The Creek House

historic neighborhoods struggle with homeless problem

2006-11-24T19:00:00.000-05:00

Our neighborhood is profiled RIGHT HERE.

The First Real Project

2006-11-24T18:48:00.000-05:00

So this weekend Jon and I --- okay, mostly Jon - have tackled our first real home improvement project since moving into our house: painting our bedroom.

Right now it's a dingy white with dingy white trim and doors. It's also a really big room, with 12 foot ceilings, and measuring 15 feet by 17 feet.

We figured that with the children gone to their father's for four entire days, we'd just get that sucker painted. Jon planned to do a little scraping, spackling, and priming and paint.

Well, he started scraping and quickly discovered that covering the original plaster in the room was a layer of old, heavy wallpaper, covered by several layers of paint. Ack. So we decided he had better take down the worst of the wallpaper before beginning anything else.

To make a long story short, this job is becoming something that's going to take far longer than four days. There is special primer that's going to have to go over all the wallpaper that's left before we try to paint, and that's AFTER Jon removes all the bad parts and spackles, etc.

Having grown up in old houses that my parents restored over time, mostly by themselves, I was sort of expecting something like this. Jon has remained in amazingly good spirits. I'm doing my part by cleaning the rest of the house thoroughly, and I am looking forward to learning to paint when we get to that part.

Jon at work:

My attempts at putting up outdoor Christmas lights all by myself have thus far been, well, disastrous. I keep breaking bulbs and buying strings that don't work together and I fell off the &%$$% ladder, but I am determined that those lights will be up and TWINKLY when my children come home.

I want to interview you and your house for HGTV.com!

2006-11-02T17:23:00.000-05:00

I am writing some new articles for HGTV.com and I'm looking for interview subjects. Please be in touch if you fit one of these categories and would be willing to let me ask you some questions:

-You have reglazed/refinished bathroom fixtures rather than replacing them (whether you did it yourself or hired a professional)

-You have a "non traditional" floor in your bathroom (wood, bamboo, cork, one of the new "bathroom friendly" carpets, glass, rubber matting, cement)

E-mail me at kagranju@gmail.com

Houseblogging, waiterrant style

2006-10-06T10:08:00.000-04:00

link

fencing dilemmas

2006-09-11T11:10:00.000-04:00

DSC01288
Originally uploaded by kgranju.

These are some shots of our back yard, which we really, really need and want to fence. We got one estimate for a 4 foot cedar picket fence that was going tobe ---GASP -- $3300. Not an option at the moment.

I am wondering if we should get some estimates on what it would cost to do it in pine or something (although I've been told pine will just rot). I am also wondering about the feasability of trying to do it ourselves. Probably a crazy idea, given the fact that our lot is full of stumps and brush and is very uneven. It won't be easy to fence.

Plus, we need the fence to be really flush with the ground at all points so our small dogs don't dig out; the fence isn't just for looks.

(the deck is painted now)

2006-09-11T11:06:00.000-04:00

DSC01287
Originally uploaded by kgranju.

need dining room paint ideas

2006-09-07T19:22:00.000-04:00

DSC01303
Originally uploaded by kgranju.

As you can see, it's a lovely, large room with chair rail and wainscoting (I think that's the right word for the stuff on the bottom half). It's also currently painted solid white - top, bottom and ceiling.

I need ideas for what we can do with paint and maybe paper. I don't want to strip the woodwork, so we'll keep the white trim in general, and I want a light, airy look but with a punchy color.

So have you got any ideas? What parts of the room should I paint and what colors?

the dining room from the living room

2006-09-07T19:19:00.000-04:00

DSC01256
Originally uploaded by kgranju.

charming craftsman cottage for sale - CHEAP!!!

2006-09-06T14:00:00.001-04:00

DSC01343
Originally uploaded by kgranju.

Here is my adorable craftsman cottage. It's in the historic OAKWOOD LINCOLN PARK NEIGHBORHOOD of Knoxville.

It is 1468 sq feet and has 3 bedrooms and 1 large bath. Plenty of room to add a second bath upstairs or downstairs.

It also has:

-Hardwood floors throughout, most refinished
-Large sunny kitchen with big windows, pantry and orginial built-ins
-Central heat and air
-Flower garden
-Large, fenced yard with view of Sharp's Ridge
-Original wood windows in most of house
-Original, UNPAINTED wood trim throughout
-Working gas fireplace
-Large, airy, dry, daylight basement with small, soundproofed "music room"
-Many original fixtures
-French doors
-Nearly new hot water heater and nice built-in dishwasher
-Historic neighborhood near downtown with sidewalks and active neighborhood association

This lovely house is in very good shape. Move-in ready! With only minor cosmetic updating, it can be a real showstopper.

Asking price: 99K - HIGHLY NEGOTIABLE! I've bought a new house, so make me an offer.

E-mail me at: kagranju@gmail.com

researching our house's history? can you help?

2006-09-06T14:00:00.000-04:00

Can anyone point us to some good online resources for learning how to research our old house's history? I'm ready! (And I have NO idea how to get started :-)

we're married!

2006-09-05T09:35:00.000-04:00

katies wedding 043
Originally uploaded by kgranju.

It was an awesome wedding! People keep asking me why we aren't on a honeymoon, and I keep telling them that we love our new (old) house so much that we couldn't wait to get home to it :-)

We got some Home Depot/Lowe's gift card booty as wedding gifts, so now we have to decide what we are going to use it one. I think it's time to make a list of projects and decide what order we want to tackle them.

Mice

2006-09-01T10:05:00.000-04:00

Mice have apparently chewed wires in our kitchen, causing our crummy old dishwasher to short out and killing power to several outlets.

Damn.

Dog Problems

2006-08-31T11:45:00.000-04:00

My dogs, Fiat (Jack Russell mix) and Mabel (pug-dachshund mix) have suddenly decided they are no longer housetrained. I assume this is from being moved to a new, much larger house, but whatever the reason, it's annoying and frustrating.
So now I am going to have to start over with housetraining them, just as if they were puppies again. Lots of crating and close supervision.

Annoying.

This is Fiat hanging out with Elliot in E's room at the new house.

The problem with the shower

2006-08-30T13:08:00.000-04:00

Here's the problem with the upstairs shower. Because of the uneven ceiling, which I adore, the wall slants right where the shower curtain should be. I can't exactly figure out how to close this part off so the water won't pour out - the shower head will pretty much point straight at it (once I can figure out how to attach it to the wall).

I'm considering either finding a way to attach the curtain to the ceiling or to put up a wall.

All I know is that I don't have a lot of time before kids get tired of not being able to take showers!

2006-08-30T13:02:00.000-04:00

I can't for the life of me figure out what to do with our upstairs bathroom. I actually kind of like the room, aside from its ridiculous colors, but so far the shower is unusable. Check out this interesting tub. The problem is how on earth to get the shower curtain to work and the shower head attached to the wall? More pics in a second.

the kitchen

2006-08-28T10:39:00.000-04:00

DSC01258
Originally uploaded by kgranju.

This is the kitchen in the house. That and the bathrooms are the areas that need the most work. It's functional enough for the moment and look at those great wondows over the sink, but it needs serious work.

This weekend the crummy dishwasher that came with the house sort of exploded. So now we don't have a working dishwasher. Trying to keep up with the dishes without a dishwasher is challenging, especially since that ugly metal sink you see there is extremely tiny and shallow.

I long for the huge, deep, double porcelain sink the house will have when we can afford it.

I think our home warranty may cough up a new dishwasher...

wow! he's a homeowner

2006-08-27T16:47:00.000-04:00

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Originally uploaded by kgranju.

Jon trims the hedge

priorities

2006-08-27T16:46:00.000-04:00

DSC01392
Originally uploaded by kgranju.

It's vital to get the most important things situated in a new house right away ;-)

These are the first two things that went on our mantel in the living room.

the neverending move

2006-08-27T13:00:00.000-04:00

I am between two houses. I am mostly moved into the new one, but still trying to sell the old one. And I don't have everything moved out of the old one.

It seems like we have been moving, unpacking, cleaning and organizing the two houses for weeks and in fact, we actually have. Room by room.

Jon and I spent all day yesterday unpacking boxes and putting away and hanging photos at the new house. Then this morning I had to get up early to work on getting the old house cleaner and tidier and smelling sweet for the open house that is supposedly going to take place there this afternoon.

I say supposedly because MY REALTOR hasn't put up any signs or anything around the neighborhood letting folks know there will be an open house today. I have no idea whether she has done any advertising of the open house or not. Maybe I'm wrong, but I sort of get the impression that she isn't doing much to sell the house. I have no idea how to be sure of this except that the house isn't sold. We did drop the price to 99K this week.

In a few weeks we will have to discuss figuring out at what point it makes sense for me financially to consider renting it to someone on a month-to-month basis. It's such a great house. I want to find someone who will love it like I do.

And I have to say, I do lovelovelove our new house. I feel so happy and at-home here and the children are just beyond thrilled.

One week 'til wedding. Woohoo!

built-in in the butler's pantry

2006-08-26T13:21:00.000-04:00

DSC01304
Originally uploaded by kgranju.

This is one of the only places in the whole house where the wood has been stripped. We just discovered that the top of this built-in cabinet was full of nasty garbage, including beer cans and gross old clothing.

first party in the house

2006-08-26T13:14:00.000-04:00

864097459303_0_BG
Originally uploaded by kgranju.

Jane's 11th birthday sleepover. That's Jane in the tie-dye (which I brought her from Bonnaroo this year). Many giddy girls enjoyed the big new/old house

for sale

2006-08-26T09:09:00.000-04:00

DSC01401
Originally uploaded by kgranju.

This house is across the street from ours and is for sale. It's a duplex now but could be converted back.

New house question

2006-08-25T15:48:00.000-04:00

Ok, this doesn't really have much to do with house renovation, but here's a question for you:

You buy a new house. The realtor has a lockbox on the front door so any realtor can show the house, right? After you've bought the house, the lockbox is still on the door. How long do you wait before you take the doorknob off just to get rid of the lockbox (and no, I don't mean to throw it away)?

I thought it funny that the realtor came by our house today to get the lockbox - three weeks after closing - and expected it still to be there.

Our Columns

2006-08-25T14:58:00.000-04:00

DSC01412
Originally uploaded by kgranju.

Simply gorgeous, I think.

There's a whole 'nother set of them stored in the basement. These look original, but I wonder what the ones in the basement are?

craftsman in a victorian

2006-08-25T14:53:00.000-04:00

DSC01266
Originally uploaded by kgranju.

Here's a shot from our dining room into our living room (taken before previous owner moved out) showing the mix of craftsman elements in this Victorian house.

It's sad all the woodwork was painted. I never would have painted it. On the other hand, I have no desire to strip it and make it original again because frankly, after moving from my Craftsman cottage full of original, unpainted dark oak, I am really enjoying eing in a house that's light and bright and airy.

What about you. Would you strip the woodwork back to original?

Our Front Door

2006-08-25T13:02:00.000-04:00

DSC01277
Originally uploaded by kgranju.

I love the leaded glass. I prefer simple leaded glass like this to stained glass. I particularly like leaded and stained glass with brass-colored insets. I have an anti-brass bias ;-)

house for sale

2006-08-25T12:48:00.000-04:00

DSC01343
Originally uploaded by kgranju.

Here is my adorable little craftsman cottage currently for sale now that we have bought our new house. It's in the historic OAKWOOD LINCOLN PARK NEIGHBORHOOD of Knoxville. It is 1500 sq feet and has 3 bedrooms and 1 bath. It can be yours for only 99k.

E-mail me at: kagranju@gmail.com

windows

2006-08-25T12:44:00.000-04:00

DSC01268
Originally uploaded by kgranju.

Even tho' the house is clearly Victorian, it has a lot of Craftsman touches, like all the criss-cross windows all over the place. These are in the front entry hall.

Doorknob

2006-08-25T12:41:00.000-04:00

I wish I had taken a before picture of our doorknob. I'm pretty sure the front door is not original to the house, because either it or the doorknob is not original, going by the saw marks on the door, and that knob has definitely seen a lot of wear.

Anyway, when we got the house, the beautiful old doorknob on the front door was broken. Sure, it worked fine, but some brilliant person in the past had apparently tried to jimmy open the door by forcing open the doorknob, which would've never accomplished anything. And luckily they weren't successful anyway.

Katie and I have done lots of work on the house since closing almost a month ago, but the first real "this old house" project that I've finished was this doorknob.

I had the thing apart and in a million pieces last weekend. It's an amazing knob, and it comes out in one intricately-assembled piece. I probably spent 30 seconds repairing the doorknob (and taking off the realtor lock which was still on the door) and one hour and fifty-nine minutes getting the thing back together again.

But it was definitely worth it. Maybe later I'll get a picture so you can see how worth it it was.

-Jon

Why it's "The Creek House"

2006-08-25T10:57:00.000-04:00

DSC01288
Originally uploaded by kgranju.

The children christned the house "The Creek House" the first time we looked at it with the realtor.

This is because even though it's in a very urban neighborhood, a stone's throw from downtown Knoxville, it has a really big, wooded backyard that meanders down to FIRST CREEK and the First Creek Greenway.

This is a view from the top of the yard looking out the backyard down to the creek. Hard to believe you are in the city :-)

Our New House!

2006-08-25T10:35:00.000-04:00

DSC01282
Originally uploaded by kgranju.

Having become slightly obsessed with HOUSEBLOGGING lately, I've decided that Jon and I should have one of our own.

THIS is our very wonderful new, old house. We knew we needed to live in it the first time we walked through it. The buying/closing went pretty smoothly (except for Jon having to scrape and paint ten gazillion windows closing week in order to satisfy the FHA guy). And now we are in.

The fam consists of Jon and me - we'll be getting married next weekend - plus three children, two cats, two dogs and a snake named Bob.

Our house is located in the intersection between two of Knoxville, Tennessee's historic neighborhoods. We are technically in OLD NORTH KNOXVILLE, but really, it feels more like we are in FOURTH AND GILL. Both are great neighborhoods.