Our Remodel and WW Projects in "Orlando Magazine"

[Lonnie in Orlando]

I didn't know whether to post this in "Home Improvements", "Around the Coffee Pot", or "Finished Projects". But since this project started Aug 13, 2004 - I figured that "(finally) Finished Projects" is the right place.

An oak tree fell into our 1908 bungalow during Hurricane Charley on Aug 13, 2004.


The damage forced us to do a long talked about remodel. The contractor did all work to match the original style of the house. This included changing details from previous remodels that were not consistent with the style. We did not increase the square footage.

The craftsmen embraced our vision and met our goals. I retired in September 2006 and worked everyday on the job site to keep them focused on the goal. My BT3000 was running more than theirs. The contractor finished on Christmas Eve 2006. Final punch list and decorating were completed in October this year.

15-MINUTES OF FAME:
Our home is featured in this months "Orlando Magazine" (Dec 2007, p 124)! The article photographed and described the details of our remodel and mentioned some of the items that I built. They even called me a "woodworking hobbyist."

(Nope, that's not me nor my wife on the cover!)

Here are some of the details that my BT3000 made with help from answers to questions that I posted on BT3Central ...

KITCHEN:
Total gut out. All cabinets built on site (not by me!!!). Frame and panel doors. Inset drawers and doors. Soapstone counter tops. The floors are river recovered heart pine from Goodwin Heart Pine in Micanopy FL. All plumbing and hardware in polished nickel.

360 deg picture. Imagine bending into a cylinder with the image inside.

I built the farm table. The top is reclaimed rafters that were removed during the renovation. Three slide shows. Click on images to view ...

START TO FINISH


DRAWERS AND APRON


TOP DETAIL


I also made removable pull-out cutting boards that were often used in turn of the century kitchens. Hard maple; pegged breadboard ends; walnut inlays to note half-way out.


DEN:
Rebuilt the damaged section. Modified new one-over-one windows to match the original 1908 windows. The contractor couldn't figure out how to make the fake muntins to match the original windows. So I made them.

BEFORE


AFTER


Changed interior wall surface and replaced metal fireplace with IsoKern masonry fireplace. I jointed and planed the rough sawn cedar mantle from the previous fireplace to make the new one and added corbels and trim.



BATH:
Gutted out a bath. I had rescued a 1926 two piece toilet from a neighbor's remodel. Designed the bath to match. I built the medicine cabinets, loosely based on plans in Robert Lang's Shop Drawings for Craftsman Interiors.


I believe that Clifford King, who built the house as a winter home in 1908, would be pleased with our stewardship.

1917 photo

Thanks for looking,

Lonnie
A confirmed Old-House-Hugger

[radhak]

Breathtaking! And I have yet to look at your videos !

That's what I call 'making your own nest'. I envy you for being able to grab the opportunity, but I also salute you for the ability to do such an impeccable job.

You must love waking up in the morning in a house you have invested so much into. Congrats.

[jziegler]

Looks great, Lonnie!

The old houses can be a lot of work, but they have so much character. Looks like you really kept things to the original feel of the house. (Much more than I have in my 1911 bungalow)

Jim

[Workman]

What an inspiration! And what a reminder that time and age are often our most valuable resources. You have invested yours well!

[JR]

Beautiful, Lonnie! A real labor of love. That table is a really fine piece.

JR

[LCHIEN]

marvelous detail in the table.
Great remodel.
Too bad the big porch in the 1917 photo is gone? Looks like the 2nd floor and roof have completely changed losing the porch...

[Uncle Cracker]

Looks like the big porch remains, Loring. You can see the open end of it at the far right side of the "after" photo. What the photo is looking at is the rear and left side. The 1917 picture is looking at the front and left side.

[Lonnie in Orlando]

Uncle Cracker-

You're right.

The front porch is still here ... exactly as it was in 1908. The color photos were taken from the rear. The old photo was taken from the front.

You can see a screened in porch at the rear in the old photo. It was extended by a previous owner into the current den. The chimney in the old photo originally served fireplaces in the living room (downstairs) and the master bedroom (upstairs). It probably sank into the sand and pulled away from the house shortly after the house was built, and replaced the French doors in the color pix.

A latticed porch off of the kitchen is still here, too.

The previous owner built a guest room that can't be seen in the photos. Except for the guest room and the den (extended from an original porch), the footprint is the same as when the house was built.

Most of the original house has the same cypress shingles that it had when it was new. Framing is old growth pine tight grain and enough resin to gum up a drill bit.

- Lonnie

[John Hunter]

Wow that is great!

[footprintsinconc]

lonnie,

very very nice! amazing! i am in awe.

[SARGE..g-47]

Magnifcent...

[chopnhack]

Good job on your restoration.

[jonmnelson]

Lonnie,

That is outstanding work -- really excellent. What a beautiful home.

[LCHIEN]

Looks like the big porch remains, Loring. You can see the open end of it at the far right side of the "after" photo. What the photo is looking at is the rear and left side. The 1917 picture is looking at the front and left side.

Oh, yeah, I kind assumed it was from the same quarter view. And the fact that the fireplace/chimney moved around the corner didn't help me any.

I thoght the end opening of the porch was a big picture window.

My error. Great restoration!

[Pappy]

Beautiful and loving restoration. Congrats on getting the exposure and recognition of your labors.