This New House | Sustainable DIY + Resilient Renovation

One year ago today, we got the keys to This New House. 🗝️ It’s impossible to capture everything in one post, but looking back through the photos is a reminder of just how much has already been done, even with plenty still ahead. The unglamorous work came first: infrastructure. Grueling, messy, and not exactly feed-pretty. But doing it right - restoring what was here, honoring the original bones, and integrating modern technology to carry this home into its next century - has been more satisfying than words (or likes) can capture. And yes… it doubles as a solid workout. 🏋️‍♀️ We’re deeply grateful for the partners and friends who’ve helped us reach this point and excited for what’s planned as we head into 2026. Onward. #thisnewhouse #homerenovation #oldhouserenovation #historicrenovation #diyhome

A little intro here to our new friends 👋🏻 and also sharing something new ✨ It’s hard to believe that 6 months ago this home was in danger of burning down, with the wildfire edge literally across the street. This is footage from the day the evacuation orders began. What a tough way to kick off its 100th birthday. Yet somehow, it made it through and is still standing. We are on a mission to honor its past, restoring the home to its original blueprints, while also better preparing it with the latest technologies for the inevitable challenges of the future. 1 in 4 homes is at risk of being affected by wildfires. There’s a lot more we can all do in our homes beyond a coat of paint, and we’re here to share behind the scenes, tips, and more. Thanks for stopping by! #homerenovation #homereno #renovation #renovationproject #renovationlife #homeimprovement #homeimprovementprojects #homeimprovementtips #sustainability #centuryhome #oldhouses #climatechange #climateresilience #oldhomelove #diyhomeimprovement #diyhomeprojects #thisnewhouse #newadventures

When how you go about the journey is just as, if not more important, than the destination. #process #workinprogress #behindthescenes #thisnewhouse #centuryhome #homerenovation #oldhome #diy #homeimprovement #newchapter #adventure #whatmatters #oldhomelove #restoration #journey #journeybegins #journeytogether #theresnoplacelikehome #homereno #repurposing #upcycling

One of the latest projects: landscaping! 🌱 When we moved in there was so much to clean up around the home, inside and out. Months and months of trimming, raking, getting rid of old junk, finding pavers and random items buried under the dirt. One pleasant surprise that came out of all the digging were these beautiful rocks, which now serve as edging for our planting areas. They help retain moisture which is great with thus very sandy decomposed granite soil we are working with. The terraces also needed to be rebuilt in some areas - now there aren’t unsafe dips walking around. Things are starting to look more cohesive - the idea is to have a garden that complements the cottage architectural style of the home, with plants that work well with the Southern California climate. Within the 5 feet immediately surrounding the house we will keep it clear as part of the wildfire defensible space best practices. That will be part of our hardscaping phase soon. Throughout this we are focused on repurposing what is available - it saves money, and also honors what is already here. How many hours and days has this been to get to this point, and in between the other projects? I’ve lost count. You can pay someone tens of thousands for this - or do it yourself. Satisfaction: priceless. To be continued. #landscapingdesign #beforeandafter #transformation #californiagarden #diyhomeprojects

Some more behind the scenes of our recent door project, saving $5000+ doing it ourselves (and how you can too): 👇🏻 Restoring the old trim: Serious thanks to @bahcotools scrapers for making this way less intensive than we thought it would be to remove the old paint out of these detailed grooves! Then we used our @milwaukeetool m18 detail sander with some hand cut squares of 80-grit and then 150-grit @indasa sandpaper that we cut from the rolls we had leftover from our 1969 Mustang restoration (used on @bigkidblocks which are also really nice to give a perfect finish on rough cut lumber) Keeping it natural: Mahogany wood is naturally termite and rot resistant, and we were so happy to source a great option from @aaadoors . The threshold we made ourselves with wood from @bohnhoff_lumber , thanks to our trusty OG Delta model 14 bandsaw, which we upgraded with some @carterproducts guides and a magfence, and @timberwolf blades. Making it fire resistant: @timberprocoatings Ember Guard on everything - 2 coats before primer and paint make it way more resilient to both termites and rot, and the finish with just Ember Guard alone looks beautiful. Paint it intentionally, not for the landlord special: @kilzbrand primer worked great over the Ember Guard base coats and @sherwinwilliams Emerald Urethane gave us this happy blue 🩵 Precision is non-negotiable: @kakuri_japan chisel tools @stabila_usa_canada levels made getting the details just right. Precise and clean cuts in very tight areas, and a perfectly level door. Give yourself flexibility: @grkfasteners allow for structural strength during installation and easy removal for any future servicing. For the structural components we used RSS structural screws. Thinking about updating your door? Know you have options that are more DIY-friendly than you may think. Follow @thisnew.house for more DIY tips and updates 🔨 #homerenovation #diyinstallation #newdoor #frontdoor #thisnewhouse

We did a thing 🚪When we got quotes for new doors, and the prices came in at $6k+, we said why not do this ourselves? A lot of brushing, sanding, chiseling, and about $1k in materials later, here we are! What we used: 🪵 Mahogany for its termite and rot resistance from @aaadoors and @bohnhoff_lumber 🖌️ @timberprocoatings Ember Guard to coat the wood for fire resistance, LSS Pinewood stain, and Crystal Urethane for an unbelievably beautiful finish. ⚪️ @kilzbrand primer - works great both inside and out 🩵 @sherwinwilliams Emerald Urethane exterior paint for this beautiful blue 🔨 @kakuri_japan razor-sharp chisel tools for crisp new lock openings 🪛 @grkfasteners as both structural and trim screws (throughout the house) to keep things straight and allow for easy servicing The theme continues: It’s always less daunting than it seems. Still took about a day to install, and we are so happy with the result. This door design was the style from the original blueprints, and it’s so nice to see light coming through the window now - to an area of the entry that was previously just dark. Can’t wait to restore this wood tone throughout the home, underneath the layers of semi glossy paint. Follow @thisnew.house more updates as we continue! #homerenovation #diyinstallation #newdoor #frontdoor #thisnewhouse

Around here, every day is Earth Day. 🌎 Recently, we had a crazy idea while weeding to try transplanting what looked to be native grasses around the property. We weren’t even sure if they would survive the move, given that the alyssum we tried before never made it. What was done differently this time: when taking up the plants, they were placed onto trays that had a little water in them for the roots to absorb. Additionally, the soil where they were going into was loosened and watered more. The result: less than a week later, we had a fully planted mini meadow on our side terrace! Buffy wanted to try eating (or at least grabbing) it all right away, so we had to keep her away for a week or two. But it paid off and now everyone is getting to enjoy it! What would have cost thousands with sod or a lot more time and water with seed was accomplished by working with what was already in existence! Seeing it in a new light, from a different perspective - almost accidentally - made all the difference. This is the objective of This New House - making the old new again, and better than before. Follow for more updates and tips as we continue. Much has been done, and at the same time we feel we are just getting started. #homerenovation #repurposing #oldhousenewhome #sustainablelifestyle #inmygardentoday

Happy Berfday to the most pawesome dad! He’s always taking me on new adventures, letting me eat his socks (sort of), and giving me delicious treats. My only comment is I don’t understand why I have so many names from him - Little Cheek, Blueberry, Booberry, to name a few - but I still think he’s pretty alright. 14/10 recommend ⭐️

To all the women forging their path in their own unique way, Happy International Women’s Day. ✨ This renovation has been a profound reminder that building something literally from the ground up isn’t that different from building and restoring a life. Both take vision, patience, resilience… and the courage to make decisions that might not make sense to anyone else. Every wall we open up reveals something unexpected. Some beautifully interesting. Many… not so much. But that’s part of the process: learning, adjusting, and trusting the vision, even and especially when things get messy. There’s a quiet, enduring confidence that comes with choosing your own direction and striving to embody it more fully each day. Whether it’s designing a garden, rethinking a plumbing route, or reshaping the way you want to live. Renovation is a series of small, brave decisions: Take out the old junk, see if there’s anything good to still work with, and start over again if you have to. Maybe that’s what forging your own path really looks like. Of course it’s different for each of us, but the key patterns remain. So today is for the women redesigning their lives, their homes, their relationships, their careers, and their futures. One intentional - sometimes terrifying - choice at a time. Here’s to trusting your instincts, embracing the process, and creating something entirely your own along the way. 🛠️🏡 Happy International Women’s Day.

What it’s all about ✨ It’s tempting to be performative, to impress, but that’s not what we are here for. It’s been so great to connect with other diy home renovators and those innovating in the space particularly around wildfire resilience and new technologies. Thank you for being a part of this journey and looking forward to sharing more as we continue. #homereno #thisnewhouse #diyhomeimprovement #oldhomelove #wildfireresilience

The first time we took her for a walk, there was a giant deer with antlers and she was completely oblivious. She was more interested in checking out whatever was on the ground in front of her. Months and months later, she is now chasing after birds and even wagging her tail to try to get them to come down from the sky and play with her. And today… a special moment when the deer came back around, and a few attempts in she finally sat down and saw them. Thankfully she didn’t bark and just watched, curious, friendly, content. A very simple yet very good reminder to keep your head up, stop and look around sometimes… and you might discover something magical has been before you all along. #goldenretrieverpuppy #puppylife #newadventures #keepyourheadup #bestdecisionever

Always up to something… behind the scenes as the outdoor woodshop is in full swing. Stay tuned to see the progress and final results 🔨 #homerenovation #diyhomeimprovement #homereno #oldhomelove #thisnewhouse