True Tales From Old Houses is a light-hearted, entertaining, and educational show for lovers of old houses and buildings, DIYers, history buffs, and restoration...
In this episode of True Tales From Old Houses, host Stacy Grinsfelder highlights the powerful work of the Descendants Project, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the heritage and environment of the Black descendant community in Louisiana's river parishes. Through grassroots activism and historic preservation, the organization works to protect their ancestral land and challenge the environmental injustices that threaten their community. Later in the episode, Stacy revisits a 2020 interview with Bill Chapman. Bill is on a deeply personal journey to uncover the names of enslaved individuals connected to his family's historic property, Enon Hall. By giving them back their names, he seeks to honor their memory and acknowledge their humanity. This special episode of True Tales From Old Houses is part of Podcasthon, a collaborative effort bringing together podcasters to highlight nonprofits and charitable causes. Learn more at Podcasthon.org. WE LOVE OUR SPONSORS If you love True Tales From Old Houses as much as we love making it, please consider supporting the small businesses that sponsor our show—they help keep these stories (and our old house shenanigans) alive! Sutherland Welles - Maker of exceptional polymerized tung oil finishes since 1965. To save 10% on your first order, use the coupon code truetales. The Window Course from Scott Sidler of The Craftsman Blog - Learn everything you need to know to restore your wood windows. For 10% off The Window Course, use the coupon code truetales. Repaint Studios The Repaint Tray from Repaint Studios is the first reusable silicone paint tray liner and lid. The Repaint Tray's air-tight lid keeps your paint fresh for weeks. Use the coupon code truetales10 to save 10% off your order. Old House Hub from My Old House Fix - An exclusive online community that connects passionate old house owners and enthusiasts with experts and service providers. Join for expert advice, valuable resources, and a supportive community. Use the coupon code truetales for a free one-year membership. Mentioned in this Episode Podcasthon.org The Descendant's Project (website) (Instagram) The Descendant's Project (in the news) The Descendant's Project NPR The Descendant's Project Good Morning America Ep #39: Enon Hall Part II Enon Hall (Instagram)
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41:52
157: Balancing Modern Style with Old House Soul
How do you blend modern style with the soul of an old house? Can contemporary design coexist with historic charm without feeling out of place? In this episode of True Tales From Old Houses, Stacy and Daniel chat with designer Amy Ilias to answer these questions. First, during listener Q&A, Emily asks for guidance on recreating the look of traditional beadboard for her porch ceiling. Stacy and Daniel discuss sourcing materials, matching historic profiles, and installation techniques to maintain the period charm of Emily's home. Then, designer Amy Ilias shares her experience of purchasing and renovating The Lavender Ghost, her historic home. Amy dives into the emotional significance of the house, her design philosophy of honoring history while embracing modern aesthetics, and the inspiration she draws from art and architecture. The conversation expands to the creative process behind home renovation, the joys and challenges of preserving an old house, and the role of family and heirlooms in shaping personal style. Amy offers insights on the essence of a home, the art of collecting and editing possessions, and the importance of honoring history while making a space your own. If you love old houses, thoughtful renovations, and relatable conversations about the challenges and joys of historic homeownership, be sure to subscribe to True Tales From Old Houses. WE LOVE OUR SPONSORS If you love True Tales From Old Houses as much as we love making it, please consider supporting the small businesses that sponsor our show—they help keep these stories (and our old house shenanigans) alive! Sutherland Welles - Maker of exceptional polymerized tung oil finishes since 1965. To save 10% on your first order, use the coupon code truetales. The Window Course from Scott Sidler of The Craftsman Blog - Learn everything you need to know to restore your wood windows. For 10% off The Window Course, use the coupon code truetales. Repaint Studios The Repaint Tray from Repaint Studios is the first reusable silicone paint tray liner and lid. The Repaint Tray's air-tight lid keeps your paint fresh for weeks. Use the coupon code truetales10 to save 10% off your order. Old House Hub from My Old House Fix - An exclusive online community that connects passionate old house owners and enthusiasts with experts and service providers. Join for expert advice, valuable resources, and a supportive community. Use the coupon code truetales for a free one-year membership. Mentioned in this Episode Sunset and Sips: Taliesin West, March 6, 2025 3rd Annual Wood Window Workshop at Silver Lake: Registration & Info Window Preservation Annual Conference: March 13-15 Astoria, Oregon The Case for Historic Windows: The Truth About Energy Efficiency and Old Windows is the brand new book by Stacy Grinsfelder & Scott Sidler. Buy it at TheCraftsmanStore.com. The Flat Stanley Project Japanese Art Dolls Charleston House - Home of Artists Vanessa Bell & Duncan Grant - UK John Soanes House - Sir John Soane's Museum London Follow The Lavender Ghost on Instagram Amy Ilias Website
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55:18
156: The Never-Ending Staircase Project
In this episode of True Tales From Old Houses, Stacy Grinsfelder and Daniel Kanter celebrate a long-awaited victory as Stacy finally crosses the finish line on the never-ending staircase project. After six years of stops and starts, she reflects on the emotional rollercoaster of seeing the project through to completion. Then, they discuss boiler technology and the tough decisions that come with home restoration. It’s a candid and relatable conversation about the highs and lows of loving old houses. WE LOVE OUR SPONSORS If you love True Tales From Old Houses, please consider supporting the small businesses that sponsor this show—they help keep these stories (and our old house shenanigans) alive! Sutherland Welles - Maker of exceptional polymerized tung oil finishes since 1965. To save 10% on your first order, use the coupon code truetales. Noonan Heritage Craftworks - Learn how Noonan Heritage Craftworks can help you with your exterior project using traditional materials. Schedule a phone call, video conference, or email consultation with Joseph Parente today. Mentioned in this Episode Join us at Taliesin West for Sunset and Sips - Buy Tickets Bahco Scrapers (affiliate link) Episode #107: Hardwood Floor Talk with Brendan Brody of Queen City Restoration
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35:47
155: Built Different - The Printmaker's Inn
What happens when disaster strikes a historic building? And how do you even begin to move an entire house to a new state? In this episode of True Tales From Old Houses, Stacy and Daniel explore the incredible efforts people make to save history—one building at a time. First, historic preservation specialist Robert Killion joins Stacy and Daniel to talk about FEMA's role in protecting historic buildings and cultural heritage when disaster strikes. He explains how FEMA helps communities rebuild, what compliance rules come into play, and why preserving family treasures is just as important as saving big historic landmarks. Plus, he shares practical tips for disaster preparedness—because you never know when Mother Nature (or an unexpected plumbing disaster) might throw you a curveball. Then, they chat with Pete Galloway, who took his passion for historic preservation to the next level by moving an entire house from Connecticut to Savannah, Georgia. He shares the wild journey of securing funding, navigating city approvals, and figuring out how to transport a whole building. Now the proud owner of Printmakers Inn, Pete also gives us a behind-the-scenes look at running a historic inn, finding the right team for restoration projects, and why saving old buildings is always worth the effort. From disaster recovery to house-moving adventures, this episode has it all! Whether you're a history buff, a preservationist, or love a good "you won't believe what happened next" story, you won't want to miss it! WE LOVE OUR SPONSORS If you love True Tales From Old Houses as much as we love making it, please consider supporting the small businesses that sponsor our show—they help keep these stories (and our old house shenanigans) alive! Sutherland Welles - Maker of exceptional polymerized tung oil finishes since 1965. To save 10% on your first order, use the coupon code truetales. The Window Course from Scott Sidler of The Craftsman Blog - Learn everything you need to know to restore your wood windows. For 10% off The Window Course, use the coupon code truetales. Repaint Studios The Repaint Tray from Repaint Studios is the first reusable silicone paint tray liner and lid. The Repaint Tray's air-tight lid keeps your paint fresh for weeks at a time. Use the coupon code truetales10 to save 10% off your order. Old House Hub from My Old House Fix - An exclusive online community that connects passionate old house owners and enthusiasts with experts and service providers. Join for expert advice, valuable resources, and a supportive community. Use the coupon code truetales for a free one-year membership. Mentioned in this Episode Learn more about the Wood Window Workshop at Silver Lake - Earlybird tickets are available on March 1st. Window Preservation Alliance Annual Conference - March 13-18 in Astoria, Oregon Learn more about HENTF (Heritage Emergency National Task Force) What is HENTF Prepare for Natural Disasters (FEMA) Printmaker's Inn (website) Printmaker's Inn (Instagram)
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1:06:56
154: Basements, Balusters, and a Trip to Taliesin West
In this episode of True Tales From Old Houses, Stacy Grinsfelder and Daniel Kanter are back with fresh updates, big plans, and a tangent or two. First, Daniel gives an update on his ongoing duplex renovation, including the latest challenges and progress in the basement and foundation work—because structural integrity is kind of a big deal. Meanwhile, Stacy updates everyone on her staircase restoration—and while she insists she's not a perfectionist, well… let's just say the results suggest otherwise. But it's not all sanding and structural repairs! Stacy and Daniel are gearing up for an architectural pilgrimage to Scottsdale, Arizona, where they'll visit Taliesin West, soak up some Frank Lloyd Wright inspiration, and record new podcast episodes on location. You're invited! (more details soon) Finally, because every True Tales From Old Houses episode comes with an unexpected side quest, the conversation somehow veers into skiing—because the only thing more terrifying than structural issues is flying downhill at 40 mph on purpose. WE LOVE OUR SPONSORS If you love True Tales From Old Houses as much as we love making it, please consider supporting the small businesses that sponsor our show—they help keep these stories (and our old house shenanigans) alive! Sutherland Welles - Maker of exceptional polymerized tung oil finishes since 1965. To save 10% on your first order, use the coupon code truetales. Noonan Heritage Craftworks - Learn how Noonan Heritage Craftworks can help you with your exterior project using traditional materials. Schedule a phone call, video conference, or email consultation with Joseph Parente today.
True Tales From Old Houses is a light-hearted, entertaining, and educational show for lovers of old houses and buildings, DIYers, history buffs, and restoration and preservation junkies.
Available weekly, hosts Stacy Grinsfelder and Daniel Kanter share personal project updates, listener Q&A, and interviews with engaging old house owners, restoration professionals, and craftspeople.
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