At Home Room of the Week 10.6.09
At Home Guest Blog: Flip-It with a Conscience
Despite the economic downturn, we still hear about innovative businesses netting good results.
Here’s one from the Renovation front:Â A Fayetteville re-developer, Mark Zweig (just so happens he’s a lauded business consultant and professor as well), has been buying small, historic homes, giving them neighborhood-friendly updates and selling them for a profit. Here’s one example:
From Uninhabitable Wreck to Jewel of a Home!
This once well-crafted 1930’s, 1,300 square foot bungalow had fallen into great disrepair and languished on the market for more than four years. The exterior had suffered a fair amount of damage from being more than half-covered with ivy (the ivy literally penetrated the house and was growing into the kitchen!), the yard was completely overgrown, the kitchen cabinets were caving in on each other and most of the appliances were broken, and the kitchen lights were strobing on and off quickly in a way that would have been sure to give any visitor to the house a seizure of some sort. I even literally fell through the floor while trying to investigate one of the side bedrooms the first time I looked at it.
What the house did have was a great location, less than one block from Fayetteville’s famed Dickson Street, and a wonderful three-bedroom, two-bath split floor plan. A lot of work and a little more than $75,000 later, a house that was once dark and uninviting, both inside and out, is now a bright, clean and comfortable home for a young professional couple who relocated here from New Jersey.
Beginning with the main focal point of the house, the front steps, we systematically replaced or rebuilt all the original details. Restoring the front steps, rail system, door and porch; building a new dry-stacked stone retaining wall, removing the large amount of tree and vegetation overgrowth, putting in fresh sod and landscaping, repairing all the cracked stucco and implementing a totally new paint scheme, and reclaiming an enclosed sleeping porch with screens in place of bad plate glass windows gave the front of the house a completely different feel. Detailing was added to the front door, all broken window panes replaced and windows made operable, muntins were added to the windows that didn’t have them, new basement windows built, new beam extensions made to replace rotting ones on the gables, french doors installed in place of bad sliding doors and other broken doors, and new carriage doors built to replace the missing garage door. After rebuilding the front porch with new joists and floor, adding a new roof, new gas fireplace, replacing all interior ceilings, going through countless gallons of paint, re-tiling the bath floors and tub walls, refinishing all hard wood floors, and updating the appliances, electrical, lighting, and HVAC, the house sold immediately–and it took only 59 days from start to finish, including the entire renovation and sale process! With an initial price of $118,500, the house sold for $238,500.
After a complete interior and exterior quality renovation, this downtown bungalow is now a landmark that everyone talks about in downtown Fayetteville. And to think that the people we bought it from were surprised we didn’t tear it down!
Mark Zweig
Principal Owner and Designer
Mark Zweig, Inc.
To see an additional Mark Zweig renovation, click here:
https://athomearkansas.com/At-Home-Arkansas/November-2008/Diamond-in-the-Rough/
At Home Hits the Runway 2.11.10
This Fayetteville homeowner opted to layer browns in his guest bedroom, using toile fabric in the bedding, furnishings and draperies, and then matching it with a custom wall color. Photographed by Rett Peek and featured in our Color Issue, the room exudes the same understated elegance as this look from Carolina Herrera’s Resort 2010 Collection.
nwa fashion week : maca’s must haves
Here in the At Home offices, we’re gearing up for one of our favorite fashionable events – Northwest Arkansas Fashion Week. We’re proud to sponsor this week long event that spotlights the area’s talented and creative fashion designers and boutique owners. To prepare for the fun, we’ve asked a few of NWAFW’s fashionable participants to let us know which items they can’t live without this spring.
Mandy Rogers, owner of MACA in Fayetteville, says she can’t wait for Saturday, March 15th when models will hit the runway decked out in MACA’s newest spring ensembles. The boutique and online shop carries a range of affordable, trendy items for fashionistas of all styles.
1. Lion Stud Earrings. I always like to stay on trend and lions are huge this spring. I love these studs because they are simple, small and gold so they can be an everyday staple. Available at MACA for $12.
2. Loreal Voluminous Mascara. If you know me you know I am obsessed with mascara! I never seem to have enough on. This is a favorite because it lengthens and thickens at the same time without looking clumpy. We love that LOREAL is a sponsor for NWAFW!
3. Big Sexy Hairspray. I was born in the 80s…need I say more? I love big hair and I like it to stay! This hairspray never lets me down.
4. White tank. I love this tank because it’s seamless, long in length, doesn’t roll up and it doesn’t stick to your layering pieces. Available at MACA for $24.
5. Just USA mint skinnies. Mint is the number one color for spring. These skinny jeans are comfy, fit all body types and can be worn with anything. And best of all – they’re affordable! Available at MACA for $54.
6. Lyka bootie by Envy. These suede wedges are great because they give me height, are comfy and the cut-out on the front helps to elongate my legs. I pair them with boyfriend jeans or a cute skirt and top. Available at MACA for $84.
outside the box with daniel keeley : renovation progress
Oh, my goodness! Is it spring outside? I can hardly believe my eyes. Only a week or so ago, it was snowing in Northwest Arkansas where I live! I can’t tell you how happy I am that, hopefully, we have put the long, rainy, cold winter behind us. I am more than ready for the rejuvenation and transformation of the spring season…both in the landscape around us and in my home remodel!
So, on that note…some good news and good timing: we have finally started painting the new brick exterior. As you know, the color is Sherwin Williams ‘Black Fox’, and I just love it. It is a muddy, dark gray/brown, and it really gives the house the character I was looking for.
We are also making good progress on the back entry porch. The new columns and trim work are mostly finished, and thanks to my indefatigable painter, Mike James, soon it too will be coated in the same color.
Eventually, all the windows and trim will also receive the ‘Black Fox’ paint treatment, which will really settle the house visually into the landscape and give it a slight contemporary edge.
And speaking of landscape, we have finally been able to start on the garden. The rains have really been holding us back, but at least we have begun trenching for irrigation and lighting.
In the process of thinking about the garden, I decided to perform a simple and affordable face-lift on the front entry walk. The walk is just old concrete, so to update it and to make it a bit more interesting I decided to cut out 6″ strips in regular intervals. When we lay the sod for the front lawn, the grass will pass right through these new joints, giving the look of individual concrete pads. This will give a fresh look to the front of the house and a more engaging experience to visitors.
I am saving the concrete pieces that were cut out and am hoping to think of something cool to do with them. Please send me a message on Facebook if you have any creative ideas!
Also outside, my copper gas lanterns (something I was dead-set on from the beginning!) are up and on.
Around back, the carport/cabana is coming along nicely, as well. New, glass french doors and a small casement window have been installed, and additional trim is helping the structure relate a bit more to the architecture of the main house.
The inside of the old workshop/new ‘Garden Room’ has also been gutted to receive new electrical work and casual pine board walls. Be sure to check back next month for updates on the interior!
outside the box with daniel keeley: a glimpse inside
Well, I guess my hopes for nice, mild spring weather were a bit premature! The cold, rainy weather I lamented last month simply changed into violent storms with even more rain and, unfortunately, destruction. My house and I have been fortunate enough to avoid harm, but my heart goes out to all the victims of the recent tornadoes.
Because of all the bad weather, we have not made much progress on the exterior of the house. Inside, however, things are getting to a point where you can almost imagine someone living here! Electrical, plumbing and painting work are basically finished.
And the wood floors have been refinished and sealed.
Looking from the main living room into the den, you can see how dramatic the barn wood accent wall is.
Same goes for the tile wall in the bathroom shower. I love how the light bounces off the dimensional tile to create shadows and highlights. Here, we are just waiting for the floor-to-ceiling glass shower wall and the mirror that covers the wall above the vanity.
In the kitchen, we still haven’t gotten as many appliances installed as I would have liked.
But the rest of the granite counters and backsplash are in.
And details like the built-in wine rack above the doorway and the bar area are taking shape.
Elsewhere, other details are going in nicely, too, such as the built-in shelves inside the laundry closet. Switching from the old hot water tank to a new, tankless unit freed up a lot of useful space!
So, there you have it. Plenty of transformations just in time for spring. Check back next month to see if we can beat the heat and get the new A/C unit installed (among other things!).
room of the week : down to earth
Oly Studio Chandelier | Payton Print by Michelle Armas | Louis XVI Dining Chair | Zinc Door White Buffet
When a young family approached designer Melissa Haynes to give their home a green makeover, Melissa was delighted to find that eco options abound when it comes to home design. She was able to create a gorgeous green space without sacrificing an ounce of her signature style. The natural grasscloth wallpaper was applied with no-VOC adhesive, and the dining chairs were recovered with durable vinyl rather than leather. We adore everything about this dining room!
What’s your favorite part of this room? Read more about the project here.
