Pretty Pretty House Pictures
We went to the house yesterday to do a walk-thru with a contractor (more on that later) and I snapped these photos so you can all get an idea of the project scope. Though this is what my dad reminded me when I called him in terror after talking to the contractor:
“I used to have to tell the Cat sales reps this all the time. Sometimes you’re just looking for a repair, not a rebuild.”
He’s right. We love this old house and we’re okay with an old house. What we don’t want is a new house in an old shell. Yes, we want amenities like, well, water and power, but in terms of needing new perfectly straight walls and Dwell-worthy fixtures, that’s not really us. So now we start exploring who we are aesthetically and what our budget will allow. (More on that later, too.)
So with no more delay, pictures!
Entering through the west side of the house, this the view. The kitchen and dining room are to your right; the living room will be toward your left.
This is the kitchen. That back area you see behind the built ins has to be torn off. It was a tiny kitchen.
The dining room. Though those french doors lead to the porch/sunroom that has to be torn off.
The livingroom. Yes, the fireplace needs some work. No fires for a while đŸ™‚
You are now standing outside those closet doors you saw in the first image. This is looking at the front door. The original tile is still in tact in the entry way. Then you get a door that closes to create a heat/cold barrier.
Heading up the stairs.
Landing at the top of the stairs.
First guest bedroom.
Another view of the guest bedroom.
Another guest bedroom, although this is probably where Karl and I will be camping out while we finish the house. You know, in like a million years.
Who wants this guest room? Stacy, Shannon, Cristina… make dibs now! (And yes, somebody cut in a weird hvac vent in the middle of the room. sigh.)
The “bathroom.” Yes, air quotes.
Currently the master bedroom. But the back sunroom has to go away (water and mold damage). And this will get reconfigured to actually be the master bathroom. The bedroom will move to your right.
The current master bathroom.
A room that was once a third bathroom. That will become the master bedroom.
Heading up the stairs to the attic. That’s for another day.
Looking down the staircase onto the first floor.
Close up of the stairs. Unfortunately, the original banister and spindles don’t seem to be in fact. Someday we’ll have a beautiful one again. But not any days soon. Least of our concerns.
The garage. It needs a new roof. Someday. First I need a place to live.
This is the west side of our property. We abut an old carriage house that is covered in ivy. It makes the backyard magical.
Amy Haimerl 
7 Responses to “Pretty Pretty House Pictures”
Neat–good “bones” there. But wow, what a project.
truly a beauty…i can see why you feel in love with it.
Thanks for annotated pictures. It looks like a marvelous house! Really. One I’d love anyway, even in its present state? Is the bathroom tile salvageable? And the stairs going to the attic look like tile; are they? Wonder if the attic’s one you can stand up in?
Given that you’ve had the house checked structurally I’d say this house will prove well worth all the energy, money, passion and love you and Karl will put into it. And, provided a brightening future for Van Dyke Pl. and West Village in general, will prove to be a good investment financially as well.
Also, will be eager to hear about the contractor’s comments.
Is there at least a drain pipe in the bathroom? Because who really needs a toilet, anyway? Practice your aim.
Wow, these photos are awesome. What a beautiful home you will have one day. And a carriage house? Whoa!
I do like your dad’s reminder: repair not rebuild. An old house is supposed to show character.