My Brother's Craigslist Score

Another pre-Christmas story. My mom told me my brother got something off of Craigslist but he didn't want to tell me what because he was afraid I would break into his house and steal it in the middle of the night. He didn't even tell her what it was as he wanted it to be a surprise. We were both intrigued but had made a good guess since he was lacking a stove in his kitchen.

He doesn't have to worry about me stealing it because there is no freakin' way it would fit in my kitchen!

(I think my camera phone decided to tint everything green to match the tiles)

$100, including delivery, so you can't really beat that! I think he said it was working except for one of the burners??? Sorry Frankie, I can't remember what you said! Especially since I think I was out of the room for part of the story... It is very clean and pretty looking though!

It's a Miracle!

It finally happened, nearly 8 months after an original closing date Frankie FINALLY was able to close on a house! Last January we found this really neat house seen here. That find was too easy so random unforeseen drama ensued which you can read about here. No one was ever able to track her down. The agent finally got a hold of her son who only said "I don't know anything about it." Hmm, despite being the 3rd party I can sense the family tension. There were so many neat pieces of furniture and features in that house it makes me sad to think about it still sitting there and falling into disrepair fast as the roof was showing its age.
Anyways, last May we came across a lovely Victorian which I wanted to buy, Mark said no so I talked Frankie into making an offer. He made a ridiculously low offer, they accepted and we have been patiently? waiting through several pushed back closing dates (it was a short sale) to get inside, scrub it down and move his Lego and G.I.Joe hoard out of my basement. I plan on helping him decorate (to my taste) and then when he is tired of it I will buy it from him and it will be all ready for me to move my stuff in. Mwahaha. Fortunately we seem to have about the same taste so he'll never realize whats happening...except I told him my plan already.

(assessor's website photo which is why it's tagged 2006)

Thanks to the addition off the back the garage is attached! Plus there is a cute little (what I envision as) a potting shed bumped off the side. He plans on painting the house something other than white which will bring out all of the different trim details.

I will start the tour with the  front door/entry.

The entry still has fancy crown molding. (The other ceilings have been lowered so we are unsure if the other rooms had/still have it)

The house has plenty of fancy light fixtures to satisfy my obsession and it begins in the entry. (You'll have to click to enlarge it and I'll have to see if I can get a better photo).

Fancy hat hooks also adorn the wall.

We went through the house to clear the clutter the previous owners left behind and this was the result (except for the baby and diaper bag). They also left all of their old cleaning supplies so that was nice along with a new door for the garage and tile for the upstairs bathroom.

A lot of it is going to the donation pile but there were a lot of fun crafty items my mom and I are going to divide. 

Ha! I don't know why he makes me laugh. I'm taking him if Frankie doesn't need him! 

The dining room and fixture in the living room are probably from the 50's when the house was renovated/added onto but I still think they are nifty. Note the cameo on the porcelain.

There are lots of antique wall sconces throughout. 

 Most of the doors have these spectacular Victorian door knobs.

The kitchen is/will be fantastic. The cupboards need some sprucing up but are nice, vintage and there are lots of them (there are more on other walls.)

 

I came across reproduction versions of these at Rejuvenation  and they were titled Whale Tales. Which apparently has another meaning involving something you see frequently on People of Walmart.

 

More cupboard space! This used to be the pantry? maid's room? but now it is a shortcut hallway to the "new" bathroom. I know I would be removing the doors and putting all of my vintage kitchen knick knacks on display in here.  

Another fancy fixture. Maybe the original dining room light which got moved to the smaller room due to the fact it only has 2 bulbs? It seems kind of big to be crammed back in this little room.

This is part of the remainder of the original back stair case. It was flipped with the basement stairs (you can see the original shadow on the wall to the left) so unfortunately it would be a pain to restore. It makes for 2 nice closets though.

Moving upstairs. This picture doesn't do these justice as they are about 4 ft wide. 

Original pedestal sink, medicine cabinet and claw foot tub.

AND he got an original toilet darn it!

The Art Deco fixture above the sink.

Cute linen area. The ceiling has been lowered so much that another cupboard is hiding over the ceiling tiles (the door is in the basement.)

Not only does he have one kitchen with nice retro cabinets but since the house used to be apartments, the upstairs kitchen also remains.

The countertops are a little dusty but look to be in good shape.

The upstairs half of the original back staircase.

And last but not least. Not only does he get a completely original 1910 bathroom, but since the house was added onto in the 50's, it also has a pink bathroom in the addition! The best of both eras!

We can't leave out the matching tub.All are in great shape - the tub just needs a good scrubbing. We found a new white toilet and pedestal sink in the basement so I think we just barely saved this bathroom from a generic fate.

House #2 Update

Just an update about my brother's quest for a house. As you may recall from the post here they lost the seller of his original house. All she had to do was sign over the title and take his check but no one ever found her to finish this last task. I do feel bad for the house because it is really nice and there is all of that fun stuff inside. Darn her! Where did she go?? and now how will she get rid of the house? No one in town is going to list it for her and she obviously isn't going to be able to handle a for sale by owner. The utilities are all still on and she'll have to continue to pay taxes. And yard work? The city will fine her for that one I guess...if they can find her...
He decided it was time to move on and this time I am even more jealous of his find. I will try not to curse it again with a full blown story but it is a fantastic Italianate/Victorian on a double lot. The parts that make me most jealous are the decent sized kitchen, attached garage, cute gardening shed, back staircase and, last but not least, 2 full bathrooms - one a complete original 1900 bathroom and the other is in the 50's addition off the back and, you guessed it, it's pink! I told him I will buy this house from him when he is tired of it, no joke! My only contingency is he has to keep the bathrooms. I already heard him say something about needing to find pink rugs so it sounds like he is taking me up on my offer, though I'll help him man it up a little - black or gray rugs would look better than pink anyways. It is a short sale so he only has to cough up 65Kfor it (OK, a little more with interest and what not) but he isn't closing until July ugh, I hope it's worth the wait and the seller doesn't mysteriously vanish this time!

Frankie's "New" Home

I admit, I have been slacking on the blog and I use Christmas as an excuse but to be honest, I'm not that busy since the parents and rest of the family provide most of the food and gifts. Mark even does the shopping for the most part so I just have to wrap and decorate, maybe bake cookies if I feel like it.

This is another post for my "Save this House" section, but oh wait, my brother already is!! Hooray! I currently just have real estate photos and, you guessed it, the Realtor didn't take any photos of the "interesting" bits and pieces.

http://www.woodsbros.com/homes-for-sale/NE/Lincoln/68502/711-Sumner-St-67100554/popup#listingphoto-gallery-large

It looks like an unsuspecting 2 bedroom bungalow from the outside so it does a good job of disguising the 2 bedrooms, full bath and kitchen on the second floor. Aluminum siding and windows wouldn't be my first choice but it is maintenance free and the only thing needing done outside is a little paint and a new porch spindle or two.  

 Oak is everywhere from the floor to the crown molding. The woodwork is all immaculate too so no refinishing there. The floors will probably need something.

The shiny, clean woodwork definitely contrasts with the circa 1943 carpeting and wallpaper. I don't think it has been refinished anytime recently either because how would they have done it without damaging/staining the already crumbly wallpaper??
What we suspect to be the original 1920's dining or living room area rug is in the basement. If we determine it hasn't rotted completely away, Frankie will be convinced to move it back to its original location.

Oak french doors leading into a first floor bedroom/den/office/G.I.Joe battle room/whatever Frankie has planned for it.

This is the fantastic "shed" out back which is in addition to a garage. The original screen doors are carefully labeled "original screen door to stay with house!" Same with the porch swing.

What is not included in the photos which I will get photos of and include in the section "My Brother's Bungalow":

The original kitchen cupboards and the original farmhouse sink still perched on its original legs. The description says the kitchen needs updated?? Maybe a few more cupboards and a new fridge. The stove is cute and from the 1940's?50's? so we'll see if that works and cleans up. The floor is a cheery yellow 50's linoleum and it includes a matching chrome table.

The huge basement laundry room/1940's apartment kitchen has near mint condition art deco linoleum with a matching cabinet and hutch and it is topped off with a bead board ceiling.

The basement also boasts not one, but TWO more farmhouse sinks (I have dibs on one for my kitchen someday) along with TWO more 1940ish cute stoves, 3 more refrigerators (I also have a claim on the fridge with a lot of chrome and aqua happening), a 3/4 bath, another (not yet legal) bedroom, living room and a dining room with a built in hutch.

The second floor, as mentioned, has a kitchen with yet another cute 1940ish stove and a metal Youngstown kitchen sink cabinet which has a sliding drainboard. It also has another full bath, what is currently a living room (as it still has a couch in it) and a bedroom which also includes a pretty waterfall style bed.

I will also note, whatever was in the house when we saw it comes with the house because the people who inherited it live out of state. Everything in the shed photo is still in the shed and there are boxes of tools and all sorts of crazy things in there. There are things in the basement and crammed under the eves so it will be interesting to see what we find. Also, this house has been in the same family for 3 generations and the current owner passed away (not in the house) so we know this has to be almost, if not, the original family which adds to the intrigue of the left behind items.