It’s a cherished ritual among the DIY community: visiting a fellow enthusiast’s home and inevitably getting involved in a project. This time, the adventure took me deep into the heart of a challenging renovation with Brittany from Pretty Handy Girl, on her monumental “Saving Etta” endeavor. Prepare to get your hands – and perhaps your entire self – delightfully dirty!
For those unfamiliar with the incredible journey of Brittany and her Saving Etta project, a true labor of love to restore an antique home, you’ll find plenty more details below. But first, let’s rewind to the beginning, tracing the events that led to my trip to visit her, alongside Sandra from Sawdust Girl. This post offers an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at what it’s truly like to spend a weekend immersed in friendship, DIY, and a fair bit of old-house grime with this dynamic trio.
The Unseen World of a DIY & Remodeling Blogger
Being a DIY or remodeling blogger is far more complex than it appears on the surface. It’s a multi-faceted role that demands a unique blend of creative talent, technical skill, and relentless dedication. The job extends well beyond simply “doing” a project; it encompasses an intricate dance of documentation, digital strategy, and continuous learning.
Consider the photography aspect, a critical component of any visual blog. It requires constant mindfulness—pausing mid-project, often covered in dust or paint, to remove safety gear, set up shots, and capture progress while the light is just right. This isn’t a natural instinct; it’s a learned discipline that takes significant time to master. Then there’s the meticulous planning of schedules, coordinating brand partnerships, and ensuring content is not only compelling but also optimized for social media reach and engagement.
The actual writing demands clarity, creativity, and the ability to translate complex DIY steps into an accessible narrative. This is balanced with the physical labor of the projects themselves, which can often span days or weeks. Simultaneously, maintaining a robust website, finding and vetting appropriate sponsors (while politely declining countless unsuitable offers), negotiating contracts, and participating in conference calls with brands all add layers of administrative work.
Post-production work, from editing hundreds of photos to refining video content, is another significant time investment. And, to stay relevant and proficient, there’s an ongoing commitment to improving skills through training classes, staying abreast of building codes, and continually enhancing one’s remodeling acumen. The sheer breadth of knowledge required—from interior styling to structural integrity—is truly immense.
For many of us, like myself, hiring help for these diverse tasks isn’t always feasible, meaning we wear every hat ourselves. This intensive, multifaceted existence is rarely understood by outsiders. That’s why the bond formed with fellow remodeling bloggers is so invaluable. There’s a profound sense of camaraderie and shared understanding, a unique mentorship that transcends geographical distances. We recognize the unique obstacles each other faces, offering a comforting sense of solidarity.
Given our 24/7 immersion in our own demanding to-do lists, making time for in-person connection is essential. That’s precisely why Brittany from Pretty Handy Girl, Sandra from Sawdust Girl, and I (along with other friends) have made a conscious effort to gather at least once a year. Unlike the whirlwind pace of industry conferences, these informal meetups are more relaxed. While we often bring along a pressing project—I even packed one of my own to utilize Brittany’s tools and meet a recent deadline—these gatherings are fundamentally about forging deeper connections and creating lasting memories with cherished friends.
These two incredible women not only expertly juggle the demands of blogging, but they also raise families and are courageously embarking on their own ambitious restoration and house-flipping projects. Witnessing their growth and advancement to bigger, more amazing endeavors is incredibly inspiring. Being surrounded by friends who are also mentors is a truly remarkable blessing, and I am deeply grateful to call these ladies my friends.
Arrival and First Impressions: A Home Away From Home
Despite being in the throes of managing multiple projects, our eagerly anticipated trip had been planned for months. So, on a Friday afternoon, I carefully packed my most urgent woodworking task alongside my luggage and embarked on a scenic 5 1/2-hour drive to Brittany’s home. This was my first visit to her house, a particularly exciting prospect given that our previous group trip was to a beach with Leen from Sand Dollar Lane and Karah from The Space Between (who, unfortunately, couldn’t make it this time).
There’s a unique thrill in finally stepping inside a space you’ve “visited” countless times through blog posts and social media. Brittany’s home surpassed my expectations in size and charm. Her craft space, in particular, is an organizational marvel—a testament to her meticulous nature, yet somehow still magically infused with glitter. It’s an impressive feat of tidiness, especially for a creative workspace. Beyond her fantastic hospitality, the true star of the visit for me was her adorable pup, Bandit. From the moment we met, his sweet nature completely stole my heart.
Sandra had arrived earlier, so upon my own arrival at Brittany’s, we immediately settled in for a relaxed Friday evening. We spent hours chatting about the latest in blogging, sharing life updates, and discussing various projects before finally heading to bed, eager for the weekend ahead.
Saturday: A Blend of Inspiration and Friendship
The next morning, I found myself awake uncharacteristically early, seizing the quiet hours to tackle a few emails and photo edits before the household began to stir. Once everyone was up, we gathered to tune into a pilot episode of “House Hacks” on HGTV, featuring our talented online friend, YouTuber and seasoned DIY pro, April Wilkerson. After sending her some playful videos to show our support, we prepared a late breakfast, brainstorming projects and mapping out our plans for the day.
Exploring the “Saving Etta” Project: A Glimpse into Old Home Restoration
Our first destination was Brittany’s ambitious house project, affectionately dubbed “Saving Etta.” This isn’t just any old home; it’s a testament to resilience and potential, despite its current state of significant disrepair. For a truly immersive experience, I highly recommend watching Brittany’s Facebook live video, capturing Sandra’s and my authentic reactions as we first toured the property. Stepping inside Etta is like entering a time capsule, where every creak and dust mote tells a story of forgotten grandeur and future promise.
Brittany walked us through her comprehensive vision, detailing the future layout and illustrating what the upper floor will look like once it’s meticulously added—a truly inspiring transformation in the making. While Etta appears incredibly daunting at this initial stage, with layers of neglect and damage, Brittany’s expertise and determination shine through. If anyone possesses the skill and passion to revive this home’s former glory, it is undoubtedly her. Witnessing such a monumental project has profoundly fueled my own aspirations of one day taking on an old home renovation. For now, I’ll happily live vicariously through Brittany’s regular updates. (And for those curious, Sandra is also deep into her own project house, the Calderwood Cottage, which you can follow right here).
The front left room of Saving Etta, stripped back to its bare bones, offers a stark view of the extensive renovation ahead. The exposed studs and structural elements highlight the meticulous demolition work required before the restoration can truly begin.
The kitchen, a vital heart of any home, currently stands gutted in Etta. This image reveals the raw potential for a modern yet historically sensitive culinary space, reflecting the comprehensive nature of Brittany’s renovation plans.
This wide shot of Etta showcases the “gut job” in full swing, with much of the interior stripped down. The exposed lath and plaster construction is visible, emphasizing the depth of demolition undertaken to prepare the structure for its next chapter.
Another bedroom within Saving Etta mirrors the extent of the demolition, revealing the raw framework of the old house. This space, like the others, eagerly awaits its transformation from disrepair to a beautifully restored, functional living area.
Local Delights and Creative Sparks in Raleigh
After immersing ourselves in Etta’s potential, we were all ready for a much-needed caffeine boost. Our next stop was Sola Coffee, a charming local spot in Raleigh that unexpectedly served as a wellspring of DIY inspiration. Its unique decor and design elements sparked numerous ideas for my own home projects, particularly igniting a new approach to crafting custom curtain rods that incorporate a distinctive twist I’d been seeking.
Following our coffee break, we explored a lively pop-up market, where we had the delightful surprise of running into Liz from My Grandmother’s Old Singer. After a pleasant catch-up, we enjoyed a delicious lunch at Relish. The late afternoon was spent on a fun shopping excursion for holiday decorations at Homegoods, where we, of course, couldn’t resist hugging giant stuffed apes—a testament to the lighthearted spirit of our trip.
Back at Brittany’s for the evening, we opted for a relaxed night of pizza and painting. However, a true DIY weekend wouldn’t be complete without a bit of hands-on work. Brittany found a decorative gift at Homegoods that she wanted to “hack”—upgrading its cheap wooden base with some of her own scrap wood to give it a more substantial feel. Meanwhile, I took the perfect opportunity to make progress on the woodworking project I had brought with me. It was a true blessing to have access to a friend’s well-equipped workshop, especially a powerful band saw, which proved invaluable for my project.
Sunday: Rolling Up Our Sleeves for Serious Work
As expected, a weekend filled with so much activity flew by in a flash. After breakfast on Sunday, I dedicated some time to completing a few more steps on my personal project while Sandra packed up to head home. Originally, I had planned to extend my stay by an extra day, but unexpected news about a crucial delivery required me to be back home sooner. Determined to make the most of our remaining afternoon, Brittany and I dove headfirst into working on Etta.
My previous experience with home repair primarily involved modern drywall. However, working on a house with this level of demolition, and specifically dealing with the antiquated lath-and-plaster construction, was an entirely different beast. The process was not only physically demanding but also incredibly messy and surprisingly heavy! Each piece of plaster and wooden lath removed added to a growing pile, reinforcing the sheer scale of work involved in renovating such an historic structure.
Together, we managed to tackle the remaining demolition in one of the initial rooms, systematically stripping away the lath and plaster. Crucially, we also put in the effort to meticulously preserve as many of the original baseboards as possible – a testament to the commitment to historical accuracy in the restoration. The final step was a thorough clean-up of the debris, which, while exhausting, left us with a deeper appreciation for the immense undertaking Brittany faces with the rest of the house. It was a challenging but rewarding glimpse into the true grit required for such a project.
As soon as we returned to Brittany’s, my project had finished drying, signaling it was time to embark on my journey home. After a quick change, I hopped into the car, spending the next 5 1/2 hours singing along to my road trip playlist, grateful for the incredible memories and surprisingly, for remembering to capture a few photos of our busy weekend. The entire next day was dedicated to recovery, and I suspect it wasn’t just due to the time change! Perhaps next year, we’ll manage to sit down a little more, though, truthfully, a less active weekend wouldn’t quite be our style.
How was your weekend? Did you work on anything special or inspiring? P.S., I’ve got a brand NEW ROOM renovation that I’m about to kick off, and I’ll be sharing a “before” tour with you very soon. Plus, the reveal of that project I mentioned earlier is going live on the 11th, so be sure to check back in for all the details!