@@ShannonMakes You can also make it double purpose, opium den/art and craft room, maybe some good art could be made there 😂 And it would make double profit!
Its CALLED re use and repurpose the resources you already have. Of course Shannon is going to do that to save as much money as she can. She already owned the square cement slab and gravel. Why wouldn't she use something she already owned ?1
1963 "The Great Escape." James Garner's character was named Hendley "The Scrounger." From personal experience, I 'd put something between the concrete block and the water heater. The block will wick moisture up from the floor and humidity from the air, and the bottom of the tank will rust. I was pounding my forehead on the wall over that one. Terse things were said. If you can set up a small cooking area (fire pit, maybe), I recommend using a Dutch oven for slow cooking a meal and keeping the heat and mess out of the house. I also have one of those long handled pie Irons for making toasted cheese sandwiches or French toast. My read of choice right now is "Dutch Oven & Cast Iron Cooking!" 125+ Tasty Recipes for Indoor & Outdoor Cooking by Anne Schaeffer. A Tornado went through my parent's backyard. Ripped out the electric. I made a grill/fireplace out of bricks and cooked over that. Ah...Minnesota!
When the attic can be insulated, I would make it into a craft room, for sure. For me that would mean spinning and weaving, but for you - fabric and sewing! We had a free standing wood burning stove (Vermont Castings brand) that stood in front of the old fireplace. A flue liner does need to be installed, but the wood stove is much more efficient than an open fire place. And you get all the benefit of a wood burning fire. Love your videos, your house, your humor and your cute puppy. (Boy Math! Now that made me laugh out loud)
Gas fireplaces suffer the stiffest codes (at least in WI.) perfect flue, always open to outside air & sealed to inside…bah humbug, in these times an insert wood stove & a flue liner are the most reasonable & comfortable to use if firewood is available (I, personally, hate the smell of coal as we can only access soft coal here)…
Who knew that your muscles gained from your vocation would come in very handy in remodeling a Victorian duplex? Not everyone could haul around/up and down stairs, appliances, etc. For the first time, I'm watching all the TH-cam ads (no "skip" click for me!) to help support you two. Bless your hearts!
We have a fireplace. The inspectors recommendation was "put a plant in it." There are so many thing that need to be right in order for it to function safely and well as a wood fireplace.
I grew up in a house with a functional fireplace. I love a contained fire, but my advice is the same almost. Add a plant and put a fire pit outside. Really.
Omg. I grew up in an 1880s house in Maine and you getting the window open brought back all the memories. I'm the only person I know that learned at 10 years old how to dismantle a window to replace the lifter rope!
Our childhood home was built in 1883. We didn’t use a hammer to open stuck windows! Just a cutting tool to separate the paint onto two sides. And patient leverage
Oh, those beautiful floors. So worth the effort to wash them multiple times. And the pocket windows...to die for. What a treasure!!! I look forward to your next video.
I'm getting a lot of flashbacks to the beginning of Laura Kampf's 120 year old house reno, especially with the checklist written on cardboard 🤣 here's hoping you have an easier time than she did 😳
Add Elysia English to your line-up! She and her family bought an abandoned 120 year old home in Nova Scotia and are refurbishing it themselves. Great YT channel! 🫶
There’s so much to love in that house - the roomy rooms, the flooring, the decorative elements, the fireplaces! It’s hard not to be jealous even in spite of the mammoth task it presents. Every small step is still a step in the right direction though, and it’s a fantastic opportunity to build the house around you. Loving this series - it’s wonderful to see how the house is developing.
We converted our fireplaces for pellet stoves. We had a coal stove in our kitchen, but it got so hot we were concerned about our pets being injured, so we went with a pellet stove. Our house is about 150 years old with 3 fireplaces, 2 of which are pellet stoves that my husband found second hand on Facebook Marketplace. We converted the coal stove in the kitchen to a pellet stove as well. They are much cleaner than regular fireplaces and throw off more heat, plus you can see the fire as it burns. You can buy your pellets in bulk so you have enough on hand.
It's good to know that you can actually SEE the fire as it burns, since that's part of the appeal for me, but I definitely want the fireplace for the wood-burning ✨experience✨, not for the actual heat. I love the process - the lighting, the feeding, the stoking, the sound it makes, the smell it gives off... I'm not sure if pellets would satisfy all those itches!
yea, solid point. I mainly want it for ✨aesthetic✨ and the fire-burning experience, but with power outages not uncommon around here, its definitely something to keep in mind!
I know the title says Secret Window....but my brain saw this and instantly started singing "secret tunnel, secret tunnel, through the mountain, secret, secret, secret tunnel!" very loudly....BUT....but, It then changed to Secret Window, Secret Window, Found by Shannon, in her house yeah, secret, secret, secret window".
Re: what to do with the fireplace, this isn’t an option that provides much warmth but my mom’s neighbors’ old fireplace has a big candle holder in it that’s shaped like a tree branch. Still very pretty and cozy!
@miriamgladen9615 Menorahs are specifically Jewish used for Hanukkah and most likely would not just sit in someone's fireplace. If you're looking for a word for the described it's probably a candelabra. Having never seen the item in question, I'm assuming that it looks like a big old tree limb/branch lying on it's side but has platforms or holes drilled in to hold candles.
I tried to link an example but I think youtube deleted it because they thought it was spam. But yeah they aren’t Jewish so it’s definitely not a menorah. It looks like a literal tree branch
You can get gas by having a propane tank put in next to the house and having it refilled as needed. My mom got that to have a gas fireplace for her cabin that doesn't have a nearby gas line. That's in the US but I would imagine there are similar options in Canada. Also loving the videos of you bringing your old house back to life. :)
A couple years back we converted our fireplace which was basically a hole in the wall below the chimney (and just all our heating out with it. We got a wood burning firplace insert that slipped into the hole and turned it into a wood stove that also burns wood way more efficiently. they put a sleeve down the chimney and attach it to the new box. surprisingly not that expensive. I think it was 3k (back in 2010) now I keep my heat inside!!. bonus it has a fan to push the hot air into the house!!
Yay fridge! Also those sideways sliding windows are so cool! They are beautiful and they open! Amazing. I completely understand why you bought this lovely house.
You mentioned the pool table is concrete. Traditionally pool/snooker/billiards tables have a slab of slate to create a perfectly level surface. So it might not be concrete
Well self-leveling concrete would achieve the same effect, plus it's so large that there seems to be physically no other way that they could have gotten it up into the attic - the access doors are FAR too small to get it up there. I can't 100% guarantee that it was poured in place because I haven't examined it as much as Phil has, but we're 95% sure it was poured there as an informal pool table solution
How interesting to have stained/coloured glass in the attic windows. Makes one think the attic originally had some use? Coloured glass would obviously be more expensive. Especially red glass/ruby glass.
I love this “storyline”! The house is fascinating, and Shannon’s spirit is indomitable. Then, there are French (Canadian) accents and the cutest doggo!! Perfection! Thank you for all you do!
Something to add between the water heater and the concrete is a waterproof pad or mat or an asphalt roofing tile to prevent water from rusting your heater. Love the recycling and reclamation of the freebees on the street. Be sure to have your chimney checked for chimney flu liners before you burn - could save you from a house fire. More power and bon courage!
A house i owned years ago had a fireplace in the den. It had an insert, with a blower. Fireplace insert might be possible. Having the blower at the flick of a switch was nice.
You're only at the very beginning, but the house is already starting to breathe; amazing. So happy for you, Phil and Cannelle. Thanks for sharing this journey.
I would love to see you leave the fireplaces as decorative until you can afford to actually fix the chimneys. I'm assuming you can still buy coal, or a coal substitute these days & seeing them brought back to their original beauty would be awesome. Definitely have to insulate the attic & turn it into a Victorian opium den. That alone will pay for most of your renovations. 🤣🤣🤣
Oh, they're definitely remaining aesthetically as-is... I don't think I'm going to modify them if I can't keep the aesthetics almost 100% intact, because I love the way they look!
Shannon, For your attic, I would clean it, insulate it and turn it into a sewing room. You do wonderful work with your sewing projects. You could also have a corner for a reading nook. Be sure to add a special bed for your cute little dog. Good luck and God bless. Hugs
Those two bookshelves either side of fireplace. That room would make a good dining area because of the pass through. Those two bookshelves could probably made into dish cabinets
I have coal fireplaces, and crumbly chimneys that were capped off at the top by the previous owner. I put a bunch of candles in there, which is better than nothing 🤷♀️
This old house reno is just making my heart dance! I’ve done some ‘fix up’ to every house I’ve lived in, even rentals, but nothing like you’re doing. And when you say you have no money, I know what that means. Literally a moth flying out when you open your coin purse. You are so smart and brave and resourceful. And you and Phil make a good team! I’m so happy for you both. Some day you will live in a magnificent house that will be the envy of the neighborhood!
I use old fashioned tape dispensers as pattern weights in my sewing space. I already was using cello/magic tape, washi tape, Magic tape for basting zippers etc., heatproof tape. We have a major university with salvage store here, and I find gorgeous retro items there.
@@ShannonMakes i meant *wonder* tape for zippers and other items that really need to be flat when sewn. Sometimes pins or clips or even hand basting don’t work dependably. It’s great for matching patterns; the layers don’t creep under the presser foot.
We had a similar situation with coal dust imbedded in an old wood floor.. But then found that the Hoover Floormate was the perfect tool since it sucked the dirty water off of the floor. In fact it worked so well that we did not have to refinish the floors, only polish them.
The house is really progressing. I can't believe all the stuff you have in the attic! So many cool finds! And those floors are lovely. Its a shame you couldn't get replacement radiators for the ones that exploded.... radiator heat works so much better than most of todays heating options. :(
Thank you!! I’m half dreading the comments that it’s not moving fast enough from ppl who have watched far too much HGTV and don’t realize how slow actual, real life renos go 😫🤣
It's your house to fix up as you see fit and at the pace that works for you. They should keep their daft opinions to themselves. You could always tell them (I'm Scottish btw) as my gran would have said "away and bile yer heid ya numpties. 😂😂 s@@ShannonMakes
Hello, great work. Here in the usa you can purchase replacement cast iron radiators for the home. Two option, new ones or salvage vintage ones. Cost wise the original cast iron radiator system is the best quality & efficient heat even in comparison to modern systems. And those base board systems means the majority of walls in every room are going to have those ugly heaters running across them. Makes the rooms smaller and you cant place any furniture against the walls. Good luck!
It’s so funny, you and two other people I follow are doing house renovation videos, despite being mainly sewing/crafting channels. You wait for the algorithm start suggestion renovation channels 😂 Still, I’m really enjoying them, especially as you’re all so different! Fun fun fun ❤
You should price out wood vs oil vs propane vs electric. We have put in 4 wood stoves in our two New England (one Maine near to you) houses. We got good at doing this ourselves…..don’t worry about the state of your chimney. You will be lining your chimney with a metal tube. Which you drop down (if it’s a straight shot yourselves). Work with the inspection person if you need it to be inspected…before you purchase anything. Then you can get a small wood stove to start …one that you both can lift, move and pop in. Wood stoves are sold by btu output. Square foot heating. You can start with a relatively cheaper one…look at Jotul F602 V2….the Scandinavian ones are good…so are Lopi’s Canadian made and the Avalon US made. Propane stoves are for decor..they don’t heat at all. We popped the Jotul f602 in the back of our car. It would really match your antique home. Secondly you can get a large propane tank and get it filled once a year. Or an oil tank (oil is not good….I had oil heating and hated it). $400 per cord matches the cost of electric use right now…but we have found free hard wood everywhere…and heated this winter for with 1 cord purchased and the other 2 cords we got free and let dry for a couple of years. No other energy sources you can pick up for free. Also think Victorian long heavy lined velvet drapes…you make. I have had the installed window quilts and hated them…expensive and not pretty. You are very good at thinking about and comparing possibilities.
Fwiw - and I'm guessing someone has already mentioned this in the comments somewhere - wood pellet stoves might be an option. They come in shallower profiles than wood stoves, are pretty efficient, and might require less overhauling of the physical structure of the fireplace/chimney, since I *think* you can "just" run a vent pipe up the existing chimney. (I have never had one of these, so this is all vague memories from looking through options for converting the fireplace in a Victorian-era row house I used to live in.)
Attic - insulation a must, craft room, extra guest room( you never know), winter summer clothes storage, your professional wardrobe and equipment. Oh, theater, and lounge space. Wish you success😊
I just love how thrifty you are, one person's junk is another one's treasure. I also just love your home, what a diamond in the rough. I am enjoy seeing all the old stuff you are finding. Those wooden floors look gorgeous. Thanks for sharing this journey with us. And of course, love seeing all the things you have been able to haul in your car.
19:35 I'm sure you've heard of pellet stoves in your research. We have one. Very efficient. They are not terribly deep and are made to go into existing spaces. They make them look vintage, too. Ours runs through a stainless pipe all the way up, so no worries about old chimney. Good luck. Love the house videos!!!
So do they (at least in your experience) sit flush or even under with the existing surround? Cuz that’s the dilemma I have here - I want to continue to use the lovely cast iron covers most of the time, but everything I’ve seen (admittedly haven’t had much time to look around 😂) sticks out quite far!
I've been looking into ethenol for our fireplace. It burns clean, can look like a wood fire and gives off heat. The inserts come in a variety of sizes and you don't need a working chimney to have one. It has what looks like logs(there are other styles)and a container for the ethanol inside you light it close it and the "logs" appear to be burning. I've seen them used on a table top. Our fireplace should be a working one but the a member of the family is so afraid of fire that she says the chimney is not safe and we would like a fire from time to time, this is a good option for us. There is only a water vapor that doesn't require a chimney.
I have a pocket window too and my floors look very similar. Your windows are an older style than mine and so is that cool curved wall. I had a wall like that the last place I lived in c 1898!
You should seriously consider making trades using some the antiques you have for necessities or antiques you want. I'm >loving< this chapter of your life!!! Keep up the good worn and positive vibes! ...so looking forward to continued episodes!
Such an adventure!! So much work! Looks like you are making progress on lots of important things. Love, love, love the Corgi Cam! Looks like she is living her best life right along with you.
I love that you're in NS - the Maritimes have a special feeling, don't they? My maternal grandparents are from NS & PEI, and my sister and I went to uni in NB and NS. And of course we grew up in Montreal, so your Homey videos strike a chord, along with enjoying the crafting and the performing! This house is a dream, you've got more patience than I though!!
I always watch your videos on my TV while I sew but just jumping in to comment how exciting it is to watch your process and the small joys of a couch and hot water and potential power on Monday.
Make a primary suite out of the attic. It would be pretty. I would repurpose as much of the antiques as I could and sell the rest to use for renovations.
I love love this vlog series if you were on Netflix I’d binge watch. The house looks amazing and I love the thrifting/free and vintage finds. You both have great personalities and dogbert is a joy
I had the same painted shut windows. It took me a year to figure out that the top glass is just sitting in top of the screen. Push it up a bit with one hand , pull the bottom inward with the other and slide it down and out the frame. the screen slides up out of the way.
@@ShannonMakes they aren't toxic exactly but I'm the primary caregiver for my aged mum and a cat with terminal cancer (plus 3 crazy kittens, one with special needs) so I'm on-call all day except for a few short hours which I use for sleep or for screaming into the void. 😂😁☺🙂😐🙁☹😢😭🤣
oh my, that sounds like a lot on your plate... I understand the desire to escape from your family for a moment now and again. Wishing your family lots of love and healthy times ahead.
omg I adore that couch!! Love the colour and the shape! I could totally see that attic turned into a cute/cozy mini home library or studio space! Tuck a couple chairs up by the windows, build some shelves and storage to fill the spaces where the ceiling is getting too low to stand in or the angles make it awkward for the average piece of furniture, showcase a few of your favourite decorative finds or projects you're proud of (maybe a cute sleeping/chilling spot for the pupper in the corner), maybe paint a mural or something on an accent wall, have a curiosities display. It could be beautiful. The fireplaces you could turn into one of those candles only fireplaces (you burn big pillar candles and lanterns in the space) just keep a nice fence around it so it's safe for pets and any small children you may have over (whether they be your own or those of friends/family)
You two seem to be the perfect people for this house and it's treacherous adventure with your unwavering positivity and energy! I will follow along and wish you all good things!!! Sending hugs and best wishes from Ohio!!! Love the pup!!!!❤🎉😊
I have to tell you that you are living a literal dream of mine and I am on the edge of my seat. Every single accomplishment and find is just so epic that I can hardly stand it! I can't wait to see the next videos! ❤
FWIW: When friends found it cost prohibitive to get gas run to their antique house they installed propane so they could have a gas stove. Not sure if that is an option for you. So excited for you all. Loving these videos.
If reference to your lack of hot water. I live in a 14ft caravan in the middle of a paddock in rural New Zealand completely off grid. I have lived here for 5 years and it was only 3 years ago that I had any kind of running water let alone hot. We brought our drinking water in in 20L containers from the local town and used irrigation water which is not drinkable for washing dishes and showering. To shower meant heating a 5-10L pot on the gas stove to temperature and either using a cup to shower with or later I used a garden pump sprayer with and attachment on the end that gave me a reasonable spray. I could have a really good shower using 3L of water and this now what I use when I go away camping with my pony on treks.
I don't know who is having more fun, you or your dog 😂😂 I'd turn the attic into a beautiful creative room where you could go and get inspired to do your sowing and knitting projects or you could always make a 1920's style speakeasy 🍸 right? 😅❤
A friend of mine has a house about the same age which was also a fixer-upper. The coolest thing they found in their house was a boarded up hidden staircase from the kitchen to the upstairs hallway. It seems to have been a servant's stairs, which was a surprise because it's not a big or fancy house! So, having a maid in Edwardian times, sure, but them having their own staircase was a shock. My friends' house has a similar attic -- they use it for a gym. The gym equipment is just low enough to fit under the highest point in the attic (free weights and yoga mats are under the eaves, where you are sitting/lying down to use them anyhow).
If it's not too late, look into getting a propane tank for a gas cookstove. The up front cost isn't too high, and you'll use very little propane for just cooking. I had one in my old house, the smallest household tank available, and filled it less than once a year.
Oh wow! It would be hard for me to throw anything away in the attic. It’s full of such great stuff. I love days like you had. Problems solved and marked off the list. The sofa is great! And a great color too. Just a suggestion…. Take some of that old wood and make a simple frame around your gravel platform. It will keep it from shifting over time. Loved the puppy time in the park❤️🤗🐝
love the sofa...you remind me of myself but a lot younger. I'm 70 and been working on the house alone for a year and a half. I bought a 1911 farmhouse that was empty for 20 years. Its only 1400 sq ft. It was filled with all their stuff. Unfortunately, I didn't film everything I did. I have pictures to look back at but the the same.
not me screaming at the camera GET A KNIFE during the window sequence. I'm so glad you didn't break the glass, you were very careful with your paint can! also ooof, going into that squat walking down the stairs with the hot water heater I can feel that in my knees.
I've worked in renovations where the old very shallow fireplace was used as a backer for a old-fashioned-version-of-normal-sized woodstove, making the hearth extend about eighteen inches further into the room for it. small as the rooms usually were that's not insignificant but those things threw out a LOT of heat.
Thank you. Yea, the tricky thing is that I'm not looking for something to use as an additional heat source really (it'd just be for the occasional cozy fireplace moment) and the majority of the time, I'd like to keep the beautiful coal inserts in their place, so having something stick out even a few inches past where they currently stick out is something I'm trying to avoid (which I wasn't clear about in the video, my bad).
You don't have to extend the firebox for a wood stove, you have to extend the hearth. The stove itself can protrude into the room with an appropriate sized hearth. The stove would need a pipe extending from the back instead of the top, with an L joint to go up the chimney.
Have you considered a bioethanol burning setup for the fireplaces? I have what's called a desert pot and it works well for me. Basically it is a large stone urn with an opening at the front and a vent hole at the top. Inside is a metal bowl that gets filled up with bio ethanol specifically formulated for heating. The biofuel is then lit. They do a pretty decent job of heating a small room and don't emit any fumes except water vapour
Very practical, for sure, but I definitely want the fireplace for the wood-burning ✨experience✨, not for the actual heat. I love the process - the lighting, the feeding, the stoking, the sound it makes, the smell it gives off...
@@ShannonMakes Nothing major. It had to do with the hot water heater. You need to learn to sweat a pipe.That way you could have already had Hot water. Definitely not hard at all. I've done it myself and I'm almost 70.
I mean, we do know how to solder, did the entire heating system ourselves 🤣 Still gonna go with a professional install on the water heater for insurance reasons if nothing else
@ShannonMakes Understandable. Installed my hotwater heater myself. I also soldered ( sweated )water pipes that burst. All in all, I think you 2 are doing a wonderful job. I can hardly wait until the next video!
I love hearing Phil saying "strong like bull." That was one of my grandpa's sayings. And I am on the same page as you re fireplaces. My living room has a gas fireplace, and I really wish that it could be converted back to wood. The crackling and smell adds so much to the enjoyable. And the satisfaction of starting and sustaining a fire too.
I'd make the attic an opium den - very victorian and potentially profitable. lol
Very true, very true! 🤣
Great channel . love your PUP 🐶🩷!
@@ShannonMakes You can also make it double purpose, opium den/art and craft room, maybe some good art could be made there 😂 And it would make double profit!
You are right - on opium you won't care about the power....
@Noel.Chmielowiec you're not wrong 😝
shannon wins the award for scroungiest scrounger around! free couch, free water heater platform, free gravel! ‘tis an inspiration for all of us!
Scroungiest Scrounger should go on merch at some point 🤣🤣
Its CALLED re use and repurpose the resources you already have. Of course Shannon is going to do that to save as much money as she can. She already owned the square cement slab and gravel. Why wouldn't she use something she already owned ?1
1963 "The Great Escape." James Garner's character was named Hendley "The Scrounger."
From personal experience, I 'd put something between the concrete block and the water heater. The block will wick moisture up from the floor and humidity from the air, and the bottom of the tank will rust. I was pounding my forehead on the wall over that one. Terse things were said.
If you can set up a small cooking area (fire pit, maybe), I recommend using a Dutch oven for slow cooking a meal and keeping the heat and mess out of the house. I also have one of those long handled pie Irons for making toasted cheese sandwiches or French toast. My read of choice right now is "Dutch Oven & Cast Iron Cooking!" 125+ Tasty Recipes for Indoor & Outdoor Cooking by Anne Schaeffer. A Tornado went through my parent's backyard. Ripped out the electric. I made a grill/fireplace out of bricks and cooked over that. Ah...Minnesota!
Love the pocket window (never seen that before). Hurrah for the lady engineer! Makes me happy to see another woman in a grubby technical field.
Women in STEM 🥳🥳
When the attic can be insulated, I would make it into a craft room, for sure. For me that would mean spinning and weaving, but for you - fabric and sewing! We had a free standing wood burning stove (Vermont Castings brand) that stood in front of the old fireplace. A flue liner does need to be installed, but the wood stove is much more efficient than an open fire place. And you get all the benefit of a wood burning fire. Love your videos, your house, your humor and your cute puppy. (Boy Math! Now that made me laugh out loud)
glad you enjoyed the boy math 🥰🤣
Gas fireplaces suffer the stiffest codes (at least in WI.) perfect flue, always open to outside air & sealed to inside…bah humbug, in these times an insert wood stove & a flue liner are the most reasonable & comfortable to use if firewood is available (I, personally, hate the smell of coal as we can only access soft coal here)…
Who knew that your muscles gained from your vocation would come in very handy in remodeling a Victorian duplex? Not everyone could haul around/up and down stairs, appliances, etc. For the first time, I'm watching all the TH-cam ads (no "skip" click for me!) to help support you two. Bless your hearts!
That's incredibly kind of you, and you must have the patience of a saint!! Much appreciated, glad you're enjoying the videos!
@@ShannonMakes
*Do you Benefit from non-skipped ad views* .. 🤔
We have a fireplace. The inspectors recommendation was "put a plant in it." There are so many thing that need to be right in order for it to function safely and well as a wood fireplace.
I grew up in a house with a functional fireplace. I love a contained fire, but my advice is the same almost. Add a plant and put a fire pit outside. Really.
Omg. I grew up in an 1880s house in Maine and you getting the window open brought back all the memories. I'm the only person I know that learned at 10 years old how to dismantle a window to replace the lifter rope!
Our childhood home was built in 1883. We didn’t use a hammer to open stuck windows! Just a cutting tool to separate the paint onto two sides. And patient leverage
@@maureenfitzgerald1895*lol .. I kept thinking this may end very poorly any moment*
The couch is stunning. What a perfect piece for the house!
Right?!
Oh, those beautiful floors. So worth the effort to wash them multiple times. And the pocket windows...to die for. What a treasure!!! I look forward to your next video.
Thank you Tanya!!
I'm getting a lot of flashbacks to the beginning of Laura Kampf's 120 year old house reno, especially with the checklist written on cardboard 🤣 here's hoping you have an easier time than she did 😳
So currently i watch you, Jenna Phipps and Ariel Bisset. All the Canadians who are not construction tubers renovating houses because Canada is pricy!
Add Elysia English to your line-up! She and her family bought an abandoned 120 year old home in Nova Scotia and are refurbishing it themselves. Great YT channel! 🫶
Please give the Phil general appreciation for his brute strength and masculinity...
Will do!
@@ShannonMakesStronk like boooooolllll!
He saved the day with a razor on the window!!
And Shannon - carrying the other end of all those heavy things - impressive!
Tiny Shannon hauling the other end of that water tank - and only God knows how many other heavy things - Strong like a Grrrrryl! 👍💪
There’s so much to love in that house - the roomy rooms, the flooring, the decorative elements, the fireplaces! It’s hard not to be jealous even in spite of the mammoth task it presents.
Every small step is still a step in the right direction though, and it’s a fantastic opportunity to build the house around you. Loving this series - it’s wonderful to see how the house is developing.
Thank you! 🥰🥰
We converted our fireplaces for pellet stoves. We had a coal stove in our kitchen, but it got so hot we were concerned about our pets being injured, so we went with a pellet stove. Our house is about 150 years old with 3 fireplaces, 2 of which are pellet stoves that my husband found second hand on Facebook Marketplace. We converted the coal stove in the kitchen to a pellet stove as well. They are much cleaner than regular fireplaces and throw off more heat, plus you can see the fire as it burns. You can buy your pellets in bulk so you have enough on hand.
It's good to know that you can actually SEE the fire as it burns, since that's part of the appeal for me, but I definitely want the fireplace for the wood-burning ✨experience✨, not for the actual heat. I love the process - the lighting, the feeding, the stoking, the sound it makes, the smell it gives off... I'm not sure if pellets would satisfy all those itches!
And keep in mind that pellet stoves need electricity, so if the power goes out during winter storms you may want to keep that in mind.
yea, solid point. I mainly want it for ✨aesthetic✨ and the fire-burning experience, but with power outages not uncommon around here, its definitely something to keep in mind!
In Germany they call it JUNK DAY. Usually twice a year. It is amazing what you can find in GREAT condition.
Those floors are GORGOUS! That Corgi is ADORABLE, so is Phil
I know the title says Secret Window....but my brain saw this and instantly started singing "secret tunnel, secret tunnel, through the mountain, secret, secret, secret tunnel!" very loudly....BUT....but, It then changed to Secret Window, Secret Window, Found by Shannon, in her house yeah, secret, secret, secret window".
I love that!! 🪟🤫
Honestly same!
Yes! Me too! ❤
Is that actually a song?
@@BlissfulDee it's from an episode of the original avatar the last airbender show
Re: what to do with the fireplace, this isn’t an option that provides much warmth but my mom’s neighbors’ old fireplace has a big candle holder in it that’s shaped like a tree branch. Still very pretty and cozy!
Menora?
@miriamgladen9615 Menorahs are specifically Jewish used for Hanukkah and most likely would not just sit in someone's fireplace. If you're looking for a word for the described it's probably a candelabra. Having never seen the item in question, I'm assuming that it looks like a big old tree limb/branch lying on it's side but has platforms or holes drilled in to hold candles.
I tried to link an example but I think youtube deleted it because they thought it was spam. But yeah they aren’t Jewish so it’s definitely not a menorah. It looks like a literal tree branch
@linden4372 TH-cam doesn't like URLs so yea, it probably got filtered, but the tree branch candelabra is a great short term solution!!
How about using wood pellets?
You can get gas by having a propane tank put in next to the house and having it refilled as needed. My mom got that to have a gas fireplace for her cabin that doesn't have a nearby gas line. That's in the US but I would imagine there are similar options in Canada. Also loving the videos of you bringing your old house back to life. :)
I loved the Alice network. I love all the free stuff you got. When I was younger thats all I ever had. I still love saving old stuff.
Her other books are equally amazing too!
A couple years back we converted our fireplace which was basically a hole in the wall below the chimney (and just all our heating out with it. We got a wood burning firplace insert that slipped into the hole and turned it into a wood stove that also burns wood way more efficiently. they put a sleeve down the chimney and attach it to the new box. surprisingly not that expensive. I think it was 3k (back in 2010) now I keep my heat inside!!. bonus it has a fan to push the hot air into the house!!
Yay fridge! Also those sideways sliding windows are so cool! They are beautiful and they open! Amazing. I completely understand why you bought this lovely house.
Cinema room . Master bed room on sweet sky light over the claw foot bath 🤩
You mentioned the pool table is concrete. Traditionally pool/snooker/billiards tables have a slab of slate to create a perfectly level surface. So it might not be concrete
Well self-leveling concrete would achieve the same effect, plus it's so large that there seems to be physically no other way that they could have gotten it up into the attic - the access doors are FAR too small to get it up there. I can't 100% guarantee that it was poured in place because I haven't examined it as much as Phil has, but we're 95% sure it was poured there as an informal pool table solution
How interesting to have stained/coloured glass in the attic windows. Makes one think the attic originally had some use? Coloured glass would obviously be more expensive. Especially red glass/ruby glass.
I love this “storyline”! The house is fascinating, and Shannon’s spirit is indomitable. Then, there are French (Canadian) accents and the cutest doggo!! Perfection! Thank you for all you do!
You're most welcome, thanks for watching!
Something to add between the water heater and the concrete is a waterproof pad or mat or an asphalt roofing tile to prevent water from rusting your heater. Love the recycling and reclamation of the freebees on the street. Be sure to have your chimney checked for chimney flu liners before you burn - could save you from a house fire. More power and bon courage!
A house i owned years ago had a fireplace in the den. It had an insert, with a blower. Fireplace insert might be possible. Having the blower at the flick of a switch was nice.
I love your house! I nearly lost my mind when I saw all of the great antiques in the attic.
Those pocket windows are a real treat. So beautiful and unexpected!
Right‽?!
I had never heard of those before. They're so pretty Ahmed useful!
You're only at the very beginning, but the house is already starting to breathe; amazing. So happy for you, Phil and Cannelle. Thanks for sharing this journey.
You’re welcome!!
I would love to see you leave the fireplaces as decorative until you can afford to actually fix the chimneys. I'm assuming you can still buy coal, or a coal substitute these days & seeing them brought back to their original beauty would be awesome. Definitely have to insulate the attic & turn it into a Victorian opium den. That alone will pay for most of your renovations. 🤣🤣🤣
Oh, they're definitely remaining aesthetically as-is... I don't think I'm going to modify them if I can't keep the aesthetics almost 100% intact, because I love the way they look!
Shannon, For your attic, I would clean it, insulate it and turn it into a sewing room. You do wonderful work with your sewing projects. You could also have a corner for a reading nook. Be sure to add a special bed for your cute little dog. Good luck and God bless. Hugs
Those two bookshelves either side of fireplace. That room would make a good dining area because of the pass through. Those two bookshelves could probably made into dish cabinets
I have coal fireplaces, and crumbly chimneys that were capped off at the top by the previous owner. I put a bunch of candles in there, which is better than nothing 🤷♀️
✨ambiance✨!!!
This old house reno is just making my heart dance! I’ve done some ‘fix up’ to every house I’ve lived in, even rentals, but nothing like you’re doing. And when you say you have no money, I know what that means. Literally a moth flying out when you open your coin purse. You are so smart and brave and resourceful. And you and Phil make a good team! I’m so happy for you both. Some day you will live in a magnificent house that will be the envy of the neighborhood!
An insert wood fireplace is the cheepest and best way to preserve the existing fireplace.😊
I’ve seen candles lit in fire places. It appeals to my real flames desire and with sufficient amounts in varying heights, very satisfying.
I use old fashioned tape dispensers as pattern weights in my sewing space. I already was using cello/magic tape, washi tape, Magic tape for basting zippers etc., heatproof tape. We have a major university with salvage store here, and I find gorgeous retro items there.
That’s so fun!
@@ShannonMakes i meant *wonder* tape for zippers and other items that really need to be flat when sewn. Sometimes pins or clips or even hand basting don’t work dependably. It’s great for matching patterns; the layers don’t creep under the presser foot.
We had a similar situation with coal dust imbedded in an old wood floor.. But then found that the Hoover Floormate was the perfect tool since it sucked the dirty water off of the floor. In fact it worked so well that we did not have to refinish the floors, only polish them.
Being a trapeze artist comes in handy for moving water tanks I see - strong core and back down those basement stairs! :)
The house is really progressing. I can't believe all the stuff you have in the attic! So many cool finds! And those floors are lovely. Its a shame you couldn't get replacement radiators for the ones that exploded.... radiator heat works so much better than most of todays heating options. :(
Thank you!! I’m half dreading the comments that it’s not moving fast enough from ppl who have watched far too much HGTV and don’t realize how slow actual, real life renos go 😫🤣
@@ShannonMakes There is always going to be someone who complains... don't let them get to you.
It's your house to fix up as you see fit and at the pace that works for you. They should keep their daft opinions to themselves. You could always tell them (I'm Scottish btw) as my gran would have said "away and bile yer heid ya numpties. 😂😂
s@@ShannonMakes
The attic could potentially be another rental space. You could add an entry from the outside.
Hello, great work. Here in the usa you can purchase replacement cast iron radiators for the home. Two option, new ones or salvage vintage ones. Cost wise the original cast iron radiator system is the best quality & efficient heat even in comparison to modern systems. And those base board systems means the majority of walls in every room are going to have those ugly heaters running across them. Makes the rooms smaller and you cant place any furniture against the walls. Good luck!
Thank you! I’m planning to build a farmhouse and cast iron radiators would be perfect! It’s great to know that they work so much better
The sound f the rotary phone dial at the end was a sentimental surprise!
awww! 🥰🥰
It’s so funny, you and two other people I follow are doing house renovation videos, despite being mainly sewing/crafting channels. You wait for the algorithm start suggestion renovation channels 😂 Still, I’m really enjoying them, especially as you’re all so different! Fun fun fun ❤
You are doing really well with the house. It will take time to finish.
You should price out wood vs oil vs propane vs electric. We have put in 4 wood stoves in our two New England (one Maine near to you) houses. We got good at doing this ourselves…..don’t worry about the state of your chimney. You will be lining your chimney with a metal tube. Which you drop down (if it’s a straight shot yourselves). Work with the inspection person if you need it to be inspected…before you purchase anything. Then you can get a small wood stove to start …one that you both can lift, move and pop in. Wood stoves are sold by btu output. Square foot heating. You can start with a relatively cheaper one…look at Jotul F602 V2….the Scandinavian ones are good…so are Lopi’s Canadian made and the Avalon US made. Propane stoves are for decor..they don’t heat at all. We popped the Jotul f602 in the back of our car. It would really match your antique home. Secondly you can get a large propane tank and get it filled once a year. Or an oil tank (oil is not good….I had oil heating and hated it). $400 per cord matches the cost of electric use right now…but we have found free hard wood everywhere…and heated this winter for with 1 cord purchased and the other 2 cords we got free and let dry for a couple of years. No other energy sources you can pick up for free. Also think Victorian long heavy lined velvet drapes…you make. I have had the installed window quilts and hated them…expensive and not pretty. You are very good at thinking about and comparing possibilities.
Heavy floor length curtains are the best at keeping heat in Phys they make the room look cosy so it feels cosy. Win, win!
Fwiw - and I'm guessing someone has already mentioned this in the comments somewhere - wood pellet stoves might be an option. They come in shallower profiles than wood stoves, are pretty efficient, and might require less overhauling of the physical structure of the fireplace/chimney, since I *think* you can "just" run a vent pipe up the existing chimney. (I have never had one of these, so this is all vague memories from looking through options for converting the fireplace in a Victorian-era row house I used to live in.)
Attic - insulation a must, craft room, extra guest room( you never know), winter summer clothes storage, your professional wardrobe and equipment. Oh, theater, and lounge space. Wish you success😊
Yes, definitely a must of the insulation!! Thank you 🥰
That attic would be an amazing craft/sewing/painting/project studio! Truly a dream space.
I just love how thrifty you are, one person's junk is another one's treasure. I also just love your home, what a diamond in the rough. I am enjoy seeing all the old stuff you are finding. Those wooden floors look gorgeous. Thanks for sharing this journey with us. And of course, love seeing all the things you have been able to haul in your car.
You're welcome!
19:35 I'm sure you've heard of pellet stoves in your research. We have one. Very efficient. They are not terribly deep and are made to go into existing spaces. They make them look vintage, too. Ours runs through a stainless pipe all the way up, so no worries about old chimney. Good luck. Love the house videos!!!
So do they (at least in your experience) sit flush or even under with the existing surround? Cuz that’s the dilemma I have here - I want to continue to use the lovely cast iron covers most of the time, but everything I’ve seen (admittedly haven’t had much time to look around 😂) sticks out quite far!
I've been looking into ethenol for our fireplace. It burns clean, can look like a wood fire and gives off heat. The inserts come in a variety of sizes and you don't need a working chimney to have one. It has what looks like logs(there are other styles)and a container for the ethanol inside you light it close it and the "logs" appear to be burning. I've seen them used on a table top. Our fireplace should be a working one but the a member of the family is so afraid of fire that she says the chimney is not safe and we would like a fire from time to time, this is a good option for us. There is only a water vapor that doesn't require a chimney.
Some ethanol fuels are made from gel that crackles when burning too!
Nothing burns cleanly, even if it looks that way. You need good ventilation even for alcohol fires. I would not recommend it.
Have the chimney checked for stability and proper ventilation. At 120 years old the chimney may need a total upgrade to make it safe.
Oh definitely!
I have a pocket window too and my floors look very similar.
Your windows are an older style than mine and so is that cool curved wall. I had a wall like that the last place I lived in c 1898!
I’ve never met anyone else with a pocket window… so cool!! 😍😍
You should seriously consider making trades using some the antiques you have for necessities or antiques you want. I'm >loving< this chapter of your life!!! Keep up the good worn and positive vibes! ...so looking forward to continued episodes!
Such an adventure!! So much work! Looks like you are making progress on lots of important things. Love, love, love the Corgi Cam! Looks like she is living her best life right along with you.
She absolutely is!!
I would put as many hammocks as possible in the attic with skylites❤
I love that you're in NS - the Maritimes have a special feeling, don't they? My maternal grandparents are from NS & PEI, and my sister and I went to uni in NB and NS. And of course we grew up in Montreal, so your Homey videos strike a chord, along with enjoying the crafting and the performing! This house is a dream, you've got more patience than I though!!
Thank you! 🥰🥰 Depending on the task, I can have loads of patience, or NONE 🤣
I always watch your videos on my TV while I sew but just jumping in to comment how exciting it is to watch your process and the small joys of a couch and hot water and potential power on Monday.
Your comment came in right after a super nasty one, so thank you for balancing out the universe and brightening up my comments section 🫶🫶🫶
Make a primary suite out of the attic. It would be pretty. I would repurpose as much of the antiques as I could and sell the rest to use for renovations.
I love love this vlog series if you were on Netflix I’d binge watch. The house looks amazing and I love the thrifting/free and vintage finds. You both have great personalities and dogbert is a joy
Thank you so much!! (got a good laugh out of 'dogbert' 🤣)
I had the same painted shut windows. It took me a year to figure out that the top glass is just sitting in top of the screen. Push it up a bit with one hand , pull the bottom inward with the other and slide it down and out the frame. the screen slides up out of the way.
You can use propane. Since you are using it for the heating you can run lines to the fireplace; or dedicate a tank to the fireplace (s).
So beautiful despite the condition of the house. I'd use the attic as a space to escape from my family. It's me time if I'm in the attic lol.
Love that! (or not, if your family is toxic, but you know what I mean)
@@ShannonMakes they aren't toxic exactly but I'm the primary caregiver for my aged mum and a cat with terminal cancer (plus 3 crazy kittens, one with special needs) so I'm on-call all day except for a few short hours which I use for sleep or for screaming into the void. 😂😁☺🙂😐🙁☹😢😭🤣
oh my, that sounds like a lot on your plate... I understand the desire to escape from your family for a moment now and again. Wishing your family lots of love and healthy times ahead.
omg I adore that couch!! Love the colour and the shape! I could totally see that attic turned into a cute/cozy mini home library or studio space! Tuck a couple chairs up by the windows, build some shelves and storage to fill the spaces where the ceiling is getting too low to stand in or the angles make it awkward for the average piece of furniture, showcase a few of your favourite decorative finds or projects you're proud of (maybe a cute sleeping/chilling spot for the pupper in the corner), maybe paint a mural or something on an accent wall, have a curiosities display. It could be beautiful.
The fireplaces you could turn into one of those candles only fireplaces (you burn big pillar candles and lanterns in the space) just keep a nice fence around it so it's safe for pets and any small children you may have over (whether they be your own or those of friends/family)
Giiiiiirl!
Those floors are gorgeous.
My mouth dropped once they were mopped! 😍
corgis are such brave little souls.
You two seem to be the perfect people for this house and it's treacherous adventure with your unwavering positivity and energy! I will follow along and wish you all good things!!! Sending hugs and best wishes from Ohio!!! Love the pup!!!!❤🎉😊
Thank you so much!
Love your new couch! The stuff in that attic!! I want it all!
Thank you 😊 Me too!
I am loving this so much can't wait for the next installment ❤
Thank you!! 🥰🥰
15:37 This sounds like a neat program. Anything that contributes to helping to conserve energy, and help the environment is a plus in my book.
I have to tell you that you are living a literal dream of mine and I am on the edge of my seat. Every single accomplishment and find is just so epic that I can hardly stand it! I can't wait to see the next videos! ❤
That is awesome! Thank you!!
FWIW: When friends found it cost prohibitive to get gas run to their antique house they installed propane so they could have a gas stove. Not sure if that is an option for you. So excited for you all. Loving these videos.
If reference to your lack of hot water. I live in a 14ft caravan in the middle of a paddock in rural New Zealand completely off grid. I have lived here for 5 years and it was only 3 years ago that I had any kind of running water let alone hot. We brought our drinking water in in 20L containers from the local town and used irrigation water which is not drinkable for washing dishes and showering. To shower meant heating a 5-10L pot on the gas stove to temperature and either using a cup to shower with or later I used a garden pump sprayer with and attachment on the end that gave me a reasonable spray. I could have a really good shower using 3L of water and this now what I use when I go away camping with my pony on treks.
I admire your tenacity, but I strive for a few more creature comforts in my own home 🥰
Your stained glass windows are gorgeous! I hope you are keeping them.
Thank you 🥰
I don't know who is having more fun, you or your dog 😂😂 I'd turn the attic into a beautiful creative room where you could go and get inspired to do your sowing and knitting projects or you could always make a 1920's style speakeasy 🍸 right? 😅❤
oooh, how did "speakeasy" not come up with the opium den?! Great idea!
A friend of mine has a house about the same age which was also a fixer-upper. The coolest thing they found in their house was a boarded up hidden staircase from the kitchen to the upstairs hallway. It seems to have been a servant's stairs, which was a surprise because it's not a big or fancy house! So, having a maid in Edwardian times, sure, but them having their own staircase was a shock.
My friends' house has a similar attic -- they use it for a gym. The gym equipment is just low enough to fit under the highest point in the attic (free weights and yoga mats are under the eaves, where you are sitting/lying down to use them anyhow).
That's pretty cool... dunno that we'll find a hidden staircase, as every square foot *seems* to be accounted for, but that'd be so cool!
That stuff in the attic looks very interesting maybe things you could sell or decorate with.
If it's not too late, look into getting a propane tank for a gas cookstove. The up front cost isn't too high, and you'll use very little propane for just cooking. I had one in my old house, the smallest household tank available, and filled it less than once a year.
Cool, thanks
Great video, we put a free standing fireplace into our fireplace in the family room and love it.
Attic needs to a summoning room for all your spirits. Lololol 😅 I love this so much. Your doing awesome.
I cannot believe you got that gorgeous couch free!! Wow 🤩
Oh wow! It would be hard for me to throw anything away in the attic. It’s full of such great stuff. I love days like you had. Problems solved and marked off the list. The sofa is great! And a great color too. Just a suggestion…. Take some of that old wood and make a simple frame around your gravel platform. It will keep it from shifting over time. Loved the puppy time in the park❤️🤗🐝
Thank you, but it’s only temporary for a month or two until we install the actual heating system 😊😊
@@ShannonMakes ahhhh, I see! Great to see your video today❤️🤗🐝
Somewhere I got the impression Corgis can't swim. Wrong, obviously!
Very wrong! She swims entire lakes sometimes!
I’ve been told that my schnauzer can’t swim. I guess I should try it out safely.
It's bulldogs that can't swim. All mine would sink like a rock! No tail, not a lot of fur, so there's some reason they can't swim well at all.
I thought Scottish Terriers couldn’t swim! Can’t test it out. We’re land locked.
@@deb.m.7458Scottish Terriers absolutely can swim. Mine back in the day loved swimming
love the sofa...you remind me of myself but a lot younger. I'm 70 and been working on the house alone for a year and a half. I bought a 1911 farmhouse that was empty for 20 years. Its only 1400 sq ft. It was filled with all their stuff. Unfortunately, I didn't film everything I did. I have pictures to look back at but the the same.
The attic looks like it could be a beautiful spot for a special retreat.😊❤
I think so too!
For the fireplace and gas stove, you might look into a buried propane/natural gas tank. We had one when I was young. A large one can last you a while.
Loving all the bits & bobbles, and This old House vibes. And corgi content of course
Thank you!
not me screaming at the camera GET A KNIFE during the window sequence. I'm so glad you didn't break the glass, you were very careful with your paint can! also ooof, going into that squat walking down the stairs with the hot water heater I can feel that in my knees.
I've worked in renovations where the old very shallow fireplace was used as a backer for a old-fashioned-version-of-normal-sized woodstove, making the hearth extend about eighteen inches further into the room for it. small as the rooms usually were that's not insignificant but those things threw out a LOT of heat.
Thank you. Yea, the tricky thing is that I'm not looking for something to use as an additional heat source really (it'd just be for the occasional cozy fireplace moment) and the majority of the time, I'd like to keep the beautiful coal inserts in their place, so having something stick out even a few inches past where they currently stick out is something I'm trying to avoid (which I wasn't clear about in the video, my bad).
You don't have to extend the firebox for a wood stove, you have to extend the hearth. The stove itself can protrude into the room with an appropriate sized hearth. The stove would need a pipe extending from the back instead of the top, with an L joint to go up the chimney.
Commenting for engagement! I'll be back to watch later! Sorry excited to see what you guys accomplish!
Thank you! Hope you enjoy it when you come back!
Pocket windows! That's got to be the coolest thing ever!
oh, most definitely!!
Have you considered a bioethanol burning setup for the fireplaces?
I have what's called a desert pot and it works well for me. Basically it is a large stone urn with an opening at the front and a vent hole at the top. Inside is a metal bowl that gets filled up with bio ethanol specifically formulated for heating. The biofuel is then lit.
They do a pretty decent job of heating a small room and don't emit any fumes except water vapour
Very practical, for sure, but I definitely want the fireplace for the wood-burning ✨experience✨, not for the actual heat. I love the process - the lighting, the feeding, the stoking, the sound it makes, the smell it gives off...
One step forward one step back but that's o k you two are doing an awesome job. Thank you for sharing your journey.😊
Wait, what was the step back?! 😳
@@ShannonMakes Nothing major. It had to do with the hot water heater. You need to learn to sweat a pipe.That way you could have already had Hot water. Definitely not hard at all. I've done it myself and I'm almost 70.
I mean, we do know how to solder, did the entire heating system ourselves 🤣 Still gonna go with a professional install on the water heater for insurance reasons if nothing else
@ShannonMakes Understandable. Installed my hotwater heater myself. I also soldered ( sweated )water pipes that burst. All in all, I think you 2 are doing a wonderful job. I can hardly wait until the next video!
With water building up in the basement you probably need to make sure the gravel doesn't get washed out from underneath the water heater
A small library might be perfect. They have historically done a better job maintaining old books and records.
Regarding attic space. There’s a multigenerational home here also with a huge attic. The kids used to roller skate in it! So cool!
That’s so neat!!
I love hearing Phil saying "strong like bull." That was one of my grandpa's sayings.
And I am on the same page as you re fireplaces. My living room has a gas fireplace, and I really wish that it could be converted back to wood. The crackling and smell adds so much to the enjoyable. And the satisfaction of starting and sustaining a fire too.
YES! EXACTLY! It's about the entire experience, from starting to feeding to listening to that appeals to me most about wood fires!