An idealist and pragmatist walk into a bar ....

I've been pretty quiet while this project has been incubating over the last few months. It has been hard to balance the possibilities of the house with the realities, especially considering that Chai and I respectively embody these competing ideals. The process has not been easy on our relationship. From the get go, I advocated for limiting the design effort to simply the things that needed to be done to get the place habitable. But Chai pointed out (rightly so) that we could waste a lot of time and money working piecemeal if we didn't have a vision of how we'd ultimately like it to look so that we can prioritize work and avoid paying for doing things twice.

The problems started when it came time to pare the list back down to something we could afford.

Vigorously good, Coca-Cola - June, 1914

Now, with only a hint of cocaine!

Thanks to magazineart.org

A man's drink, a woman's drink, everybody's drinks. Coca-Cola. Vigorously good--and keenly delicious. Thirst-quenching and refreshing. The national beverage--and yours. Demand the genuine by full name--Nicknames encourage substitution. Whenever you see an Arrow think of Coca-Cola.

Joe Louis (b. May 13, 1914)

Happy birthday, Joe Louis!

Born Joseph Louis Barrow on this day in Alabama. Louis's family, shaken by the Ku Klux Klan and moves to Detroit, Michigan in 1926, forming part of the post-World War I Great Migration. The family settles into a home at 2700 Catherine Street (aka Madison Street in 2012) in Detroit's Black Bottom neighborhood.

Within a few years, the Depression hits the Barrow family hard, but as an alternative to gang activity, Joe spends time at a local youth recreation center at 637 Brewster Street in Detroit^. Legend will tell that he tried to hide his pugilistic ambitions from his mother by carrying his boxing gloves inside his violin case. In his time as a fighter, Joe Louis will have 72 fight, knock out 54 opponents, endure three defeats, and hold the championship for 12 consecutive years (the longest span for a heavyweight titleholder).

The 24-foot bronze status of his fist has become emblematic of Detroiters' identity as hard-working people who, if they come by success, come by it honestly.

Thanks to the Detroit News

Wrigley's gives pleasant, regular aid to your teeth - May 5, 1914

Thanks to magazineart.org

"The 'Seal of Purity' makes every package of Wrigley's Spearmint a perfect humidor." "I keep my cigars perfect in an air-tight box. This beneficial tidbit is kept perfect with an air-tight seal." Keep this always fresh, delicious, beneficial tidbit always handy. Give pleasant, regular aid to your teeth, breath, appetite, digestion. Look for the spear. Buy it by the box for 85 cents--at most dealers. Each box contains twenty 5 cent packages. They stay fresh until used. Chew it after every meal. It's clean, pure, healthful if it's Wrigley's.

Budweiser spells temperance - May, 1914

Perhaps he doth protest too much?

Thanks to magazineart.org

Bismarck--the "Greatest of the Germans". Bismarck, like all Germans, prized Personal Liberty as the breath of life--a NATURAL RIGHT to be guarded and defended at any cost. Among our millions of law-abiding German-American citizens there is not a man who does not consider it insolent tyranny of the odious kind for any legislation to issue this command: "Thou shalt NOT eat this--thou shalt NOT drink that." Germans know that there is no evil in the light wines and beers of their fathers. EVIL ONLY IS IN THE MAN WHO MISES THEM. Fifty-seven years ago, ANHEUSER-BUSCH founded their great institution upon the tenet of the Constitution of the United States. During these fifty-seven years they have honestly brewed an honest beer--the kind that has added to the temperance of nations. Their great brand--BUDWEISER--is demanded throughout the world. Its sales exceed any other beer by millions of bottles, proving it to be in a class by itself.

Saturday Evening Post - April 4, 1914

Thanks to magazineart.org

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.