These DIY owners were looking for “the worst house in the best neighborhood” and came upon a bungalow down on its luck. Roof shingles curled with black mildew, a mattress leaned against one side, and Christmas icicle lights still dangled across the front. Side stairs had been cut straight through the front porch. Inside, incontinent cats had run amok.
But the layout had never been changed; original windows sparkled, and the woodwork was intact, albeit under layers of paint. In this living room, the Craftsman fireplace had been covered with unattractive bricks in the 1970s. So they installed vintage (salvaged) Grueby tiles over the brick and gave the fireplace more presence with a wide mantel that replicates profiles of the original woodwork.
1. ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES
Vintage items lend style and all-important patina to the restored room. The antique Tiffany desk set and a mica lamp rest on a vintage Stickley Brothers table, next to an original Gustav Stickley #60 Willow armchair.
2. BOLD BUNGALOW WOODWORK
The 1916 house retained its robust, Craftsman-style details, including heavy brackets, wood windows, and trim. The fireplace wall had been remodeled; antique Grueby tiles and a well-designed mantel brought back its warm, bungalow-era appearance.
3. RESTFUL PALETTE
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Navigating the Lumberyard - Here's some lumber lingo you should know before you venture into a lumberyard.
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