We bought a fixer upper!
We’re in the process of gutting it but this is how it looked when we bought it. Watch the full tour here:
This house was built in 1900 which means the modern amenities we know and love (i.e. bathrooms, laundry rooms) were not part of the original plan. Because we’re taking this house down to the studs, we have the pleasure of uncovering where things used to be.
Our 80+ year old neighbor used to live in our house when he was a boy so we’ve been able to glean a little bit of its history.
Renovating VS Restoring
When it comes to old houses I am indifferent, at best. I’ve never felt specifically called to restore an old house to its original stature, though I commend those that do.
But that started to change once we began uncovering bits of its history. I read somewhere that old houses like these were built to be passed down from generation to generation. They were built to last.
This house is a testament to that because the bones are still strong 120+ years later.
But, that’s about it.
At some point in its 120 year old life, it fell into disrepair. A cat damaged the woodwork and its urine permeated every single layer of floor- carpet, carpet pad, subfloor, plywood layer- to the point where there is some hefty water (urine) damage, especially in the living room.
We found water damage behind the drywall – an entire corner of the house was completely rotted – so we had to pull up the rest of the drywall to ensure we were fixing all the water damage. (Most of this damage is in the addition as drywall wasn’t a thing in 1900.)
We’re trying to save what we can but it isn’t much.
ALL the carpet is going. Rooms will get new drywall, flooring and a new ceiling where needed. Lighting will be updated and we’re putting in a new furnace & A/C. The plumbing and electrical needs to be redone. The exterior walls aren’t insulated so that will be addressed as well. All new gutters, mold remediation, septic & venting fixed…
And more.
Did I mention we’re doing most of it ourselves?
We may not be able to restore it using original pieces but we will repair the damage and breathe new life into it in hopes of increasing the longevity another 120+ years.
The Entry Way
As soon as you walk in, you’re greeted with this:
It makes for a slightly awkward entry way as it’s difficult to fit myself carrying a carseat carrier through it. We can’t take it all out because the original brick chimney and hot air vent is located to the right and behind this wall. But, we will take out what we can and chip away at layers of plaster & paint to expose the chimney.
Our plan is to create a drop zone entry way to the left.
*All plans subject to change*
The Kitchen
At some point, the present day kitchen used to have a bathroom and a window in the corner. That has since been bricked & plastered over – I’m guessing when the garage was added in the 1970s..?
Because it’s an older house, the windows are long and narrow. As you can see with the stove, the windows go below counter height so we’ll probably have to adjust one of the windows.
Listing Photos 
Formal Dining Room
I’m not sure if this room was always a formal dining room but as we were demoing, we discovered the original location of the stairs against the back wall.
As there are only 3 rooms on the main level, this room will most likely be something other than a formal dining room. My vision is a formal sitting/receiving room/study. This is where the bookcases, a writing desk, and maybe some chairs.
We’re taking off the tile ceiling and exposing the old beams!
Living Room
I desperately want to convert this room into the kitchen/dining as it’s the biggest room. I spend a big part of my day in the kitchen and wherever I am, the kiddos follow. But, it just doesn’t seem practical to give up the prime living space to put in a kitchen disproportionate to the rest of the house.
#sadday
This room is the addition built in the 70s and needs the most work. Right behind the brick corner is where the rot goes to the siding. The windows, drywall, subfloor, vents, and outlets all need to be replaced. The air vents (not sure if they work) are rusted through and squishy and crumbling. There’s no A/C in the house so window units were used.. improperly is my guess. They drained inside the house and it appears the water was left to damage everything in its path.
The wall by the stairs is also rotted.
But we’re going to fix it up and this will be our family room.
Listing Photos 
Stairs
I have big plans for these stairs! They are surprisingly wide. The carpet will be torn up and I’m hoping to refinish the wood in a light natural color and maybe even paint the front face.
Upstairs
The master bedroom (which I guess is called the primary bedroom now) is also in the addition and needs a LOT of work. I’m not sure anything is salvageable. On the morning of closing, we discovered the closet floor was completely rotted. If you jumped, you’d probably fall through.. Because it was borderline a hoarders house, there was too much stuff to see the room itself during the inspection.
We also discovered that there is no heat in the room, either.
Questionable burns & holes & stains on the wall…
*I’m blue da ba de da ba da*
Oh, and there are no listing photos of any of the bedroom upstairs… which speaks to the state they were in.
2nd Bedroom
This will be the kids’ room.
The closet is connected to the 3rd bedroom so we’ll probably put up a wall and separate them.
3rd Bedroom
This will also be a kids’ room as our family grows but for now, I think it will be my office.
Bathroom
The bathroom will be completely gutted and redone. Currently this is the only bathroom in the house but we have plans to change that.
Garage
The garage has so much potential – it’s just as long as the house. Our plan is to add in a first floor bathroom and laundry room!
Future Plans
Once we’ve made it through the critical phase of the renovations, we have some fun extras we’d like to add including, but not limited to, a solarium, secret study, and more. Then there’s the whole exterior makeover when the weather allows for it.
But for now, we’re going to focus on repairing the essentials so we can move in.
Catch up on our homebuying process here:
Up Next: DEMO!
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