We're just a few days away from closing escrow on a 1913 Craftsman home in the greatest Central Iowa neighborhood. It's my dream house... well, 98%. (Victorians are never in great neighborhoods, but this one is a Craftsman with a bit of Victorian holdover.) We got it on short sale. It's a cosmetic nightmare, but our inspector told us it has great bones. I'm very excited, but we've got a lot of work ahead of us. In no particular order...
Front porch:
-correct sloping (possible porch floor rebuild)
-fix cracks in stucco at base of pillars
-repaint Lister premold steps
-add porch rails
Formal living room:
-strip wallpaper (that was painted)
-open up the window that was walled over inside, but never removed
-repair 2ft around plaster break that is pebbley behind wallpaper
Sitting room:
-add back the French Doors (G-d knows why someone ditched 'em)
-eliminate 70's style paneling
-ditch 80's vertical blinds
Formal dining room:
-remove wallpaper above plate rail
-remove paint from plate rail, built in buffet, etc
-replace warped corn board with something... wainscoting?
-change out 80's brass chandelier with era-appropriate reproduction
-replace rotted out HVAC duct
Kitchen:
-refinish hardwood floors (worst hardwoods)
-temp face lift (paint cabinets, replace counters, add peninsula)
-full remodel to come
Family room:
-strip cheap paneling, insulate behind?, drywall
1/2 Bath (5'x5'):
-remove stool and vanity and vanity
-replace subfloor, add hardi-backer, hex tile from restorationtile.com?
-possibly move sink by 20 inches to more logical location?
-upgrade cheapo pocket door
Stairs:
-replace 2 missing balusters
Master suite:
-flooring... carpet in the bedroom, vinyl over asbestos tile in bathroom
or self remove asbestos tile if I can get up the guts...
Bedroom 2:
-finish repainting for childs theme
-remove lead paint from windows and some trim
-replace antique doorknob with working era-appropriate knob
Bedroom 3/4:
-replace carpeting
-possibly re-route doorways so each can be independently accessed
-fix broken plaster that surrounds closet inner walls
Bedroom 5:
-remove peeling wallpaper
-change carpet
Family bath:
-remove "attack of the 50's" 10ftx14in full length vanity
-replace flooring
Back stoop:
-add safety rails
Garage:
-remove rotted siding
Whole exterior:
-repaint exterior (cedar shakes weren't primed well enough and turn of
the century stucco wasn't cleaned well so paint job has poor adhesion)
-remove classic windows one by one and restore
Yard:
-get control... it's quite... um... unique...
Our house... where vision meets reality in 5-10 years!~:whistling2:
Front porch:
-correct sloping (possible porch floor rebuild)
-fix cracks in stucco at base of pillars
-repaint Lister premold steps
-add porch rails
Formal living room:
-strip wallpaper (that was painted)
-open up the window that was walled over inside, but never removed
-repair 2ft around plaster break that is pebbley behind wallpaper
Sitting room:
-add back the French Doors (G-d knows why someone ditched 'em)
-eliminate 70's style paneling
-ditch 80's vertical blinds
Formal dining room:
-remove wallpaper above plate rail
-remove paint from plate rail, built in buffet, etc
-replace warped corn board with something... wainscoting?
-change out 80's brass chandelier with era-appropriate reproduction
-replace rotted out HVAC duct
Kitchen:
-refinish hardwood floors (worst hardwoods)
-temp face lift (paint cabinets, replace counters, add peninsula)
-full remodel to come
Family room:
-strip cheap paneling, insulate behind?, drywall
1/2 Bath (5'x5'):
-remove stool and vanity and vanity
-replace subfloor, add hardi-backer, hex tile from restorationtile.com?
-possibly move sink by 20 inches to more logical location?
-upgrade cheapo pocket door
Stairs:
-replace 2 missing balusters
Master suite:
-flooring... carpet in the bedroom, vinyl over asbestos tile in bathroom
or self remove asbestos tile if I can get up the guts...
Bedroom 2:
-finish repainting for childs theme
-remove lead paint from windows and some trim
-replace antique doorknob with working era-appropriate knob
Bedroom 3/4:
-replace carpeting
-possibly re-route doorways so each can be independently accessed
-fix broken plaster that surrounds closet inner walls
Bedroom 5:
-remove peeling wallpaper
-change carpet
Family bath:
-remove "attack of the 50's" 10ftx14in full length vanity
-replace flooring
Back stoop:
-add safety rails
Garage:
-remove rotted siding
Whole exterior:
-repaint exterior (cedar shakes weren't primed well enough and turn of
the century stucco wasn't cleaned well so paint job has poor adhesion)
-remove classic windows one by one and restore
Yard:
-get control... it's quite... um... unique...
Our house... where vision meets reality in 5-10 years!~:whistling2: