Sometimes you can just tell when a house has a soul. That’s how McCall and Nick Renold, a couple living in Bozeman, felt when they first glimpsed this historic brick-exterior Victorian “fixer-upper” nestled in the heart of downtown Livingston. “When we first saw the house, we fell in love with it immediately,” McCall said, "It had so much natural light, original charm, and the location is excellent —only two blocks off Main Street. But we knew it would be a big project.” The couple closed on the property in September 2021 and started referring to the project as “The Brick House”. They knew they were embarking on an adventure, planning to renovate the property by themselves, but had no idea how difficult it would end up being. Less than two years later they are finally finished and have listed the property for guests to enjoy as a luxury short term rental.
Built in 1905, The Brick House was built the same year the prosperous railroad town of Livingston was one of the first in Montana to get concrete sidewalks. “According to the title documents, we believe the house may have originally been used as an office building for the Northern Pacific Railroad,” Nick says. The town's roots date back to the late 19th century when the Northern Pacific Railroad established it as a key depot and repair shop. Livingston’s historic significance continues to be felt in the present day with its beautifully preserved downtown district—complete with original brick facades and ornate detailing.
As soon as the property was theirs, the Renolds rolled up their sleeves, put on their Carhartts, and got to work. Since its construction in 1905, the house had last been renovated in the 1950’s. It had not just weathered the passage of time, but had seemingly been stuck in it. Decorated with wall to wall shag carpeting (even in the bathrooms) and wood paneling throughout, it was a time capsule from a bygone era. Yet, beneath the dated aesthetics, the couple sensed a hidden potential that sparked their imagination. “As soon as we walked in you could see so much charm and original details, like the newel posts and stair spindles, the stained glass in the dining room, and the blown glass windows.” McCall said, “But it needed a lot of work!”
The shag carpeting was the first to go. In the upstairs, the Renolds discovered a hidden gem: the original long-plank wood floors, which they painstakingly cleaned and refinished. “It was important to us to keep as much of the original house as possible. Even though replacing the floors would have been much easier.” Then came the wood paneling on the walls. Behind these dark, faux-wood walls, they found the traditional lath and plaster walls typical of the house's era. They filled dumpster after dumpster, carefully preserving the original detailing and trim work. The process was dusty and exhausting. The house, once hidden beneath layers of outdated decor, began to reveal itself in its true, historic form. Each floorboard restored, each wall stripped bare, connected them more deeply to the home's past. “It’s funny, but everywhere we thought, ‘there should be a wall here’, we found evidence that there was, in fact, originally a wall. Or we thought, ‘this should be a bathroom’, and once we ripped the flooring out there was indeed evidence that that is what it used to be. We felt like we were truly restoring the house to its original virtue.”
As in most renovations, they came up against quite a few unexpected challenges. “One challenge that set back our timeline, was that at some point over the last hundred years, the structure of the house had been compromised when some necessary supports were cut,” Nick said. They consulted with Bozeman engineering firm IMEG and hired experienced carpenters who brought in salvage material that would match the original structure. “The antique wood beams you see in the kitchen are the visible result of lifting and reinforcing the center of the house to fix how it had settled over time.”
For the Renolds, this was not just a renovation; it was a journey back in time, a tribute to the people who had lived and loved within these walls. They kept in touch with the family who had lived in the home for several decades, exchanging keepsakes and historic documents. “We put a lot of care into this place. Every salvaged vintage door, light and plumbing fixture required a craftsman’s touch because they don’t just pop into place the way a new fixture in a commercial development would — they have to be custom fitted,” Nick said. But it was important for them to stay true to the house and era, to keep it a part of Livingston's rich tapestry, breathing new life into a piece of its storied history. “It was important for us to source from local companies where possible, and to include western vintage items in the decor for authenticity,” McCall said. The Renolds sourced most of the materials right here in Bozeman, from suppliers including Kenyon Noble, The Flooring Place and Bobcat Home Appliance. Bozeman woodworker, Scott Ferrera, built the 9 foot long farmhouse dining table. “Local and authentic were two key principles for us,” McCall said, “we used penny tile and subway tile in the bathrooms, which were both popular in the early 1900s. The cream brick tile in the kitchen was purchased from Onyx Tile in Bozeman, and I had a wonderful experience working with them to pick it out.”
One of the defining features of The Brick House is its blend of historical charm and modern comfort. “We wanted it to be a place for visitors to experience historic Livingston and we decorated the house with real vintage pieces found in Livingston and Bozeman.” That’s what truly sets The Brick House apart —its authentic charm and character. Staying in The Brick House is like stepping into a living museum, where the spirit of Montana's past is lovingly preserved. An antique rocking chair greets you on the front porch and on the walls are old framed maps of Yellowstone National Park. In the dining room, a copper Northern Pacific Railroad spittoon sits next to an upright piano from the early 1900s. Each element invites guests to experience a slice of Montana's history, but in the library they can explore the whole expanse of it. The floor-to-ceiling bookshelves are brimming with the full collection of Bozeman antique store East Main Trading Company which closed last summer. The Renolds purchased, transported, and then curated these thousands of new and antique books on Montana & Montana history! The couple also searched out and printed historic photographs of the area from the archives at Park Photo to decorate the interior of the home. “Park Photo has a huge historical repository of old photos from Livingston, Bozeman and Yellowstone park. You can go through them on the website or in store and have them printed.” McCall said.
For adding character to any house, McCall recommends thrifting: “It is a great way not just to save money but to find really special antiques.” For thrifting in Bozeman, McCall recommends Antique Market and More, Antique Barn, Rethink Thrift, Do Overs, Goodwill in Belgrade, Four Corners Thrift Store, and the local Facebook marketplace. She sourced vintage rugs directly from Turkey, but if you are looking for beautiful vintage rugs locally she recommends District Loom. “There are honestly too many special pieces in the house for me to recount here,” she says. “But a highlight for me are the bathroom vanities which are old dressers we found on Facebook marketplace. The one in the master bathroom we bought for $75, it had the original hardware, but was an ugly dark color, so I took it to Blasting Technologies in Four Corners and for $150 they stripped it down. Now it’s a gorgeous double vanity which has been mistaken for Restoration Hardware!” Nick’s favorite salvaged find is the pair of oversized French doors leading into the Library, which were reused from an art gallery in Bozeman. Each piece in their home, from the grandest brass chandelier in the Green Room (thrifted in Livingston for $35), to the vintage family portraits (from Out of The Blue Antiques, also in the Green Room), invite our guests to immerse themselves in a uniquely Montana experience, where history, comfort, and a sense of place intertwine.
The house accommodates eight guests, with thoughtfully furnished and spacious rooms. Each room is a unique expression of the past meeting the present, of old-world charm and contemporary amenities. From the fully equipped, “French cottage” style chef’s kitchen with copper cookware, to the inviting living spaces, the house offers warmth and ease. The fireplace, heated tile floors, and luxurious soaking tubs add an extra layer of indulgence perfect for cool Montana nights. In a gallery wall above the restored stairway, vintage rodeo photos adorn the wall as a testament to the area's deep-rooted cowboy culture and the adventurous spirit of the West. The Brick House is now accepting bookings through airbnb and invites locals and travelers alike to step into a living narrative and become a part of Montana's storied past.
For the Renolds, this was not just a renovation; it was a journey back in time, a tribute to the people who had lived and loved within these walls. They kept in touch with the family who had lived in the home for several decades, exchanging keepsakes and historic documents.