Way Back Then

In this grainy old photo, you can see our house--- in the background. The first thing we wanted to find when we started this home restoration was some original photos of the home. The only ones found of our home were from the neighbor's archives.

The red outlines our original roofline.

Another found photo was later in the history of the home.

You can see the gingerbread on our porch behind "Grandma".

A storm had damaged the tower and was replaced with a sunroom or maybe what was used as a sleeping porch.

No central heat and air back then!

I would love to get my hands on some of that

fretwork!

Panda White

...And the paint color is.... Panda White! Remember how Mr. Ella didn't want white? Well, don't tell him, but he picked white. He thinks it is off white. I am seeing a silky and soft white. Only some of the primer has been painted on, but you can get an idea of the look the house will have.

Looking down the side of the house.
There is a lot of tedious work still to be done before the painting can be completed. Trim around the windows, rotten boards replaced and caulking.

On the back of the house, you can see the contrast of the goldish Hardie board and the new color.

I can't wait to see the whole house done!!

Progress

We are starting to see a little bit of progress with our house recently. There are so many tedious projects when you are dealing with a structure that is one hundred and twenty years old. The newest changes involve a fabulous new roof, the adding of Hardie Siding on the new sections and also where the old parts had rotted over the years. I would love for all of the original siding to be restored, but you just don't need to live in a house with rotten boards.

Looking down the side you can see the new roof and the siding starting with the back addition.

Small windows will be cut out on the kitchen wall.

This is the section of the kitchen where the stove top and ovens will be. The windows will be over the top of the cabinets allowing light and privacy

The Hardie Board comes in a gold color. We are trying to decide what color to paint the house. I want an all white house, Mr. Ella doesn't. We are working on a compromise. I do know for sure it will not be yellow, green or blue. I don't have anything against houses painted these colors, but they just aren't for this house.

The most exciting work done lately is my little back porch is starting to take form and the new windows are being put in. Yes, we are going to have windows!!

Remember what our house looked like when we started this journey? Since then it pretty much has been taken apart and is in the long and tedious process of being put back together.

If you drove down our street today you probably would wonder what on earth is going on!

There is a plan, I promise....

Part of the front was rebuilt to restore the home to its original form. The small tower had been blown off in a tornado that hit McKinney - I think in 1948.

The house was leveled using an elaborate pier and beam method. Huge I-beams are now under the foundation and steel piers have been pushed down to the bed rock.

All of the windows will be replaced with new energy efficient ones.

The back of the house was to say the least was "interesting" when we first decided to take on this project.

Most people would have run the other way.

Not us. We saw potential.

The back of the house is slowing being transformed.

New construction married with the old.

Bringing this 19th Century home into the 21st Century!

Unlike the original tenants, we will enjoy a new modern kitchen, indoor plumbing, electricity and central heat/air. Imagine that!

We have it good now, don't we?

I know you can't tell by looking at these photos, but this is the kitchen/breakfast room addition on the right and our Master Bedroom on the left.

The back door is at an angle and will have a small back porch. A bigger porch was not in the budget, but we thought we could always add that later if we decide to.

We are all wrapped up now like a big present!

Thanks Mr. Ella for the best gift ever!

Romantic Furniture

I don't splurge on furniture very often, but when I saw these pieces they pulled at my heart strings.

I bought them all.

The chairs are in my current house, but the bed went to storage for now. It will surface in the new old house.

I can't wait!!

Blending the Old with the New

I look at the back of the house now and see such contrasts going on. Old and new. Chippy, dirty, worn and rugged surrounded by brand spanking new fresh wood. You may look at this and wonder if we have made the wrong choice of making over an old beauty.
The new construction will be added and the crumbling stucture will be removed as the support of the new walls permit.

This is the old kitchen wall that will be bumped out to extend the kitchen and create a breakfast room.

This is one example of why it is a good idea to take a house down to the bones.

My future breakfast room area!

Again, a view of the old - married with the new.

Exciting!!

Mr. Ella and I went by the house a few days ago and found the tower looking quite spiffy. We could use our imagination and see into the future of our new home.

We walked around the back and were surprised to see the back walls had been torn off!

Since then the new construction has started and it all will be changing quickly.
The kitchen area, master bedroom and the back porch will be the first floor addition that extends out from the original footprint of the house.