We had it all planned out…
photo by Anthony Tieuli
Our initial strategy was The Seven Year Plan: Update the home over eight weeks to make it livable for us and then gradually make more updates over the years.
The plan included changing the enclosed sleeping porch (above) into our master bath, making a rough mudroom in the basement, installing air conditioning, updating electrical, repairing roof issues and painting internally. We also wanted to landscape the back yard to make it more level.
We were going to live in the home and pick off various projects over the years, the largest one being a kitchen renovation. Since we had a workable kitchen on the third floor, we felt we could easily live through this work.
Also, working with our designer, Abbey Koplovitz, we developed an attractive and economical plan of how we could decorate, paint and design the home with a future evolution in mind.
Over time we would think through how we would use the existing library and first floor bathroom/laundry room. Perhaps we might get around to building a deck, finishing the basement and updating some bathrooms.
Then I got an e-mail.
Posted by Paul Friedberg | Categories: Newton 2007 | Permalink
(6) Comments
What email did you get that you are referencing? I assume it was from the this old house scouting crew or something but I've always been curious as to how they select the houses they renovate.
I would imagine the landscaper had something to do with it. The small house of last year was nice, but I am enjoy TOH will the big old homes and this is one. Should be an interesting season.
Ryan,
The email story is in the next blog. Basically, it was from a friend of a friend in the March timeframe, just before they were going to settle on their Spring project. We just happened to be in the right place at the right time when we got this fortuitous email. I suppose we could have sent in a standard eMail about our home to the main eMail, but who knows if we would have gotten onto the radar screen. Overall, I think it is a matter of networking, eMailing, persistence...and a a lot of luck! We feel very fortunate to be working with such a great group and hope this will provide material for a good show!
Thanks for the interest!
Landscaper Maybe...
It could have been a lot of things coming together. We were referred to Stephanie Hubbard (landscaper) independently through Treff LaFleche, our architect. When Treff met Tommy and the crew, Richard Trethewey was there as well. It turns out the Treff and Richard had worked togheter on other projects. So I think a lot of things just came together...mostly because of the home and it's potential, but the great people we were already working probably assured TOH that we were going to be easy to work with.
I think it's a damn shame that you'll be getting rid of the sleeping porch instead of restoring it.
My sister and brother in law owned a similar house on Bristol Rd. They use to use the porch in the summer.