A Long Term Relationship

Bungalow-1562 sq feet

3 bedroom/1 bath

Interview on June 25, 2017

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This home begins with a yard full of flowers, a front porch and an arched door. The three bedroom/one bath house was built in 1929 or 1930 and has had just three owners. The current owner bought it for $37,000 in 1978 after it had been on the market just three days.

The house sits on a slight hill, so as we sat at the dining room table and looked out the windows there was a feeling of elevation and wonderful light. The owner pointed out that there have never been problems with plumbing or flooding as a result.

The original arched front door has been maintained and preserved, including the special hardware.

Front Door Hardware

Interior front door knob

The front door opens to a small tiled entry with a coat closet on the right and a "boot chest" to the left. Special tiny windows flank the front door and light the closet and built-in chest.

Front tiled entryway with coat closet to the right and "boot chest" to the left as one enters 

"Boot Chest" - Built in bench with storage under hinged seat 

The original front porch light graces a coffee table.

Original front porch light

The entry steps up into the living room through an archway. A large fireplace with an impressive plaster mantle draws attention. A previous owner installed a Franklin wood burning insert and disabled the gas to the area. As a result, the owner has to "build a fire like a boy scout."

Fireplace mantle - Look closely, you might see where sconces might have once hung 

Woodburning fireplace insert 

Midway up the wall opposite the fireplace are a pair of outlets where sconces might have hung at one time.

One of two outlets midway up wall opposite fireplace where sconces might have hung 

The living room and dining room have vaulted tray ceilings- twelve and ten feet high respectively. They are connected by an archway that mirrors the entryway arch.

A special feature of this home is found in the living room and dining room. Rather than the ubiquitous chandelier, this house has two octagonal art glass lights in the center of the tray ceilings. The living room light is golden glass and the dining room light is green glass. The light bulbs can only be changed from above and the attic access is very small, but long lasting halogen bulbs have made this a less frequent chore.

One of two outlets midway up wall opposite fireplace where sconces might have hung 

Detail: Golden Glass Light 

Green Glass Light in Dining Room 

Detail: Green Glass Light 

The original oak floors have been refinished several times over the years, most recently in 2010. The home has had central heat and air since 1984. The homeowner pointed out that all of the baseboards and window casings in the house are made of tin. You might not realize this unless you ratatat them as we did several times.

Lovely oak floor with baseboards and door casings made of tin 

In 1984, the kitchen was renovated and then refreshed in 2013. The updated kitchen is white with task lighting that can be dimmed and neutral walls/floors. A period appropriate swinging butlers door leads to the dining room (The original one is now a shelf in the garage). The original kitchen was green with red flowered wallpaper. Some of the original kitchen cabinets were re-purposed in the garage.

Original kitchen cabinets now hang in the garage 

While there was some wallpaper in the kitchen, it was everywhere in the bedrooms, including the ceilings. It was apparently very thin, almost like a sealant and probably original-lots of stripes and flowers. The owner steamed it off and has done some drywall replacement, re-plastering and painting over time.

Even the hallway in this bungalow is special. The hall ceiling is vaulted and arched with an original hanging light fixture that is something between rustic, art deco and art nouveau. There is a phone nook with a pass-through to the dining room.

Arched/Vaulted hall ceiling with original light fixture 

Detail: Hall light fixture 

Phone nook in hall with pass through to dining room 

One of the first projects the current owner tackled was a bathroom remodel. The original bath had small black and white rectangular tile with green trim, a five and a half foot long tub and wallpaper with pink flowers. When one of the walls was stripped down to the studs, a small juice glass wrapped up in newspaper advertising a Studebaker car was found. The homeowner placed a newspaper dated July 4th, 1980 in the wall before sealing it back up. A time capsule for the future.

A piece of the original bathroom tile 

Over the years, there have been new windows (many original remain), roofs, wallpaper removal, central heat/air, electric/wiring, floor refinishing and more wallpaper removal. The garage has had a lot of updates too, including a new door, new siding and new cement driveway with wide steps to the back door.

If time and money were no object, the owner stated they might have the interior repainted, professional landscaping or otherwise 'doll it up a bit'. When asked what they appreciate the most about the house, after living here so many years, they answered:

"It is beautiful and well made. The work is artisan. It is unique.  The neighborhood has continued to hold its value. It's easy access to get anywhere."

In their 39 years together, the home and the homeowner have had their ups and downs, good times and challenges. They have had a true relationship with give-and-take: a love story.

“I love cats because I enjoy my home; and little by little, they become its visible soul.”

—Jean Cocteau (director, Orpheus)

P.S.
Thanks go to the homeowner for showing me the wonderful home, P. Casey Morgan, Walter Foddis and Marsha Heasley for editing help.