We just received a used copy of a brownstone renovation book from 25 years ago that we had found on Amazon. We thought the opening paragraph would touch a chord with more than a few of our readers:

Satisfying an urge to renovate a house can be frustrating, consume endless amounts of time, patience and money, can threated a marriage, alienate friends and employer, present unbelievable legal complications, and occasionally end in bankruptcy for the owner. However, all sorts of people, from newlyweds to grandparents, are charting such a rocky course for themselves in increasing numbers in many cities around the country. The obvious explanation lies in the challenge presented by a carefully conceived and well executed renovation and the financial rewards which are possible. The results invariably are satisfying, particularly in larger cities where in contrast to the concrete-steel-glass trilogy of commercial structures, the attractive, warm charm of the reconstructed row house stands as a lasting example of good residential accomodation.

“How to Renovate Townhouses and Brownstones” by William H. Edgerton, Litton Educational Publishing, 1980.