Moving into the 1795 cape (maybe 1830?)

[jharkin]

Hi All-

I know everybody loves photos so here are a few more. We closed on the 1795 house last week and my wife has been taking photos as we get to work.

First a better view of the exterior:



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Edit

Since this thread started a few of the projects have been documented in subthreads.

Rotten Sill Repair, Summer 2009
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=20321

The Front Entry Restoration and new entrance door, Fall 2010
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=24714

Trying to date the house more accurately -It might be closer to 1830.
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=26466

Fun with bad wiring
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=28866

[jharkin]

Now the interior. The house is basically in move in condition, as the last 2 owners did a TON of restoration work and really kept it in great shape. However we do have different taste for color so we are repainting 2 rooms before move in day.

First room to be done is the den (PO used it as MBR). My wife has the eye for color and design, and wanted to reverse the light/dark of the room to make the trim and fireplace stand out more and lighten up the room.


Before:


After:
The wall color is a Benjamin Moore historic color she selected called Powell Buff.

[jharkin]

Next room to be done is our new master bedroom. PO's use it as a den. We reversed the front 2 rooms as the old MBR is attached to the basement stairwell and is on the darker side of the house.

Before photo. We were not keen on the brown wallpaper.


So it came down.


These were taken halfway trough removal. A few more house of scraping, scrubbing with TSP and spackling and as we left it the walls were ready to be sanded and primed.


That's all for the first long weekend. After photos of the MBR next week once the paint goes up...


EDIT 6/18:
Here is the room after paint. Still have the doors to finish.

[wletson]

The den came out great! 1795, and all you need to do is change the colors in a couple of rooms?

Awesome house!

[S Melissa]

Yeah, that's what you call a "lucky duck!" Looks awsome!

[James]

Thats very nice, wish my place was in that good a condition. Looks like you have some nice wide floor boards.

[Civil War Seamstress]

Super HOUSE! Congrads!!!

Holliston is a nice town, as are the surrounding areas like Millis etc.
I just love the center of town. We attend the Civil War Returning Heroes BAll at the town hall each March.

[sunny H]

Beautiful house and I love your lovely doors!

[jharkin]

Thanks all for the wonderful compliments!!

Civil War-
Definitely agree with you about the town, it was at the top of our list when house hunting. We just love the classic old New England feel of the town center...

For the others who haven't been here - if you like early American homes this town is just perfect. Washington Street (main road through town) is lined with homes ranging from 1700 to 1900. We were going to look at a couple even older but decided they were too much work.

For example, this old saltbox for sale was a tavern in the 1700's and supposedly George Washington himself had a drink there during the revolution. We wanted to go take a look but its listed by appointment only and we knew this place was more of a project than we were ready to take on.
http://www.realestatebook.com/homes/listing/101-538194108/1919-WASHINGTON-ST-Holliston-MA-01746/

[jharkin]

1795, and all you need to do is change the colors in a couple of rooms?

I know, we were amazed at the condition also. We just got really lucky. I really admire a lot of the projects I see folks take on here - I wouldn't have the guts (not to mention $) to take on a complete reno yet.

Having said that, we do have a list of future projects already...

Short term (this year)

• repaint den/family room (done)
• strip wallpaper and repaint MBR (in progress)
• cleaning up and re-running all the phone/cable wiring in the house and adding cat5 for data. I am putting in a central network panel in the basement (next week)
• strip wallpaper and repaint kitchen (fall)
• take down some 1980's wood paneling in the kitchen to expose more of the chimney brickwork (fall)
• Electrical needs updating to 200amp. 100amp breaker panel is overloaded (project for the electrician this summer)
• 1 beam and a couple of floor joists in the basement have powder post beetle damage and need reinforcement (this summer)
• second floor window sills need some patching and repainting (water rot)

Longer term

• More first floor joists probably need reinforcing
• A few more rooms need repainting
• Building a closet for the MBR (The shallow built in you see next to the fireplace has dead space behind it where an old closet in the adjoining room was boxed in, we can break into that to make a real closet)
• The big one: Try to find some way to add a second bathroom (1 wont be enough when kids come along)
• Concrete slab in garage needs major repair (caved in in one corner)
• Thinking about options to add a patio
• Fencing around the yard is rotting out and needs to be replaced