Ep 6. 1740 Little House Restoration

In the Stone House Revival season 2 episode 6, titled "1740 Little House Restoration," host Jeff Devlin takes on the challenge of transforming a 278-year-old home in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The home is known as the "Little House" because it is one of the smallest stone homes in the area, and it was built back in 1740.

The episode begins with Jeff meeting the homeowners, who explain that the Little House has been in their family for generations. However, as the years have gone by, the home has fallen into disrepair. The family has not been living in the house for several years, and it has become overrun with pests and needs a lot of work. Jeff immediately gets to work assessing the situation and coming up with a plan to restore the home to its former glory.

The first challenge Jeff faces is the sheer size of the Little House. At just 400 square feet, it is tiny, and there is not a lot of room to work with. However, Jeff takes this as a challenge, and he starts by stripping the house down to its bones. He removes all the old wallpaper, carpet, and fixtures, and he discovers that the Little House still has its original wide-plank flooring. Jeff is excited about this discovery, and he decides to restore the flooring to its natural beauty.

As Jeff continues the restoration process, he faces several other challenges. One of the most significant challenges is dealing with the pests that have taken up residence in the home. Jeff discovers that the Little House is infested with mice, and he has to come up with a plan to get rid of them. He uses a combination of traps, poison, and sealing up entry points to address the issue.

Another challenge Jeff faces is dealing with the outdated electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems. The Little House was built before modern conveniences were invented, so these systems need to be updated to make the home livable. Jeff also wants to preserve the historical integrity of the home, so he uses period-appropriate fixtures and materials to modernize the systems while maintaining the home's original character.

Throughout the episode, Jeff also focuses on preserving the unique features of the Little House. He restores the original fireplace in the living room, which has a distinctive "bee hive" design. He also preserves the original stone walls, which provide a sense of history and character to the home.

As Jeff nears the end of the restoration process, the homeowners return to see the progress that has been made. They are thrilled with the work that Jeff has done, and they are excited to see their family's home restored to its former glory. Jeff has transformed the Little House from a dilapidated, pest-ridden structure into a beautiful, livable home that will be enjoyed for generations to come.

In conclusion, the "1740 Little House Restoration" episode of Stone House Revival is a fascinating look at the challenges of restoring a historical home. Jeff Devlin expertly navigates the difficulties of updating the outdated systems while preserving the original character of the home. The result is a stunning restoration that celebrates the history of the Little House while making it a livable, modern home for the next generation.