Owners Who Bought An Abandoned 1880s New York City Townhouse Wait Two Years To Restore The Staircase They Fell For At First Sight, Then Their Woodworker Peels Back The Layers

Some people fall for a house because of the kitchen or the yard. The owners of one New York City inn fell for a staircase. According to galeguesthouses on Instagram, they bought an abandoned 1880s townhouse, and from the moment they walked through the doors they were “completely taken by this staircase.”

A wooden staircase in an older home with a light hanging above.

It was, they say, “love at first sight.” Then came two years of work before they could touch it.

Now the staircase finally has its turn, and the post shows the first steps of bringing it back.

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An Abandoned 1880s Townhouse With A Staircase Nobody Could Resist

The couple says they have spent the last two years restoring a historic New York City inn, the goal being that guests can stay inside the historic house and not just in a room. They were determined to save all of the original details, and this limestone townhouse had plenty.

The staircase, they say, “was never up for debate.” They point to the woodwork and the carvings, including an Irish harp, and, of course, a lion.

It is the sort of grand entry stair that was common in homes built during the Gilded Age, when craftsmen put elaborate carving into the most visible part of the house.

“We Had Absolutely No Idea What The Next Two Years Had In Store”

Standing on the stairs and admiring the carvings, they say they had “absolutely no idea what the next two years had in store for us.” The reason is that before they could get to the staircase, they had to restore “pretty much everything around it.”

For almost two years, the staircase sat in the middle of “absolute construction chaos.” Every single day, they walked up and down it, knowing its turn would eventually come.

That kind of patience is familiar to anyone who has taken on a big restoration. The best feature in the house often has to wait while the structure, wiring, plumbing and plaster get fixed first.

Meet The Woodworker They Call Their Miracle Man

Finally, the day arrived. The owners introduce Mr. Dean, their woodworker. “Around here, we refer to him as our miracle man,” they say.

Watching him work is a joy for them. “This part, I could watch for hours,” one of them says. “Layer by layer, all of that beautiful original wood started coming back.”

The caption calls the post “Saving the staircase, Part 1,” and says that in the coming installments they will bring it back to life, “one story at a time,” until the day they welcome guests through the doors.

Why Restoring Original Wood Takes So Long

Restoring a wood staircase that is well over a century old is slow work. Old finishes build up layer upon layer over the years, and a careful restorer works through them to uncover the wood underneath without damaging the carving.

That is why the phrase “layer by layer” fits so well. Rushing a job like this can flatten delicate details such as the harp and the lion, so a patient approach is part of the craft.

The owners say they cannot wait to see the staircase “shining in all its glory again.”

The Inn Where Guests Stay Inside The History

The inn is the owners’ answer to a simple idea: instead of visiting a landmark and going home, guests can sleep inside one. After two years of restoring the property, they say they are working toward the day they can welcome people through the doors.

That goal helps explain why they refused to compromise on the original details. The limestone, the carving and the staircase are the main attraction, and each one they save adds to the experience of staying there.

Their approach also shows how a restoration can build a following. By posting each stage, from the construction chaos to the first layers of wood coming back, they let people watch the home change while they wait to visit.

Tips For Anyone Restoring Historic Woodwork

You may not own a Gilded Age townhouse, but the same principles apply to older homes everywhere. A few general tips can help you protect what you have.

Start with the least invasive method and move up only when you need to.
Test any cleaner or stripper on a small, hidden spot first.
Work with a skilled woodworker or restoration professional when the piece is carved, delicate or valuable.
Be careful with very old finishes and paints, which may contain lead, and follow safe work practices.
Plan the order of the project so the showpiece comes after the dusty work around it, as these owners did.

A Staircase Worth Waiting For

The owners picture the finished result with a smile, and they invite followers to imagine a piece of the Gilded Age waiting for guests who walk through the doors.

Their story is a reminder that the best restorations are not always the fastest. For two years they climbed those stairs through the chaos, knowing the payoff was coming, and now the wood is slowly coming back to life under a woodworker they trust.

If you are staring at a project you love but cannot yet afford to tackle, take heart. Sometimes the right move is to fix everything around it first, keep your eye on the prize and wait for its turn.

Willow and Hearth