FEATURES

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The renovations were completed with only a few minor problems, which Zises remedied. An antique Swedish stove was deemed a fire hazard, so an electric heater was placed inside to provide warmth while hiding the eyesore. A shower in the downstairs bathroom--the only enclosed space on the first floor--was covered in unsightly blue tiles, so Zises painted the entire room the same color to hide them. (Renovating the bathroom was out of the question, says Zises, because "I was too impatient, and I was starting to go over budget. But now the tile is unnoticeable.")

Even after all the improvements, Zises admits that there is always something more that can be done. "I could keep going, keep building," she says. "But now it's got the look that I want. It is what it is, and I don't need anything else."