A foreclosed mystery

I went to see a lovely foreclosure today - beautiful, 10 ft ceilings, three stories with a finished attic, and a pretty back yard on a quiet street.  At first I didn't think much of the sooty residue on the floors - probably the evidence of too many people with snowy, muddy shoes.  The black spatters on the wall where a puzzle, though - what did the previous owners do in these rooms?  The blown-out chunks of radiator cinched it.  I don't know what has to happen in a steam or hot water system to cause 5 inch cracks and holes the size of your hand in a cast iron radiator tube, but I doubt it was pretty.   And I doubt that it is the only thing that went wrong.  Back to searching...  I hope someone who knows something about radiators (and, it turns out, asbestos) takes the house and shows it some love.  It has the most beautiful bones. 

Jess

House hunting...continued

We toured a lovely home last week - a two-story dutch colonial in Glendale.  Built in the 1920's on 1/3 of an acre, with a wood-burning fireplace, french doors, hardwood floors and 9 foot ceilings.  A partially finished basement, and a large patio & shed in the backyard. 

Fast forward to the seller's disclosure:  knob & tube wiring (seriously?  the house has the original 1920's wiring?)  and termites. 

No, thank you.  As pretty as it is, we have to pass.


I have been thinking at lot about colors and design for the new place (where ever it is).  After enojoying our two cranberry courdoroy loveseats for a few years, I'm thinking about retiring them to a cozy den and looking at something more muted for the new living room.  Maybe something like this, with silvery blue wall?

Jess