Professional Saint Joseph, MO on Jul 31, 2012

queen anne victorian remodel - exterior

I bought this house for $9,000 back in 2007. I worked on it for three years and finally, a year ago in May, was able to move my family in! We ran into all sorts of issues, including termite damage that had compromised the foundation. She was worth saving, though, and it all came together, after a lot of sleepless nights! These photos are 'progress' shots, as I am now working on painting the fence, installing an arbor over the front, repairing the steps up into the yard, and fixing the retaining wall (a tree has been pushing against it for years).

22 Comments

Peace Painting Co., Inc. Alpharetta, GA

Wow, that's alot of love.
The paint job alone must have been a massive job working with all the peeling paint.

on Jul 31, 2012 · Like 0
Home improvement specialt... Saint Joseph, MO

Yes it was! It took two weeks to scrape, sand and vac out all the nastiness before they could prime and paint it. I hired guys to do this part...too high off the ground for this lil ol' lady :)

on Jul 31, 2012 · Like 0
Dee W Rock Creek, OH

What a transformation!! Love how you are keeping the traditional look of the home. Amazing the difference paint and yard clean-up can make.

on Jul 31, 2012 · Like 1
Jeanette S Atlanta, GA

This is stunning! I applaude you for all the hard work. Wish I were younger so I could take on something like this!!

on Aug 01, 2012 · Like 2
Home improvement specialt... Saint Joseph, MO

Well Jeanette, it will be my last BIG project. I'm now 55 with arthritic hands and bad knees! lol It catches up with ya! It was a lot of hard work, but we don't have a mortgage and didn't have to take out any loans to do it, which makes all the little flaws easier to deal with! lol

on Aug 01, 2012 · Like 0
Home improvement specialt... Saint Joseph, MO

It really is amazing Dee! paint can really change the look of things inside and out.

on Aug 01, 2012 · Like 0
Lisa Conforto Naples, FL

What a wonderful find! I have a feeling you are going to be needing a lot of paint ,a great place to get paint is the Opp's counters Low'es, Home Depot and Ace hardware all sell them most gallons are 5.00 quarts are 3.00 . If your not finding the color you want at one chances you'll find it at another. Regular prices per gallon exceed 30.00 most of the time. Ace has a great assortment of cement opp's paint too. Have fun with your reno!

on Aug 01, 2012 · Like 1
Heather B Lake Mary, FL

what a gorgeous house! Its looks amazing already with the changes you made. Nice work!

on Aug 01, 2012 · Like 1
Becky Blair, NE

I've had a love of Vics since we moved to Omaha, in the mid sixties. Sad to say most, if not all of those homes are gone now. By what I've heard Saint Jo is big on restoring it's Vics. One of these days I'm going to take a trip just to check out that lovely city. I've driven through and even made a very short stop, but have never had the time to check out the lovely ladies.
There's a group on Yahoo called Victorian Revival that I used to belong to when we were in the ...»
building process of our New Victorian style home. You might want to heck it out since it's a great resource when you have a REAL Vic. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/victorianreviv...
Oops. That's the interior one. It's been so long since I have taken part I forgot John had two Victorian groups. Here's the architectural one... http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vicarr/

on Aug 01, 2012 · Like 1
Ashley T Poplar Branch, NC

I love seeing an old house brought back to it's former glory! Good for you for taking this on.

on Aug 02, 2012 · Like 1
Stephanie @ Furniture Fli... Streator, IL

Beautiful!!! You did a wonderful job!

on Aug 02, 2012 · Like 1
Home improvement specialt... Saint Joseph, MO

Lisa, yep yep, that's where all my paint came from! lol Everytime I made a trip for something I'd check out the ooops basket for colors I wanted...now I have a lot of extra in the basement for other projects and when i get tired of these colors! :)

on Aug 02, 2012 · Like 0
Home improvement specialt... Saint Joseph, MO

thanks for the resources Becky! And yes, do drive down and take a look at St Joseph...the downtown area is in the process of revival and well worth the look-see. Also check out Whiskey Mansion B&B and the Museum Hill B&B, both are more than happy to give you a tour you won't soon forget! :) OH and don't skip Hall Street (go north on 6th past the police station, then right onto Hall)...the most amazing mansions ever!

on Aug 02, 2012 · Like 0
Becky Blair, NE

I have a friend that lives in St Jo. I may just need to take a trip. I'll give you a holler before I do too. Thanks for all the info.
I just checked out both the websites and Wow!

on Aug 02, 2012 · Like 1
Kellie Z Virginia Beach, VA

You did a beautiful job. I love that you went to the trouble of painting the originial siding instead of covering it with vinyl. Brava!!!!

on Aug 02, 2012 · Like 1
Terri J York, PA

Amazing job! Does hometalk have it's own DIYer from the show Rehab Addict on her hands? I LOVE homes from this era, and may yours give you 10 times, the enjoyment I get from looking at it and others from the Victorian era.

on Aug 03, 2012 · Like 1
Home improvement specialt... Saint Joseph, MO

Kellie, I absolutely refuse to put vinyl siding on my house...it does need some new siding here and there and cedar is so expensive, but no baseball dents in the walls for me! lol
@ Terri, I am definitely a rehab junkie!! but no tv for me! I don't have time! lol

on Aug 04, 2012 · Like 0
Anna S Riddick Belhaven, NC

What a great job. I really like it.

on Aug 04, 2012 · Like 1
Home improvement specialt... Saint Joseph, MO

Thanks Anna!

on Aug 06, 2012 · Like 0
HandyANDY Home Renovation... Marietta, GA

Great work....always nice to see a once gorgeous home restored to better than new!

on Sep 20, 2012 · Like 0
Mrgee Oklahoma City, OK

WOW! That is so great you saved it from certain demolition. We should preserve our old homes. It was such an incredible undertaking for the times they were built in. I live in a 1929 tudor style in an historic neighborhood. Many of the homes around us are in very dire need of repair & this past summer the city even demolished one "grand old lady". It hurts me greatly to see them taken down.

on Oct 09, 2012 · Like 0
Lori T

Much luck to you I have wanted a victorian for so long. We have a lot of cool old houses where UI live too but I can't afford one on what I make . so I'll keep dreaming.

on Oct 10, 2012 · Like 0