Making a House Their Own

A young couple tackle the project of a lifetime, showing what’s possible when you’ve got DIY skills, a go-for-it attitude, and stamina to spare

- Deborah Baldwin

Homeowners are often in it for the long haul, but not many of them get in shape for a major renovation by long-distance running.

“I ran a marathon when I was six months pregnant,” says Sarah Madeira Day, one half of the brains and brawn behind the kind of whole-house reno that would give pause to a seasoned general contractor. “I have energy like a ten-year-old!”

Energy is handy when your new house, perched seaside in Cumberland Foreside, Maine, is in shambles, and you’re living out of one room while gutting others and also working full time. Also useful: having a track record as a DIYer, a background in design, a hard nose for a budget, and a great eye—not to mention an equally hardworking spouse and supportive family members.

With a soft spot for rescue dogs, forgotten heirlooms, and neglected houses, Sarah has heart as well as muscle—and a dry sense of humor hasn’t hurt. Asked how two young professionals like her and her husband, Wes, know how to ply a tractor and crane, she says, “We don’t!” Pause. “We’re so lucky we’re still married.”

He’s a pharmacist and skilled woodworker; she’s an artist who sells her prints online and has worked for an interior designer. Both grew up in Maine, in do-it-yourself families. Sarah’s skilled dad and uncle worked at a pile of a hotel on Mount Desert Island, keeping its aged infrastructure functioning. “If my sisters and I wanted to hang out with them, we’d do what they were doing,” she says. “We learned a lot through just being with them, and the same with Wes and his family. You get the gist of things, mess up, do it again, and eventually catch on.”