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house & home
As seasoned home renovators, my husband and I have transformed several homes throughout the years. Presently, we're focused on our 1920s Tudor Cottage located in Ohio, where we're working and living with our boys. I'm often completing a DIY project, painting furniture, or creating inviting spaces. Stay tuned for updates, including some before and after transformations! And don't forget to visit the Fig & Feather shop for a selection of cozy home goods.
home helps
Knowing Your Home
Do you know what the architectural stye of your home is? It is often helpful to know how to label your home so that you can work with it's best features and not fight against them. Obviously, you can do whatever meets your fancy when it comes to making your home your own, but I've found that if budget and capacity are the big obstacles that repeatedly surface, often it's best to embrace the bones and make the most of it.
How to Figure Out Your Home’s Architectural Style (in 10 Minutes)
At Fig & Feather, we love the stories houses tell. If you’ve ever wondered what your home is—Craftsman, Colonial Revival, Tudor-ish, a sweet Cape—here’s a gentle, step-by-step way to find out.
1) Date it.
Peek at tax records or old listings for the year built. It instantly narrows the field (a 1925 bungalow won’t be Mid-century, and a 1962 ranch won’t be Victorian).
2) Read the shape first.
Stand back and look at the massing: is it boxy, long-and-low, or L-shaped? Now check the roof: gabled, hipped, gambrel, mansard, or flat. Form + roof = your best first clue.
3) Scan the openings.
Windows and doors rarely lie. Are they double-hung with many panes (6/6 or 8/8)? Wide, single lights or paired casements? Any sidelights or a transom at the door?
4) Spot materials & details.
Clapboard or shingle? Brick with simple lintels or lots of fancy trim? Exposed rafters (hello, Craftsman), half-timbering (hi, Tudor), or classic columns (Colonial cues).
5) Compare & confirm.
Open a style guide and match your notes. And remember—most homes are hybrids. That’s part of their charm.
Want a reference? Grab the free Home Style Cheat Card below—print it, tuck it in your clipboard, and take a walk around your house.
staircase renovation
before
before
before
Our 1920s Tudor cottage had a lovely staircase, but it was covered in dingy old carpet that our beloved Golden Doodle called his own. While I appreciated the sound dampening and the soft landing, the look was less than delightful. And, I really just wanted to sweep and mop carpet-free steps. We lived with the stairs for several years while working on other projects. But every load of laundry up and down the staircase had me longing to rip off the carpet. So, one Saturday, we just did it!
during
before
before
We had no idea what we might find underneath, but I was sure it held more promise than this decades old carpet from the previous owners. I knew it had painted wood treads because you could see the end caps. I hoped to find all white stairs that needed a paint refresh. But that was not the case.
Holes, tack strips, unpainted wood, dings and knicks galore were the secrets the carpet held all these years.
after
before
after
But I am nothing, if not an optimist, armed with custom mixed paint colors. So, I forbade the family and the dog from climbing the stairs for an entire Saturday. The husband removed the staples and nails and sanded the stairs bare, and I patched and painted until I arrived at a result I could love. But I will not lie: Cutting precise edges with contrasting paints and working around iron spindles and rails is not for the faint of heart.
But it was worth it. So worth it!