A Rabid DIYer Renews a Foreclosed Foursquare

From Starter Home to Starting Over

It's all This Old House's fault. In 2004, my wife, Candice, and I were nicely settled in a starter home with our two small children. We were beginning to outgrow the space and would have probably bought a new home eventually—but then I watched every episode of the show's 25th-anniversary season. It was the last straw. I was so jealous!

I always loved doing small projects here and there in our first home—refinishing floors, upgrading a bath—but I wanted something even more challenging, such as tackling an entire house like the one I saw on TV. I spent a year looking for just the right one.

Shown: Homeowners Candice and Matthew Manning relax on the restored front porch with son Sully, daughter Noël, and dog Crisco.

Article: Avoiding Homeowner Meltdown

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