Slideshow: Brainerd bungalow returned to 1930s style
In two years, Adam Bryan and Jerry Draper have restored a 1930s Brainerd home to its original beauty.
They also added modern touches necessary for today’s living.
“Structurally, the house was in good shape and well taken care of when I bought it,” Mr. Bryan said.
But the two men realized the need for updating. An owner did some renovations 20-plus years ago, the partners said, but they were done in a style that matched the decade.
The look was “very ’80s,” Mr. Draper said.
He describes the style of the 1,800-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bath house as “Tudor bungalow,” with steep roof lines typifying Tudor architecture. A large front porch with interior living spaces on one side and bedroom space on the other is typical of bungalow design, he said.
APPRECIATING THE PAST
When approaching the dramatic remodel, the men worked to find replacement pieces that would mirror the home’s history. They found many on eBay, including period medicine cabinets for both baths. When they arrived, the cabinets still had their original stamps from 1929.
“I hit that one right on,” Mr. Bryan said proudly.
When a neighbor launched some home renovations, Mr. Bryan spotted an old sink, original to her house, and asked if he could have it. A little cleaning and it fit right in. It was one step in bringing the master bath back to original condition. The final step was removing two layers of linoleum to reveal honeycomb tile in excellent condition.
During the 1980s home remodel, a second shower was built into a hallway closet, separate from a half bath in the front bedroom. The odd configuration didn’t make sense to Mr. Draper and Mr. Bryan. So they enlarged the half bath and added a large shower, reclaiming the hall closet to use for storage. As with the first bath, care was taken to use tile and cabinetry that reflected the home’s heritage.
Antiques appear throughout the house, some from family, others from estate sales and antiques shops.
Wood floors in the living room, dining room and bedrooms were refinished to uncover white oak boards polished to a gleaming finish.
In the living room, bookcases installed in the 1980s flanking the fireplace were removed to make room for furniture. And the fireplace itself was stripped of paint to expose the original brick. The existing doors were replaced with vintage, single- and double-panel, solid-wood doors. The popcorn finish was removed from every ceiling in the house. After painting the newly smooth surfaces, the men feel as if the work was worth the trouble.
“Smooth ceilings make the rooms look bigger, cleaner,” Mr. Draper said.
The men did most of the work, bringing professionals in for the tasks they felt best left to the experts, such as electrical and plumbing updates.
MODERN CONVENIENCES
According to homerenovations.about.com, even a minor kitchen remodel adds value to a home. But Mr. Bryan and Mr. Draper gutted their entire kitchen to make it “user friendly.” They added more space with smart cabinetry and rearrangement of major appliances.
Modern Corian countertops, stainless-steel appliances and ergonomically correct thumbprint cabinet knobs blend with the traditional look of the kitchen. Its bright yellow walls with green tile were inspired by a set of vintage 1940s Vernonware pottery that Mr. Bryan has collected for several years.
“We wanted a traditional kitchen that would age well,” Mr. Bryan said.
still to come
Other than extensive landscaping, the men have done nothing to the home’s exterior. But plans are being made.
High gables were covered with aluminum siding at one point in the home’s history. Soon, they will be removed to reveal the original stucco. The men also plan to remove the wrought-iron columns and railing, also not original to the house. They will be replaced with wood.
What will remain are three custom-made flower boxes of concrete and decorative stones that the men inherited with the purchase of the house.
