Making the Old

New Again

By Ryan Lofgren

(Pat Schindele’s Marketing Specialist)

I was watching a new show from the Magnolia Network on Discovery+ last night. It was called “Restoration Road with Clint Harp.” If you’re familiar with Chip and Joanna Gaines and a show called Fixer Upper, you’ve seen Clint on their show building farm tables and various furniture to fit into Joanna’s vision of recently rehabbed homes. 

In the second episode of Restoration Road, Clint heads to Montana, where a 270-year-old Dutch barn from New York is taken apart and then rebuilt on a ranch. The barn was turned into a beautiful 18th-century grist mill with many modern updates. 

I found myself fascinated by the show, not only because the episode was filmed in Montana, but the show centers around saving history. The barn itself survived British raids during the Revolutionary War when many homes in the area were burned to the ground. 

The original barn structure was beaten and aged, but there were still signs of unique and significant history, such as the wooden dowels used to hold the high ceiling beams together at the peak. The craftsmanship used to make the barn stood the test of time, holding strong, still standing after years and years of weather, war, and mother nature. 

The finished product was a gorgeous mill in a majestic Montana setting. The Greycliff Mill serves food and drinks, with gigantic picture windows which will open in the summer to allow patrons the ability to take in the view and breathe the fresh Montana air as well.

Of all the reasons I enjoyed the show, I believe what appealed to me most was seeing something old turned functional again. Not only did they save a piece of history, but the barn was completely rebuilt. 

So often anymore, we live in a society that throws away or discards the old in favor of the new. We celebrate consumerism, and the ability to save time, not money, by buying and then buying again instead of repairing. Items are built to last months, not years. Produced cheaply, with the expectation that you’ll just buy the latest “model” six months down the road. 

I found myself reminiscing about several months ago when my wife and I decided that we wanted a kitchen island. Unimpressed with the manufactured models the stores were selling, I took it upon myself to create our idea of a perfect-for-us island. I was lucky enough to come across an antique dresser for free. It was missing the top two drawers and needed some real elbow grease to become functional again but the price was right and the character of the dresser was unique, very non-manufactured. After clearing out cobwebs, cleaning, sanding, then painting, I stained and added a butcher block to the top of the dresser. I added a towel rack to the back and hooks on the sides for oven mitts. We moved the dresser inside and it felt right at home. It added character to our kitchen while still being very functional. I still wake up and enjoy my handy work while I lean on my island and have my cup of coffee in the mornings. 

What does this have to do with residential home sales? Well I think we all too often look at something available on the market and expect turn-key homes. People are either too afraid to put in the work to make something their dream home, or they want new construction. Older homes are often overlooked when trying to find a home. Now don’t get me wrong, I do understand that fixing up a home takes time, energy, and money. I’m no fool, but I stand by my previous statement that in today’s world, people value time over putting in work. 

My dad used to talk about helping with fundraisers in my hometown. He always gives a specific example where the organization asked my dad to donate several pies for a potluck fundraiser they were putting on. He went and bought several pies to donate instead of making them himself. Why? Because he could buy them pre-made cheaper than the amount of time and ingredients it would have taken to make the pies. (I’ll let you in on a little secret: my dad can’t make pies either but he always left that detail out.) I, on the other hand, love making pies and seeing the reaction when people eat them even if it means taking the time to make them.

I believe his story is very indicative of the reasons why older homes are often passed over when looking for a home. Do we all have time to tear down a 270 year-old barn piece by piece and rebuild it? Do we have the ability to do that? No. I will say this though: it’s an amazing feeling to make your own pies, repurpose dressers into kitchen islands, and see the end results of a barn-turned-mill. Don’t overlook a home because of its age. Embrace the potential. Find the character in the details. Save a piece of history, and celebrate antiquity by making something old fresh and purposeful. Above all, take time to enjoy what you’ve accomplished. Taste the pies, lean on your island, and take pride in your handiwork. The feeling from that alone will pay for itself ten times over. 

This post was in no way endorsed by “Restoration Road with Clint Harp,” the Magnolia Network, Greycliff Mill, or Discovery+. All views expressed in this blog are my own and do not represent the opinions of any entity whatsoever with which I have been, am now, or will be affiliated. My view is my opinion and the information on this blog is not intended to be a source of investment advice for purchasing homes or property with respect to the material presented. This blog contains copyrighted material the use of which is strictly prohibited. Please receive permission from the copyright owner before using the material on this site. Pictures of Greycliff Mill were used with permission.