Eco Alley
Living Green with Connie Pumphrey
Fix Up or Tear Down?
Only once or twice did we question the wisdom of renovating our 1940’s waterfront cottage instead of tearing it down. It was a solid structure that allowed us to live in it and postpone decisions which had two benefits; first, we were able to pace our spending and, second, it afforded us the opportunity to think about how we would use the house and property. We changed our original design after living in the house for a year.
It was a challenging year - we couldn’t use two appliances at one time because the electrical was original (think screw-in glass fuses). The entrance to the house was through the lower level and up a very narrow flight of steps. It did not have central air or closets and the kitchen was on the second floor. The original floor plan included seven rooms in 1800 sq ft of space and one of the showers was fashioned of painted block.
Looking back, the only items that went to the landfill were interior plaster, old windows and 1940s appliances as we upgraded and reduced the number of room. Gradually the house and property took shape into a wonderful little paradise that kept its original footprint and size. My in-laws repurposed the original kitchen cabinets for their home and my husband kept coming up with stuff that he’d saved over the years. It totally amazed me - had he foreseen owning this place?
Our neighbors confessed they were initially unfriendly because we “looked like “McMansion people.” It surprised us because one of the reasons we’d chosen the community was to avoid overbuilt houses and the egos that accompanied them. We’re here to enjoy the peace and quiet and the incredibly unique neighbors who surround us.
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