This isn't a 1930s farmhouse. It's an 1850s farmhouse. I doubt it has major foundtion problems. It probably has a stone foundation, it's been there for one hundred and sixty years and probably will be there a hundred and fifty years from now. I know that area pretty well, it's miles from my husband's birthplace, and I get up there often. My brick farm house is at least twenty years old than this one. Moneypit would have been a compliment, lol. The brick is probably soft brick and needs to be looked at closely as when they get that age, they often powder away, but the pictures look decent, although they aren't close-ups. The door upstairs leading to nowhere may have been to a portico or porch over the front entrances, or even a sleeping porch. It is amazingly in better shape from the few pictures I see than ours was. What I'd expect to see in this house before ever going to see it is plaster issues, wiring issues, window issues, plumbing issues, possibly septic issues. We found out ours had makeshift septic, lol, and we had to have a drainfield and tank installed. It may have a low output shallow well, too. But, all these are easily answered questions. Somebody may have taken care of these issues since it's been habitated. The major thing I'd worry about is how to heat it. I see it has oil. Ours didn't even have central heat when we bought it, and of course we put in a modern heating system. Given that acreage, given that house, I would go see it and dicker but then again, I have been there and done that with ancient house renovations and still working on them in a very similar house. I love my old house and it has been worth it to me. I had to laugh however, that they call it a 'horse farm'. That's the tag the realtors hang on small pieces of farms with the original house, like they are pandering to country gentlemen. LOL. This one started out as a quality house, compared to most.

unfortunately the room is too narrow to have the sofa facing the fireplace. I'm pretty much stuck with that being there. Great thoughts about the coffee table, I keep trying to love the trunk but its just not happening. Oh well it was only $20 so maybe its Scouts new toy box. Interesting point about the rug - admittedly I'm not too polished on the rules of design so I end up having to learn along the way. I think I'll try a bigger rug. Also I'm going to hold off on the TV. Maybe once I finish the kitchen reno and use the room more otherwise I'm fine with just going to the basement which I'm also decorating slowly but surely. Its becoming my favorite room in the house and has another massive fireplace which makes it so warm and cozy. I'll post some pics and get everyone kind help AFTER I vacuum the couch (yellow dog & brown microfiber - UGH!!)....

That was an incredible article! And describes exactly what my problem is. Thank you. I mentioned that there had been panelling or wainscoting. This was is one of the smaller rooms. Unfortunately it had been covered with materials that blocked any vapour movement. And it was also riddled with woodworm, so it had to go. The wood supports nailed into the bricks were fine at higher levels, but had rotted closer to the ground - capillary action with ground water which I can do nothing about. Even if I removed my current floor and waterproofed it, the fact that I have neighbours sharing both inside walls means that their water will just come over any barriers. And replacing the floor is also (currently) out of my budget. So far, the lime plaster I have has softened and crumbled in the areas where damp has come through because of the uncovered and currently unused chimney, near the single glazed and rotten windows and near the broken guttering. Only a small area has been affected by the groundwater. I might not need to replace all plastering. Where the wainscoting has been taken doen, there is bare brick. But replacing this wainscoting would be a great idea, especially if I can then plaster and paint with a breathable colour on top. It also means I can hide gas and water pipes behind them. I suppose the last layer lasted for 80 years, although the woodworm had a party for most of that time. Perhaps there are non-wood breathable materials I could use? Wood would be an expensive option for the square footage. And how clever would it be to add a layer of cellulose or sheepswool under this? Or an insulation material which can deal with damp? However, internal humidity will be a lot higher soon, due to the replacement of windows (they have trickle vents, but a trickle is nothing compared to the air movement I have now!), new and insulated roof, blocking the chimney opening with a gasfire flue and replacement of gaps in the mortar. That's my fear - that even by having a house that lets moisture in and out, it's still pretty airtight and keeps the inside too humid. And a complete ventilation system is quite expensive over here, although I'll have a unit placed in the bathroom. With the latest European EPC standards, my refusal to have damp proof chemicals, thick impermeable insulation and artificial ventilation means the value of my house suffers. But they can change what they want when I'm in a retirement home! Maybe the regulations will have accepted that most of their recommendations for older houses are incorrect unless they are knocked down and rebuilt which would be a real pity. Thanks for that article. Absolutely brilliant! So next question: is wooden wainscoting the only breathable option? Are there other products out there, both modern or traditional looking, that would work as wainscoting panels? And would I be adding to the problem by sticking a layer of hygroscopic insulation between it (might mean the dog barks less loudly!). And apart from leaving the windows open in summer and winter for 20 minutes a day (prefer to save the heat in the winter), what other ways might I increase ventilation/reduce condensation into the brickwork without burning a hole in my pocket? Thanks AGAIN!!! Photo shows the remnants of original wainscoting supports and brick underneath. Sarah.

Hi Claire, thanks for thinking about my layout issue, and thanks also for the feedback! Yes, I am using sketchup. What program did you use to draw on my jpg? I wouldn't necessarily mind turning that staircase if the benefits outweigh the drawbracks, but I'm not sure what I would do with the rest of the layout, and I would also have to turn the basement stairs (there is a half staircase from the garage to the basement directly underneath the stairs currently in the living room) and the headroom for the new stair orientation would have to come from an upstairs closet (there is a bedroom above most of the current living & dining rooms). Also, the length of the wall where you wrote "open" is only 3' 1" (from the beginning of the stairs to the dining room wall). Our upstairs hallway is 3' wide and it seems very narrow.