Tacomawa: House Hunters

We've spent the last year looking at houses in the Pierce County area, these are just some of highlights from the 12+ homes we've considered.

• We sat down early on and carved out priorities for our first house:
• Built before 1945 (post-WWII era housing tends to be architecturally generic)
• Built with craftsmanship and contains original details
• Has potential for renovation and higher resell value
• 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms (at least)
• Lots of storage space

Which house did we choose? Which is your favorite?

1: The Farmhouse

• American Foursquare
• Puyallup WA
• 1910
• 2,400 square feet
• 5 bedrooms, 1 bath
• full height unfinished attic 
• $238k

Owned by the same family for more than 100 years, this farmhouse is set on a beautiful acre next to an organic farm. The home was built from a design chosen in an architectural pattern book which were popular during the turn of the 20th century. The house is in need of serious updating, including re-plastering the walls, reorganizing the floor plan, replacing the furnace, and redesigning the world's steepest staircase. 

 Fun places to play and have adventures

 Terrifying 1970s kitchen remodel needs to go

The one and only bathroom (on the first floor). With extra kitsch.

Stephen's redesign- Before (left) and After (right) of the first floor

A slight curve re-orients the staircase to align with front door and allows for an appropriate angle.


2: The Empty House

• American Foursquare
• South Tacoma
• 1906
• 1900 square feet
• 4 bedrooms, 1 - 1/2 bath
• $146k

The empty house has already been gutted by a previous remodeler - no kitchen, bathrooms, or appliances. This means the house is considered uninhabitable and therefore can't be conventionally financed; a cash-only deal.

Beautiful original woodwork on staircase. (Not the floor. It's linoleum.)

3: The Time Capsule

• Victorian
• East Tacoma
• 1906
• 3,100 square feet
• 4 bedrooms, 1 - 3/4 bath
• 5 car garage!
• $312k

A gem in a rough neighborhood, sadly no amount of repair is likely to improve the resell value.

 Kitchen is not original, baffling wallpaper choices

Incredible built-ins with leaded glass in the formal dining room, and a dual-swing restaurant style door leads to the kitchen.

 All hardware and woodwork is original and unpainted! All the interior needs is the removal of many square miles of wallpaper.

Hand-carved tigerwood front door, beautiful original light fixtures throughout.

4: The Bremerton House

Existing front facade

Stephen's redesign for the front facade

• Attempted Italian Renaissance?
• Bremerton (30 min from Tacoma)
• 1940
• 4600 square feet
• 4 bedrooms, 4 bath
• 6 car garage!
• 1 acre lot - all grass
• waterfront view
• $207k - $269k

Everything about the Bremerton house is BIG. Built for an eccentric wealthy family, the original estate included two houses and 10+ acres. It's currently being sold under foreclosure, the bank who purchased it at auction has continued lowering the price every month to the point of zero profit. Because of its location, post-renovation resell may be difficult as well.

The mansion's neighbors are a few normal sized homes and a condo complex.

All appliances were removed by the previously evicted owner. (We would need to install new appliances before financing could be approved.)

Adorable breakfast room with cute built-ins.

Large formal dining and living rooms. (Previous owner also took the light fixtures.)

This is the master closet. No really...

Most surprising feature of the house: an elevator that stops on all three floors.

5: The Old Town House

• Victorian
• Old Town Tacoma
• 1899
• 1700 square feet
• 3 bedrooms, 2 bath
• detached guest house
• waterfront view of Puget Sound
• $230k - $269k - $320k

photo of the house circa 1960

Last purchased in 2009 by a doctor who intended to demolish the house and build a larger home on the land. When his plans didn't work and the housing market continued to fall, he tried to sell the property for a profit... only to keep dropping the price over and over for a year as it continued to sit unoccupied.

 Quirky homemade details mark every part of the house

 Carpet choices: play golf on delightful turquiose or electric blue upstairs!

 Matching plumbing fixtures!

Backyard workshop and guesthouse- could function as small apartment to rent to college student

6: North Tacoma Craftsman

• Craftsman
• Tacoma: North End
• 1925
• 2,000 square feet
• 3 bedrooms, 2 - 1/2 bath
• Excellent Location
• $269k

Ron and Nancy toured this house with us during their visit. It's in a great neighborhood, close to where we're currently renting. Craftsman is one of the most popular historical styles in Tacoma.

The house had some nice spaces on the main level, but the foundation had problems which are causing the floor to sag. The house has a few original details, but most were stripped and replaced over the last 80 years of remodels.

Water damage and feeble stairs lead to a "finished" basement that was only 6 1/2 feet tall and has one room that is actually liveable.

The upper level has been nicely renovated into a large master suite but it still feels cramped with low ceilings that are typical in Craftsman homes.

7: The Lake House

• Dutch Colonial Revival
• Lakewood
• 1867 - 1918 - 1930 - 1975
• 2500 square feet + bonus
• 4 bedrooms, 2 bath
• 2 car garage
• 1/2 acre lot
• waterfront on Lake Steilacoom
• $250k

Originally a log cabin built in 1867, numerous additions make this house sizable and architecturally noteworthy.

The large property has many garden boxes, grape vines, fruit trees, and a rabbit hutch.

Gambrel roof with shed dormers define a beautiful Dutch Colonial style hiding under 1970s cladding. (back yard view.) 

1980s kitchen isn't utilizing space well

Beautiful original woodwork in the formal dining room

Gorgeous coffered ceiling in living room (walls show orginal log cabin)

And the big surprise: indoor swimming pool and hot tub... sure, why not?!

Lakehouse: Boltons + Quijanos Seattle WA

Bolton's Visit

Our Rhode Island friends, Tim and Jess, plus Tim's parents Bob and Julia (from Ohio) stopped by to see us during their Northwest trip.

 We walked around Seattle and visited The Chihuly Garden and Glass. (This is completely different from the Museum of Glass in Tacoma. You just can't get enough Chihuly.)

The museum is conveniently location right next to the Space Needle and the EMP Museum. Still haven't been instead there yet, but just walking around is fun.

 

 Jess and Tim have been married for a little over a year now (October 2013)

Ginger loves taking everyone to Pike's Place Market at taking a photo right on this corner.

Stephen joined us after work for some coffee. He hunted out a special coffee shop: Seattle Coffee Works, with a "slow bar." We still don't really get what that means, except that there are three different ways to brew the expresso. They made us a small sample of different kinds.

 We miss you!

Quijano Seattle Tour

We had a different excellent day in Seattle on the "official" tour our friends Matt and Melissa like to give their visitors.

The Seattle Gas Works is no longer operating, but nearby area has been made into a unique park.

with an ocean and city view.

The Fremont Troll (named after its neighborhood) is a popular destination built to deter crime under the bridge. Not sure if that's because of the many tourists or if being watched makes you want to be on good behavior.

We also toured the Theo Chocolate Factory. The tour cost $10 per person, but they give you at least that much in free samples. Delicious!

 Beard-nets for the men- "I shaved yesterday!" -Matt

Tasty burgers at Red Mill Burgers are highly recommended. (good veggie options)

The last spot on our tour was the Kerry Park view of the city. Which, uh, I guess we'll have to come back next time when there's a view. Classic Seattle weather is a good experience too. 

Tacomawa: Tacoma Summer + Simon Seattle

Simon Visits + Seattle

Simon and his friends David and George have been traveling the country this summer on a research grant. Geographies of Logistics: Organization and Culture in the New Company Town. Their first stop was Seattle, so we had a great day seeing the city with them. (Next was San Francisco, then Las Vegas, then home to NYC.)

 

Simon's high school friend Ben also joined us, talking a weekend off from his PhD studies at WSU. Our first pilgrimage was to the Seattle Public Library, a Koolhaus design.

Stephen, Simon, George, Ben, David

Other exciting places to visit- Freeway Park is begging for parkour, and the Olympic Sculpture Park (part of Seattle Art Museum.)

The next day, the guys made a trek on a Mt. Ranier trail. Their goal was Camp Muir, a base camp for mountain climbers planning to reach the summit. They made it 2/3rds of the way, and enjoyed views and snow at 8,000 ft.

Tacoma WA

Back in Tacoma, Brock and Jill adopted an adorable Wire haired Pointing Griffon named Sprocket. He and Clementine made instant friends, and added to summer bbq fun.

Julie and Jason, with their sons Issac and Seth showed us around Sequim, WA. On the beach, our cells phones texted us, "Welcome to Canada!" and informed us of new rates. (We could see the Canadian shoreline across the water, but not sure why we were connecting with their towers.)

Sequim is home to the Olympic Game Farm, a drive-through petting zoo where feeding the animals is encouraged. The animals think it's a great idea and do their best to join you in the car.

Stephen made friends with a baby bison.

Summer camping has a new outlet- we bought kayaks this summer! There are many places to get out on the water here, so we're trying to find the best. American Lake, Lake Steilacoom, Alder Lake, or in the Puget Sound: Owen's Beach, and Titlow Park. Kayaking in the ocean is a bit more intense- we spent most of an evening trying to reach the Tacoma Narrow's bridge. After resting for two minutes, the current carried Ginger backward a distance that had taken an hour's paddling to achieve. So, we gave up for that day. Maybe by this time next summer we'll have stronger arms.

Ginger spent many happy hours this summer painting and redecorating the Stem Coaching Center, where she tutors Math and Reading. The center was formerly painted white and red, but after several coats Ginger changed it to a Spring green. She added two trees, which will be covered with origami cranes made by the students over time.

Other projects- a world map where readers can pin the locations of the stories we read, a giant ruler to measure their height, and a rubick's cube.

Tacomawa: Stephanie's Wedding Spokane WA + Madler Visit Tacoma WA

Stephanie & Ryan's Wedding

In July, we drove to Spokane to see Ginger's cousin Stephanie marry her wonderful new husband, Ryan. Their first dance song was "I Don't Dance" (Lee Brice)- but their joy was evident.

Our drive was smoky, as the area has serious forest fires this summer. When the sun went down, we could see the fires about an hour out of town.

Nancy's longtime friend Nancy hosted us. Her parents, Vern and Pat joined us for lunch along with cousin Dave and his family, Cadie and Eric. Vern is a retired United Methodist pastor. Ginger play in a horn quintet at a wedding he officiated several years ago.

(Eric, Cadie, Pearl, Nancy, Nancy, Vern, Pat, and Dave.)

All dressed up for the wedding reception- Pearl, Mandy, Nick, Ginger, Stephen and Nancy. Pearl has attended five grandchildren's weddings, and will be 92 this fall.

Romance and silliness were in the air...

 

Jim escorts Stephanie for Father/Daughter dance. Now all their children are married. Mike & Paula, Peter & Kelsey, and Mary watch the dance. The Lee family are the best wedding dancers to be found anywhere, slow or fast, they have fun.

We visited Riverfront Park, site of 1974 World Fair. Nancy sang there with her choir during her senior year of high school. They still have several old structures from the fair, bridges, and merry-go-round-

-and a metal goat with vacuum mouth to eat your trash. (He's supposed to encourage kids to keep the park clean)

Tacoma + Seattle WA

Mandy and Nick drove to Spokane from their home in Billings, so it was a good time to visit Tacoma, just another four hour drive. 

 

In Seattle, Mandy and Nick especially wanted to visit the Seattle Aquarium. They're as excited as an otter! 

Mandy and Nick last visited Seattle during a high school band trip, so we ate lunch at the same little bakery. (They weren't dating yet, but Nick remembers wanting to bring Mandy her sandwich.)

Back in Tacoma, we went to the LeMay Car Museum. (We never get tired of that place.)

don't crash!

Thanks for a wonderful visit!