  Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 5515 Registered: 10-2003 |
Anybody have before and after pictures of work they've done on their house? Here's how my living room progressed:  At this point I had already ripped down a wallpaper border from the top of the wall, and ripped off all the trim and moulding that had been painted over at least 6 times.  Replaced and rewired all the outlets and switches with grounded electrical from this century, new wood covers for those. Made new trim and moulding to match the old proportions. Stripped that SWEET heat register grate down to the metal and just polished it up. That's one of my favorite things (lower left photo). There's two more in this room I restored as well. Refinished the wood floors, threw out the crappy plastic blinds and bought new window treatments, plenty of plaster work on the ol' plaster walls.  This wall had thick tongue and groove wood paneling on it. Tore that down to reveal a BUSTED-UP original plaster wall. Decided there was no fixing that, so drywalled instead. (There's my E&B Brewery barrel I'm always bringing up)  Same stuff here. Some of you may remember me asking what to do about my textured ceiling. In the end, I scraped the hell out of it with the backside of a push broom, then painted over it. It's still textured, but MUCH better than before, and I didn't have to spend a zillion dollars. Those photos above my piano are historic pictures of downtown Ferndale ranging from the 20's to the 50's. Oh yeah, and I built that cat tree for my kitty. Next stop: Hallway. I'd love to see what others may have done with their older homes. | ||
Carolcb Member Username: Carolcb Post Number: 4002 Registered: 11-2006 |
Looks good. When I saw the title I was hoping you had photos! | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 5516 Registered: 10-2003 |
Thanks! I'm hoping some of our Detroit friends have some pictures they'd like to share of their even OLDER houses. | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 4733 Registered: 12-2005 |
That was the color of my dorm room walls in college! I kid you not! I love the wooden floor. Good job. | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 5521 Registered: 10-2003 |
Thanks, the floor came out well. Considering previous owners have driving a bunch of nails into it in a futile attempt to keep it from squeaking. That doesnt work, and then you have nails in your floor. But they were all pulled and filled before the refinishing and you don't notice them now. But hell, you can't buy oak like that anymore. The grain in it is beautiful. It's a mix of red and white oak, so the different colors in it are very nice. | ||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 2831 Registered: 01-2005 |
Nice work, John! U the piano player? | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 5522 Registered: 10-2003 |
Ha, yes Ray. Though one of my good friends really shows me up on it when he comes by. | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 5523 Registered: 10-2003 |
I'd really like to see how Rhymeswithrawk's house is coming along.... | ||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 2835 Registered: 01-2005 |
Know the feeling. I played for years, but the arthritis in the fingers has me pulling a Favre. When we moved two years back, I gave my Kimball spinet to my niece. Fortunately, she came with two fullbacks to move the dang thing. Kind of miss it. It was very relaxing do diddle around. Years of enjoyment! | ||
Chuckjav Member Username: Chuckjav Post Number: 442 Registered: 09-2007 |
Johnlodge...Looks very nice - Job Well Done! Motivates me to do similar work in my home. | ||
Rhymeswithrawk Member Username: Rhymeswithrawk Post Number: 1174 Registered: 11-2005 |
"I'd really like to see how Rhymeswithrawk's house is coming along...." Well, ran into some money issues, so things have been pretty offline for the past few months, what with the holidays and all. The kitchen was the big item. Had all 2,800 sq. feet of floors refinished (paid to have it done). New storms on all 35 or so windows. Removal of all the peeling lead paint and redid that. Next up: Taming the backyard and painting the wooden porch. I ran out of warm enough days to get the job done last fall. | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 5653 Registered: 10-2003 |
You targeted some high ticket items first, but it's good to get them out of the way. I have plenty of windows that will need to be replaced as well. Anybody who collects old counter-weights for some reason should let me know.  | ||
Plymouthres Member Username: Plymouthres Post Number: 475 Registered: 02-2007 |
Johnlodge- I'll take those counterweights for Fort Wayne if you don't mind! We are currently in the process of double hung 9-over-9 light sash restoration of the Old Barracks Building and many of the counterweights that were there are missing. Any donation on your part is completely tax deductibile(we are now a 501c3 organization) and you could help do your part by passing around some of the cities assets! By the way, I've been following your house remodel for sometime on this forum. You should be proud of yourself for your fortitude and "sticktoittiveness"! Don't "replace" those windows until you come out to a workday at the Fort. As I said, we are in the midst of restoring all of those sash in the OBB, so if you want a primer in window restoration BEFORE you decide to replace just show up. I can show you some alternatives to straight out replacement using what you currently have.You may very well save enough restoring them rather than replacing them to do another project that you hadn't thought you could fit in! Look forward to seeing you at the Fort sometime this summer! | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 5663 Registered: 10-2003 |
Ah, thanks for the advice Plymouth. If you are in need of counterweights, I was recently at the Architectural Salvage Warehouse on Grand River, and upstairs they have a TON of them. Nobody is ever going to buy them. I would suggest contacting them, as I only have a few. I plan to get out to the Fort this year! | ||
Plymouthres Member Username: Plymouthres Post Number: 476 Registered: 02-2007 |
My plan was to sneak over to ASW one day soon-I just need to remember not ot take too much money with me..........! | ||
Jams Member Username: Jams Post Number: 7893 Registered: 10-2003 |
Sorry Jl, I've a few of those counterweights in my basement that I was willing to give you, but Plymouthres and the HFWC will be the recipients of those, as I so enjoy the workdays and the knowledge I've received there. BTW your photos have been a source of great frustration to me. I had just restarted the redo of my back bedroom, and the tiling of my back hallway and basement stairs. While I've plenty of free time, currently, only having one arm to work with severely limits me.  | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 5665 Registered: 10-2003 |
Oh, I don't WANT counterweights, I was offering mine up. That is terrible about your arm. I hope you get better soon. And may that cretin get a counterweight upside the head. | ||
Nainrouge Member Username: Nainrouge Post Number: 1086 Registered: 05-2006 |
Renovation pics of my brother's house on Grosse Ile. Built in 1836. Moved across the island. It was featured on HGTV and This Old House magazine. http://www.coldjensens.com/?q= image/tid/3 | ||
Billpdx Member Username: Billpdx Post Number: 68 Registered: 05-2006 |
before:  after:  But, this wasn't in Detroit. It's my old house in Portland. | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 5751 Registered: 10-2003 |
Wow, what was going on with the front of that house before you remodeled it? You really stuck to period architecture with your re-do, NICE JOB! The world is one house nicer for your efforts. | ||
Billpdx Member Username: Billpdx Post Number: 69 Registered: 05-2006 |
Thanks John. It's been over a year, but we still miss the red house. | ||
Mozeewink Member Username: Mozeewink Post Number: 39 Registered: 03-2008 |
Bill, that house is beautiful! You must be so proud... Can you bring that house to Detroit? | ||
Detroithabitater Member Username: Detroithabitater Post Number: 130 Registered: 10-2006 |
http://redemptionincorktown.bl ogspot.com | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 5756 Registered: 10-2003 |
Great blog, DH. What a unique home that is. The addition you built seems to carry on a long tradition of building onto homes in that area. And to think some people would prefer a Pulte home that looks identical to every other home in their neighborhood. | ||
Sknutson Member Username: Sknutson Post Number: 1095 Registered: 03-2004 |
Ditto. That is a great blog. How come I never knew about it? Seeing a Detroit house under restoration is always so great to see. BTW, DH, still love the Escape Hybrid. |
