starting the renovations 🪚 (ep.2) 

You can collaborate with a RU-vidr who cleans pools. People love watching that stuff.

Cultural Heritage person here: I would like to offer a suggestion that when you remove the paneling, take a photo or make a sketch of each wall/room, and get something like painter's tape and numerically label each panel as you disassemble. Make note of it, and then when it comes time to restore, you know exactly what you had where!

Contractor here. Please invest in multiple dehumidifiers. Remove as much carpet, wood and other items that have mold and run the dehumidifiers continuously. Although the dehumidifiers can move mold spores throughout the house while running, the bigger issue at hand currently is the moisture. This is an awesome home and I am definitely invested in this series!

GIRL! Keep the piano, keep the pool. You seem fun. Live your fun life and get rid further down the the line.

KEEP THE POOL AND PIANO! The piano is worth 15-16k and to ground a pool of that size was a fortune to do around that time so keep it it completes the house

I NEED hour long renovation videos, fails including, neat stuff you found etc. So excited for this journey in your life!!!

Another Pianist here. The Baby grand you have is in good condition considering how long it has been in that house. It sounds like the board is still good. Have a tuner check kit out properly for you. Also put a low watt light bulb in the piano to keep any moisture from causing it damage. The light will create enough heat to keep it dry. Those pianos were a great thing when they first came out. Today they are considered a great value with a fairly large price tag. If taken care of, they will last a lifetime. I have restored a piano before, it is not an easy task; but it is so satisfying to see the finished work, and here it played after the tuner has done their job. You have a great find in this place!!

For more than a year I’ve watched Laura Kampf renovate a 120-year-old house in Berlin. She has mad skills, and tons of tools, but has called in (and learned from) experts when needed. Your house is truly an MCM gem. I hope it can be restored to its former glory and look forward to watching your journey.

I saw the tour video and I was amused. Now I've watched this one and I'm captivated. Two years of this content? Yes, please.

You should be running dehumidifiers there 24/7 throughout the entire house. don't be surprised if you need to completely rip out all of the floors, many of the beams, and walls, because of wood rot (structural) and black mold (health) you should also run HEPA air purifiers throughout the house 24/7, because as you run the dehumidifiers, it will spread mold spores though the air...

That house has so so much potential, it reminds me of houses that movie stars had back in the day.😊

Doing my first reno now on a 1956 home. Girl, buy yourself some Carhartt overalls, a shop vac, and an extractor fan (Vevor utility blower 3000 CFM, 12 inch with 32ft hose). These will make your life way better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Extractor fans are the best thing ever for doing a reno. Clears all the crappy toxic air out in no time. : )

Please see about getting an ozone machine or several of them. You can purchase or rent them, from small to industrial. I'd say purchase as you'll need to use them repeatedly and for a while. Ozone will kill mold. They will quickly make a HUGE improvement in the air quality while you work. It can kill mold in the wood you want to save, and soft materials. You could run them from a generator until you have better power. Run them while you are gone, with the house closed up. Most have timers. You can set them to shut off before you come back. Ozone will dissipate, but you ought to open all windows and doors to let fresh air circulate. I've used my small machine in multiple situations. We cleared a 3 bedroom house that had recurrent water intrusion, with wet drywall and carpet that sat for a while. That house had a working HVAC, so that helped circulate it. You may need to have several, or move it to a new area regularly. It will be one of your best investments. Also, straight white vinegar in a spray bottle is good for hard surfaces. The rock fire place, kitchen, bathrooms... Anyplace not getting ripped out.

Pianist here, Kawai is a great brand! Started making grand pianos in the 1930s (I think) . Put anti moth strips inside while storing to preserve the felts. Get a tuner to have a look for any issues. Also allow time to settle before tuning once it is in its final spot (at least 3 months). Absolutely love this house, so special.

You need a dumpster and some plastic trash cans. Load the building materials into trash cans and empty the can into the dumpster. So excited about your project. You two make a great team.

Carpentry apprentice here. I just wanted to thank you both for wearing good respiratory and eye protection (along with gloves and the rest). I see SO many people not wearing respirators and eye protection, and it just makes me cringe every time. You just don't want to breathe in any of that or get it in your eyes, so I was stoked to see you guys fully prepared for what you're doing, and staying safe! I'm invested in this series and I hope this project goes really well for you!

You’re gonna need a dumpster! There is going to be a lot of trash! Also get commercial dehumidifiers in the house ASAP! Especially if you want to save a lot of the stuff in the house.

That wood on the hallway floor is plywood. It appears to be almost totally de-laminated and should be removed eventually. It's ok for a temporary work/walking surface, but there's no saving it. That Kawai piano is a very expensive baby grand and should be retained if possible. It's worth a great deal of money. The pool should just be drained and kept for a later project. It's a beauty, as is the rest of your home! Keep at it. Remember, the only way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time!

I wish I had a gentle voiced man like that. Strong to help you lift furniture and not scolding you when you have floppy rubber chicken hands. Always nice and calm. Someone like that in big home projects is a win win.

Yes! Keep the pool and the piano. They are original to the house. It's extremely rare to find a house like that in full original condition.

Going from knitting to crocheting to renovating a house. I love it!! 🥰

We are 14 years into our project. An 1895 house that had water and electric to the outside ONLY. We are 62 and should have started earlier for this kind of project. You are young so just keep at a steady pace. GOOD LUCK !!!!

I have multiple points to cover. First, the shallow stuff. YES, do please keep the pool. As other have mentioned, ONE clean-up gets it done, then maintenance to keep it clean. You can get the lip of the pool replaced with edge tiles and the bottom and sides can be re-plastered brand-spankin-new. THAT means you don't actually have to clean it. Just pump it out, muck it out, fix the drains. (Okay, not a small project, but do-able.) YES, please do keep the piano. HERE's something you may not have considered: There are Apps that teach piano AND some of them sponsor videos. There are ALSO YT channels of pianists who enjoy playing in public spaces and post videos, etc. I don't know that they would help you restore that old classic piano... but I also don't know that they wouldn't. SOMEONE MIGHT help you with that project purely for the sake of Content (expecially if it involves collaboration and clout) or they may be willing to help you find assistance with that project. Those piano apps might not help, BUT... if you show them your Channel and share the piano restoration project, then once you get that piano restored, I'm sure they would be more than happy to sponsor a video (or series of videos) of you using their App to learn how to play on that newly-restored instrument. Might be Worth pursuing. NEXT: Furniture. I am absolutely certain those chairs and the couch are high-quality furniture. However, the cloth and cushions are contaminated. Horribly. ALL IS NOT LOST, though. Take pictures. Then carefully remove the fabric and padding (masks & gloves!) and take them outside to dry-out on a warm, sunny day. Next, take it all to a furniture reupholstering shop. INFORM them that they were rained-on and probbly moldy. The reupholsterer can take the necessary care to remove the remaining cloth, then refurbish the frames (as needed), stain and seal the wood, then replace the padding and reupholster everything with a cloth of your choice. (Show them the photos and they could possible get the same cloth, to restore all of them to their prior glory.) NEXT: Flooring. That hallway looks like it needs the sub-floor ripped out and replaced... but the fact it holds your weight suggests the framing under it is still sound. You'll have to do some mold abatement, to preserve that wood, but I think all it needs is re-do the floor. Does that magazine you found show the floor in the hall? Do you want to replace carpet, or maybe put in wood flooring? Decisions, decisions... FINALLY: The roof. (Not a lecture.) And... do you have an attic? My old roof had to be replaced years ago and they removed all the shingles AND the wood sheathing that goes under it. They'll have to check for mold and possibly do mold abatement before continuing. I recommend you also get a look in the attic (if the home has one) to see what's up there... and what condition it's in. If it's a flat roof, consider checking the drainage. This is an Opportunity. A new roof is an opportunity to have insulation put in. That's A Good Thing. Lotsa work, but fun-fun-fun. Following.

You are going to love this house when it’s done. The sense of accomplishment will be amazing. A story you’ll carry forever. Water damage is the worst. It’s destroys everything. It’ll seep into areas you’d never expect, get under tile, behind stone, just wreak havoc. But you got this! Once you get all the damaged materials out, hire a contractor to help assess.

Get as many videos of the house renovation as possible! We will pay for that roof! It looks like such an amazing house, just so unique and special! Perfect for you❤

I would definitely keep the pool. New pumps and equipment make maintaining a pool much easier these days. The new cleaners just crawl all over the pool and if you keep the chemicals balanced, you dont have to do anything special on an annual basis. Just dont let it get green and it'll be fine. You can also add a heater with new equipment. Just a thought.

Guests who come over can play piano -it’s a joy to all!

I think one of the major things to consider working on repairing first is the roof because if it 1. rains 2. snows 3. any bad weather, anything inside will be ruin again. Therefore, repairing the roof needs to go on the top of the to do list. (maybe look for a contractor to help you).

Add MCM to the title for keyword placement - one of the biggest draws about your home renovation is that it is a MCM house... HUGE audience for that. Also, I found you because of your first video about this house and I subscribed so I could follow your journey. I ended up watching several of your other videos and am now hooked on all of your amazing content. Thankks for taking us along for the ride!

The piano is worth up to 22,000 USD. I think you should keep the pool. You'll love it in the summer and remember it will only look this bad, this year. Get a pump and drain it.

If you have electricity in there, get a ton of dehumidifiers to help with the dampness!

Y’all gotta get everything out of that house and get dumpster. Put what you want to keep the garage and toss/sell/donate the rest. You’re def gonna need all new subflooring throughout the entire house. This is gonna look amazing when it’s fine but dang it’s gonna be a lot of work!

You two should look into getting one of those containers for trash. They drop it off into the driveway (or where you choose) and then haul it off when it's full. It will probably be cheaper than 100s of trips to the dump!

Keep the pool, but have a professional drain it, test and replace the pumps and do the annual opening and closing. They can teach you what chemicals you will need and how often to use them to keep the pool clean when it's open. There are some things you let the professionals do, and some things you can do. And if you keep the pool you can make more crocheted bathing suits!

Keep the pool and the piano! Imagine being in the pool and experiencing that wonderful view!

Someone has done a lot of construction and renovation here. Rent commercial dehumidifiers from Home Depot, get a 40-yard dumpster, and get a roof on that house ASAP! Keep the pool sell the piano. It's an unbelievably beautiful house It is a worthy undertaking to save it.

It really warms my heart that you're committed to saving as much as you can. Mid Century homes are so frequently demolished because of the issues you're dealing with now. It's a lot of work but I feel you're being realistic with your timeline. Thank you for trying to save such a beautiful house.

It's strange because I mostly catch renos when they are near the end and there is so much content already, but this one is only just beginning, I'm looking forward to seeing this one! I used to be a millennial gray person but now, I definitely see the appeal of houses like this.

That furniture is so valuable especially any with teak wood that first blue chair that you carried out looked like it had teak wood legs, so retro and cool!!! I love your house and look forward to see final masterpiece!!!!!!! and that piano is freaking awesome - you got a gold mine

I have no doubt there’s a whole crowd of us watching who would LOVE to be there working with you.

Musician here: the piano is a quite good brand like a Mercedes in Piano world (not a Ferrari tho, that would be Steinway & Sons) but it is very decent! First step: protect it at all costs from moisture, once you‘re mostly done renovating get someone to tune it (it‘s quite out of tune at the moment as you can probably hear) and then take lessons and play it occasionally!

Speaking as someone who will not be responsible for cleaning the pool… KEEP THE POOOOOL 👹

Thank you for trying to rehabilitate this beautiful home to its prior glory.... AND try to save that couch!

You purchased an antique and thriftstore home full of great finds! Keep your vision!

I am so happy for you that the tests came back negative for asbestos! That is such a positive start. Given the state of the roof, black mold is your next concern. My in-laws had to gut and rebuild their home because of it. It made them very sick before they knew what the problem was and they had to move out for about a year. This home you bought is amazing in it's authenticity of the time it was built. And the POOL! it's such a beautiful old structure. I think you should keep it, even if you don't fill it and use it. someday you may want to sell, and that is a stunning part of the property

Be kind to yourself in renovating. You can’t keep everything. Reuse as much as you can. Let go of what you can’t. Every step you take is better than before. Good luck!

I hope you keep the piano! I always feel that no home is complete without a musical instrument of some kind, and a baby grand is one of most badass ones you can have! The fact that it's original just adds so much to the richness of the history of the home. I'm sure learning piano as an adult would be super rewarding!

So excited to follow this journey! The house is/was once a gem. I hope you can somehow save it without ruining your health for good. Mold can really make you disabled in many ways. Please be safe, hire experts to help you along. Don't touch things with bare hands or breathe the air inside. Good luck and happiness to you guys!

Thank you for not over editing the process! You show how much work this really is and you don't make it magically beautiful! Thank you for being genuine with this whole project

This is probably a weird comment among all the good advice: I love the new dynamic with the guy, because of the nature of your career, you need a partner willing to help you (especially with a massive project like this) and this guy is really doing a great job collaborating and helping you to make really great content and probably go further in this career because I can see a lot of growth coming your way with this reno content :)

If the pool is a fear you can opt to transform it into a ecological pond as those take care of themselves and only need a bit of help here and there depending on how you want it too look. A swimming pond is also easier to let run itself.

A note about the pool; you only have to clean it once, and then do keep-up maintenance after that! I cannot wait to see this house turn into the gem that I know you will turn it into!!! ❤

It looks like the pool is integral to the concrete structure around that edge of the property so "removing" it is probably going to be more complicate and expensive than just leaving it there. If that means just filling it in with concrete, I would suggest turning it into a pond. Add a few feet of concrete to make it shallower, create the pond out of the deeper end and add gravel to the shallower end. Throw in some plants, a little landscaping with pots around, keep the seating and make it a garden area. That's what I would do, affordable and beneficial for the environment and it compliments the home and the design.

My grandma converted her pool into a garden once the kids moved out. She filled it with mulch to where the stairs roughly ended. It gives me so many sweet memories from my childhood helping her in that garden. Might be a fun way to pay tribute to the pool without having to maintain it.

When our house flooded, we put giant fans to help dry it out. Maybe where the sun doesn’t hit you’d benefit from them?

Keep the pool. It will be a joy in the summer and the source for so many memories. In the winter, install a cover to keep out the debris and make maintenance easier. Hire a pool company for regular maintenance. It’s actually fairly cheap.

OMG, please make these videos as long as possible; we want to see EVERYTHING! 😆15 minutes is not enough!

OMG we went from Thrifting sewing, crocheted knitting to house, renovations. It’s like a dream come true lol you’re truly my favorite creator. I hope nothing makes a turn for the worse.!!!! and all goes well

Oh dear lord!!! I’ve rehabbed houses before but this is epic. If the heat works, put it on to dry things out. Humidifiers, fans, open the windows! Get a large dumpster or else you’ll be tripping all over the trash. Get that roof done asap or all your work will be for naught. Be cautious about that mold. Keep the piano but get moisture desiccants and a dehumidifier rod. I’ll be watching your progress. Gooood luuuuuck🎶

this comment section is so nice and wholesome good advice, genuine excitment and everyone is looking forward to you making this house a gem again very excited to stick around and see this come together

Ok, my 2c... keep the pool (it's a much later project but integral to the house), sell the piano to add $$$ to your restoration fund, and always wear gloves!!! Great to see the heavy-duty masks. I doubt the soft furnishings are savable due to black mold spores, but at least you have those items on film. Curate and keep what you can (safely) and remember to stretch and take breaks. My back felt sore just watching you both LOL. I'm all in for this fabulous ride x Look after yourselves.

As a piano player I would say: sell the piano. Those type of pianos can get difficult to maintain and tune. And you can use the money to get a structural engineer to check those wood structures. For the pool, you could keep the structure and skate there, or add some stairs, some plants and chairs and there you have a nice lounge

Most Frank Loyd Wright and houses simular to them, have roofs that leak. It is a risk with flat roofs. My husband and I have bought 5 fixer - uppers over the years. Very rewarding work. We are close to 70 years old now, and the physical work is too much for us. Thanks for showing this!

It's a baby grand piano. Kawai is a good brand. You can usually find the serial number if you peak behind the key cover when it's halfway open. Or sometimes it's on the bottom of the piano.

“Don’t trip. Don’t trip times two” made me chuckle hehehee. He’s so sweet ❤

I love that every time I see another piece of content from this house, the PPE is more intense

I think once you have the yard work back to looking good and the pool cleaned and looking nice, you will want to keep the pool. It's such a cool looking pool! It's awesome just having all the wet floor up and out. Now it can start to dry out. And with everything stripped back, you can see what needs to be done. You should get all of your friends and family together and have a clean up day. Some can tackle the house, others the yard. Rent a big garbage bin. Even with all the damage, this house has a huge wow factor. You haven't given us a vies of the whole outside of the house. But what I've seen it's amazing.

1.) Pool - yes 2.) Piano - have a piano tuner/repair person access it. It may be beyond ever being tunable/staying in tune. If it's not, yes Piano lessons! You know someday in your next life when you're done renovating. Good luck with all the projects!

I think you need a dumpster and some big garbage cans to pick that stuff up.

Jenna! You are literally living my dream right now. The mid-century house, the fact it was owned by an architect, has some of his work, the furniture, the views, oh my heart! I’d say kept the pool and piano for sure. I can’t to watch your progress for the next 2 years!

That green and blue couch is gorgeous. Hope you keep it

Storage containers to put wooden furniture cleaned of mild. Fabric couches will have to be cleaned and fabric removed because of mold. Strip house Dumpsters Hire uni students to do the hard work. Caravan to live on site Portable toilets showers instead of paying rent in another unit. Hard work but youlll get there Well done Australia 🇦🇺 👍👍👍👍👍👍

OMG! The side-table, chairs,lamps. That place has some beautiful unique pieces! Gorgeous furniture. I honestly can’t wait for this place to come together, it’s gonna be absolutely stunning. A home for life! ✊🏾

Random Fact: The snow in "The Wizard of Oz" was asbestos. I gave some major side eye to my TV when y'all said you didn't think asbestos was banned in the US. I live in New England & my grandfather's career was building houses with his brother/father. I had heard a lot of things & would have bet actual money that it was banned. So, imagine my surprise when I looked it up just now & discovered that no, it is not banned. I swear, this country is an actual fever dream sometimes.😭

Please keep and appreciate the piano! Grand pianos go for a lot of money nowadays and personally they are gorgeous touches to a living space! Please keep! (Also they make you look rich😂)

maybe you could collaborate with The Sorry Girls? I think they're in Canada too, and Becky is really passionate about mid century homes!

This home is going to be so cool! Two years of renovating content? Yes please! Maybe some smaller home decor crafts in there now and again (like sewing curtains, crocheting coasters or making airdry clay candlesticks etc). Get a dumpster and keep celebrating every win. I bet the midcentury modern niche on youtube will love to see this also

I was looking forward to this video so much! Can't wait to follow you along this journey!!

Kawai is a good make. My father was in the piano business. After being exposed to serious fluctuations in temperature over decades, it's amazing you can play it at all. That fact alone speaks to the quality.

Impressed so much was accomplished. Bummed about the couch. That was an amazing piece, and no one thought to put a tarp over it?!

I suggest using all the plastic tubs around the house to collect the carpet, etc, take them downstairs and toss them when you get a dumpster. It is a lot easier to fill the tub than a bag. Also, if the carpet and underlayment is dry, cut it into 3-4 ft strips, and roll it up. It should be easier to take it out.

I like reading the comments, along with watching your incredible adventure! Yes, I'll subscribe and follow you for two years. But I appreciate the words of caution about black mold. Also, watch out for the electrical system which probably has moisture intrusion, (have an electrician check it out), and the strength of the flooring with rot. Check with your doctor about your vaccinations. Shower off each day when you're done, and keep wearing the face masks and gloves.

I’m DEFINITELY staying here for the next two years to see this beautiful house finished! It was a pleasure to watch it and I’m very excited to see your journey.

There’s so much about this that feeds my soul but what feeds it the most is you. That you can see what you have there, that you can see the treasure within. Your spirit, your energy, your everything. I’ve fallen in love with you and this project. You’re the daughter I never had. Is that creepy? Oh well. 😂

Heck yes keep the pool. It is a lot of maintenance, but with those mountains in the bkg?! Totally worth it to float around staring at the view. Plus imagine all the fun tile designs that could fit in there lol

Watching the renovation videos is going to be the best two years of my life!!!

Get the roof and exterior water tight first! Then start on the inside with dehumidifiers running constantly.

Im begging you all to 1. Fix the roof immediately. Any work you do prior will be ruined by additional leaks and moisture being let into the house. And 2. Rip all the flooring, subfloors, ceilings, and walls that show any modicum of moisture and start running fans + dehumidifiers + air purifiers. Best of luck!

Before deciding about the pool, look into natural pools! The plants do most of the cleaning!

I am 💯% committed to this series, hooked by your IG. That being said please heed the warnings of the mold people, your health is paramount to any financial gain. Also your story has made me look into a roof leak I have had over my office for YEARS, turns out there is white fungus growing on rotted wood directly above my head 😵

If I were you, I'd try to keep the pool & piano. That pool will be absolutely awesome in the hot summer & once you have it up & running it'll be easier to clean & winterize.

As a contractor of almost 40 years experience, I would fix and finish the roof FIRST. You need to mitigate all the leaks.

I have a pool, and we do the cleaning. It's not hard once you get the chemical levels, right.. plus ypu could hire that out.. we never get out of the pool in the summer.. its a blast

Hi Jenna , when it’s safe enough you can get a dehumidifier to take the moisture out of the air in the house

Definitely keep the pool and piano! Maybe collabs with RU-vidrs who specialise in both would be cool? I’d definitely use some dehumidifiers and fans to keep the air moving and reduce damp. Quite the opposite of people not being interested- I have just subscribed because of this AMAZING project and it looks like I joined at the very beginning of this too which is brilliant. Hello from the UK!

Keep the pool, if you don't want to swim in it, there are a lot of cool ways to use it as a koi pond (decorative large goldfish) and combined with a (wet) garden,....water Lillies, other plants, reed plants, like bamboo. Place large decorative stone to make a gurgling fountain,...that cascades. Or if it isn't salvageable,......fill it in with soil, but keep the whole thing intact, beneath. The sides will become retaining walls.

I love Shoot the Moon! Do not tilt it. It’s difficult but once you get it, it becomes easier. Keep the piano and take lessons.

Very impressive, you two are a great team. Good luck, please look into mold remediation. Just for your overall health long term it will be a good thing for the property and for you. Happy you are salvaging many of the pieces. I know you will do what is best and it is very exciting to see you enter this new experience.

First thing I would do before you gut the house is pay a company to put a new roof on it. That way as you work, the wet areas will dry. Then hire a lawn service to clear out all the over grown plants. Then you can truly begin with the remodel.

Look up the Australian town of Wittenoom , the dust of the streets is dust from the Blue Sky Asbestos Mine , it has been removed from all maps and it is prohibited for people to go there.