Stencil questions

We found this stencil under the bathroom walls.  It ran around the border of the bathroom and the hall area, including the old window in the bathroom space. This stencil, coupled with the linoleum floor makes me wonder if the space had once been a kitchen.

Floor/Ceiling fixes

Its never good when you arrive home and your contractor meets you in the driveway to prepare you for the fact they had to build a temporary retaining wall in the kitchen so the ceiling didn't fall in when fixing the joists in the bathroom above...

Some day this house will be finished, right?

On the Road: Southwest Colorado

My baby brother was just married in Ouray, Colorado and we had a great time visiting. I think most people were busy taking photos of the mountains, but there were other grand details that caught my eye.

I was impressed by the Victorian cottages, dripping in trim.

There were beautiful chandeliers hanging in the barn where the couple were married. They were made to look like old oil lamps and it brought a refined touch to the rustic architecture of a barn.

The Beaumont Hotel was full of interesting things. This safe at reception was painted with pretty details, I love when someone thinks to adorn a utilitarian object.

The wrought-iron supports for the ceiling fans in the cafe, I love this kind of detail.

The house had some fun trim, I love the "eyebrows" over the upper windows.

Here's the happy couple leaving the wedding, isn't the Beaumont Hotel beautiful? That staircase was so grand.

Its over. For now

The crack-house went for auction this morning and we were there bright-eyed and nervous. There were 3 other individuals there, mostly house-flippers. I kept expecting to see HGTV cameras following one of them.

The bank opened the bid at triple our maximum limit. Within 1 minute, the bank took ownership of the property. We felt better about our low bid since no one else bid on the property either.

We can finally stop looking at house plans and dreaming about building a new home for the Beechnuts. Its time to knock some more things off the To-do list here at SOABT.

In over your head, Part 2

We met with the realtor to view the house down the street.

First Floor bathroom had a burst pipe recently and it was patched. We had to do the same thing in our house.Gross old bathrooms in desperate need of updating

Nice tall ceilings, pumpkin pine flooring, large moldings:
Reading nook with arched windows
Large windows with lots of light.

What I didn't get photos of: Extensive water damage, termite damage, leaking pipes with rust and corrosion, and the icing on the cake: a bulging leaning foundation.

So. I guess that's that. We'd be in over our heads.

How to tell when you'd be in over your head?

There is a house for sale a few doors down. We've had our eye on the house because 1) we're suckers for houses that look like they need love and 2)It has lot that's double the size of ours.

This house has a lovely double tombstone door and it looks inviting enough from across the street.


But when you notice plants growing up and out the side

The sagging porches

with the bees flying from a hole in the siding


The snow fence left over from the garage/barn that imploded last winter during a heavy snowstorm

It makes you think twice.

The yard, currently overgrown and not level, has potential. I hate to say the house is a knock-down but I highly doubt there would be much worth saving, since I know there is at least 1 window that's been busted for over 3 years and its been a rental for more than 5 years.

I am waiting for a return call from the realtor, hoping a tour will push me off the fence. I'm just not sure which side of the fence I'll be happy to land on!