Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Found an old house pic!



While down at the county building, we decided to hop on over to the assessor's office to see if they had any info on our house that might prove helpful. Amazingly, they had this old photo which was probably taken in the 40's or 50's. Just look at those beautiful windows in the front.....which were replaced by awful bathroom glass and a picture window. The traditional tapered craftsman colums were replaced with stupid 4x4s, and the steps were moved to the side. That upstairs window is now a cheapo vinyl model. Even the roof gable detail is missing. Seriously, what did they DO with all of this cool old stuff during their "updating"? Is it buried in a landfill somewhere? Couldn't they have been nice and left all of that old "useless" stuff in the shed or crawlspace, so it wouldn't be so costly and time-consuming for me to source all of these things?

Our house was insanely beautiful in this photo. Why someone made all of those changes is just mind-boggling. I'm happy that we found this photo, since it gives us something to work towards....but at the same time I want to cry because I can't believe someone would take away such beautifully crafted details.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Dream Garage


One of the downsides of this property is that it doesn't include a garage. (There is a concrete slab where a large 2 car garage used to be.)I really think that this gorgeous garage plan from The Bungalow Company would be just perfect, don't you think? The shingle & clapboard siding, knee brackets, and door design really echo the house. This design also includes a loft upstairs.





Thursday, November 20, 2008

Some exterior "befores"...

Don't let my ugly tarped-up roof fool you, I am truly a diamond in the rough! I just need a little paint 'n' polish!



Aren't my old wood windows neat? And WOW thats a hot car in the driveway!



Won't you come sit awhile on my inviting front porch?


Gotta love my stucco & half-timbered gable details, my color scheme is OK but I'll bet my new owners have something better in mind!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Introducing our new bungalow

So, we weren't actively pursuing a move, but we happened to stumble upon this little beauty and simply couldn't resist! We got an amazing deal on this place, since the roof had been damaged in last winter's storm and had caused a small amount of interior damage. The "interior damage" is actually a blessing....the water leaks caused the ugly popcorn ceiling texture in the living/dining room to start peeling off, thus making it easier to remove! (The original plaster underneath appears to be salvageable).
The house is a 3BR, 1 bath, approximately 1300 square feet. Here are some neat features of the home:

  • 9.5' high ceilings, with a coved ceiling in the dining room
  • Most original wood windows intact
  • Master bedroom with walk-in closet
  • Upstairs area with numerous reconfiguration possibilities. Currently contains 2 bedrooms, storage, and a huge unused landing area. Would like to add dormers, enlarge bedrooms and add a bathroom.
  • All original fir floors in refinishable state
  • Covered porch with original beadboard ceiling and original front door
  • Large foyer with arched entry into living room
  • Spacious lot with several very large deciduous trees

Right now, we are working on getting the roof fixed. We have also removed all of the carpet and vinyl tile from the foyer, living room, and dining room. Our next job will be to finish removing the popcorn ceiling and possibly skim coat the plaster underneath to get it ready for paint. We are also planning on doing remodels of the kitchen and bathroom. Both will get new tile floors, cabinets, paint, and fixtures/appliances. We hope to get most of the downstairs work done by spring, and hopefully move in at that time.

Some "befores" of the project (more to come):