Comments on: What Would You Have Said? http://1912bungalow.com/2006/04/what-would-you-have-said/ Articles, reviews, tons of before & after photos, house restoration and interviews for the house obsessed. Get inspired! Fri, 18 May 2012 22:48:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Heather http://1912bungalow.com/2006/04/what-would-you-have-said/comment-page-1/#comment-2958 Heather Wed, 21 Sep 2011 17:30:11 +0000 http://1912bungalow.com/blog/2006/04/07/what-would-you-have-said/#comment-2958 OMG! That is horrible. Your poor Dad. OMG! That is horrible. Your poor Dad.

]]> By: Nikki http://1912bungalow.com/2006/04/what-would-you-have-said/comment-page-1/#comment-2489 Nikki Thu, 30 Dec 2010 03:16:16 +0000 http://1912bungalow.com/blog/2006/04/07/what-would-you-have-said/#comment-2489 I'm so behind, but I just read this. I'm young and just purchased my first condo (new construction)in Chicago a little over a year ago. Now selling (long story) and I desperately want an OLD HOME with all the amazingness old homes have. Living in a new place...I had painted every wall, done designs on the doors, repourposed furniture, added built ins, etc etc, etc....but then it was over. THere was nothing left to do! I kept trying to make my new place appear older than it was (difficult) and once my projects were done....soooo bored. I hate sitting still, I love to work on art or anything really while watching tv. I am glad to have read this....for more perspective. But I am so excited to get into a home like this (maybe not quite that bad in the beginning) but I want to get my hands dirty! Thanks! I’m so behind, but I just read this. I’m young and just purchased my first condo (new construction)in Chicago a little over a year ago. Now selling (long story) and I desperately want an OLD HOME with all the amazingness old homes have. Living in a new place…I had painted every wall, done designs on the doors, repourposed furniture, added built ins, etc etc, etc….but then it was over. THere was nothing left to do! I kept trying to make my new place appear older than it was (difficult) and once my projects were done….soooo bored. I hate sitting still, I love to work on art or anything really while watching tv. I am glad to have read this….for more perspective. But I am so excited to get into a home like this (maybe not quite that bad in the beginning) but I want to get my hands dirty! Thanks!

]]> By: stephen http://1912bungalow.com/2006/04/what-would-you-have-said/comment-page-1/#comment-897 stephen Fri, 13 Oct 2006 20:08:41 +0000 http://1912bungalow.com/blog/2006/04/07/what-would-you-have-said/#comment-897 hi, i just saw this entry. i think i agree with your response for the most part as my wife and i have had mostly the same experiences. it's taken a 6 month hiatus to get us (well, me) working on our house again after 22 months of MAJOR work. i seriously could not imagine a project like ours (and yours i think) with small kids in the house. we routinely had tons of nails, staples and tools littering the place, not to mention piles of debris, likely lots of lead paint, fiberglass, and other toxic whatever in spite of our best efforts. then there are the exposed live wires etc!!. if we ever did anything like this again and we had kids, we either wouldn't do it at all, or we seriously would not live in it. on the other hand, our cat loved the adventure. every day a new nooks and crannies to explore! however, he too was glad when we had our walls back up, cuz then the neighbor cat could no longer pilfer his food! hi, i just saw this entry. i think i agree with your response for the most part as my wife and i have had mostly the same experiences. it’s taken a 6 month hiatus to get us (well, me) working on our house again after 22 months of MAJOR work. i seriously could not imagine a project like ours (and yours i think) with small kids in the house. we routinely had tons of nails, staples and tools littering the place, not to mention piles of debris, likely lots of lead paint, fiberglass, and other toxic whatever in spite of our best efforts. then there are the exposed live wires etc!!.

if we ever did anything like this again and we had kids, we either wouldn’t do it at all, or we seriously would not live in it. on the other hand, our cat loved the adventure. every day a new nooks and crannies to explore! however, he too was glad when we had our walls back up, cuz then the neighbor cat could no longer pilfer his food!

]]> By: steel head http://1912bungalow.com/2006/04/what-would-you-have-said/comment-page-1/#comment-896 steel head Sat, 29 Apr 2006 19:53:49 +0000 http://1912bungalow.com/blog/2006/04/07/what-would-you-have-said/#comment-896 I think it comes down to what the motivation source is. If someone is doing this because it is what their heart is driving them, then it is ok. They will be better able to handle the work and sacrifices. The work and sacrifices should never be underestimated. I think it comes down to what the motivation source is. If someone is doing this because it is what their heart is driving them, then it is ok. They will be better able to handle the work and sacrifices. The work and sacrifices should never be underestimated.

]]> By: Monica http://1912bungalow.com/2006/04/what-would-you-have-said/comment-page-1/#comment-895 Monica Sat, 29 Apr 2006 17:02:57 +0000 http://1912bungalow.com/blog/2006/04/07/what-would-you-have-said/#comment-895 Hi Heather! Love your site. We have a 1908 stuccolow A-frame in Forest Park, Illinois. I think your email is right on the mark. My husband and I would love to have kids, but not when a band saw is residing in the guest room and there are nails on the floor. It's hard enough keeping the house clean for the dog and cats, I couldn't imagine kids! As for house pictures, I have a bad story. Our house was built by the previous owners parents and the previous owner had lived and raised 5 (3 bedroom house!) kids for 80 years. When Jim and I bought the house, we nicely asked for any pictures since we had expressed intrest in restoring the house to it's orginal state. The previous owners took offense to that. They had done a lot of "upgrades" that they were very proud of. One was enclosing the close to orginal claw foot tub in partical board. Oh, it was awful. Oh and the horrible drop ceiling they installed to hide the horrible pipe placement. We have since freed the tub and just finished restoring the bathroom to what it may of looked like. We guess. Happy Restoring! Monica Hi Heather!

Love your site. We have a 1908 stuccolow A-frame in Forest Park, Illinois.

I think your email is right on the mark. My husband and I would love to have kids, but not when a band saw is residing in the guest room and there are nails on the floor. It’s hard enough keeping the house clean for the dog and cats, I couldn’t imagine kids!

As for house pictures, I have a bad story. Our house was built by the previous owners parents and the previous owner had lived and raised 5 (3 bedroom house!) kids for 80 years.

When Jim and I bought the house, we nicely asked for any pictures since we had expressed intrest in restoring the house to it’s orginal state. The previous owners took offense to that. They had done a lot of “upgrades” that they were very proud of. One was enclosing the close to orginal claw foot tub in partical board. Oh, it was awful. Oh and the horrible drop ceiling they installed to hide the horrible pipe placement.

We have since freed the tub and just finished restoring the bathroom to what it may of looked like. We guess.

Happy Restoring!

Monica

]]> By: heather http://1912bungalow.com/2006/04/what-would-you-have-said/comment-page-1/#comment-894 heather Tue, 25 Apr 2006 22:00:24 +0000 http://1912bungalow.com/blog/2006/04/07/what-would-you-have-said/#comment-894 Hi Erik. My husband's family moved to Utah in his late teens. We spent a few holidays in Sandy before his parents moved to Hong Kong. So, I kind-of have an understanding of what not being Mormon means in Utah (my husband's family is not Mormon either). We were lucky because the family that shared photos of our house had special memories of the house and growing up here. I explained that we really want to restore the house and that old photos would be extremely helpful. We were graciously given copies of the exterior but no interior photos. We have been in email contact with the great granddaughters of the man who built our home. They mentioned having photos, which we would love to see or have copies, but people get busy and we haven't yet recieved any of those photos. Even if the family you bought the house from doesn't understand and thinks you're "crazy to be so in love with that old house", if you tell them how much you enjoy the house and fixing it up they might be more willing to share old photos. Let them know that any older photos that show what interior rooms looked like originally would be very helpful to the work you are doing on the house now. Or maybe ask if they have photos of a particuliar room that you are working on. Hopefully, they will be willing to share. I'll be sure to check out your house photos. Best of luck! heather Hi Erik.

My husband’s family moved to Utah in his late teens. We spent a few holidays in Sandy before his parents moved to Hong Kong. So, I kind-of have an understanding of what not being Mormon means in Utah (my husband’s family is not Mormon either).

We were lucky because the family that shared photos of our house had special memories of the house and growing up here. I explained that we really want to restore the house and that old photos would be extremely helpful. We were graciously given copies of the exterior but no interior photos.

We have been in email contact with the great granddaughters of the man who built our home. They mentioned having photos, which we would love to see or have copies, but people get busy and we haven’t yet recieved any of those photos.

Even if the family you bought the house from doesn’t understand and thinks you’re “crazy to be so in love with that old house”, if you tell them how much you enjoy the house and fixing it up they might be more willing to share old photos. Let them know that any older photos that show what interior rooms looked like originally would be very helpful to the work you are doing on the house now. Or maybe ask if they have photos of a particuliar room that you are working on. Hopefully, they will be willing to share.

I’ll be sure to check out your house photos.
Best of luck!
heather

]]> By: Erik Steimle http://1912bungalow.com/2006/04/what-would-you-have-said/comment-page-1/#comment-893 Erik Steimle Tue, 25 Apr 2006 19:56:51 +0000 http://1912bungalow.com/blog/2006/04/07/what-would-you-have-said/#comment-893 My wife and I have been checking out your site for sometime now...its great. We have a 1915 Bungalow in Northern Utah that was bad shape when we bought it in 2001..and we have spent most of our free time and some that wasn't restoring a home that had almost 30 years of serious neglect. You can see it oun our website at: <a href="http://cc.usu.edu/~cha/" rel="nofollow">http://cc.usu.edu/~cha/</a> We are only the second owners of this home. The house stayed in a single Mormon family from the time it was built in 1915 and was passed down to various grand children and great grandchildren as a form of rental starter home..(which led to its real neglect). My question is this...my wife and I are not Mormon and (which somewhat of a big deal here) and I would like to ask the previous owners for some historical photographs of the house...any suggestions on how to go about successfully asking.... PS..they like the changes we have made to the outside but, are rather standoffish about wanting to view all of the restored wood work or other remodels on the inside...I get the feeling they don't understand why we are so in love with this old house... My wife and I have been checking out your site for sometime now…its great. We have a 1915 Bungalow in Northern Utah that was bad shape when we bought it in 2001..and we have spent most of our free time and some that wasn’t restoring a home that had almost 30 years of serious neglect. You can see it oun our website at:

http://cc.usu.edu/~cha/

We are only the second owners of this home. The house stayed in a single Mormon family from the time it was built in 1915 and was passed down to various grand children and great grandchildren as a form of rental starter home..(which led to its real neglect). My question is this…my wife and I are not Mormon and (which somewhat of a big deal here) and I would like to ask the previous owners for some historical photographs of the house…any suggestions on how to go about successfully asking….

PS..they like the changes we have made to the outside but, are rather standoffish about wanting to view all of the restored wood work or other remodels on the inside…I get the feeling they don’t understand why we are so in love with this old house…

]]> By: OA http://1912bungalow.com/2006/04/what-would-you-have-said/comment-page-1/#comment-892 OA Mon, 17 Apr 2006 20:32:58 +0000 http://1912bungalow.com/blog/2006/04/07/what-would-you-have-said/#comment-892 If you are asking what would I prefer to do restoring a home or raising children? I would have restored 20 homes over one kid (this, after raising 3 children now grown)! If you are asking what would I prefer to do restoring a home or raising children?

I would have restored 20 homes over one kid (this, after raising 3 children now grown)!

]]> By: heather http://1912bungalow.com/2006/04/what-would-you-have-said/comment-page-1/#comment-891 heather Sun, 09 Apr 2006 15:49:03 +0000 http://1912bungalow.com/blog/2006/04/07/what-would-you-have-said/#comment-891 Martha, Hi. I can tell from your post just how taken you are with The Fixer In The Hood. I know how it is to find that special, beautiful home. As much as you love the house, I think you made the right decision for all the reasons you mentioned. When the time is right there will be another amazing house waiting for you. There are quite a few families with children who have moved into our area. Most of the children that I know of are still fairly young but some people I have met do have school age kids. I'm not sure what they do about school but I assume most do send their children to private school. I do not see many children playing, riding their bikes or walking the neighborhood unsupervized. Maybe parents enroll their children in more structured type of activities like gymnastics, etc.? We do have an alarm system. We also have 2 dogs. They aren't big but they bark at everything and when they both get going, they sound slightly intimidating. My hunch (and hope) is that as more and more families continue moving into this area things WILL continue to change for the positive. I have already seen a change in the short amount of time we have lived in the neighborhood. But, it's not there yet... Martha,

Hi. I can tell from your post just how taken you are with The Fixer In The Hood. I know how it is to find that special, beautiful home. As much as you love the house, I think you made the right decision for all the reasons you mentioned. When the time is right there will be another amazing house waiting for you.

There are quite a few families with children who have moved into our area. Most of the children that I know of are still fairly young but some people I have met do have school age kids. I’m not sure what they do about school but I assume most do send their children to private school. I do not see many children playing, riding their bikes or walking the neighborhood unsupervized. Maybe parents enroll their children in more structured type of activities like gymnastics, etc.?

We do have an alarm system. We also have 2 dogs. They aren’t big but they bark at everything and when they both get going, they sound slightly intimidating.

My hunch (and hope) is that as more and more families continue moving into this area things WILL continue to change for the positive. I have already seen a change in the short amount of time we have lived in the neighborhood. But, it’s not there yet…

]]> By: Suzanne Prieur http://1912bungalow.com/2006/04/what-would-you-have-said/comment-page-1/#comment-890 Suzanne Prieur Sun, 09 Apr 2006 11:05:12 +0000 http://1912bungalow.com/blog/2006/04/07/what-would-you-have-said/#comment-890 Any activity must align with your general goals in life. Buying an old house is buying a project & it is a huge commitment. If it serves your life & your goals, do it! But do take a good look at what you want to achieve on a long term basis as far as your personal life, your family & mankind at large. I am on my third bungalow & have loved the work, the learning, the challenges, the results, the admiration & gratitude, the neighborhoods & the profits- almost everything about all my projects. (The "almost" comes from times I planned poorly.) I advise anyone contemplating an old house project to consider if it might further & enhance their life plan. If it could, I wish you to have all the wonderful experiences I have! Any activity must align with your general goals in life. Buying an old house is buying a project & it is a huge commitment. If it serves your life & your goals, do it! But do take a good look at what you want to achieve on a long term basis as far as your personal life, your family & mankind at large.

I am on my third bungalow & have loved the work, the learning, the challenges, the results, the admiration & gratitude, the neighborhoods & the profits- almost everything about all my projects. (The “almost” comes from times I planned poorly.)

I advise anyone contemplating an old house project to consider if it might further & enhance their life plan. If it could, I wish you to have all the wonderful experiences I have!

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