One of my clients (who I now consider a friend) is very spiritual and as I shared some of my contractor stories she said I’m going to pray that the right workers are brought to you.  I believe her prayer manifested in the form of my cousin Cameron.  Cameron does demo work, but was recently laid-off his job.  His mis-fortune became my fortune.  This weekend was official #demoday and the work Cameron, along with two of his friends (co-workers also laid off) and his younger brother Greg pulled off this weekend is beyond incredible.  They filled a 40 yard dumpster, freed for reglazing a monster cast iron tub (had to give hi fives on that feat), and cleared out all the water lines from the old boiler heating system.  We only got through half the house, so more photos and hopefully a Quik video are forthcoming.

Another blessing came today from a long time friend via a morning text that read:
Good Morning Venus.  That small voice that speaks to me and some times I question it but have learned to follow what it is saying and the results are always, and I mean always, wonderful said I am supposed to give you $1000 on your renovation.  Please let me know the best way to get you the money.

Blown away!  That covers a second dumpster and funds to pay my awesome crew.

Thank you!

I realized that I have not shared before pictures of the house, so I thought I’d do so now before the project gets too involved.  Three things attracted me to this house.  1) Location.  It is located within the City limits and close to downtown.  Cincinnati’s downtown has gotten very expensive and beyond my current reach, but Camp Washington is just minutes from what I love most about Cincinnati (Findlay Market, OTR, downtown, my best friend Joan). I believe and the press has touted Camp Washington as the next up and coming Cincinnati neighborhood, so I really feel I’ve made a great investment.  With the tax abatement I’ll receive over the next 10-years I’ve got a decade to watch property value climb, while experiencing a 96% drop in property taxes.  Here is an article that appeared in the Cincinnati Business Courier if you’d like to learn more:  All Signs Point to Camp Washington.

2) The Lot.  My purchase price included 3063 Henshaw, which holds the house, but also the corner lot 3061 Henshaw, which will allow me to build a garage and have off-street parking.  As a suburban raised person, the one thing I can’t see giving up is garage parking.  A detached garage will be enough to get use to.  The street would be way too much.  Already I’ve been to the house in the evening and had to park down the street as most of the houses on the street don’t have driveways and many houses have multiple people with multiple cars.

3) The unfinished attic space.  The house is two bedroom, 1 bath on the first level but the attic space is unfinished with full height ceilings divided into two rooms (2/3 and 1/3).  That area will become my master suite.  The 1/3 section will be the bath and that space is the size of my current bedroom.  I already spend the majority of my time in my room and now I will have a true oasis.  Heck the entire house will be my oasis!!!!  Enjoy the pics and await the transformation.

Entry Foyer Window

Side Yard

Living Room Before

Dining Room Before

Kitchen

1st Bedroom/Office

1st Floor Bathroom

2nd Bedroom/Guest Bedroom

Entry to Upstairs

Master Bedroom Area (view from bed)

Master Bedroom (wall of future walk-in closet)

Master Bath (door will be future upstair laundry)

Master Bath (Future walk-in shower/free standing tub)

Kitchen Built-in which was relocated

1st Floor Bathroom

I had not planned to do anything at the house today, but Friday night two of my neighbors stopped me as I was loading my car.  Ron, owner of TCB Plumbing, offered his services and gave me a great suggestion for getting rid of the debris I’ve accummulated and Justin offered to help remove the debris.  I took Ron’s suggestion and rented a U-Haul trunk and Justin’s offer to help fill it.  Once loaded Justin and I went to the Rumpke Landfill and dumped the load.  If I could find five more Justin’s I could have the entire house demoed in no time.  Dude was AWESOME, a true worker bee.

In the opening segment of last year’s Rehab Addict Nicole Curtis, @nicolecurtis, laments “I just want to see brick”.  Well I know where the brick walls are located in my house, the question is do I have the strength and energy to pound off the plaster to expose it.  I think I’ll have to choose my battles.  In the hall way leading to the bedrooms/office is the back of the fireplace.  About 8’x9′ of plaster to expose it.  Not sure about tackling that much, but I do think it will be cool.

On the second floor the chimney narrows to about 2′, but 3 of 4 sides will be enclosed in closets, so is that worth it?  1 side, inside master bath DEFINITELY, but the other three I’m not so sure.

Then there is the kitchen.  It took only about 30 minutes to pound off the bottom half, so now I need to rework my kitchen design to take advantage of this great feature.  Open shelving utilizing the wood from the walnut trees I’m cutting down was the first thing that came to mind.  Cabinets with glass doors and no back is another thought.

It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood,
A beautiful day for a neighbor,
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?

source: https://www.lyricsondemand.com/
tvthemes/mrrogersneighborhoodlyrics.html

Inside my small entry foyer is a bench and today I had a childhood flashback as I sat on the bench to change into my work shoes and coverall which are stored in the closet on the opposite side.  I felt like Mr. Rogers (folks of my generation will get the reference, youngins Google it).

During my days of contemplation I picked a sunny day and drove around taking pictures of homes near my house.  I was told by Joe Gorman that my house is the only Cape Cod styled house in all of Camp Washington.  It definitely stands out in its uniqueness.  Check out this video I made – Ms. Kent’s Future Neighborhood.

Monday was a very productive work day.  I met Kevin with Gregory Forestt Lester Tree Removal Service and got a great quote to remove 15 trees out of my backyard.  People have reacted so negatively when they hear I’m cutting down almost every tree in the back yard, but it’s a necessity in order to build the garage.  Also most are weeds that were ignored and now have become ugly, scaggely trees that were allowed to grow out of control.  Many have grown into the chain link fence on the side and back yard and are covered in poison ivy.  Plus the dense shade in the back has created a mosquito breeding ground.  The first time I went in the backyard I came out with a dozen or more bites.  There are five walnut trees that drop huge nuts making the backyard a hot mess and not dog friendly.  Yeah, the trees need to go.  I am going to try and harvest the walnut tree wood for some DIY projects in the house.

I spent the rest of the day removing trim moulding out of the dining room and kitchen.  As I await the architect drawings that I need to request permits, I plan to use the time to carefully remove all the floor and door mouldings before official demo begins, so they can be re-installed.  So far I have not broken any piece that I was not able to fix with wood glue and my pin nailer gun.  The dining room is now ready for demo although I could not resist knocking through the wall that will eventually be removed to create the open concept kitchen/dining room.

After months of mental ping pong on whether I should buy or walk away from and  meetings with countless subcontractors to develop a restoration budget I finally decided to pull the trigger and purchase 3061 and 3063 Henshaw Avenue located in the Camp Washington area of the City of Cincinnati.  I got both parcels for a whopping $10,000.

Pictured with me is Joe Gorman, Executive Director of the Camp Washington Community Board.  Since 1975 the board has been saving, rehabbing, and selling single-family houses in Camp.   My house had been abused, foreclosed on, and abandoned for the last four years; it’s in rough shape.  BUT! from the first moment Joe let me tour the inside I had a vision of what the house could be.  I hope you’ll enjoy following me on my journey to restore this beautiful 1924 Cape Cod.