My Sister Showed Off Her New House—And My Mother Looked At Me

I hired contractors for the major work—floors, paint, fixtures—but I did the rest myself on weekends. I stripped wallpaper until my hands were raw, painted trim until my back ached, spent hours restoring the original built-in bookshelves that some previous owner had painted over in a shade of beige so aggressive it felt like a crime against craftsmanship.continue reading …