West Seventh Historic II

We purchased this historic home for re-sale in late October of 2001, finished and sold it in June 2002. This was one of the first "new design" homes being built in Bloomington around the 1920's. In this project we installed a new kitchen, added a second bathroom, a large deck, fire place hearth and mantle. We also repainted the exterior, interior and re-finished most of the the floors. There was updating done to the electric, plumbing and heating system. We also computer networked, installed cable television jacks to all rooms and upgraded all lighting fixtures.

What was done.

• Exterior changes included scraping, sanding, priming and repainting the house and garage. With help of the neighbors and being consistent with the neighborhood, we chose a three color scheme.

  • The body of the house yellow orange, window and door trim light avocado green and deep red for the back exterior door, storm doors and garage doors. We also changed the front door from its fifties poplar wood slab to a vintage yellow pine and glass door from that period.

• One of the best features of this house is the back yard. It was larger than most in the neighborhood, even with the garage at the back. It had privacy fencing and a patio off the kitchen. It was nicely landscaped by its former owners. Because the house sits about four feet above ground level and the back yard slopes away from the house, the patio was awkward to use. The steps from the back door on to the patio were narrow and hard to step up and down.

  • We decided to add a Deck, twenty eight feet long by seventeen feet wide with four foot wide steps leading on to the yard. A bonus to all this was now there's a view to the downtown square.

• Since this house is a story and a half with two large bedrooms upstairs, we managed to add a second bathroom to the west bedroom, creating a master bedroom suite. One of the former owners built a walk-in closet. As it turns out, it was the perfect size for a bathroom.

  • With this space we ceramic tiled the walls in four inch square black and white tile. The floor we used was octagon shape tile in white with black dots. The shower is thirty two by thirty two, glass walls and corner entrance. New  pedestal sink and a low flush water closet. For the entry to the bath we installed a 15 pane glass pocket door, eliminating the need for the door to open and close into the room. Closet space was created in the eaves.

  • The native pine floors and stairs were sanded and refinished, giving a warm feeling to the rooms and stairway.

• Changes to the main floor included: remodeling the kitchen, bath and changing the fireplace mantle and hearth.

  • Kitchen changes included installing an oak floor, new light fixtures, cabinets and laundry. The Kitchen cabinets we built on site using hickory wood. The doors and drawers we had fabricated. The upper cabinet door frames were designed for glass. The glass chosen was, obscure with one inch wide vertical ribs. Accent lighting was added to the interior and on top the upper cabinets. Also constructed was a cabinet that matches all others housing the stack laundry center.

  • The main bath we installed a ceramic tile floor matching the master bath and installed a pedestal sink.

  • In the dining room we revamped the fireplace. The mantle was reconstructed in hickory. Tumbled marble was used for the hearth and gas logs installed.