Current condition: The house was constructed in 1913 and not much has been done to it over the last 100 years — this is both a blessing and a curse. Most of the original windows, doors and trim are still intact and not painted. YEAH! Unfortunately, the original wiring, plumbing and boiler/radiators are also still in use. A “modern” kitchen was added in the 50s and laundry installed in the back bedroom. These rooms offer little of the Craftsman character or charm offered in other parts of the home and much damage from wear and tear over the last 70 years. Disappointing.
Our inspections reveal that the house had a clay roof at some point, and it was covered with asphalt shingles. This has resulted in significant damage to plaster ceilings and walls on the 2nd floor living space that was constructed in the “attic”. While much of the plaster on the first floor is in “good” condition, the upstairs looks be a complete tear off. On the bright side, this will give us the opportunity to open it up a bit more (it’s very narrow with high knee walls) and construct some shed dormers to capture greater square footage and additional light. The windows on this level are cheap and ill fitting; they are in dire need of replacement.
It’s been interesting to explore the house design/construction as we’ve toured, measured, and pondered on how to bring it back to life, updating it for modern living, but still retain the historic details. The public rooms, e.g. front of the house, which include a living room, office and parlor, contain beautiful woodwork, moldings and a transom detail with leaded glass — the front door is a seven and a half foot masterpiece. As you move toward the family space or rear of the house, large, plain boards were utilized in lieu of more decorative pieces. It’s still lovely but a stark contrast.
Back to the main floor – hardwoods seem to be in good condition in the front rooms. It doesn’t appear they have ever been refinished/sanded. Super excited to see what they look like after we remove 117 years of dirt, grime and cigarette smoke. Yes, the past owners were smokers — as indicated by the strong stale cigarette odor that smacks you in the face when you walk through the front door and the “yellowish” walls throughout. No need to guess where pictures were placed — this is clearly indicated by the smokey outlines. ?
While the bathroom is a gut job, we are hoping to retain and repair the pedestal sink and claw foot tub. Fingers crossed — keep me in your prayers as we move the monstrosity out of the existing space and start the cleaning process! I don’t expect the hardwood will be salvageable in this room due to both the installation of laminate/glue on top and heavy water damage. I guess we’ll just have to be creative in our designs and leverage other materials as we reconstruct the space.
Finally, this brings me to the windows and doors. As mentioned, the front door is spectacular – ill located — but truly a masterpiece with ornate carvings, leaded & beveled glass and transom panels. The door is located to one side of the broad front porch – yes, these porches are an Arts & Crafts staple and we love it, but we sure wish the door was in the center of the room. Oh well, I guess it is meant to challenge our creativity as moving it is a no-go. As the house is located only 4 blocks (.3 mile) from Haynie’s corner, I suspect the front porch and the vintage front entry will get a robust workout from family and friends. #Winning #WeAreSocial #LetsGetCocktails
Vision: Our priorities are fairly straight forward — save what we can including the floors, trim, windows, brick chimney and plaster on the first floor — open up the space for modern living with a large kitchen and living room – add in other period appropriate details such as built-ins and wainscoting – and don’t break the bank! Eazy peazy, right? LOL More to come as we start to embark on this journey with our family, friends, architect and contractors. Wish us luck!