Michelle Rose Bowers

I am Michelle Bowers, the founder of The Old House Life. I was a stay-at-home mom to three children for 25 years. After the sudden death of my sister, Jennifer, I felt I needed a distraction from the grieving; I needed a hobby. When we were young children, some of my fondest memories are driving the back roads of West Virginia, looking for old houses and old cemeteries. I wanted to recreate that with my children. The Old House Life was born. 

It has grown in ways I never dreamed. With almost 1.5 million followers on social media and a seven-figure annual income; it is safe to say that this hobby not only transformed my life, but it connected with others. I feel beyond privileged that I can have my two daughters, Emma and Claire, working for me. When I started this hobby, they were with me every step of the way, driving the back roads and looking for old houses.  

This community we created on The Old House Life goes deeper than old houses though. Our love of old houses might be a common thread on The Old House Life, but our life stories resonate on a deeper level. I often hear from followers that they too lost a sibling, a parent, a child or a spouse. There is an authenticity and a connection that can’t be reproduced. I recently heard from a follower. She lost her son. She said the only thing that got her up every morning was knowing she could jump on The Old House Life and watch my videos of old houses or join in on the conversation. She said, “you saved my life.” I responded, “you all saved mine in my time of grief.” She has since created needlepoint masterpieces of all seven of my fixer upper houses and all eight cats that were found in my fixer uppers. 

There is a bond and a familiarity; something we need so much of these days.  

Sincerely,

Michelle Bowers