Rural New York gristmill transformed into beautiful home

When Jan Green bought at 19th century gristmill in Harpersfield, New York, in 1999 it was hardly the place of refuge it is now. The New York Times reports that she has spent much of the last decade years turning the once-decrepit mill into the home of her dreams.

"I will never experience another building the way I have this one," Green told the news source. "I paid attention to it, and it took care of me."

Among the most glaring problems when Green moved in was a thick layer of dust and dirt on the floors. She claimed that it took hours of scrubbing on her hands and knees to rid the floor of the grime, but now the floor is spotless.

In addition to the floors, the fact that the building used to be a mill presented a challenge as well. Interior designer Bruce Dragoo deftly transformed the room where the mill's wheel was located into a rustic wine cellar.

Homeowners who are in the middle of extensive renovations of their own may want to consider installing roman shades. Along with providing a fresh, clean atmosphere to a room, roman shades are very effective at lighting control and can be raised and lowered with ease.