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West Seventh Victorian

This project was the restoration of a two story, three thousand square foot home constructed around the late 1890's, in the Victorian Queen Anne style.  When we started the interior restoration this property  had been divided into five apartments. There were two bedroom units, a one bedroom unit, and three efficiencies, some sharing one bathroom. The property had been vacant for a few years, and one unit contained fire damage. Our task was to undo all previous changes and restore the home back to a single family residence. This renovation took over nine months to complete. We started in May 2000 and finished in January 2001.

What was done.

  • Exterior: The front porch was missing several original posts and gallery parts. The decking was rotting, ceiling was missing boards and the gallery was missing several spindles and  support brackets.  The windows were in poor condition with some broken or rotten.

    • Since there was one original existing porch post, some spindles and support brackets, we contacted a local mill and had them duplicate the missing parts. Then we made the necessary repairs to restore the front facade.

    • The changes to the rear of the house included installing a new exterior french door, a retaining block wall with a brick patio.

    • All the original windows were removed and reworked, either repairing or replacing  parts. We had to also reconstruct two windows that were lost in the fire. All windows were primed, repainted, stained and re-glazed. When we re-installed these windows we restored the operation with new ropes and  counter weights.

  • Interior: This is where the majority of the work took place, undoing previous transformations and years of neglect. All the plaster ceilings in the house were damaged beyond repair, either from water damage or environmental conditions. The ornate stairway gallery was mostly intact, and only missing a few panels and finials. Many of the interior doors were missing or damaged beyond repair

    • We decided to cap the ceilings with drywall and save as many of the plaster walls we could and budget allowed. Our drywall specialist "Dean of DryWall" Dean McDonald did all the repair and replacement work. He added some special features to the front parlor. The other reason we chose to do this was to expedite the installation of new utilities.

    • This home was brought into the 21st century with its utilities. The electrician we chose for this project was Steve Herndon of Herndon Electric. Steve chose to zone all rooms in his rewiring scheme. He also installed cable TV jacks, 2 telephone jacks, giving four telephone line capacity and Category 5e networking jacks with a central hub location, being able to distribute internet access with cable or DSL service.

    • The plumbing was completely replaced in copper, including a new water supply line from the street. We chose Mann plumbing for this work. He specified and installed all new copper supply lines,  PVC waste lines, servicing the new kitchen, two new full baths upstairs and the half bath and laundry on the main level.

    • New HVAC system was installed by Bloomington Heating and Electric.

  • We were fortunate that most of the original trim was still intact. We discovered the species of wood used in the home and is a combination of Ash and Oak on the main floor and stairwell. Yellow pine was used on the second floor.

    • Ninety percent of the trim was removed marked for location, stripped, repaired, sanded and re-stained for reinstallation

    • We had a local mill duplicate trim parts needed to complete the project.

  • Floor plan changes: The property had been converted in the 50's, to 5 apartments with 5 kitchens and 3 bathrooms. This use was no longer permitted by the city in this neighborhood. We Restored this property to its original floor plan, but making suitable changes for today's living styles.
    • We assigned names to all the rooms making it easier to identify changes needed for each location. The names we chose indicate the direction it faces or its location.

    • Front Parlor, originally bedroom, Location: main floor, hall and dining room access, facing street, view south and west.

    • Changes to this room included: repairing north wall water damage, window repair and replacement, entry door refinishing and repair. Install new ceiling. 

  • Dining Room Location, originally living room: main floor, hall, bathroom, front parlor, family room and kitchen access, middle room, view west.
    • Changes to this room included: removal of false wall plumbing chase, removal of ceiling, removal of stair steps for access to old common bath, re-opening access to hall, creating access to New kitchen.
    • Since this was a central location in the house, we constructed new space for placement of HVAC and water heater.

  • Bath/Laundry room originally bathroom, Location: main floor, access from dining room, small addition, view south and west.

    • Changes to this room included: complete removal of all bathroom appliances, wall and floor covering. We then installed new insulation, Electrical, plumbing, gas, venting and drywall. For the floor we installed ceramic tile, new oak vanity, solid surface vanity top and Delta vintage style chrome faucet. Washer / Dryer hook-ups

  • New Kitchen, originally (carriage room) bedroom, Location: main floor, access from dining room and family room, view north.

    • This room went through the most changes.

  • Family room, originally kitchen Location: main floor, access to kitchen, back yard and hallway, view north and west

    • Changes to this room included: addition of atrium doors opening onto the patio, leveling the floor, re-framing and repairing exterior walls. Also located in this room is the electric service panel and in the coat closet is the location of computer, phone and cable networking.

  • East Parlor, originally efficiency apartment.  Location main floor, access to hall. This room had experienced a major grease fire. There was heavy smoke damage to the walls, fire damage to one window breaking the glass and charring the trim and floor damage. Because this was an efficiency we also had to remove plumbing fixtures.

    • Changes to this room include: removing all plaster from the walls and ceiling, repairing fire damage and re-creating the window sashes. We then re-insulated the room, installed all new drywall and carpeted 

  • North Bedroom originally sleeping room with kitchen and shared bath. Location: second floor, access from mid point on the stairs, north, above family room.

    • Changes to this area include: returning this space back into a bedroom, repairing and refinishing the pine floors, trim and widows. Repairing and skim coating all walls, locating and installing period eight foot entry door.

  • Community Bath Location originally kitchen for master bedroom: second floor, access from second floor hall, center room, west, above dining room.

     

  • East Bedroom originally sleeping room with kitchen and shared bath. Location: second floor, access from second floor hall, east, above east parlor. 

    • This room we kept as a bedroom. We upgraded the wiring, skim coated the walls, restored the trim and doors

  • Master Bedroom suite, originally two rooms, kitchen and sleeping shared bathroom. Location: second floor, access second floor hallway, Master Bath, walk-in closet, south and west, above front parlor, bath and closet above dining room.

    • Changes to this area includes: repairing the exterior wall from water damage, replacing the picture window with insulated glass, refinishing the floors, trim and doors.  

    • In the master bath we installed new bath tub and applied ceramic tile to the walls, new toilet and pedestal sink.

  • Main Floor conversion: Front Parlor, Dining Room, Kitchen, Family Room, Hall and East Parlor.

  • Second Floor conversion: Hall, North Bedroom, Community Bath Room, East Bedroom, Master Bedroom, Master Bath and Walk-in Closet.

 

 

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Last modified: 09/04/2008