Open House Sunday 23

built 1929

Oh...I have a lot to say about this house. 

It's on my street and from the outside has many similar design elements.

It has a higher peak to the roof line which I like and wish mine had.

It has the same serpentine column on the front porch but has curved steps rather

than just the normal steps mine has. It also has wrought iron around the side porch which I like.

And it has a big window in the living room which I wish my house had.

I was shocked when I drove down the street the other day and saw this home for sale.

It had sold only last February.

Earlier this summer, a friend in the neighborhood had called me to tell me she was very upset about the 

changes being made in that house.

She had stopped by to see what all the workmen were doing there one day.

Supposedly, the new owner was moving up from Texas and wanted the home totally renovated 

before he moved.

This is a beautiful home and the quality of materials used in this renovation are very very nice.

Unfortunately, all the historic character of this house has been destroyed.

Word is he hired a local decorator to oversee this homes reno.

This decorator usually works in non historic neighborhoods. Her lack of knowledge of historical significance of original detail is obvious by what she has done to this house.

Let's start with the outside lighting.

It's too large and obviously new. 

I would have either put in true vintage light fixtures or bought new that looked old from some place like...

http://www.rejuvenation.com/

Here are a couple of their options that would have been appropriate.

  

Both have matching fixtures for the porch.

And they are the correct scale for the house. 

What they put up are too large and look like they were bought at Home Depot although I'm sure they weren't.

The home has a cute little side porch. I'd love to have this.

The garage looks great. I didn't think doors like this were allowed as per historic rules.

But perhaps they are and I do love them. This is about the only good choice the decorator made.

You can see the Texas vibe in this decor. 

They added the fake wood beams.

They only detract from the beauty of the original ceiling. 

It should have been left as was.

This home was redone for a single man which is why the decor is so masculine.

Way too much brown.

The sideboard is covering up a large amount of the front window! 

It's too big and in the wrong spot.

Here is the biggest tragedy. They ripped out the original art tile fireplace!

They didn't even have the sense to at least take it out carefully so it could have been

put in someone else's home.

A girlfriend of mine was just sick about this because she wanted it for her house.

My friend who went by that day said, "I hope you realize you just tore out $20,000 worth of tile".

The workmen did not care. They were just doing as told.

Just a terrible mistake. I can't believe the decorator was this stupid.

The dining room.

I like the color on the walls...thank goodness they kept the old heating vent. I love those.

Those chairs are too large for the space and the wall clock is dumb.

A poor choice of a chandelier. A vintage one would be so much better. 

They widened the doorway to the kitchen and added a bar. Fine in another home but not in this one.

Here you can see the bar. 

They gutted the kitchen and ripped out the wall between the kitchen and breakfast nook to make 

the kitchen larger.

I understand why they did this but again it's taken away the house's character.

I was never in this home before renovations.

I was told it was very very nice and I believe that because it sold for top dollar.

I'm sure there was probably a lovely built in china cabinet in the breakfast nook where this cabinet 

and stove are now. 

I will admit this is a beautiful kitchen and that stove is gorgeous.

But I would have rather seen it done over to look more vintage and kept the original breakfast nook.

It's a pretty kitchen...it's just too modern for this house. Personally I don't really care for refrigerators 

with cabinets built all around them. I know it's still a fridge. Let it be a fridge. 

Same for hiding fridge doors to make them look like cabinets. 

It's a kitchen...it's ok for there to be a refrigerator. 

Nice spot by the side door for the dog's stuff. I do like this.

There appears to be two baths. 

I like this one the most because it retains the vintage feel a little bit although all the tile has been ripped 

out and replaced with marble and subway tile.

This is the other bath.

Love the towel rack.

Again subway tile and marble.

Yes, it's beautiful but where did the original tile go? And from what I understand these baths were 

in pristine condition before they were torn apart.

I like that lavatory but not here.

Close up of tile. Pretty but not true to the historic feeling that should have been considered. 

And the backyard. No photos of the bedrooms which is disappointing.

What do you think about this house? It makes me very sad.

I have nothing against the way this house looks except it should never have been done to a 1929 home.

Now this guy has it up for sale. 

I don't know what happened but I guess he does not want to live here after all or his plans changed.

I'm sad that whoever lives here in the future will never experience the original details of this home.

This home could have been renovated in such a way that would have kept the character and would 

have modernized it too.

You can see the listing here.