This Renovation Took Way Longer Than I Planned

[@hayleykerrean]

Your laugh / cackle when you realized how ridiculous the heat pump insurance thing sounded was so genuine I had to cackle along 😂 love the reno series so much! ❤

[@mulan_velaris5469]

Same, it was almost maniacal but in the best way 😅

[@shineefeels]

That moment actually perfectly described my week. I felt it in my bones 😂

[@sagefaribole]

saaaame hahaha

[@_sarathedreamer]

The video alternating between you talking about the furnace and the furnace just being a menace in your basement made me laugh so hard 😂

[@carmenleigh1320]

I'm in love with these slow project videos. They're actually rather informative and realistic. It makes me feel like I could handle some home renovations and it would be okay/normal if it takes some time. Plus you can do a "all in one" video once it's done for those who want to see the full transformation ❤

[@angelazehm9565]

Agree so much with this. Real life remodels are never as quick as it seems they should be (I’m looking at you social media and TV) and it’s easy to get discouraged. I’m only a year into my 1930’s farmhouse and already have had to back burner so many projects because there’s never enough time or money. These videos remind me to take joy in the small accomplishments and continue pressing on.

[@bethers89bloom]

Ariel cuts to her scary old furnace, which looks eerily (i.e. exactly) like the furnace in my 113 year old house 😂🥴

[@kathygirlygirl4109]

Ariel, the only heat source we use is our Timberwolf Woodstove from Canada! It burns so efficiently that I burn 1 piece of wood at a time when it's not in the low 30's. It heats our 1500 sq. ft. 2 story home so well that I have to open doors and windows to cool it down sometimes. It is in my opinion the absolute best way to heat a home! It is also wonderful for ambience. We use a tower fan that blows across the front of the stove to disburse heat, turn on the ceil fan and have a floor fan we use to push the heat down the hallway. Works perfectly! Our home stays in the 70's all day. I would go that route and continue to save for your other heat source for as long as needed so it doesn't drain your savings. You always amaze me with your talent!

[@heatherburrill]

Thank you for sharing this ❤❤❤❤❤ I need a much smaller one for my 500 sq.ft cabin but was wondering what would be a the best stove 😊

[@CJG1419]

I agree. When I lived in the mountains we had a wood stove and it was great. Just a little cheapie Ben Franklin which worked so well.

[@courtneyG89]

Awe, I hope she sees this!🙏🏻❤️ Such helpful advice!

[@sarahj2743]

Having a non electric source of heat is essential in cold climates.. Definitely important to have a wood stove or passive non electric oil drip backup when the power goes out!

[@melaniemurphyofficial]

As someone who went with a wood stove to burn less oil…best idea ever! It makes the house SO SO COZY!

[@somanynouns]

Watching you stain over that lovely rug was a bit stressful... Glad everything turned out so nicely!

[@saisriv0304]

Ariel- you should make beams for the ceiling!! It'll disguise the lumpiness and add some warmth up and interest up there, which may even make the ceilings look taller!

[@lir9875]

Great idea - Rachel Maksy made beans out of foam core.

[@VrannyKat]

+

[@heatherburrill]

I like that idea, but also don’t mind the history of the lines in the ceiling of an old house - character lines like the ones in my face 😂

[@aynalorenzo5113]

I came to the comments to compliment the calming intro sequence, but ultimately, HAD to mention the precious animation at the end with the chimney smoke.

[@rodaavelar]

Everyone shut up my show is on!!!

[@larafreitas5791]

the colour grading in this video is soooo welcoming!

[@leilajaafari8436]

The cutting in with the heater noises. 😂 3:16

[@MorganGale]

I just got a huge tax bill and had to face the fact that my planned renovations will not happen this year, but watching your videos makes me feel better about how long everything takes. It's a marathon, not a sprint!

[@pattimessenger6214]

I grew up in a fixer upper, and it was never “finished” is was always in need of repairs, but jobs were done, and it as home. You have such fantastic motivation and work ethic! I really admire you for this journey that you have chosen, and worked on for years! If you get a wood stove, I would like to recommend that you get one with a flat top surface. We had a fireplace at out mountain cabin. It belched smoke while the heat went up the chimney. We got a fireplace insert and the smoke AND heat went up the chimney. Then we got a wood stove with a flat top and it radiates heat from all of the surfaces! And with the flat top, I can cook on it. Originally, it was a convenience to be able to cook on it. But, we live in California. Our electric company turns the power off on a regular basis, sometimes for days. It’s really maddening, as we are still having the wind storms that fueled the Malibu, Pacific Palisades and the other fires. At least with the wood stove we can keep it warm, and cook.

[@jillgaddis3889]

Yes flat top is best. After having two wood stoves I learned by having them somewhat central to the house helps with heating and to build a brick wall behind the stove, helps, the brick gets warm and as the fire goes out over night heat from the warm bricks radiate heat into the house.

[@m.maclellan7147]

I was thinking she should build it just off the kitchen ? I agree being able to cook on it is sensible ! Plus, wood heat can be drying. My sister left a cast iron kettle filled with water on the top to help humidify the space. I think the kitchen is pretty central in the house, and I know in my case, if I have no power, I want heat nearest to the coffee ! Lol 😆 If I don't have my coffee, things will be tougher than they need to be ! 😊

[@lovingmayberry307]

Stay safe Patti. 🫶

[@MargotHypnos]

Did you have regular power cuts before the fires?

[@pattimessenger6214]

@ Yes. We have a home in Orange County, and property in the local mountains where our cabin is. Same power company. We haven’t had problems at the Orange County house, but the cabin in the mountains has the power cut off all the time. We get robo calls and text messages from the power company that they will be cutting off the power due to high winds. They cut it off, sometimes a day, sometimes several days. During fires, they turn it off for weeks, and it’s not always their fault. Our mountain property has been spared by three major fires over the many years that we have owned it. The Lake fire in 2015 was started by an arsonist about 2 miles from us. That burned 49 square miles. The El Dorado Fire in 2020 was started by ignorant people who used a pyrotechnic device to do a gender reveal stunt. That one burned for weeks. We had been evacuated and were following closely from our other home. It burned 23,000 square acres, roughly 35.9 square miles. It burned many power poles. When we were allowed back in after three weeks, the power lines were laying on the ground, as the poles had burned. Lots of residents taped up their refrigerators and carted them to the dump filled with rotted food. It took additional weeks for crews to erect new poles and replace infrastructure. The way they finally stopped it was when it got close to the burn scar of the Lake Fire. There was less fuel there as it had burned five years earlier. The El Dorado fire came within 1/2 mile of our property. Numerous spot fires were started by wind driven embers, but our brave firefighters put them out. Last September, an arsonist started the Line Fire. Power was cut when it started. Evacuation orders enacted. It burned for weeks. They finally got a handle on it and let us back in. Once back at the cabin, we had a little time to clean up. We started smelling smoke. Winds had come back, and the fire roared back to life, evacuation orders enacted again and we left. The fire burned up the valley where our place is. It got within a mile of our place before they finally stopped it. Once again, power poles burned and infrastructure in rugged and inaccessible places were destroyed. Power was out for weeks before they finally brought in generators to power the cabins and camps in the area. And a few more weeks before the power was back on. While there were no fires in those mountains when the Pacific Palisades and other fires were burning (and are still burning), we have had the power turned off several times over the past two weeks. We used to keep the fridge stocked with condiments and food staples, we don’t trust the power to stay on. We have an upright freezer there too, which couldn’t work without power, and food rotted. We now carry our food up in an ice chest. And bring it home with us when we leave. The power company is trying to limit their potential liability. In Northern California the 2018 Camp Fire was started by poorly maintained power equipment. It moved fast, tore through Paradise California at night without notice and killed 85 people. The Maui Fire that burned Lahaina was also started by faulty electrical equipment. The power companies are doing everything they can to lower the threat of fires being started by their equipment, and turning off power often as a result.

[@tayet6875]

Your head-thrown-back laugh after you told us that, while the government supports heat pumps you cannot insure your house, if it's the only heating system?! Ooh the hurdles and hoops!! Hope you get that sorted for you. Here's to new 2025 adventures!

[@auditoryeden]

It makes sense on a certain level because heat pumps used to not work great for extreme cold conditions, so if there was a really bad winter and say, all your pipes froze and burst because you had no backup heating devices, that's really bad for insurance. So the government wants fo incentivize people to use heatpumps as much as possible, but it's still a bad idea not to have any alternatives. Which is true for any heating method tbh.

[@armorclasshero2103]

Yeah, insurance companies are dragging their feet so they can screw people and the government is too chicken shit to force them.

[@gmb2667]

We have a heat pump (we had a beast of an oil boiler that fed water radiators we decommissioned) and we installed a Jotul EPA certified wood stove with a stainless steel liner in our existing fireplace. Because we have an English cottage with a very steep roof, the liner had to be 35 feet. Radiant heat is the best and when we lose power during winter storms it keeps us warm and we are able to cook on it. We mix hardwood and eco logs. We are on year 13 of living in our fixer 🙂

[@lazerlightening]

I would highly recommend a wood stove and one with a glass front so you have both a heat and light source. Nothing will heat up your home like a wood stove. It warms the floor, the walls, and the furniture. Makes everything so cozy.

[@bernsky]

we just got our 1830s chimney lined - was about 2500 and the woodstove was in the house. a small jotul. its so nice to have. we are in maine. keep getting quotes. some people are huffing the sauce.

[@alenam6010]

The framing and shot quality of this video is incredible. I love the intro. AN ARTIST!

[@twinnish]

Let’s offer our collective blessing to all the awesome dads of the world. My dad was a guy that would’ve been doing all that to help me like yours was. I also know he would’ve been really happy that I did as much as I could on my own and he wouldn’t have begrudged helping me get over the finish line. I know your dad is proud of you for everything you’re doing. I kind of imagine him bragging about you if he’s sitting down having a pint at the pub with his friends, but that’s just my little vision of the situation.😊 every time I learn a new tool or a technique. I remember my dad and kind of mentally honor him with the fact that I am persisting in learning to do these things that I watched him do for years and should’ve asked him to teach me. Dads are the best. Please give yours a hug for all of us girls who are missing their own dads (now I’m crying🥲)

[@Kelsaurrr]

I needed this calm vibe this week. Thank you for the video. It feels like a warm hug.

[@eviehawke]

i second this! 😊

[@welldonebooks]

The intro was so beautiful! You, cinematographer, you.

[@Newt1981]

Ariel... Before I watch this video I just want to say you are one of my most favorite youtubers. I love your content, your personality, your style. I love the work you put into everything you do, how you go about it. I love your relationship with your parents. You make life seem so lovely, dreamy, beautiful. I appreciate so much you sharing yourself online. I especially love that you are Canadian! I want more Canadian creators in my life. You inspire me in so many ways and remind me that good people are out there, that smart people are out there. Thank you for brightening things up for me, for many others who watch your videos. I want to do so many things because of you, read more, learn DIY things, build myself a home and think outside of the box. I just appreciate you very much and I wanted you to know that!

[@Newt1981]

And now that I've watched: Your editing is immaculate. I died laughing when you kept cutting to your loud furnace at the start, and the genuine cackle about the heat pump insurance thing.... You made my friday so good!

[@sa2985]

i honestly just really love your videos, they’re so comforting and i think it’s mostly because of your personality, the editing, the conversational style and because you don’t excessively use background music. so basically, take as much time as you need for renovations! ;) i dread the day you run out of projects but somehow i think you’ll find more things to do haha!!

[@laineb644]

We lived in NL for about 7 1/2 years. A small, two story, OLD, uninsulated house. One of the best things we did was get a lovely Jotul wood stove. It kept us warm through power outages and cold winter days. For sure a good investment.

[@FrogeniusW.G.]

Is Jotul a trademark or is it a specific kind of model/type of oven? I'm from Germany and the name sounds so very familiar to me, but I cannot put my finger on it.. 😅

[@ariseira_]

I love Jøtul! We have had one my whole life, recently upgraded to a new one after we moved the old one to our cabin after using it for 20 some years. They're a Norwegian brand ❤

[@donnalegrand9133]

We have had our wood stove for over 15 years. It keeps our small 1400 square foot home toasty warm. My only concern is when my 4 year old grandson is here. We watch him very closely the entire time. A thing to consider if children are in your future!!

[@kayday1996]

When i was small we had a woodstove in the house. 2 year old me was shortly left alone with it, just from the shower, naked and drying. I got cold and backed my little butt against the glass of the stove. Burned my butt 😂. A little red circle on either cheek. We have a saying in my language, "to have to sit on your blisters", meaning to have to deal with the consequences of what you have done. That saying got very literal all of the sudden 😂😂

[@helenm1085]

I didn't grow up with a wood stove, because I live in a very temperate place in Australia. On a winter holiday as a kid, I burned my hands very badly because my friend and I were wrestling next to the stove (dressed up in our leggings, singlets, and underwear over the top 😂). We weren't near a hospital either, had to drive to the nearest town and then more than an hour from there!

[@xingcat]

It sometimes just feels like the "easiest" projects are the ones that trip us up and take the longest. Getting back to projects for the new year...yay!

[@kikihammond5326]

I strongly recommend you think about a whole house generator, or at least a small generator. Get an electrician to install a plug in your outside panel (if you get the small generator), so you can plug it into your panel. Ours is small but it will run everything except our AC. If you were only running things like baseboard heaters, you likely could run off a small generator, but whole house is wonderful if you can. Then no worries about power outages.

[@Ellki52]

Ariel that video intro is EXQUISITELY BEAUTIFUL

[@MegMaclean]

ARIEL!!! A central ducted heat pump (which is what you want to replace your furnace) IS considered a primary heat source, so long as it is ducted to all rooms in your house. It is only those retrofit wall fixtures that are an issue for insurance because they are only designed to heat one small part of your house. I'm also in NS and this is what our insurance company allows (Co-operators). Also, 12000 for a wood stove is out to lunch! We only paid 6000, keep shopping around!

[@dibailey540]

Ariel, your narration and laughter/cackling brings me so much joy. Thankyou for your videos and for sharing the realities of home renovation.

[@irhonda31]

You are amazing! And how lucky to have THAT dad!

[@bfranklin1052]

Oh gosh, the domino effect of what has to happen before you can get warm! Sheesh! I can feel the pressure to get these decisions right. Thank goodness for sweaters and coffee! And a list of doable tasks. What a relief. Brava!

[@anadacosta4043]

Your B roll is wholesome, just so beautiful and the way you edit it in? LOVE it!

[@liliannelemire998]

High efficiency gas furnace. Wood stove isn’t a primary heating solution, but is great for extra heat for the colder days…your videos are such a joy to a watch…your voice over is amazing ❤

[@jinnymay3371]

Maybe gas is not an option for her, she is in a more rural area.

[@mgnlsm]

the editing of this video was so fun! hats off to you, Ariel!

[@b0wl1]

Hi Ariel! I just wanted to thank you for your video chronicles of Nova Scotia old home ownership. It's nice to know other people out there share the same struggles and triumphs when renovating a century home in NS. When I moved in 2023 it was during a polar vortex with a house that only had 20 year old baseboard heaters on the second floor... I don't want to recall the electricity bill that year... Life is much more pleasant now that I have a wood cook stove. I also don't have to worry about freezing if the power goes out. Which it does. Good luck to both of us and our 2025 renos 😆

[@agresticumbra]

Oh lawdy, the furnace, the furnace. The farmhouse I grew up in was bought by a friend of the family, and they took the wood stove that was in the living room, running up through the living room fireplace flue, and hauled it to the basement; they somehow tied it into the heating system down there. They got rid of the gawdawful oil heat that was there the entire time growing up, which gave both me and my mum headaches from the smell/fumes. Don't know if they ran propane to an auxiliary furnace, or what, creating a dual fuel system, but they tackled a problem we always had, and made it work for them. Good luck with budgeting. We have to replace our furnace as well as water heater, but are trying to hold off until later this year so we have finances in place. We've kept them both limping for over 2 years since we knew they had to be updated. I hear you on the money, money, money. Second floor ceiling is looking great, Ariel!🖤

[@silverfox9648]

Love the quality of the video and the changes you made in your editing style, especially the cute little intro

[@Jessicatrentowsky]

The insurance problems are REAL we were able to manage in NB with the heat pump, wood stove, AND baseboards. I must say though, the peace of mind having a wood stove (as someone in a rural area with power outages) is second to none. If you do go that route, just make sure you get one that is big enough to heat your home!!

[@Bianca-xy4wo]

Hi Ariel, greetings from Austria! Here we always say: First insulate, then replace the heating system - because better insulation reduces heating demand and can significantly affect the required size of the new heating system. Especially with heat pumps, it's important that they match the insulation level of the house to ensure cost-effective heating. If you plan to keep your existing radiators, the required flow temperature will be relatively high, which makes this even more crucial. For less insulated houses, pellet heating can also be a practical option, as it comes in various levels of automation. If you're switching from oil heating, there’s often space available for a pellet storage unit, which can be automatically fed into the burner using an auger system. I would always try to get energy consultation from the government or city as they are less biased to sell you the products they prefer working with. Hope this helps!

[@lisas8596]

Came to comments to say something similar. Heat pumps are great if you have a lot of insulation (floor, wall and ceiling) and modern windows. They will not get your house warm without that. I live in England and the government is similarly pushing heat pumps, but less then half of homes are insulated enough.

[@dusty1754]

Your office looks so cozy.

[@christinec1928]

I was going to suggest a wood stove. I had a large house in Muskoka heated with one high efficiency wood stove. We circulated the heat just using the furnace fan and I had wood on the property. So basically we heated for free. I was a bit shocked at the price you were quoted because I didn't pay anywhere near that to purchase and install the stove but that was a few years ago. We had to get a WETT inspection but our insurance rates were normal. I hear from neighbours that their heat pumps are expensive to run and they regret putting them in. Good luck with the house. I'm also fixing up a 120 yo house. Fun, ain't it 🤣😆

[@jenn-k-h]

Love the Maude Lewis calendar ❤️ And Smoke Gets in Your Eyes is a great book 🙌 Love Caitlin Doughty 😊

[@eaccristo]

Nice to have you back. I missed you. 😊

[@enigmasolver7779]

Look at you learning, accepting, growing 🌱

[@lindaroyal8161]

Its always good to cross things off the "list". $7000.00 seems extremely high even if it dies include installation. Good luck with they heating situation, seems a major hassle in your area. You're very brave to stain without putting down a tarp to protect the floor/carpet. Glad to see you back. Happy New Year!

[@SkwisheeOcarinas]

I love that you're making more regular, slower, and shorter content. I love it when your videos pop up on my youtube. I can't believe the difference in the ceiling! Look forward to seeing how your house progresses this year ❤

[@rqbecky]

This is genuinely one of the best KZbin videos I have ever watched

[@ellenhe9490]

The editing of this video ist soooooo good

[@bettymarketello4301]

ugh two times in a row, have tried to comment and I guess if you hit emoji it disappears for some reason. Anyways, was trying to tell you there is another !nova scotia youtuber, who, like yourself is tackling heating her 100+ year old renovation and seems to have found an affordable solution, "Shannon Makes" and "Shannon Makes Something Else" She just posted new one today on this subject! You remind of each other with your contagious enthusiam for your homes. She is only one year into their project though.

[@toomanythings]

Thank you for sharing another similar creator, I've been on the lookout for more (but there is only one Ariel!), and the algorithm brought me to ReWildingJude, who is in Scotland and is just months into renovating his lovely cottage in the country. I'll go check out Shannon now!

[@xfrelinx]

​​@@toomanythingsi also like Jenna Phipps! Different vibe but still renos and funny (and Canadian haha) 😊

[@terahmarie5197]

The editing on this 😍😍 Beautiful!

[@CantankerousDave]

I just had my attic insulation redone last month. Highly recommend. The last owner pretty much did everything wrong. Wasn’t cheap, but it’s so much more comfortable in the sub-zero temps we’ve had, and I know that the attic is ventilated properly now. I have a gas Franklin stove replica that puts out a ridiculous amount of BTUs, so this is my first winter here not being miserable.

[@reginawehrle7749]

Ariel, I really missed you. I love watching your determination to get your projects done. You're an inspiration to all DIYers. ❤

[@DanikaLeighEllis]

I think you're the only KZbinr who has actually convinced me to buy their sponsor product: I love my Wild deodorant! It's so convenient to get refills in the mail, and I like that I'm going through a bunch of plastic. :)

[@staceyn2541]

You are doing amazing! It's only natural for enthusiasm to fall off in January. It could be worse, I paid $1100 to fix a shower that stopped draining and caused a furnace pipe to backwash into my basement bathroom. The shower still doesn't drain, and now when I use the bathroom sink, the water backs up into the shower. We went without toilets for 4 days...for the new year... after our household had either norovirus or food poisoning. It was dire. I can't afford for the plumbers to come back, so now I am praying Drano will fix it but I'm scared to try. Right now, it's just gross water. If I use Drano, it's nasty chemicals that won't drain. Oh, and did I mention, when they flushed my pipes, it flooded my bathroom with sewer water??? Yeah. Just needed to vent. I haven't called them back cuz I dunno if I will scream or cry and I don't feel strong enough to do either right now. It was the perfect capper to what was already the worst and most stressful year of my life. A literal sh*t shower. Almost poetic.

[@m.maclellan7147]

If you are in USA, maybe reach out to Better Business Bureau to get some education on your rights!?

[@22jo222]

Oh dear, hope this is all your bad luck in one, er, dump.

[@sheelfjohnson]

That's such a nightmare 😬. Sorry you had to go through that. It almost makes me wonder if you all got sick because of the water problems. Like maybe the supply got tainted. But maybe that's not possible. I used to get something like norovirus when I stayed at my parents' house and I got paranoid that it might be their water.🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️ Being that sick and not knowing why is not fun. Sorry for babbling - hope you're all better now! And best of luck to you 🍀🤞🌈

[@adelais]

You’re doing great! I’m excited that you’re back too!😊

[@mynameskatt]

The color tones of that intro were gorgeous!

[@Gracebyfaith7]

It’s the aspect ratio for me 😊

[@tabithaflack6709]

This video is giving Wes Anderson vibes and I am here for it❤

[@Teo-zi7zx]

This was filmed so beautifully! Loved the editing as well :D

[@honeykat1]

Ha!! I feel your pain with the wood burner situation! I moved to Italy many years ago (I'm also doing up my home). The electricity supply was (still is sometimes) dodgy, and the stone-built houses are cold in winter. I decided on a wood burner so I could be autonomous if there were electricity outages. I got a French woodburner (cost about 1000 euros at the time) from the brand SUPRA (French). The important thing about it is that it has a very hermetic seal around the door, so you can prevent currents getting in and making the wood burn too quickly (not efficient). Also, this brand has eco-friendly qualification as it reflects the smoke back down into the fire and burns the smoke (so a double combustion, increasing efficiency). I think this technology is quite widespread now. The parts of the one I bought could be unscrewed, so with help of friends I carried it into the house and installed it myself. I did already have a chimney - but in a house like yours, even if you don't have working chimneys, you can easily make a hole through the exterior walls, and have the smoke-tube go up the outside (though you'd be losing some radiated heat from the tube). Essentially, what I'm saying is that it doesn't have to be a fancy, expensive burner (those ones of ceramic or with soapstone cladding are lovely, but don't necessarily add much: you can always put a large stone or a pot of water on top of the burner to capture heat and radiate it back when the fire's off, so no need to go to the expense of a ceramic/stone burner). Just choose one with eco-labelling. And for the installation, you can probably do it yourself, with maybe only the tube being installed by a technician. Oh, and the other thing: those pellet burners ARE fantastically efficient too: nice dry instantaneous heat - BUT they DO need electricity to work, AND if you don't store the pellets right, or if their bag gets pierced, then the pellets may disintegrate and become useless. Something you need to know... so sorry, very long story: but shop around: more expensive is not necessarily better. Incidentally, I still only have the wood burner for heat and my home is perfectly liveable in winter. The bedrooms are cold, but I have electric blankets, and a chilly bedroom isn't so bad if the bed is warm. Sorry, too much info. Best of luck: I do think a wood burner is a great option so I hope you find one you can afford! Best wishes, k

[@Bubbles382]

I was just thinking about your channel and then you popped up before I could even pull up your channel. Made my very stressful Friday better 😊

[@alexl6510]

the slip at 7:37 was very cute!! love these slower videos - it really shows how much trial and error goes into renovations. things always take longer than expected :)) that upstairs hallway is looking great

[@robin-tainebrownell1491]

I quite like the contrast of the wood strip against the older pieces. Breaks it up and is nice on the eyes.

[@Clay-y5n]

Your laughter is everything 😂

[@christineb8148]

A. Do you play the cello? B I'm glad you're considering non-electric heat sources. I just don't want to live in any house that doesn't have a wood stove, having been in so many situations with no electricity. Plus it's so cozy and they're so efficient now. AND you can cook on them if needed!

[@cindyurban150]

You are such a hard worker ! I admire your stamina. You have done amazing work. I can't wait to see what lies ahead.

[@InFondRemembrance]

My in-laws are from northern Italy and they have a holle (one of those ceramic tile stoves) and it's seriously the best thing ever. They've installed it in such a way that there's a wooden bench that surrounds it, which is lovely to sit on with your back against the tile, also a favourite place for the cats. My MIL dries their clothes on it, and puts the plates and bread on the top of it to warm them up before serving.

[@IndiaHaven]

I've been experiencing the same slow/deep rest start to this new year. A lot is happening in the world and we deserve to protect our peace so that we can have the energy to kick butt the rest of the year!

[@DorkAcademia]

Yaaaaaassss wood stove. My house is 226 years old and the wood stove is life. So much security in having backup heat & the ability to be 100% self reliant if you had to be. And a book rec for anyone with a wood stove - Norwegian Wood by Lars Mytting. Free to listen if you have audible.

[@MorganK4]

It's so interesting, as someone from Australia, to hear all about the different heating predicaments! Maybe this doesn't matter because of where you are, or maybe there's something big I'm missing. But there's a big push in Australia to ban wood burn fireplaces because the smoke can really mess up people's lungs, especially for people who have asthma. And it's not just in the home that's doing the burning, it's the smoke that is expelled out of the house. But then again, Australia barely needs them so maybe the negatives outweigh the positives for us. I know it's not the same thing, but when I was growing up we used to get a lot of power outages during summer. Which is a big problem when temps are reaching 38-40C! My parents invested in a generator and it was a godsend. Useful in all seasons, it had enough power to run the fridge and freezer for a week, with some extra power for the aircon for a few hours during the hottest parts of the day. When we finally got rooftop solar (courtesy of a government subsidy program to keep Australia out of recession in 2008) they were able to hook the generator up to the solar and it was happy sailing from there.

[@stacylitwin1466]

Smoke gets in your eyes is fantastic!!!!! Always excited when someone finds that one

[@MackenzieNoelle]

EVERY time I see that hallway nook window next to that wallpaper I am just so wowed. It’s fabulous.

[@Aplusinskal]

Girl, you Nails. Your NAILS!!! O_O *_* I'm Obsessed!!!

[@zoeycat365]

I absolutely love watching you and you work on this special house over the years. But one thing that I've noticed lately is how beautifully your filmmaking has evolved with the house as well. Each composition and edit that you do feels so intentional, and feels like such a inviting and singular style of storytelling that makes me excited for every video you post. I don't know if it's the house or your camera or both, but the colors are so alive and warm in each shot. Looking forward to watch your videos in 2025 ^_^

[@lir9875]

I just love your cozy house and beautiful creek. I was so happy to see today's post 🐈‍⬛☕

[@nikolaizarnick1925]

Good to see your sunny self back at it! Your casual mention of -12° is absolutely relatable here in Pennsylvania. As far as the heating stuff.... Yeah... Building codes, insurance requirements, etc. contain a LOT of wacky provisos and added to that the myriad heating options... (another conversation we have a lot around here) let's just say I felt that laugh deep in my soul. 😂

[@toomanythings]

It's a pleasure to have you back, hoping you had the best holiday, thank you for this video!

[@matthewluck9077]

my family has a cabin in the mountains of west virginia. having a wood stove is one of the best most reliable sources of heat i’ve ever experienced. the climate in the winter is very cold, very snowy, and icy and the roads can be dangerous so having to stay in place is always a risk, and knowing that if the power goes out and we are stuck from a storm for days or a week that we have piles of wood to burn is so comforting. and they work so fast! the cabin can go from 20°F to 70° in about an hour and a half. we also supplement our wood supply with sawdust logs which saves a lot on energy and cost. the major downsides of course with a wood stove are that they require a lot of attention for safety, cleaning, topping up, etc, and they can be dangerous depending on the type of stove you get. watching it is honestly never a huge deal because we have it in our main living space, and that is my main recommendation with placement. put it somewhere you spend a good deal of time and where multiple eyes are commonly there to watch. kitchen or living room are the best locations i think.

[@mundanemornings]

I've never clicked on a video faster! Loved the Wes Anderson styled shots!! Excited to see your 2025 projects.

[@brasdorgal]

I have the same calendar 😄 We love our wood stove! The heat is so cozy.

[@Ralley1231]

Woah the cozy vibes in this video were hugging me so snuggly 👏🕯️❄️☕️

[@dakotabailey1188]

The 5:33 cackle 😂 the absolute exhaustion and “WTH” that was in that laugh😂❤️😂

[@jaxsmolenbee4683]

this was such a lovely vudeo, im glad you’re back posting!

[@user-qj6mv7gw6g]

The new editing style is fabulous, and i love it

[@silverfox9648]

I’ve been waiting for you to upload, i’m so glad you’re back😍

[@lizliz1383]

I admire your perseverance. So inspiring.

[@ElizabethDay-t8s]

Ariel, I need to tell you how much I loooooove the opening sequence in this video! It’s so beautiful! It’s my favourite thing! I would love to see more like this :)

[@daphblue]

We have a heat pump for our upstairs and furnace that runs on propane downstairs. Our upstairs used propane when it’s below 32. It’s been amazing for us because it’s cut down on the propane. Nothing sucks more than realizing you’ve gotta drop another $600 to fill the tank to make it through another month. When we can afford it, we want to get a geothermal heat pump for the downstairs so we only need to rely on propane for the coldest temps upstairs.

[@Raxx777]

Thank you for sharing your lovely home and adventures

[@celinaabrey6883]

Thank you for taking the time to talk about the heat dilemma! My 110 year old house in Canada was heated with a gas furnace, I think 6000$ to install more than 5 years ago, which wasn't ideal but it was an accessible replacement at the time. Now I live in a warmer climate, we have a wood stove that cost around 1000$ CAD to install from scratch, but that's without ducts or fans. I'm also waiting for an upgrade on electricity to start adding heat pumps. I'm looking forward to hearing more on how you navigate these challenges!

[@Hanna-uo8wc]

Getting a wood stove must be one of the best investments you can do! It is a matter of safety - always being able to heat your house/parts of your house no matter what. I cannot imagine not having one living in a house. Electricity is a convenience not to be taken for granted!

[@Lfra84]

I recently discovered your channel and have been catching up on all your videos. I was searching for home styling inspiration, as I have an older home that I’ve been trying to make feel cozier. After figuring out my desired style, things started to come together, and your channel has been a huge help with giving me some ideas

[@francescathomas3502]

Are we going to see any clips from the roof redo? If you want to install a new Wood Stove yourself, you might want to check out Becky and Austin from The Sorry Girls (TSG) channel based in Toronto. They installed their own woodstove in either 2023 or 2024. Its part of Becky's "That 70s House" Series. But I am glad that you are slowly getting through that long list. Cant wait to see the Furnace refit or removal - which ever you decide or can afford.

[@itsbirla]

one minute in and already loving the vid! ❤ some really exciting cinematic fun editing, i love that you are having fun with it 😘

[@arabellat]

i loved the way you made this video - the smaller resolution at the beginning, the screen widening when you started speaking, the cuts to the furnace while you were talking about it... all so fun!

[@TheChloclo]

Ariel, the editing on this was great! Good job! And your cackle made me cackle too. Good luck with renovations this year. I’m really looking forward to it all!

[@tins369]

Oh, now I love this Friday even more ❤

[@beebedoe]

Small things like these is a brilliant book, loved it