Gutted, How an Old House Remodeled Me by Maida Korte

Rating: 5 star rating

I just finished, Gutted: How an Old House Remodeled Me by Maida Korte. If you love funny stories dealing with life changes, surviving a nightmare home renovation, or just trying to overcome your own inner control freak, you will love this book. It is such a down to earth read.

This story is about Maida, a super organized interior designer from Chicago who leaves the city because her husband, Andy, wants to live out in the country. They buy this large, 100 year old Victorian farmhouse in Woodstock, Illinois. She thinks it's just going to be a fun, easy design project, but the place turns out to be a money pit full of crumbling plaster, awful wiring, and actual bats in the attic.

But the story isn't about the construction. As the workers tear down the walls of the house, Maida starts tearing down her own emotional walls. She is a perfectionist who has dealt with anxiety since she was a kid. Watching her handle the absolute mess of a gutted house while looking back on her stressful years raising four daughters is so relatable.

In the end, through a ton of hard work, they save the crumbling house and turn it into a gorgeous home. Andy gets his country living dream, and he stays the steady, patient guy who got Maida out of her comfort zone in the first place. The four daughters stand behind them, and the finished house becomes this amazing place for them and all eight of Maida’s grandkids to hang out. 

Maida changes the most by finally letting go of her need to control everything, learning to slow down, and finding some peace with herself. It is a great book that I would definitely recommend.

Thank you, NetGalley, She Writes Press, and the author, Maida Korte, for the book review consideration. All opinions are my own.

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