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Saturday, November 28, 2009

New (Old) House: Sneak Peek

Spent the day surveying the new (but very old) house...  Here is a sneak peek (before we move any of our stuff in!)...

from the entry hall, looking at the front door


first floor living room





standing at front door, looking at entry hall and staircase (which is not original to the house, the original 1st floor stair was sadly removed when the place was converted into two apartments, perhaps in the 1930s)

rear covered porch
(the bad 1970s addition, it will hold my office until we can upgrade)

2nd floor landing


2nd floor bedroom (future master bathroom)


2nd floor bedroom (future master bedroom)


another 2nd floor bedroom (future open 2nd floor library)


looking up to the 3rd floor

 
looking down at the 2nd floor landing


3rd floor landing


one of the 3rd floor bedrooms


3rd floor dormer window

These images were carefully selected to impress you, while hiding the true horror that lies beneath...

Rotting windows!


117 year old windows.  On the 3rd floor.  We are currently discussing the issues involved...


...
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16 comments:

  1. Hissyfits & HalosNovember 28, 2009 at 9:36 PM

    It looks beautiful! I can't wait to see it after you give it your magic touch!

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  2. erinNovember 28, 2009 at 10:15 PM

    I am so excited for both of you! I know those windows are rotting, but love them! My parents are phasing out their rope cord windows with replacements windows. The new windows are nice, but have no character.

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  3. marleneNovember 29, 2009 at 10:42 AM

    Please restore your windows if you can! I've helped restore wood windows that are over 200 years old. Old wood windows can last forever - they just need basic maintenance once restored. You can do it yourself, too. The Fairmount Park Trust (in Philadelphia) hosts workshops that instruct homeowners on how to restore and maintain their historic windows: http://www.fairmountparktrust.org/gal-outreach-1.php
    The house is beautiful - and I'm jealous of your yard.

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  4. MKNovember 29, 2009 at 10:55 AM

    Lovely! And so wonderful to see the 3rd floor landing; I love how open it is from the second floor. tIO x

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  5. RLGNovember 29, 2009 at 2:43 PM

    The house is going to be great. Heck, it's already gorgeous! Can't wait to see more, warts and all. xoxo

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  6. PauletteNovember 29, 2009 at 3:27 PM

    Wow--this is gorgeous. I love how luminous the floors are and those beautiful (in need of TLC) windows. I'm looking forward to seeing how you transform it.

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  7. Kelly RobsonNovember 29, 2009 at 6:44 PM

    Thanks, guys!

    Marlene, I promise to try and save the old windows... some may be beyond saving, but others are capable of a new life. I ADORE THE WAVY GLASS so I am going to be on the side of saving each and every window. And there are many...

    I will be visiting that link too! I have a lot of learning to do...

    xx
    Kelly

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  8. So HauteNovember 29, 2009 at 8:17 PM

    What a beautiful old house! It's full of charm and looks like it has great bones. Congratulations!! I can't wait to see what you do with the place!

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  9. Toronto housesNovember 30, 2009 at 6:05 AM

    The house is really wonderful. I just love the atmosphere of old houses. Yeah, the windows are not in a good state, that's true. Still, I think it would be better to restore them than to replace them. Good luck with that.

    Julie

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  10. MagchunkNovember 30, 2009 at 2:01 PM

    Rotting windows aside, it is a beautiful house! Those floors! A lot of work, but it will definitely be a labor of love :)

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  11. EngraciaDecember 1, 2009 at 12:42 AM

    Kelly, what a stunning house, I have alawys lived in old houses and been involved in the restoration, it is always worth the hard work.
    Cheers
    Engracia

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  12. CatherineDecember 1, 2009 at 8:04 PM

    Hi Kelly, The house is gorgeous, love the landings! Happy new house to you - how very exciting! xoTrina

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  13. ZoeBDecember 3, 2009 at 5:15 AM

    I live in a similar aged house but in the UK. Yes there are more energy efficient windows to be had but the originals are fantastic. We have a company in the UK called Ventrolla which renovate sash windows and install there own mechanism which means that you can easily remove top and bottom windows so that you can paint them, or if they are high up, you can clean them. Its a franchise so not sure if its in the USA. We just have beautifully interlined curtains for chilly evenings.
    ZoeB

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  14. Dayka RobinsonDecember 14, 2009 at 2:26 AM

    Are you moving here? Love older homes, and the newel posts are beautiful. So much work, but it will probably be so worth it. Can't wait to see what you do!

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  15. AnonymousJanuary 26, 2011 at 7:09 PM

    Wonderful house!!!
    Our's is smaller version of it. Please try and restore the windows, my husband and i did ours and although we are still doing them it has been worth it.
    He stripped them all of 100+ years of paint to the wood then sanded and I painted and reglazed them..neither of us had ever done this before and we are in our early sixties(but that's still young :) ..You can do it! Can't wait to see it finished!
    Best of luck.
    Georgia, South Eastern Ma.

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  16. DawnJuly 12, 2012 at 9:38 AM

    I can not wait to see wait you do in your new space!! Your home is very similar to my Victorian in VA, which we have been working on slowly for the last 8 years. It is so fun breathing life back into these charming old houses.

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