The Old Soul Project
The Old Soul Project logo: an engraved Victorian house and tree within a cream badge

Old Home Preservation Consulting

Not everything old is lost. Some things are simply waiting to be remembered.

Thoughtful, knowledgeable consulting for the people who care for old houses: what belongs, what can be found again, and how to bring a home back to itself.

Sepia photograph of a Victorian stone building with a carved gable, tall windows, and the name Guyott on the facade, by David Parnell
Photo: David Parnell
Chapter One

Her Story

Some people walk past an old house. Dani stops. She notices the curl of a porch bracket, the soft ripple in a pane of old glass, the patient line of a roof that someone once drew by hand. For as long as she can remember, historic preservation and architecture have been her lifelong passion, the thing she returns to again and again.

To her, an old home is not a problem to be solved. It is a story still being told. Every layer of paint, every worn threshold, every mismatched hinge holds a clue about the people who built it and the lives it sheltered. She loves reading those clues, and she loves helping homeowners read them too.

The Old Soul Project grew from that devotion. It is a way to share what she knows: how to recognize what belongs to a house, where to find the pieces time has carried off, and how to make choices that honor a home’s character rather than erase it.

Whether you are restoring a grand Victorian, rescuing a modest farmhouse, or simply wondering what color your front door was meant to be, Dani would be glad to walk through it with you.

Every old house has a soul. She helps you find it.

Chapter Two

Consulting

The Old Soul Project is a consulting practice for old homes. Every consultation begins with listening, to you and to the house, and can be shaped around a single question or the whole of your home. Dani offers guidance in four areas.

Preservation Consulting

The small things are often the truest things. Dani helps you understand what your home is and what belongs to its era, from trim and mouldings to doors, hardware, lighting, porches, and windows, so every repair and replacement feels like it was always there.

  • Period-correct details, inside and out
  • What to keep, repair, or bring back
  • Choices that honor your home’s character

Period Paint & Wallpaper Consulting

Color and pattern can bring a room back to life. She offers guidance on period-correct paint colors and wallpaper, helping you choose palettes and papers that feel faithful to your home’s history and lovely to live with today.

  • Period paint palettes, inside and out
  • Historic wallpaper patterns and placement
  • Bringing old rooms and modern living together

Architectural History Consulting

Learn the language of your house. Dani shares the history of architectural styles and the architects and builders behind historic neighborhoods, so you understand not only what your home is, but where it came from and why it looks the way it does.

  • Identifying your home’s style and era
  • The architects behind historic neighborhoods
  • The story of your street and its houses

Salvage Sourcing

Somewhere, the mantel, the stained glass, or the newel post your house is missing is waiting to be found. As part of your consultation, she helps you search for authentic salvaged pieces that suit your home, and knows what to look for once you find them.

  • Mantels, doors, and stained glass
  • Hardware, radiators, and fixtures
  • Guidance on fit, condition, and authenticity

A house remembers everything. It only asks that someone take the time to listen.

Chapter Four

Consulting Rates

Hourly Consulting

$50 to $200

Per Hour

For questions large and small: a single room, a salvage hunt, or an afternoon spent learning your home’s history.

Home Consultation

$150 to $500

Flat, Per Home

A thoughtful look at your whole house, with guidance on details, materials, colors, and where to begin.

Your rate depends on the size of your home and what you hope to accomplish. Dani will talk it through with you and agree on it before any work begins.

Begin with a Consultation

If your home has been waiting to be remembered, a consultation is the gentlest place to begin. There is no pressure and no rush. Tell Dani a little about your house, and she will be in touch.

Book a Consultation
Chapter Five

Book a Consultation

Share what you can. Every detail helps, and none of it is required beyond a way to reach you.

Dani reads every note personally and will reply to set a time.