The hubby & I bought this wee place this past October, here in north-central MA. We're not spring chickens anymore, so I guess it could be considered downsizing, but we've also been anxious for a bit of a project. (We may regret that, but so far, so good.
) We share this upcoming reno with two kittens and our old fat-boy cat.Built in 1910, smothered in cheap, faded vinyl siding, ghastly white vinyl windows and one oddball wide, wood older Anderson window in the LR; a bathroom that will be a complete gut (sheet vinyl 'tile' on the walls, old toilet and just a mess overall), and a kitchen that will almost be a gut - but the upstairs needs almost nothing. Original plaster walls in all but the kitchen & bath, although the LR has typical cheap paneling over them.
Basement is half poured concrete floor and under the kitchen & bath is dirt floor, higher than the rest of the basement, tapering to only about 4' height in the far corner. Two chimneys, one which has been concreted; we'll need an appraisal of their condition this spring. No sign that it ever had fireplaces, and there's never been natural gas in town, so it must have been wood/coal stove or furnace all it's life.
Other than the awfulness of accumulated, cheapside 'improvements', the house is very sound. *knocks wood*
Here's a pic of last October (right), and on the left is a quicky Photoshop of where I hope to go with it; or at least, my initial ideas. The original clapboard is underneath, and I'd love to get back to that, too - but that wouldn't be on the table for this year.
Other than that intro...we're dealing with ice damming damage like everyone else up this way this year. lol *leak, leak* Pretty brutal winter, even for a New Englander!
Soo...hi everyone!
http://oi59.tinypic.com/2r2vkmu.jpg
Your home looks very nice & will be even nicer after completing your plans. Don
