Photos by Robert Jones
For Sara Martini, a charming 1950s home in the heart of Zionsville wasn’t just a house—it was a long-term dream come true. “We bought it in our twenties,” she says. “We just knew this was where we wanted to raise our kids and grow our family.” But what began as a quiet renovation project took a sharp and unexpected turn—one that ultimately sparked a creative passion project that’s capturing the hearts of thousands online.
In April 2024, Martini and her husband began fully renovating their midcentury home. By November, they were just a week from completing the project when a freak accident caused a fire that damaged the entire house, requiring them to take the kitchen and family rooms down to the studs.
“The flooring crew accidentally turned a knob on the stove before heading out for lunch,” Martini says. “There were things on the stove, and they returned to smoke and alarms going off.”
The damage forced the couple to start the whole renovation process over. At the time, they were living in the home’s basement, having already shuffled between an Airbnb and Martini’s parents’ house during earlier phases of the renovation.
Initially, Martini had planned to document the renovation journey on YouTube, filming a house tour and early demolition days. But, like many renovations, emotions ran high, and complications mounted. “It just got extremely emotional,” she says. “I didn’t expect it to affect me like it did, so I stopped filming.” The fire had a profound emotional impact on her, halting her initial plans.
But after the fire, something shifted. “I felt powerless,” Martini says. “YouTube became a great outlet and something that brought a little bit of joy during a challenging time.”
With the renovation temporarily stalled by insurance delays, Martini pivoted her content. She had built a small but growing subscriber base and wanted to keep sharing something meaningful. That’s when inspiration struck. What if she started filming tours of other historic homes in Zionsville?
She called up a friend who happened to work in the film industry and asked if she could tour her home. “She didn’t even know I had a YouTube channel,” Martini says. “But two days later, we filmed. It was super casual and so much fun.”
That first home tour set the tone. Martini now has four episodes live and nine more lined up, all featuring historic homes in the Village of Zionsville. The homes, some dating back to the 1880s, reflect the town’s deep commitment to architectural integrity and small-town charm.
The channel has grown far faster than Martini expected. What began as a personal project has blossomed into a community-wide celebration of Zionsville’s past, with more than 3,500 subscribers tuning in to see how residents blend historic charm with modern comfort. Her work recently attracted sponsorship from local Realtor Vikki Duke of Schuster & Duke with F.C. Tucker, an endorsement that reflects the project’s resonance with locals. The unexpected success of her channel has been a pleasant surprise for Martini.
“I love how much pride people take in these older homes,” she says. “They’re all unique, and they each tell a story. I think it’s important to show that history can be preserved while still making room for modern living.”
For more information, visit youtube.com/@RebuildandRevive.
