BEST BATH FOR A FLAPPER GIRL

Our bathroom was a glimpse into the more glamorous past of our old house. Though leaks had damaged it, restoration clues were abundant.

- Kimberly Roberts with Eric Swanson, Reno, Nevada

Our 1923 house is unassuming, a bungalow with Colonial Revival touches. When people step inside for the first time, though, they're apt to look around in mild confusion and say, “It’s a mini Winchester Mystery House!” Remodeled and added onto in 1950 by the original owner, the house became a maze of strange closets and odd nooks. They'd stripped out the bungalow features: double-hung front windows, a builtin buffet, every inch of wood trim. A wall with French doors was knocked down, making the living and dining rooms an open space. Besides the remuddled mess, the house had fallen into disrepair. Yet we wanted to disentangle its history and restore it.