A ‘Romantic Idealist’ Renovates a Derelict House on an Artist’s Budget
Standing in his kitchen, with walls the color of green tea, Peter Daverington stops, closes his eyes and surrenders to Nina Simone’s melancholy rendition of “Mr. Bojangles,” a haunting lullaby of love and loss. He plays it twice. “This song is about taking on hardships with grace,” he explains. “Turning something ugly into something beautiful.”…