How old is your home?

[DoxaDavid]

Since we can't play "How old is the earth" without running down a slippery slope, let's try something a little safer.

Would be interesting to hear how old your home is and what led you to buy it?

My house was built in 1986 and just got a major facelift a few months ago to bring it out of the 80's!

We chose our house because of location and school district. Neither my wife or I are into the older period style homes found around in the inner city but do appreciate some of the architecture.

Fascinated to hear from our TRF members who live around the globe who may have homes a hundred or more years old and what drove them to buy them.


My front yard pre reno...





Post reno...

[kingkongkelley]

I enjoyed the photos.

[Armyguy03]

Me too

[bigwatchman]

Looks nice... you did well.

[DoxaDavid]

Originally Posted by kingkongkelley

I enjoyed the photos.

Thanks... Lets see your cave or treehouse on Skull Island! Bonus if there are scantily clad females on the beach!!

[mikkibarry]

Originally Posted by DoxaDavid

Thanks... Lets see your cave or treehouse on Skull Island! Bonus if there are scantily clad females on the beach!!

Not fair unless we have some scantily clad men as well.

[77T]

That new front entry is great!

[77T]

Originally Posted by DoxaDavid

Thanks... Lets see your cave or treehouse on Skull Island! Bonus if there are scantily clad females on the beach!!

Kong was kinda an outdoorsy type methinks...

[chicfarmer1]

I like that Arts and Crafts treatment and the stonework in the entryway. Very pretty.

My house is 150 years old. Yes, glutton for punishment ovah heah.

[figbo]

1995,

[East Bay Rider]

My tiny house built in 1900.

Thankfully this picture was not taken this year.
We liked the house as it was completely modernized inside (plumbing, electric, central vac etc) and cost a lot less than what we were 'Pre-approved' for back in 1998. We were renting in the neighborhood and this house was quaint etc. Wife loved it. Unfortunately I should have held out for a garage.

[DoxaDavid]

Originally Posted by mikkibarry

Not fair unless we have some scantily clad men as well.

You may want to see him...


But this is the guy who showed up...

[DoxaDavid]

Originally Posted by chicfarmer1

I like that Arts and Crafts treatment and the stonework in the entryway. Very pretty.

My house is 150 years old. Yes, glutton for punishment ovah heah.

I recall seeing pics of the barn but not the house. What's it look like and what drew you to it? Been in the family, wanted acreage?

Would love to have had more land but did'nt want the drive to downtown where I worked.

[gmh1013]

Houston house 1994
Tempe house 1975

[chicfarmer1]

We're in a rural location for work reasons and wanted to take advantage of the beauty of the area. Having a farm wasn't fully the plan, but we just knew it the second we saw it.

Mostly, I want to wake up and close every day with views like these.

[Lisa]

J, your rural lifestyle intrigues me to no end. I'd love to do something similar in a few years, but my city-boy husband will have no part of it.

Our Tudor Revival, clinker brick house was built in 1937, and has never suffered a "modernization" or major remodeling. Still has the original bathroom tile, doorknobs, and inefficient steel casement windows. I love it to bits.

[sea-dweller]

Nice house! My house was built in 1999.

[DoxaDavid]

Originally Posted by chicfarmer1

We're in a rural location for work reasons and wanted to take advantage of the beauty of the area. Having a farm wasn't fully the plan, but we just knew it the second we saw it.

Mostly, I want to wake up and close every day with views like these.

Love the views and stately look of the brick facade! Bet that sucker was built like a rock!

[DoxaDavid]

Originally Posted by Lisa

J, your rural lifestyle intrigues me to no end. I'd love to do something similar in a few years, but my city-boy husband will have no part of it.

Our Tudor Revival, clinker brick house was built in 1937, and has never suffered a "modernization" or major remodeling. Still has the original bathroom tile, doorknobs, and inefficient steel casement windows. I love it to bits.

Pics!!!

[JasoninDenver]

Current house built in 2007.

Our "new" house we will be moving into in two weeks was built in 1963 but is currently undergoing a major renovation.

Pics may follow when done but it is real rough looking right now.

[chicfarmer1]

Originally Posted by Lisa

Our Tudor Revival, clinker brick house was built in 1937, and has never suffered a "modernization" or major remodeling. Still has the original bathroom tile, doorknobs, and inefficient steel casement windows. I love it to bits.

Road trip, road trip... I think your house is stunning. I've always loved that type, having grown up admiring similar ones on the Main Line.

We were lucky that way too, except for the downstairs bathroom. The previous owner had lived there 62 years and was a real farmer, so any money he had went to things outside the house, no fancifying. He was so attached that he came out for years after we got the place, until he passed, just to walk around. I completely understand the feeling.
--
Lisa, we are definitely the country mouse, city mouse kids.

[chicfarmer1]

Originally Posted by DoxaDavid

Love the views and stately look of the brick facade! Bet that sucker was built like a rock!

Thank you. It's hard to fathom, but 3 1/2 courses deep of the brick.

[DoxaDavid]

Originally Posted by chicfarmer1

I like that Arts and Crafts treatment and the stonework in the entryway. Very pretty.

My house is 150 years old. Yes, glutton for punishment ovah heah.

Thank you. We were going for that look ala what the architect called Aspen chic with the stone work and cedar beams. My wife talked me into the cedar shingle accents on the dormers which was a good call. The painter suggested we stain them instead of paint to match the beams which also was a good choice.
The final piece will be matching cedar garage doors this spring to finish off the look.

One of the coolest little thing we did was add the rain chains. My builder suggested them verses an ugly tin gutter and they are neat to look at when it rains. They are made of copper and shaped in these small cups with holes which poor into a rock base. Never heard of them before but an intersting pretty decorative way to solve a functional water problem.

[DoxaDavid]

Originally Posted by Lisa

J, your rural lifestyle intrigues me to no end. I'd love to do something similar in a few years, but my city-boy husband will have no part of it.

Our Tudor Revival, clinker brick house was built in 1937, and has never suffered a "modernization" or major remodeling. Still has the original bathroom tile, doorknobs, and inefficient steel casement windows. I love it to bits.

Beautiful Lisa. Love that Tudor look as well. I grew up in a French Mansord style two story with a cedar shingle roof. Never was a fan of that style as it reminds me of a barn but always did like the lines of a Tudor.

[chicfarmer1]

That's seriously cool. I figured the rain chains were Frank Lloyd Wright touches, and indeed they are, per a quick Google. Also a very old Japanese tradition (which makes sense, since FLW drew on that). Lovely. My house has built-in gutters in the eaves, plus downspouts.

[Lisa]

Thank you, David. I like the idea of rain chains. Our neighbor has them, but they do say that if you have a lot of wind with your rain the water goes everywhere. I still think they're cool.

J, that is so nifty to have the built in gutters and downspouts. Do you have to do much to keep them in good working order?

[Lisa]

Originally Posted by chicfarmer1

Thank you. It's hard to fathom, but 3 1/2 courses deep of the brick.

Whoa. I bet it's quiet at night. Not that you'd have any traffic noise anyhow!

[threemonkeys]

'65 rambler we purchased in '97. We bought based on the quality of the school system. Our goal was to buy one of the cheaper homes in an expensive area. I'm still very pleased with our decision.

[gmh1013]

Originally Posted by Lisa

J, your rural lifestyle intrigues me to no end. I'd love to do something similar in a few years, but my city-boy husband will have no part of it.

Our Tudor Revival, clinker brick house was built in 1937, and has never suffered a "modernization" or major remodeling. Still has the original bathroom tile, doorknobs, and inefficient steel casement windows. I love it to bits.

Love your house ....in AZ its a sea of stucco homes that look the same.
The homes in Houston have a "look" to them also....all brick etc....same windows
They just dont build them like your house anymore.

[james1787]

We bought close to where we grew up and bought for the good school system in the area. We're in a quiet little dead-end street. Our house is a 1953 cape. We have 'waterfront' property in that we back right up to the river behind the house. We recently added a deck and screened-in porch recently to enjoy the back yard a bit more. Still have some landscaping work to do but one thing at a time. It's small and cozy, but we love it.