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The “Our Old House” Facebook group was created in 2017 and has gathered over 1.4 million owners and enthusiasts who enjoy vintage architecture. With so many people sharing their old abodes, the group is full of various unique styles and stories. From cozy bungalows to Victorian mansions, these homes are every aficionado's dream.
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I live about 60 km North of Stockholm in Sweden. 500 meters from my house there is a ”small” mansion. It is said that my croft belonged to the blacksmith who worked on the farm. The croft is probably from the 19th century, if not earlier. When it's cold outside, I enjoy the wood stove in the kitchen and the tiled stove in the living room
One incredible story of an older home comes from Ash and Tez, an English family currently living in a castle (click to see) in north-western France. They kindly agreed to have a chat with us to tell us all about their journey.
When asked about purchasing the property, they told Bored Panda that they wanted to live in France for some time and always saw it as a part of their future. “When Covid hit, we moved the plan forward, as we wanted to be able to be together as a family, and we can do that here. As soon as restrictions were lifted, we were on the first ferry to France and purchased the château.”
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Before the purchase, it had been abandoned for 40 years and was in big need of repair. The Château didn't have much life left in it with crumbling chimneys, broken windows, and a leaking roof. Fortunately, Ash and Tez came to save it and with determination and a lot of work, their home is starting to feel like it's from a fairy tale.
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The renovation journey started in 2021, and was documented on their YouTube channel called “Escape To The Dream, Restoring The Château.” It already has 349 videos and 157k subscribers, showcasing how much this family has achieved in a relatively short time.
During it, they dabbled in restoring almost everything, as they were doing it mostly with their own two hands. The video of the two-year recap of the Château’s renovation now has over 3.5 million views.
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That first night we slept on the floor of the living room in sleeping bags listening to a raging thunderstorm all the while hoping the plaster ceilings weren't going to cave in, but we had a dream. We wanted to bring the house back to its former glory.
We're in our 60's now and have zero regrets. Our original vision was a powerful motivator and every minor project we finished gave us hope we could restore and preserve our house. We just want to let other young couples know that dreams and visions are powerful motivators and that it's possible to transform a property and preserve it for future generations!
It’s no surprise that living in an older home, especially a historical one, comes with its own unique characteristics and quirks. We were curious to know if there were any unusual features in their castle that they'd come to love while living there.
They told us that it’s definitely the distance between things. “At home, you might nip down to your shed or garage, which is a couple of seconds job. Here, our garage is 100m away, so every time you forget or need a tool, it’s a ten-minute trip.” The whole property is 21 acres, so it’s no surprise that its owners have some walking to do.
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However, they wouldn’t change it for anything, and some extra exercise only does them good. If they had the chance to live in a modern home now, they couldn’t do it. The reason for this is the lack of character in new houses. Indeed, the charming castle is something that only a few are lucky to own in their lifetime.
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We are in Prince Edward Island, Canada
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(or green) trim is a traditional color combo for forest homes
They also kindly shared some tips with people who are considering buying an older home. “My advice to anyone who looks at a project like this would be to expect the unexpected. No two days are the same and whatever budget you were thinking for renovations, double it!”