Pre-renovation Tour: Attic and Basement

This is part four of a four-part, pre-renovation tour of the house.

Photo above courtesy of Curbed Detroit.  

 Stairway to Attic

Last we left off, the ribbon oak floors ended and linoleum began as we headed up to the attic.

Notice the broken window leading out onto the roof. Last time I climbed these stairs, I stepped over a squirrel carcass.

Seems the raccoons couldn't wait to roast him in the fire place first.

There is actually liveable space up here.

But even I have to seriously question the color palette.

Again, tarp makes for excellent racoon nesting material.

Whoa, a bathroom in the attic. But check out that paint job on the windows. Did Jackson Pollack live here or something?

Photo above courtesy of Curbed Detroit. 

How about some before and after pictures? Here, the crew is tearing out the walls that carve up the attic.

We won't renovate this space during the first pass. But the plan is to eventually make this one open room and a small bathroom.

Photo above courtesy of Curbed Detroit. 

It's OK to be jealous of our claw foot tub. We don't mind.

OK, a quick trip to the basement. It's the least glamorous place in the house, but, hey, check out that old utility sink.

The previous tenant tried to add forced air to house that had only radiant steam heat. They didn't get very far. But the ducts there on the left at least give the house something shiny.

And is that a steel, supporting post leaning at an angle like that? Well, it was nice of them to add a two by four to help.