by Alysia Angel
Our charming historic 850 sq ft Bungalow style home is in the Cleveland Holloway neighborhood in Durham, NC. It was built in 1920.
What a change we have made since its inception! Anytime we add furniture we have to play an interesting game of tetris or actually remove pieces to accommodate the new item. Both Dante and I are devoted to renewing existing materials and have a huge love of thrifting and garage sale hunting to find inexpensive and quality finds to renovate.
To come into a relationship with this existing passion is exciting and invigorating. As a writer, and a lover of all things beautiful, I am constantly in a state of muse as Dante and I dream up larger remodels to make the house more aesthetically “ours” and more sound. While we attempt patience monetarily, we are having fun doing DIY projects, using existing vintage materials, that cost a lot less.
One project is the dog bed project:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kewpiemania/sets/72157629277730026/
Another is the writer desk renovation:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kewpiemania/sets/72157628778122745
Recent working vintage additions via thrifting scores:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kewpiemania/sets/72157629851309978
There are some restrictions for us when it comes to the remodel because this is a historic home. We are not allowed to build additions attached to the house and we cannot change any of the original woodwork such as trim and walls. It must retain its historic integrity. While this can feel challenging with our 850 sq ft, two adorable dogs, and one big personality (ahem, this guy), it’s pretty cool to work around the restrictions while honoring them.
Since I moved in we have tiled the bathroom floors in black and white checker, put in a new steel tub and new shower tiles, and put up new paint on 50% of the house. As we can afford it, we intend to retile the kitchen floor and countertops, build a deck on the back of the house, take off the 1970’s vinyl siding and restore and paint the original wood, and add a writing studio for me in the backyard.
Dante’s blog from before and after I moved in with him is here:
http://durhamdream.blogspot.com/
More information of our neighborhood:
http://www.livingplaces.com/NC/Durham_County/Durham_City/Holloway_Street_Historic_District.html
Cleveland Holloway Neighboorhood blog: http://clevelandholloway.blogspot.com