Jeannie and I paint my home office
These are the very first photos of us working on the house. They were taken the week before we moved in. We were trying to get the house clean enough to live in. I have this goofy “I can’t believe I’m a home owner” grin on my face!
David stripping the fireplace
Our restoration SWAT team included Jeannie, a long time family friend, who flew in from Indiana for a week. She was amazing. She cooked meals, spackled like a pro, painted, sanded, spent more time with me at Home Depot than either of us probably care to remember and she even helped peel up old linoleum from the bathroom floor!
Living Room
David’s brother Chris flew in from Utah for the weekend to help us paint and whatever else we asked him to do. He said it it was “fun” but he has’t come back to visit since. We think he is waiting until the house is finished.
Looking into the den from the living room
Our friend Jeff also dropped by for a few hours to help paint. I think he went on a McDonalds run or two for us. We lived on McDonalds the first 3 weeks we had the house – especially after Jeannie left.
Looking into the den from the living room
Extra large register vent in the floor between the living room and dining room
Dining room’s built-in china cabinet
Dining room, box beam ceiling
Den
Den floor
Kitchen
Kitchen counter was built right up to the pantry cabinet door. Obviously, the door to the cabinet can’t be opened.
We found a phone jack every 3-5 feet, running all around the upstairs bedrooms. Wonder what all those phones were used for?
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Thanks for the website. Ann and I restored a craftsman 1917 in Jacksonville, Illinois. It was a labor of love. We now live in Montana and for our retirement bought two unfinished condo units in Lewistown. The old Fergus county high school. Design will be craftsman and your pictures are going to be invaluable.
Thanks again.
Chuck,
Glad you enjoy the site! Best of luck with the condo project. It sounds like it will be a lot of work and fun.
Thanks for your post,
h
Dear David and Family,
Oh my god! I was exhausted just looking at the photos of what you have done!
I own a 1924 Craftsman in Florida. Although an abandoned HUD house it was nowhere in need of as much TLC as yours.
I dont know how you all did it. What kept you keeping on. How you handled a RELATIONSHIP RESTORATION?
I do love your dogs and the after photos. I would like to know the secret of your resiliance and perhaps a copy of the restoration diet as you have so untapped energy that I would love to harness
Good luck with it all
Marian
I’ve just read your blog all the way through and arrived at your first post. The amount of work you have done is incredible and inspiring! Your house is gorgeous and I really enjoy your writing. I’ll follow your blog from now on!
I am considering buying a 1914 Craftsman and restoring it to original condition. (Definately NOT remodel to “Modern Craftsman”!) It is in fairly rough shape now and I found your website while researching what it would be like to take on such a project. What I have found is both inspiring and daunting – but it has helped me decide to go ahead with the purchase (IF I can get the owner to accept a reasonable price – I think she is living in 2006!) Thanks for the site and I will bookmark it for future reference!
Just dicovered your site by chance. What an amazing home and an amazing labour of love. Fantastic!
Wow, my dining room and living room have almost the same exact columns/shelves separating them. I also have a built in china cabinet and boxed beam ceilings.
I didn’t think my 102 year old house was built from a kit, but now I’m thinking it was!
You two have done a great job on restoring your old home!
All the phone jacks were most likely set up for bookies. Cool
I am remodeling a 1920 built bungalow right now. Mine has a bit of an art deco feel and has all original white painted cabinets and trim, nothing worth stripping (I tried), but your woodwork is beautiful. Great job. I am having fun… can’t wait to see new pictures!