Everyone has a list of things they dream of seeing, visiting, doing, or experiencing on a bucket list.  Amidst things like return trips to Iceland and Australia, scenic road trips, and making Beef Wellington for Christmas dinner (again), are two things that have been on my bucket list for some time:  living an urban lifestyle and renovating an old house.  So when my husband and I became empty nesters, we bought a really, really old townhouse in a fantastic historic neighborhood in Chicago.  

I love projects, new adventures, and the optimism of transformations.  That is a good thing because this house is going to need it all–nothing is plumb or level; the windows and doors keep out only some of the elements; debris frequently falls down the dining room fireplace; there is a distinct slope to the floors; and who knows what the wiring and plumbing look like behind these walls.  However, it is an incredible house, and we can see its beauty through all of its (very generous) flaws.  

I grew up with parents who worked with their hands as much as their minds and appreciated the beauty and integrity of simplicity.  Consequently, there’s not much that I won’t consider trying in the kitchen, home, or workshop.  Want to know the secret?  Just taking a first step.  I started many projects by just doing and making mistakes–lots of mistakes.  Remember that mistakes lead to learning, and learning is cumulative.  

Although I’ve spent most of my life in the suburbs, I lived in Boston during graduate school and always hoped to return to an urban lifestyle someday.  In Chicago, we can walk everywhere–to the lakefront and parks; to a plethora of stores, restaurants, and bars; and to the library, post office, train station, and grocery store.  We also could walk to Home Depot, but we typically don’t.  That’s like walking to Costco and limiting your purchases to only what you can carry!  

I’ve created this blog to capture the stories of how we restore, renovate, and rejuvenate this old townhouse to make it relevant for today’s lifestyle and to ensure its sustainability for another century.  Along the way, I’ll share city escapades, explore our neighborhood, pass along favorite recipes, and capture pictures of it all.  

After all, it’s a great time to celebrate our lives–a time of vibrance, opportunity, independence, and good health.  So welcome to my blog–the journey of this house’s reinvigoration and a way to challenge myself creatively through the things that I love–a good project, cooking, photography, and learning new things.  I hope my adventure inspires you to set aside apprehensions and to get a little uncomfortable, too.  

Imagine the possibilities.  

Welcome to my Life on Bissell.