Our new old house!
We purchased this 100 year old home in the summer of 2010. The renovation project is well underway as of February, 2011. We work on it almost every weekend, and many evenings, and cannot wait to finish one project so that we may start another. Watching it come to life as our new home has been the most fun project ever! Update: After working relentlessly on this beautiful old home, we sold it in one day 2019!!! Heading to FLORIDA to 'retire' - opening Mockingbird Art Glass & Design! LIVE A LIFE YOU DON'T NEED A VACATION FROM!!!
Befores and Afters...Renovation Highlights
The Living Room
This room truly had hidden treasures! On top of already having a beautiful, original short board oak floor, when Jon took out the old front door, buried in the wall we found an old original transom, covered by wallpaper and drywall...and...an original mailbox with intact silvered glass house numbers with a mechanical doorbell still in working order! We replaced the door, repaired the drywall around the old transom, stripped the old transom, replaced the trim and installed a new leaded glass door and built a new leaded transom to match the door.
Details...
A new ceiling fan with a light to replace the 70's style wicker ceiling fan...the little details like this one have been so much fun to shop for and pick out things that we both like.
Our Dining Room
This room had great light, and more original short board oak flooring, some in need of repair. Paint, wall glaze and new chandeliers brightened it up even more. We have replaced some window trim, and will eventually replace some of the flooring where it has been previously improperly repaired.
The exposed brick on the chimney really looked a little too rustic and dirty for the newly finished walls. After much discussion about painting or not painting the chimney, we were very happy with the resulting look.
The exposed brick on the chimney really looked a little too rustic and dirty for the newly finished walls. After much discussion about painting or not painting the chimney, we were very happy with the resulting look.
The before kitchen! and probably the reason the house sat vacant for awhile. We knew it could be fabulous because we got to start from scratch!
Three lower metal cabinets and one upper cabinet, an old metal sink. The scrap collectors had it gone within an hour of setting it out to the curb.
Kitchen Under Construction
The kitchen is a complete re-do, walls and ceiling included, including taking out the dropped ceiling and raising it back to near original height.
Starting to look like a kitchen!
New granite tile countertop, maple cabinets and dishwasher!!!
Details and more details!
After scouring several tile outlets in Indianapolis and Chicago, we chose granite that had surprise veins running through it and it made the countertop truly unique. The backsplash is accented with small porcelain relief floral tiles and mirrored and etched glass tiles.
An old kitchen built in that was missing doors, drawers and was falling apart.
The bottom was probably original and it just wasn't salvageable or attractive in any way.
Where the old built in used to be...
Just waiting on the tin ceiling tiles! A refrigerator, pantry and cupboards are here now. We left space for a larger fridge : )
The Hidden Cabinet Door
We found an old cabinet buried under drywall from the previous remodel. It was the only access to an above closet storage area in an adjoining bedroom. Since it was 8 feet in the air, we have opted to leave it buried! We will be adding cabinet doors to access that space from the bedroom.
Finishing touch...
The tin ceiling finished the kitchen with a WOW! Choosing the pattern was fun and the installation was one of the more challenging projects (picture both of us on the same ladder 9 feet up...).
The new kitchen!
Finally. Totally worth the wait : )
An Outdoor Find
After finding what we thought was just a stray brick in the yard, spring rains revealed a row of bricks, and a little poking around and digging revealed an old set of brick steps that would have been on an old sidewalk in our side yard. They're too pretty to cover back up.
A new roof!
Not exactly in the plans just yet, a hail storm totaled the old roof. Our insurance company graciously helped us out with a brand new roof.
The fence between the garden and front yard
The wedding arbor in the side yard was made the focal point of this dividing fence. Behind it we have the raised bed vegetable gardens.
Other Rooms
This room was bright yellow! Not anymore : ) It had no closet doors. Jon installed new closet doors and we purchased antique glass closet door knobs online to match the other glass knobs in the house.
The guest room downstairs was painted in several different lovely shades of green and gray. YUK. It's now a pale gold with black and gold draperies and bedding. Not yet finished, still awaiting a new chandelier and closet doors.
The guest room downstairs was painted in several different lovely shades of green and gray. YUK. It's now a pale gold with black and gold draperies and bedding. Not yet finished, still awaiting a new chandelier and closet doors.
This large extra room upstairs is where we will be adding more storage closets and another bathroom, turning the entire upstairs into a master suite. The new whitewashed knotty pine tongue and groove ceiling and lighting pictures - April 2016
2016-2017
At long last the upstairs bathroom - first project of the new master suite complete!
Jon plumbed all of the water lines up through the dining room ceiling. He rerouted heat ducts and built new walls to create a hallway and master bath. The existing closet remains for linens and a new double vanity with drawers is being added in oak stained gray with deck stain for durability.
At long last the upstairs bathroom - first project of the new master suite complete!
Jon plumbed all of the water lines up through the dining room ceiling. He rerouted heat ducts and built new walls to create a hallway and master bath. The existing closet remains for linens and a new double vanity with drawers is being added in oak stained gray with deck stain for durability.
THIS IS THE EXACT SAME AREA!!!!!!! SHED DEMOLITION 2014
NEW SHED 2014, NEW DECK, CONCRETE REPAIR AND FENCES 2015
THE SHED DEMO REVEALED A HIDDEN STAIRCASE (BEHIND THE BLACK RAILING) THAT WENT DOWN TO OUR BASEMENT. THE DOOR INSIDE HAD BEEN COVERED TOP TO BOTTOM WITH A PEGBOARD.