So you’ve bought a historic home that needs many, many repairs, and you don’t know where to start. We’ve got you covered, from that special doorknob for the master suite to the perfect historic tile for your remodeled kitchen.
“When it comes to old house renovations and repairs, you want to get it right,” says Kristine Gerber, former executive director of Restoration Exchange.
Here’s a sampling of pros who fit the bill.
A&R Salvage and Recycling
2820 Vinton St.
402-346-4470
Owner John Rapaich says it’s like going to any big-box store, but it’s all used. “I’ve got the same things: doors, windows, trim. Anything that can go in an old house, I’ve probably got.” That includes doorknobs, corbels and register covers. There’s a lot of history in his lot, he says, even the huge neon sign from the ’20s go-go bar.
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The Window Doctor 4401 Woolworth Ave.
402-672-2208
Douglas Morin is a physician, but he also repairs windows. He can fix broken glass and framing, and do mechanical repairs and glazing. “I’ll treat the windows of your home like they were my own,” he says.
Habitat for Humanity ReStore 1003 S. 24th St.
10910 Emmet St.
402-934-1033
A good place for architectural antiques and other items no longer in production. It’s also affordable. “Your budget can go a lot further. We sell at 50% to 75% of retail value,” CEO Amanda Brewer says.
Myers Electric 7342 Farnam St.
402-393-8388
Old light fixtures and vintage appliances are repaired here. “If you can fit it in the door, we can fix it. That’s our motto,” manager Charlie Maynard says.
Olk Masonry 21848 Harrison St., Gretna
402-578-8023
This third-generation business does brick and stonework for both new and old construction, but historical restoration is the specialty. Owner Michael Olk’s dad immigrated from Germany and brought Old-World craftsmanship techniques with him. “It’s a lot of hand work. We still know how to do it the old way,” Olk says.
Eyman Plumbing,
Heating and Air 8506 S. 117th St., La Vista
402-731-2727
Repairs old boilers and works on old-house HVAC and plumbing.
D.E.W. Manufacturing 1200 Avenue B, Council Bluffs
712-322-0402
Need trim work or casing done? This business does it, by the room or house. The team also repairs and refinishes old furniture. “We do a lot of doors for people,” co-owner Andy Wilson says. “The past six months, we’ve done 100 doors or better.” They will strip, sand, stain and varnish them.
Gavin Historical Bricks 2050 Glendale Road, Iowa City
Deals in reclaimed brick and stone from historic buildings and streets.
Clay Squared to infinity 2505 Howard St. NE, Minneapolis
This business specializes in handcrafted tile by its artisans and others. Plus, it carries the largest selection of historic reproduction tile lines in the United States.
Indow indowwindows.com
Manufactures custom inserts for old windows.
OTHER RESOURCES
Restoration Exchange Omaha Resource Directory, for help in finding the company you need, restorationexchange.org/resources/online-resource-directory
National Park Service Preservation Briefs, for how-to guides on restoring your home and building the right way, nps.gov/tps/how-to-preserve/briefs.htm
Old House Journal, for inspiration and tips, plus a helpful online directory, oldhouseonline.com
Photos: Designer-homeowner paints everything in Elkhorn home
Stacy Worlie estimates that she has painted 99% of the surfaces in her four-bedroom, two-story home.
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Homeowner Stacy Worlie estimates that she has painted 99% of the surfaces in her four-bedroom, two-story home, giving it a modern coastal feel.
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Stacy discovered she had a knack for creating home vignettes and mixing old and new with her booth at Junkstock, a seasonal market of vintage and upcycled wares. Her husband Drew is a woodworker and made furniture both to sell and for their home.
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Stacy's favorite DIY project, by far, is the kitchen. “I just love that I did it myself,” she says, “that I’ve created this space I’ve been wanting for five years.”
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Stacy and Drew transformed the kitchen themselves for less than $500 by painting the ceiling, cabinets, backsplashes and floors and updating the lighting and cabinet hardware and hinges.
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Before painting, Stacy does her research. She had to understand the project, she says, and not just slap a gallon of any kind of paint on the floor. “I knew it was going to take a good primer,” she says.Â
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Stacy loves the office's central location, and how the desk faces the rest of the house. “I feel it’s more open and inviting.” She also painted the artwork on the back wall.
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Although she has tackled the house room by room, Stacy says she’ll never be done. With the help of Drew, she’ll move a piece of furniture or decor from one room to another to give her spaces a new look.
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In the den, the pendants above the sofa are not electrically wired, but operated by remote control. “It’s handy for anyone who doesn’t know how to do electrical,’’ Stacy says. The artwork is another Worlie original.
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The wallpaper in the bathroom was replaced with shiplap, adding texture. Stacy says her kids aren’t fazed by the decorations, most of which are second-hand.
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Stacy loves the cool day bed in daughter Maelyn’s room. “I wanted to make her room something she could transition into,” Stacy says.
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For anyone who wants to redecorate on their own, Stacy first recommends creating a mood or design board (you can find templates online) to see how your paint, rugs and fixtures will come together in your space.
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In the master bedroom, the dresser on the left is a family heirloom. Stacy painted it to modernize it and added new hardware. The nightstands are from an estate dispersal store in Fremont, and she updated those, too.
marjie.ducey@owh.com, 402-444-1034,
