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Old 06-08-2014, 02:06 PM
 
2,288 posts, read 3,223,796 times
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Cute old home with lots of potential. Mine also has all the trim painted white. Its over 100 years old.

I'd do anything I could if I were you to restore the pocket doors. Gosh I've always wanted those. The 1/2 side porch: I'd paint the railings white and repaint the flooring a bright shiny sliver. All the old homes in my family had them silver, so that's what I fondly love. Love the claw foot tub and the "cloud car" in your last pic. lol Good luck and enjoy your new/old home.
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Old 06-08-2014, 02:29 PM
 
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Hard to see the potential with so much clutter. Clean it up, redo the hardwood floors, remove the wallpaper then paint the interior. Those small details will help you decide on major renovations.
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Old 06-08-2014, 02:53 PM
 
Location: UpstateNY
8,612 posts, read 10,705,018 times
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Congrats on the move, ohky!

Are there any old photos of the house? Maybe the local libraary has some.

Love the old tub. See if the floors can be redone, ask a pro.

Would love to know what's under the fake block on the front.
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Old 06-08-2014, 03:09 PM
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kharing View Post
Hard to see the potential with so much clutter. Clean it up...
Where's your imagination?
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Old 06-08-2014, 03:53 PM
 
Location: Ohio
5,624 posts, read 6,807,654 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kharing View Post
Hard to see the potential with so much clutter. Clean it up, redo the hardwood floors, remove the wallpaper then paint the interior. Those small details will help you decide on major renovations.
As stated in my OP- its a family members stuff who still are in the process of moving. We still have 3 wks before we can move in.

Thanks for the tips so far!! I knew if i posted here, i could get unbiased opinions.
As for the pocket doors, I was told there were removed. The pockets inside the walls are there and if i knew how, i could put doors back.

Im not sure if the bathroom tile is original or not. As far as the kitchen, I dont believe that tile is and I do plan to redo that. They had a plan to put modern tile on the floor and modern counter tops but luckily he seems to have thrown that idea out the window and im thankful.

The lights in the house were originally gas and they were removed and then electric put in. One light I know we are removing is the ceiling fan in the bathroom.... The original chandelier is in the basement for the dining room and I know we will be putting that back up.

There are old photos of the outside and inside. I did plan to also try to get the blue prints. The house was built in 1920 and my great grandparents rented it (rented the upstairs) until 1934 when they bought it for $4,500. They had it until 1996, when my uncle bought it. My uncle will have it until 3 weeks from now when we buy it.
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Old 06-08-2014, 05:16 PM
 
Location: Venus
5,836 posts, read 5,231,785 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ohky0815 View Post
As stated in my OP- its a family members stuff who still are in the process of moving. We still have 3 wks before we can move in.

Thanks for the tips so far!! I knew if i posted here, i could get unbiased opinions.
As for the pocket doors, I was told there were removed. The pockets inside the walls are there and if i knew how, i could put doors back.

Im not sure if the bathroom tile is original or not. As far as the kitchen, I dont believe that tile is and I do plan to redo that. They had a plan to put modern tile on the floor and modern counter tops but luckily he seems to have thrown that idea out the window and im thankful.

The lights in the house were originally gas and they were removed and then electric put in. One light I know we are removing is the ceiling fan in the bathroom.... The original chandelier is in the basement for the dining room and I know we will be putting that back up.

There are old photos of the outside and inside. I did plan to also try to get the blue prints. The house was built in 1920 and my great grandparents rented it (rented the upstairs) until 1934 when they bought it for $4,500. They had it until 1996, when my uncle bought it. My uncle will have it until 3 weeks from now when we buy it.

That is wonderful that it has been in the family for all this time.



Cat
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Old 06-08-2014, 05:23 PM
 
Location: Philaburbia
41,747 posts, read 74,742,297 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hopes View Post
Your house has lots of potential. You don't need to hire an architect or landscape designer.
Agreed! That's just overkill, at least for now.

Paint the porch floor, lattice, etc. and secure the railings if they're wobbly.

Pull up the carpet; refinish and seal the wood floors where needed. It can be pricey, but you'll only have to do it once if you do it properly.

Remove the wallpaper and paint.

Check your gutters to make sure they're secure and angled properly. They look kinda iffy from some of the pix.

I love the "weird tiny doors". You can do a lot with that storage space either by leaving them alone or adding shelves, drawers, etc.

I also love the old gas stove. They don't make 'em like that anymore.
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Old 06-08-2014, 06:12 PM
 
Location: Ohio
5,624 posts, read 6,807,654 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81 View Post

I love the "weird tiny doors". You can do a lot with that storage space either by leaving them alone or adding shelves, drawers, etc.

I also love the old gas stove. They don't make 'em like that anymore.
The doors will be in the kids rooms and we will have to do something with that space so they dont lock each other in them! I was kind of thinking shelves for their books. We are a big book family.

That stove is from 1970. We planned to get a newer one that is more efficient. (anything to save on gas bill!!!)

Im excited about the kitchen- 25 cabinets/drawers compared to the 6 cabinets/drawers we have now. I wont know what to do with all that space!
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Old 06-08-2014, 07:20 PM
 
6,463 posts, read 4,868,183 times
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Use shellac on the floors. It's what would've been on there originally (may still be) and much easier to repair in the future than poly.

Kitchen... Are those tiles or etched plaster? I have etched plaster in my kitchen and bath but unfortunately they covered what was in the bath in the 1970s. It's still buried behind the tub but I'm not sure I can reclaim the walls. My house was built in 1926
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Old 06-08-2014, 07:24 PM
 
Location: South Park, San Diego
6,109 posts, read 10,818,739 times
Reputation: 12471
It is a handsome house. The house next door looks to be its twin (or at least sister) and appears to have more of its original elements; the windows look original and have those nice vertical muntins in the upper sash and it also looks to have more of the original cladding. I would look to it as a guide to renovating your house as you can afford to. Get to know your neighbors and get inside that house, I'd be willing to bet it also has some original one panel doors (or they might be five horizontal panels), hardware and other interior architectural elements to replicate or find at an architectural salvage for yours.

Trust me, "little" details like doors and windows are the key to making a period house feel right.

I would "claim" your yard too, corner properties can be problematic if left too open. Put in an attractive fence and you'll have a great play space for the kids and don't forget to put in an entertaining space- deck/terrace for yourselves.
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