A century home owner and founder of Old House Dreams, Kelly DeLong, tells Bored Panda that her fascination with old houses started in her childhood.

“When I was a child, my mom would drive us through the neighborhoods of Marietta, GA, to admire the beautiful old houses. As a teen, we lived in a home built around 1910 with hardwood floors, old windows, and high ceilings. That cemented my love for historic homes. The sound of creaky hardwood floors, the soul that original windows bring to an old house, high ceilings, and wide center halls all make my heart flutter,” Kelly fondly shares.

The century-old home where Kelly, her husband, dog Sissy, and two cats, Bleep and Little Kitty, live was built earlier than 1901 and has a beautiful family history that they are now preserving.

“Our home has been in my husband's family since the day it was built, likely earlier than 1901, though that’s as far back as the county records go,” she says. “We've been told that two elderly sisters had this place built to live out their widowed days. The foundation beams are whole tree trunks, bark still clinging in spots, and the structure is held together with square nails and wood pegs.” 

They jumped at the chance to buy it when it went for sale for the first time since it was built. “My favorite part of the home is its plank walls, some as wide as 24 inches! My husband would say his favorite feature is the 700-square-foot front porch.”

When they purchased the home, it didn’t have much of a kitchen, just a sink, a stove, and a fridge that has seen some better days, so they had some updates to do. “We’ve since added cabinetry, and my husband built a farmhouse-style table for the center of the room. A previous owner had given the living room an “inside porch” with rock pavers; those were the very first to go! “

Besides being a century-old homeowner, Kelly also runs the Old House Dreams website, where she shares specially selected historic real estate for old house enthusiasts. She created the site out of love for old houses, old windows, original woodwork, worn floors, and other various details that old house lovers would notice. 

Old House Dreams has been running since 2009 and has amassed over 200 million page views, shared over 24,000 properties, and encouraged many individuals to turn their old house dream into reality. As the website reads, “Properties featured on OHD are chosen specifically for their original features and history. From Queen Anne’s needing complete restoration to move-in-ready Craftsman homes, OHD covers a range of styles from the Colonial Era to the Mid-Century."

For those who are interested in buying an old house, Kelly recommends hiring multiple inspectors and making them show you the issues in person. “We once had an inspector who insisted we had the worst termite infestation he’d ever seen. Another inspector, however, took us under the house to show that the damage was old; there were no termites, and any issues had either been fixed or weren’t critical,” she shares.

Lastly, she advises against doing everything at once when you acquire the home. “Take care of the major issues, like foundation or roof repairs, but go slowly with painting, stripping, decorating, or making changes that feel urgent. An old house shouldn’t be treated like a modern one—let it speak to you rather than jumping into a full-on renovation. When you feel overwhelmed by all that needs doing, pause and remember that this home has stood for a century or more—it will still be there after you take a breath. Recall what first drew you to it, and let that guide you forward.”