The Queen Anne-Craftsman - Before

A big question with this house early on was, 'Is the home built in the Queen Anne style or is it more of a Craftsman?'  Well, in the midst of the restoration we decided that it was a wonderful combination of both.  It was built during the QA Era (1880-1910), has a steeped roof that's a characteristic of that style, there's obvious symmetry in the original part of the home, and it has the definitive bay window. 

However, there are some nods to the American Craftsman or Arts and Crafts style of house as well; late 1800's early 1900's  construction, natural materials, dominant fireplaces, a spacious front porch, and built-in furniture/cabinetry.  Without knowing what the original owners/builders were thinking, I'm speculating they were influenced by both styles, so naming this Pig's Ear The Queen Anne-Craftsman seems appropriate as well as respectful to those who were responsible for building it at the turn of the twentieth century.

The QA-C was condemned with a handful of other run-down buildings in town.  However, the local historical society voiced their concerns which lead to them taking ownership soon after, saving it from a demolition crew.  After years of contemplation, the historical preservationists decided they needed to find someone to take over in the rescue effort and I was referred to them by one of my neighbors.  I looked up the home on Google Maps, called my contact, and a couple hours later I was walking the property having a serious discussion about becoming the property's owner.  The windows were boarded up, there was obvious water damage and wood rot throughout, and cracked plaster walls suggested serious structural issues.  However, I was drawn to the QA-C because of all of the potential I could see; 14 foot (13' 6") ceilings, six fireplaces with original mantels, originals doors and wainscoting, lots of great bead board, and clear evidence of structural integrity in the midst of deficiencies.  

This is such a great house.  I'm thankful the historical society intervened and grateful I was able to add it to my list of Pig's Ears.  What a great project.  Stay tuned to see how it turns out. 

Happy Thanksgiving 2015

It seems like the perfect time to look back and thank everyone for their excitement, enthusiasm, and support over the last two years as we've worked on American Rehab Charleston and The TV House.  All the calls, notes, posts, and visits have meant a lot to us as we navigated unfamiliar waters.  We're still working day-by-day to finish the projects on this property as we simultaneously get acclimated to our new surroundings and help the kids adjust to their new home, new schools, and all the other changes they're experiencing.  It's been an eventful time for us and we're excited about what's next after the holidays.

Happy Movember

I'm always keeping my eyes open for future projects.  As I've said before, finding the right property seems like the most challenging part of what I do (see What's the most difficult part...).  My history of renovating these run down homes (pig's ears) has put me in deals directly with homeowners more often than working though Real Estate agents.  This is no reflection on RE Agents as much as it's more of an indication that the properties I've taken on have been so bad, that realtors didn't want to represent them.  And who could blame them for not wanting to be connected with a property that's been condemned, left vacant, or seemingly abandoned.  So when I see a house that's vacant and over grown or For Sale By Owner, those places peak my interest as much or more as the extremely run down houses that are actively being marketed on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) with the label As Is. 

Finally, thanks to all of you who have asked about the possibility of me doing future television work.  I really enjoyed the experience and would love to do it again if we can find the right property and hook up with the right people to do it.  Of course, as I've just learned, timing is also important in a project documented for television so that will factor in as well.  In the mean time, I have projects I still need to finish or see through and will continue to document this work on BSAPE.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Trent
bloodsweatandpigsears@hotmail.com

Paint Colors for The TV House

 
On a typical Pig's Ear, I have a solid understanding from the start that I will eventually be a seller looking for a buyer.  Neutral paint colors are the practical way to go.  Taupe on the walls and trim/doors/cabinets painted polar white.  These are my go to colors.  With this approach, I don't have to hope my color choices are appreciated by potential buyers, plus it's more economical to go neutral.  Multiple colors is more challenging for the painter and that makes the price go up.  Plus there's always paint left over which is more wasted dollars.  Keeping things uncomplicated when I can helps the schedule and the budget and it's not hard to keep things simple with paint.  In addition, going neutral makes it easier to sell in the end and that helps the bottom line as well.  Even when I've lived in the house for a few months or a few years, I've gone neutral for all the above reasons.     

The TV House was special and I held no reservations about adjusting my approach.  I wanted this Country Victorian to look sharp on camera and understood that the producers would know best how to make this happen.  They asked me my thoughts on the paint selections and my input was simple, "Whatever makes it look good on TV."  Once filming started, I was even more satisfied that I let them choose the colors because things look different on camera and some of the same colors appear more or less intense with alternate cameras and adjustments to the lighting. 

I'd love to take credit for the paint choices that people are so impressed with, but I won't.  I will take credit for letting a talented team do what they know so much better than me.  I did know to stay out of the way in this area.  They were sure to include me in the process by showing me the selections for each room and episode, but my input was minimal.  Most of the time I looked at what they'd come up with and was excited about the combinations. 

Some have reached out and asked me to share paint information.  I appreciate the interest.  With the internet, it will be easy to take the color names/numbers provided below and get the exact paint we used on the show.            

   Exterior
      Siding - Butter Up, SW6681
      Front Porch Doors - Brick Paver, SW7599
      Lattice, Shutters, & Wrought Iron Handrail - Charleston Green, DCR099

   Interior
      Living Room - Sand Beach, SW7529
      Living Room Ceiling - Honest Blue, 6520
      Office Wainscoting - Surf Green, SW6473
      Bedroom - Surprise Amber, SW6654
      Bathroom - Manitou Blue, SW6501
      Master Bedroom - Kind Green, SW6457
      Master Bath - Totally Tan, SW6115
      Interior Trim/Doors - Alabaster, SW7008

Enjoy!

Trent
bloodsweatandpigsears@hotmail.com

Taupe and Polar White in The Fire House

... and The Cottage

... The Hurricane House

... The Bungalow

The TV House

My projects have names.  For people familiar with this part of the state, I can refer to a house by a town, neighborhood, or street and they'll know which pig’s ear I’m talking about.  However, with people from somewhere else, nicknames have emerged.   

I bought The Fire House after it was condemned by the local code enforcement officers.  The Cottage got it’s name when my realtor called it that in the sales listing.  The Hurricane House was severely torn up when Hugo rocked the state’s coast in 1989 and it was condemned by building officials 16 years after the storm.  The Bungalow got it’s nickname by another realtor in her listing and I liked how it sounded even though I'd never thought of this house in that way.   

The TV House
(aka The Country Victorian)

My current project is an old country house with some hard to miss Victorian features, so I quickly tagged it The Country Victorian.  But then… we got on television together and people have started calling it The TV House.  We’re something of a team.  She’s the star and I’m the supporting cast member.  Was she a diamond in the rough?  I wouldn’t say so.  I knew she was pretty special from the start.  She’s a one-of-a-kind, like all my projects have been, but I believe that she will be the one people will remember.  She’s the oldest, had the most issues, and is the one folks will always want to talk about because she got me noticed in a big way.  However, she’s tied to the other pig’s ears because without them, I wouldn’t have been ready to make an offer when I walked in the front door.

This TV House is like The Fire House because they both survived a fire.  She’s like The Cottage because of the way both original structures were added onto by previous owners.  She’s a little like The Hurricane House because the roof leaked in both and I had mold issues that had to be addressed, not a big issue to me, but to some, it’s scary and oftentimes a deal breaker.  The TV House is also like The Bungalow since they both had severe floor system issues that required total demolition down to the dirt crawl space below.  So in those ways, as I was renovating my previous projects, I was practicing.

 

I've immersed myself in all these rehabs in comparable ways.   I loved buying them when no one else wanted to.  I loved cleaning them up and understanding how they were put together.  I loved taking my pictures and sketching up various options on paper.  I loved digging in, working early in the morning, late at night, and through the weekends.  It was fun, but I was unknowingly getting ready for The TV House; my biggest and most challenging project yet.  It was another seemingly impossible project.  A property that others didn't want to take a chance on.  A house some were ready to tear down and send to the landfill.  But like my other renovations, The TV House was too good to demolish, too unique and special.  With the help of so many people, too numerous to list, she's going to be a star.  Summerville, South Carolina is a special town, full of so many grand historic homes.  The TV House has become something here.  People make a point to come find her and see what she looks like in person.  They're excited about her.  They take pictures and video.  I hope this appreciation continues long after the work is done.

What Is A Pig's Ear?

        In Great Britain, pig’s ear is slang for beer, and they a have long-running celebration in London called the Pig’s Ear Beer Festival. Pig’s ear is also what the Brits call a major screw up. However, most dog owners think of a pig’s ear as a dog treat that they can pick up at the pet store.

When it comes to houses, and in particular my type of projects, a pig’s ear is a home that’s in terrible shape. It's a property that’s way over due to be rehabbed or it really needs saved.

       As a project house, a pig’s ear is more challenging than a fixer-upper and a lot worse off than a “handyman-special.” This type of run-down property is oftentimes the worst house on the block, but it might also be the ugliest property in the neighborhood or in town and may even have been condemned by building officials if they determine it to be uninhabitable or “too dangerous for human occupation.”  

       Folks who know me understand that the properties I take on are in this pig's ear category, and in most cases, no one else wanted to own or buy them. Investors, flippers, real estate agents, and other contractors have kicked the tires and said, “Uh… no thanks. I’ll pass.”

On a side note, I played rugby at the University of Cincinnati. If you’ve ever watched a few minutes of this wild sport, you understand how violent it is. There were plenty of times when people would comment on me playing and point out how brutal rugby can get. I’d usually responded with something like, “It looks worse than it is.” Resurrecting a condemned or abandoned home is comparable. For me, these pig’s ears have all looked worse than they were once I dug in and got to work transforming them into silk purses.

If a pig’s ear is a home left for dead, then I’ve been in the resurrection business for twenty-five years.

And finally, as a subsequent acronym, pig’s ear can stand for property in gnarly shape eagerly awaiting rehabilitation.