This folk Victorian will get major love

I'm participating in Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch. Thanks to Susan and Knick of Time Tuesday #24 {Vintage Style Link Party}

Dan Souther from Round Here Renovations wrote me about renovating this Folk Victorian in Grant Park. Thanks to Dan we can have a look at the "before" pictures.


The records say Year Built: 1920, Living Area: 1,552, Acres .1791.


It's not so hot from the sidewalk. Dan said they'll un-enclose and liberate the porch.


You get a better perspective from across the street. It has a handsome shape and familiar Grant Park proportions.


It's bigger and taller than it looks from the street. I count 3 chimneys.


The house wears a solitaire on it's gable.


My architect and sailing friend, Tim Cent, bought one of these in the late 70's for about $4,000 (Tim, where are you man, we'd love to see you) .

The house on the right is "new." It's ironic that this house, as beat up as it is, has survived to be renovated rather than torn down. It must have stayed livable for most of it's 90 years.


A bit of work to do first.


Imagine sitting on the big front porch.


I'm sure Dan and crew expect surprises. I'm sure they've taken a long look as the sills.


How good will this look? Whenever I see one of these as an art piece, I wonder about the house it came from.


The west side wall and windows are very nice.

Dan says, "The lovely faux-brick peel and stick rolls will also be removed to expose the original cedar lap siding (that looks to be in great condition courtesy of the peel and stick)."

This 360 video will shows the street:



I'll report.

Thanks to Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch.

3 Hapeville Victorians and meeting Al Dellinger

My little tour of the Hapeville Historic District started with the two churches. I continued with a fortuitous street meeting with floral designer Al Dellinger, then a B&B's jaunty weather-vane, and a finally chapel on the move.


Hapeville was a street car suburb, site of Georgia Baptist Children's Home from 1899 to 1968. It's south edge was consumed by the world's busiest airport and a Ford Assembly Plant. Somehow it retains it's small town character, including an active main street.


Look at this sidewalk on a tiny side street. I don't know of another like this in Atlanta. It's just one house wide and seems like a park.


Two columns, no, three, wow.


Good grief, there is a house in this garden.


I noticed a man walking his dog. I'm sure he noticed me looking out of place and bearing a camera. I asked if he knew anything about the house. He said, "It's mine," and invited me in.

That's how I met Al Dellinger who with partner Tim Thomas own 2000 A.D Inc. "Concepts in Floral Art." Al's a transplant from Midtown who thinks Hapeville is a bargain that will attract folks who now enjoy Atlanta's intown "South of Buckhead" neighborhoods.


I was overwhelmed by the hospitality and the house. It's circa 1895, nearly demolished, sold at one time for $5000, a bit ghost-y too.

It's as if I'd discovered a long lost temple in the jungle. Indeed I had, and a friendly guide to boot.


Al said the the "new" porch replaced a lot of gingerbread.

Inside? I'll just show you a little glass.






This is the garden from the foyer.

Next up is Maison LaVigne, Hapville's "Gourmet Bed & Breakfast" just a few steps from the Hapeville Depot.


Folks MUST be pretty good at keeping secrets.


Did everybody have know about this place except me?


I don't think this is all original equipment from 1920.




I swooned over the sideyard, that blue, the chunky window lentils, shutters, flower-boxes, curvy fence and rustic furniture.

Finally, Hapeville's Historic Christ Church (c. 1895) has just finished it's second move.


It's now a terminal vista for 19/41 South. It's the perfect complement for an old Chevy.


It arrived here in July 2010. I think they've nearly completed upgrades in it's new location. I'm looking forward to seeing the inside.

Mourning the entablature, weeping for the 12 foot ceilings lost in the fire

I'm an architecture optimist: Neither great architecture nor great design should require millions or mansions.

When this bungalow with a Greek temple for a front porch burned last fall, we nearly lost a great small house in a modest neighborhood. They are rebuilding. It will be the best of modern living. But we lost the porch's entablature, the Parthenon porch.


I can't find anything about the history of this house. All I know is that it was "neck-snapping good."


It's not on any historic preservation list.


Only the very best new houses approach this. This reminds me a little of Spring Island in South Carolina by Historical Concepts.


They saved the columns.


They restored the wonderful windows.


It's looking good.


But you can't tell from here ...


... but we lost the porch's entablature.


Before:




Why?

The original house had 12 foot ceilings. With rare exceptions nobody would rebuild a 12 foot ceiling. So they are doing 10 foot ceilings. It's huge cost savings, much cheaper to heat and cool, and provides livable space upstairs where there was none before.

The house is back better than ever But I continue to mourn a bit.

Porch with lamps, sconces, curtains, and a mirror

Hooked on Houses is hosting her "Hooked on Fridays" blog party; I hope y'all will click here and have look. Today, I'm hooked on this porch, never seen one like it. P.S. to Atlantans: Hope to see you at the Castleberry Hill Art Stroll this Friday, August 28.

It's on a shady corner lot in one of the most charming neighborhoods in Decatur, Georgia. Your Architecture Tourist host drives by once a week. Now it's for sale; click here for the listing. The porch is cool but it's in keeping with the rest of the house. There is a private patio out back.



They keep the lamps on. Nice weathered awning. Perfect corner column. No climbing to the front door, just a couple of steps.



My favorite kind of lawn: No grass. It's too shady anyway.



Thanks to Hooked on Houses' "Hooked on Fridays" blog party.