My Place: Front View – What a metamorphosis!

This is what My Place looked like shortly after we purchased it in September 2005. Surely it was asking, “Where’s the love?”  Shrubs and trees were overgrown, steps were unlevel, and (though it’s hard to see in this picture) the roof over the front porch was sagging terribly …


The knee walls flanking the steps were crumbling …


The front porch ceiling was water damaged with large sections that needed to be replaced …


The entire house needed a new paint job and a face lift.  And that downspout REALLY needed to be moved to another location! Such an eyesore …


But the old lady was built in 1907 with great bones and some really nice things in her favor. This poured concrete detailing is one of them.  Above almost every window in the original house (more about the 1930s/40s addition another time) AND serving as a threshold at every exterior door, this feature offers a sense of timelessness and “presence” to the house.


We immediately began adding the love … and the sweat … a little blood … and a few tears … $$$ … lots of fun design work — and she started looking better.


A rebuilt front porch and new paint — and a re-positioned downspout! …


Changing the paint color from rusty orange to this wrought iron grey — to show off the great original pressed tin detailing …


Leveling the front steps (We used old brick from a chimney that had to be lowered a few courses to give it stability.) … Rebuilding the knee walls, adding lighting to the new concrete caps … Removing the old storm door (don’t worry — we kept it to re-purpose!), painting the front door, and installing new hardware …


Painting the floorboards … putting out wicker furniture … hanging ferns …


And finally, switching from re-creating a house … to creating a home.


See … Even if you’ve never renovated an old house, we have something in common — we’re both creating our homes. So whether yours is a home for one, two, or ten, I hope you’ll choose every day to enjoy the process … adding love and kindness and beauty every chance you get.

 

 

 

Comments

  1. Wow, what a nice transformation

  2. Wow, your hard work has really paid off! Your home is beautiful and I love the big front porch.

  3. It looks great! I love your porch!

  4. You have a beautiful home-enjoy!

  5. Oh my goodness, you had a diamond in the rough! You all did a great job with the transformation. I know it took a lot of time and energy but she looks so much more loved now. You’re right, great bones. What a lovely home, I know you are truly enjoying it! Thanks so much for sharing.
    Sharlotte

  6. Susan, I so admire anyone that can see the potential and then also have the stamina to make all the necessary changes. Your home is absolutely gorgeous. What a thrill to have such a lovely place rescued and turned into such a beautiful home. I am totally impressed. Hugs, Marty

  7. Your home is gorgeous! I love your front porch, especially the ceiling! And the tin detail is wonderful, too! I also adore your floral arrangement! Saw you over at Metamorphosis Monday.

  8. You did an amazing job! Beautiful home.

  9. Susan it is beautiful! You’re creating a lovely and charming home. It’s so welcoming! 🙂

  10. Wow! Wow! Wow! Bet your neighbors love you…for fixing it up so fabulously… Love front porches!!
    Great transformation! (stopping by from Met Mon. )

  11. Oh, the hard work you put into your home really paid off! It’s so lovely!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia 😉

  12. That porch is gorgeous. Your hard work has definitely paid off.

  13. Amazing! My mom is in the middle of an old house renovation so understand how much hard work it took to get your place looking this good.

  14. Love your front porch — and I also love old houses — there is just something about them . . . . great idea reusing the brick!

  15. What a great job! And a beautiful porch!
    Excellent work.

  16. I love that you have preserved this old beauty!!! Great job!!!

  17. wow, it looks great! i love those columns! fantastic redo!

  18. Wow, that is just such a lovely redo!

  19. WOW, WOW, WOW! Susan, not only are these amazing pictures – but the arms of your home are reaching out to give you a HUGE HUG! Oh how stunning this is. I love it when people take the time to nurture old houses. Great work, Fabulous post, and wonderful inspiration. I’ll be back tomorrow! 🙂

  20. Beautiful! I was so excited to get to the after pictures to see what you did. You can definitely see how much love you put into this home. Very inviting.

    Christi @ A Southern Life
    http://asouthernlife.com

  21. What a beautiful home you have. I can see how much you love her by your care and the detail you used while restoring her.

    Thanks for sharing!

    Brittany
    http://www.prettyhandygirl.com

  22. The exterior looks wonderful and is so well renovated. Now we’d like to see inside! Please stop by if you have time. Jane F.

  23. Susan, thank you for saving this gorgeous old home. She is beautiful! I know she is so glad the right person came along to take care of her and return her to her glory!
    Love the ferns and that magnificient front porch!

  24. WOW! What a trasformations! Your home is awesome! I’ve always wanted to fix up an old house…maybe someday.

    Waving from Our Back Porch,
    Rebecca

  25. I am visiting some of you older post and love this one since I dream of wanting to do the same…Lord willing…you have done a great job, it looks wonderful

  26. I am new to your blog and I love love your home. I grew up in an old Victorian home in WV that my parents restored. At the time, I thought I lived in an “old” house while all my friends were lucky to live in those new 1960″s atrocities. OH, the ignorance of youth. What I wouldn’t give to own that home today. But I digress, I too have a love of vintage linens so that is what drew me to your blog. MY passion is quilting and incorporating vintage linens into my quilting. I also have a special needs grandson, James, wh was born 4 yrs ago with CP. He is the inspiration for many of my posts lately in that he has had some life changing surgeries within the past year or so. Hope you will visit me over at grandmama’s Stories.
    Blessings
    Gmama Jane

  27. Love what you did with this house! I would love to curl up with a good book and a sweet tea on that porch!

    Gloria