The Three Cs of a Craftsman

This week’s home of the week is a craftsman style house built in the early 1900s. Craftsman homes became popular between 1905 and 1930 and have a unique structure which tends to accentuate the living area.  Many are known for their fabulous woodwork and exposed beams and pillars.  This home, however, has been slightly modified over the years but still has some uniquely special features original to the date it was built and with some care and fine tuning, it could truly shine again.

Craftsman homes are a popular and attractive choice for buyers for what I like to call the three Cs:  cozy, charming and cute.  Some tend to be smaller with most living space on the bottom floor.  Quite common is to find attic space with decorative dormers – a bonus for people looking for a space to convert into a living area, bedroom or office.  There are often little hidden nooks with a lot of inconspicuous storage spaces accentuated with authentic leaded stained glass windows.  These little nooks make great sitting areas with an accompanying reading bench.

This particular craftsman home is located at 1925 Wells St.  It is a two bedroom, one bath home with 1,200 sq. ft. and a partially finished attic.  It is listed by Prudential NW Realty Associate agent Calvin Gligorea and is offered at the bargain basement price of $112,000.  As I said before, it does need some work but this is definitely reflected in the asking price as the assessed value is a whopping $173,500!

Now back to the first of the descriptive three Cs:  cozy.  Cozy is what this house is about as the main living area is where the majority of time will be spent.  There are original hardwood floors but they have been covered with nice cherry wood flooring which gives the room a warm feel.  The windows are large and let an ample amount of light inside.  The woodwork around the windows and throughout is original but has been painted over a multitude of times.  With some time, energy, perseverance and maybe a couple of friends you could bribe with some beer, you could sand these down to expose the beauty of the original wood.

Cozy also applies to the attic space which would be a perfect playroom or bedroom for children.  There are several nooks and crannies and of course the same direction would be applied to the woodwork upstairs as down. 

The second C, of course, is for charming and this starts with this home’s curb appeal.  It just oozes a pleasantness from the street and you can picture a sweet little yard with a white picket fence and some nice flower gardens.  The front porch is wide and comfortable but is in need of some repair on the stairs.  However, with a few Adirondack chairs and a little table, the porch is charm defined.  To add to this is the fact the house sits on a street lined with adorable little homes.

Charm continues on the inside with the woodwork on the staircase and entryway.  To my delight, it is in its original shape and is truly pretty.  It is a prime example of what the rest of the wood trim in the house needs to look like.  The positive thing is that thank goodness it has not been painted because the time and energy it takes to strip the spindles on a staircase is pure H-E-double hockey sticks.

Our final C is for cute.  The home is really a little diamond in the rough.  There is a delightful appeal that will capture the perfect buyer(s) and if a house could talk, I can hear this one pleading to be brought back to the original fine craftsman it used to be.  Having said that, let’s go over a quick checklist of what this adorable house needs.

The exterior would probably be my last fix, but one for down the road.  Although the house has been covered with a vinyl siding, it looks attractive, is in good shape and really is a low maintenance option for a lot of homeowners.  The front stairs, again, could use some slight structural repairs or replacement.  The interior walls are lathe and plaster and show several age cracks and flaws.  A cosmetic fix could take place using a thick texturing technique or by covering the walls with a 1/4-inch layer of drywall followed by a couple of coats of paint. 

The floors in the bedrooms need refinishing, replacement with new wood flooring or carpet.  The upstairs attic space could use some new carpet as well.

The biggest project is the kitchen and the adjoining bath.  The minute you walk into this area, you can feel a significant slope in the flooring.  I’m not sure what, or if, there is structural damage but it could be a simple fix by a licensed contractor who knows how to lift and correct support beam damage.  The kitchen is a workable space with lots of cabinets and the bathroom is a little on the small side, especially with the size of the tub.  Some creativity and design work is in order but it is still functional and in working condition.

One major attribute is the attached garage.  It is spacious and looks like it was being used as a shop due to all the outlets and separate electric panel.  It appears to be newer and is perfectly dry as well.  It is an ideal solution for the storage of materials and tools needed for the awaiting remodel.

In conclusion, this turn of the century charmer is just right for that certain someone who wants to restore it to its original beauty.  The price is right but in my professional opinion, this house could probably be sold for under $100,000 -- a better bargain yet.  So take those three Cs and move onto the Ds of real estate: delightful, desirable and done.