do you.

A fire took out the top story and roof of this Newburgh, NY house, while water wreaked havoc downstairs. But thanks to some dedicated folks and quality craftsmanship, it’s being rebuilt just as it was. A perfect mix of old bones and new strength, this is one for the restoration highlight reel.

David and Missy Fyke were set on building new, but when they learned the abandoned house was David’s great-great-grandparents’ childhood home, plans changed fast. Over two years, they saved the house from rotting foundations and termite drama to bring the family legacy full circle with a lovingly restored home filled with new memories.

This Portland house was smothered in fake brick asphalt siding back in the day. Recently, thanks to historic photos and some detective work, those coverings got peeled away to reveal the beautiful wood trims and clapboards hiding underneath. Details were carefully replicated and the house is back to its rightful stylish self, reminding us that sometimes you just need to look beyond the surface.

Lots of people think sandblasting bricks paint off is clever. Spoiler alert: it’s not! It eats away the hard outer brick surface, leaving them soft and soggy (yikes) and prone to crumble. Instead, experts use special products (like Prosoco) to gently remove paint without damage. Your bricks will thank you - and so will your future self.

Thanks to new owners with commitment and vision, this once abandoned and sad-looking Italianate house in Readfield, Maine, got a stunning second chance. From a neighborhood eyesore to a community gem, it claims the spotlight as a vibrant reminder of history and style, complete with some sweet views and even sweeter stories.

On a Bar Harbor vacay, this 1893 Fred Savage-designed cottage called "Reverie Cove" stands out. From surviving a massive fire to facing a failed stucco finish, it’s been loved, lost, and loved again. Plus, this spot inspired the creation of the super-helpful "Restoring Your Historic House" book. History, beauty, and inspiration all rolled into one seaside package.

Born a slave, T. Thomas Fortune rose to become a mounted civil rights warrior through his newspaper work. His New Jersey home fell into neglect before restoration returned it to former glory and now hosts a cultural center. This house tells a powerful story - one where preservation meets history with heart.

This Free Classic Queen Anne in Maine had psychologists and famous guests in its heyday but faced vandalism and decay in recent years. After some false starts, new owners rolled up their sleeves and brought the beauty back, complete with original paint colors. Proof that history can be saved, even when it’s looking rough.

Our friends Laine and Kevin Berry saved this sweet Queen Anne from the bulldozer in Conway, Arkansas. Their passion and humor make their restorations watch-worthy, and this house, nicknamed "Scottie," is no exception. It’s a beautiful example of what happens when people care enough - a true rescue story.

Built in 1854 and dramatically altered over the years, Teddy Roosevelt’s NYC birthplace was painstakingly recreated after his death to reflect his childhood days. This early Victorian restoration was more about preserving his story than the style - making it a pioneer in historic restoration. Today, it offers a glimpse into the life of a president and the architectural history wrapped up in his early years.

Home to Nashville’s John Wesley Work III, a trailblazing scholar of African American folk music, this Queen Anne Stick Style house was slipping into ruin before being lovingly restored by Fisk University and the National Park Service. The house tells a story of culture, scholarship, and perseverance - all wrapped in woodwork and historic paint.

Built for middle-class families in the late 19th century, this Pennsylvania Second Empire house had seen better days before a young woman and her dad stepped in. Their restoration turned the house into a stunning city dweller’s dream, proving that with the right knowledge, you can bring urban Victorian flair back to life.