How the Lamb Sisters Preserved a Historic Building's Charm

In the heart of downtown Snohomish, Washington, sits a building with more than a century of stories to tell. Built in 1902, it now houses the Lamb + Co. Design Center—the creative home base of twin sisters Lyndsay Lamb and Leslie Davis, the dynamic duo behind HGTV's hit show "Unsellable Houses." When it came time to update the space, the sisters faced a challenge familiar to anyone who loves an old building: how do you modernize without stripping away the very character that makes a place special?

Their answer? Renewal by Andersen® Acclaim® replacement windows and an Ensemble® entry door. The result is a stunning transformation that honors the building's historic soul while adding modern comfort, function, and a little extra design flair.

Here's how they did it—and what you can learn for your own historic home project

About the Lamb Sisters + Their Design Studio

Lyndsay and Leslie have been real estate agents for 18 years, and their business, Lamb & Co., grew out of a simple desire to keep serving their clients long after the closing papers were signed.

"We are a people company," Leslie explains. What started as real estate turned into design services, furniture curation, and full-scale renovations, all under one roof.

Their design center reflects that mission. "When we started the design center, we wanted something in Snohomish that people could come to that wasn't a big box store," Leslie says. "It was somewhere where you could go to get inspired."

That vision came with a guiding principle: work only with companies they trust. As Lyndsay puts it, "Our other intention with the design center was we want to work with people that we trust and we love, and that we want to share with our clients as well."

The Challenge: A Beautiful Old Building with Aging Windows

Let's set the scene. The building dates back to 1902, and some of its original windows were nearly as old. Single-pane wood frames, the old-fashioned pulley system, and, as Lyndsay put it, "layers and layers of paint."

For the sisters, updating these windows was about more than just swapping out old for new. This is a beloved landmark in a town they adore. "I always say I breathe Snohomish," Leslie shares. "It's where we grew up." With only about 10,000 residents, Snohomish has that small-town charm where everyone knows everyone—and the community pays attention to how its historic buildings are cared for.

So the pressure was on. The sisters needed windows that could preserve the building's character while finally solving the practical problems of century-old glass. Not exactly a small ask.

Finding the Right Window and Door Company

Before landing on the right company, Lyndsay and Leslie did their homework. And they weren't easily impressed.

"We spoke to several companies for windows and doors, and I don't know that we were really impressed with anybody. Didn't really find that anybody met that high level of expectation," Leslie recalls. "At the end of the day, Renewal by Andersen just felt like the right partner for us."

What sealed the deal? A shared philosophy. The Lamb sisters built their business on serving people and putting customers first—values that fit right in with Renewal by Andersen's commitment to Signature Service. As Lyndsay noted, "It all comes back to everybody's on the same page of serving the clients, and so it all works out."

The Design Decisions That Made the Difference

The sisters had a long wish list, and this project delivered on all of it. Here's what went into the transformation.

Windows that match the era

The sisters' biggest worry was finding windows that could match the exact sizes and style of a historic building. Off-the-shelf just wouldn't cut it.

"We didn't want to lose the character, we didn't want to lose the old siding or the old millwork," Lyndsay explains. "So when looking at Renewal by Andersen, we knew we could go with custom sizes. We knew we could look for windows that matched the character of the home."

The project featured nine Acclaim® double-hung windows with black exteriors and crisp white interiors—a timeless two-tone look. Full divided-light grilles in a colonial pattern nod to the building's early-1900s roots, while bright brass hand lifts add a period-appropriate touch of class. High-Performance Low-E4® SmartSun™ glass and TruScene® insect screens round out the details, blending old-world charm with modern performance.

The secret behind Acclaim® windows is Andersen's exclusive Fibrex® material, which offers the strength and insulating value of wood with the low-maintenance features of vinyl. Fibrex material never requires painting and will not crack, pit, corrode, or rot.* For a building that's already seen 120-plus years of Pacific Northwest rain, that kind of durability matters.

And the everyday payoff? Windows that actually work. "We love so many things about these new windows. For one, they open," Lyndsay laughs. "That was a huge one. It's so silly, but honestly, that's huge."

Even better, the upgrade didn't just satisfy the sisters—it became a point of pride for the whole town. "The windows now on the exterior for sure are a feature of the building," Lyndsay says, "and I think everybody in the community has really appreciated that as well."

An entry door that steals the show

If the windows are the supporting cast, the entry door is the star of the show. The centerpiece of the update is an Ensemble® double-panel entry door in a sleek black finish, featuring full-light panels with full divided-light colonial grilles that echo the windows beautifully. Bright brass Newbury door handles and a matching strike plate bring it all together with a polished, elegant finish.

But this door isn't just a pretty face. Since the design center is filled with beautiful, high-end materials, security was top of mind—and the Ensemble entry door delivered. "The Ensemble door, being a three-point locking system, is just reassuring," Leslie says. "And the handle makes it so easy that you just have to pull it to click it."

Ensemble entry doors achieve the highest level of security testing when equipped with a multi-point mortise-lock assembly, helping deter break-ins while keeping daily use effortless. As Leslie put it, "It's probably the easiest functioning French door set that I've ever experienced." One smooth pull, and everything locks from a single place—no bending down, no reaching up.

Designed to complement Acclaim® replacement windows, the Ensemble® entry door tied the entire storefront together, giving the design center an entrance that's as welcoming as it is secure.

The Signature Service Experience

For a project this meaningful, the sisters needed more than a great product—they needed a smooth, stress-free process. And that's exactly what they got.

Renewal by Andersen offers one-company accountability from design through installation, meaning expert design consultants and certified master installers handle every step. For homeowners juggling a dozen decisions, that start-to-finish care makes all the difference.

"I was so surprised by how simple the process was," Lyndsay admits. "I would have never guessed changing out, a dozen windows would be so seamless."

Swapping out century-old windows in a historic building? That could have been a nightmare. Instead, it was smooth sailing.

The Transformation: Old Soul, New Function

The transformation speaks for itself. Gone are the painted-shut, single-pane relics. In their place are custom windows that open with ease, seal out drafts, and let in the Snohomish sunshine—all while looking right at home on a 1902 façade.

The design center now blends historic charm with modern function, and it's earned a well-deserved spot as a community favorite. The sisters kept every bit of the building's character, added thoughtful design touches, and gained the peace of mind that comes with the Nation's Best Warranty**—which is fully transferable, should the building ever change hands.

Best of all, the update reflects who Lyndsay and Leslie are: people who care deeply about their community and about doing things right.

Bring Your Own Vision to Life

Whether you're restoring a historic gem or refreshing a beloved family home, the right windows and doors can honor the past while making everyday life better. The Lamb sisters' project proves you don't have to choose between character and comfort—you can have both.

Feeling inspired? Schedule your free design consultation today and discover how Renewal by Andersen can bring your vision to life—custom-built, expertly installed, and backed by an industry-leading transferable warranty.

<sup>* See Renewal by Andersen® Products and Installation Transferable Limited Warranties for details.

**It is the only warranty among top-selling window companies that meets all of the following requirements: easy-to-understand terms, unrestricted transferability, installation coverage, labor coverage, geographically unrestricted, coverage for exterior color, insect screens and hardware, and no maintenance requirement. Click here for details. </sup>