Last week we began our tour of historic home makeovers around the nation with a look at renovations in the Northeast. This week we explore some interesting restorations below the Mason-Dixon Line. As you'll see, the South features an architectural style all its own.
Kiplinger's has searched the country for historic home makeovers under $500,000. This is the second slideshow in our series for anyone who has ever thought about preserving and enhancing an older home with an interesting past. With real estate prices at all-time highs and federal, state and local tax incentives available for historic preservation, this labor of love might be worth considering. Take our tour of homes for inspiration:
Charlotte , North Carolina
Cost of Renovation: $550,000
Before:
This historic home, built in the 1920s, combines art deco, Italianate and international styles. But it needed some cosmetic touch-ups, as well as a new kitchen.
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Charlotte , North Carolina
Cost of Renovation: $550,000
After:
Not only did the kitchen get a makeover, but also a ground-floor master bedroom was added to the front of the house. Plus, an inviting courtyard entry was created to complement an existing interior courtyard. The plate-glass, wood-framed windows were replaced with stylized windows made of steel. Yes, it topped our $500,000 cutoff. But it's an interesting look.
Contractor: Hubert Whitlock Builders, Inc., Charlotte, N.C.
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Atlanta, Georgia
Cost of Renovation: $450,000
Before:
What began as a bathroom renovation for this circa 1920s house quickly evolved into a more expansive kitchen and garage makeover.
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Atlanta, Georgia
Cost of Renovation: $450,000
After:
Why stop there? The contractor also raised the roof ridge, creating generous second floor space while maintaining the original exterior look of house. The second floor has barrel-vaulted ceilings, a stained glass window between a master shower and sitting area, and barrister bookcases. Notice how the new garage matches the original home design yet opens up more space in the backyard.
Contractor: Small Carpenters at Large, Inc., Atlanta, Ga.
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Manakin Sabot, Virginia
Cost of Renovation: $250,000
Before:
This 1859 farmhouse is located in a historic district about 15 miles northwest of Richmond. It had its charms, but the owners thought the den and breakfast room needed more natural light.
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Manakin Sabot, Virginia
Cost of Renovation: $250,000
After:
They went with an 800-square-foot, two-story addition that created room for a more open kitchen with Italian Carerra marble countertops, a laundry room, mudroom and a new master bathroom on the second floor. The existing family room and master bedroom also were overhauled. New heart pine flooring and custom-milled molding match the original work.
Contractor: HomeMasons, Inc., Manakin Sabot, Va.
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Apalachicola , Florida
Cost of Renovation: $420,000
Before:
This Spanish-style villa was built in 1900. The new owners wanted to get rid of a rear wing that had been added years after the house was built, replacing it with a two-story addition that was compatible with the look and feel of the house.
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Apalachicola , Florida
Cost of Renovation: $420,000
After:
The wrap-around porch got an overhaul, and 38 double-hung two-over-two windows were repaired and rebuilt. The house was completely re-wired without tearing out any of the original tongue-in-groove ceilings and walls, and thousands of feet of woodwork were sanded, repaired and refinished. The new owners like that the house now feels both new and old.
Contractor: Riverside Construction, Inc., Apalachicola , Fla.
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Atlanta, Georgia
Cost of Renovation: $400,000
Before:
After this picture was taken, a huge oak tree fell on the rear section of this 1918 house, located in the Druid Hills historic district of Atlanta. The tree crushed the roof and several ceilings and wiped out an original sunroom.
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Atlanta, Georgia
Cost of Renovation: $400,000
After:
The new dormer blends with the house as if it were always there. The exterior brickwork was cleaned and repaired, and a new hallway features a large skylight that brightens up the interior of the house.
Contractor: SawHorse, Inc., Atlanta, Ga.
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Burke , Virginia
Cost of Renovation: $400,000
Before:
This 1898 house was about to be torn down to make way for a new road when the owner decided to move it 1,000 feet from its existing location. On the way, plans were drawn up for a complete renovation, including a new kitchen, bathrooms and basement.
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Burke , Virginia
Cost of Renovation: $400,000
After:
This house makeover won The 2005 Chrysalis Award for Best Residential Historic Renovation. Notice the addition of a screened porch and a two-story front porch that complement the original design. Inside, brickwork from the old chimneys was exposed in the attic and kitchen. Brick also was uncovered and left exposed in the dining room and living room. During renovation, a piece of paper was discovered in the wall listing the date of construction, along with a previous renovation ordered by the son of the original owner. This piece of rosin paper is now framed and mounted on the wall of the dining room.
Contractor: Kohler Homes, Burke, Va.
Compiled by Mayur Pahilajani
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