Italianate: 178 W 1st Ave, Columbus Ohio

Its getting harder to find Italianates that have not suffered the indignity of "HGTV ism". You know  the exposed ductwork, no character, modernizations. So when we find a nice house with great features we have to share it.

It all starts with a period staircase and this one looks as good as the day this home was built.

Lots of amazing cast iron mantles set the tone here.

We think this house with a liberal doze of period wallpapers and pint could transport one back easily to the 1870's.

Nice large clawfoot tub in the bath too.

This house even has a newer carriage house with great space for an office. In Victorian village and priced at 425,000, its a pretty good value.

More information and lots of photos: 178 W 1st Ave

Midwest Victorians: Queen Anne , 390 Hill St, Dubuque Iowa

We have been paying a bit more attention to Iowa lately as it has a fine repository of Victorians and very reasonable prices. When most people think of Victorian a house like this comes to mind, A Queen Anne Victorian with a turret. But is rare to find one as nicely restored as this and in fact this home received an award for historic restoration from the Dubuque County Historical Society.

You can imagine entertaining on the fine wrap around porch with some great views of other restored homes. This really is like stepping back in time  to another era.

The entrance is grand as you would expect in a fine home like this with an impressive newel post, and leaded glass transoms.

Great fireplaces abound in this home and everything is nicely redone.

The ceiling in the dining room is rather unique and a testament to a later build date as coffered ceilings became more predominate.

The kitchen has a great restored stove and you don't see many vintage kitchen's like this anymore.

Elegant bedrooms everywhere. There are 4 bedroom and two baths in this fine home.

This home has 3 car carriage house AND a two car garage and sits on a huge lot with wonderful landscaping. This grand house is priced at ONLY 199,500!

More information and ton of photos to make you swoon : 390 Hill St

Preservation Bargain: 409 E Franklin Street, Huntington Indiana

Some exterior trim colors and gable paint would change the appearance dramatically

Huntington Indiana is well known for its great historic homes and at first glance one might just pass by this brick with hardly a notice, however I'm impressed by the inside and all the things old house lovers dream about. Things like unpainted woodwork, great buildings, pocket doors and a lot of space for not a lot of money.

Great stairs here

Nice large single pocket door

409 E Franklin offers all that in a late Victorian/early Edwardian package, at only 68,000, I'm amazed someone hasn't snapped this one up but since spring is coming you might want to take a look. Some trim colors added to compliment the brick would really make the outside, as nice as the inside.

Wow what a period built in

Period plate rails in dining room

More info and lots of photos: 409 E Franklin

small but colorful kitchen needing some updates but usable as is

Preservation Envy: 515 Cedar, Burlington Iowa

This home was built in 1870 and sits in Burlington Iowa which has some of the greatest Victorian homes and an active historic preservation movement.

This home sits on 1.13 acres in town! 4 bedrooms and 3 baths and a lot of historical features have been retained in this home.

More info and photos: 515 Cedar

History for sale: Heim-Haury House

According to local legend this home was constructed using leftover sandstone from St Michaels Roman Catholic Church by a local stone mason.

 

This home is constructed in the Greek Revival Style and is located at 109 7th street, Cannelton IN. This home has had a new roof , stone restoration and cleaning and well as floor work. The home also has new wooden windows.

 

Home will be sold with a protective covenant from Indiana Landmarks and new owner should expect to complete work within 12 months. Home is offered at 25K.

 

More information can be obtained by Holliden Realty 812.547.3441

Midwest Mansions: 199 Loras Blvd, Dubuque Iowa

What a grand mansions. From its prominent location, its sweeping porch, grand entry, this house truly illustrates just what great Midwest mansions are all about.

Priced at 899K Its less than you might pay for decent 2 bedroom apartment in New York.

So lets run the stats 7584 Sq ft,  10 bedrooms, 9 Baths, 18 rooms.

The high end details in this Gilded Age Victorian are impressive and speak of craftsmanship not found today.

More info on this great house: 199 Loras Blvd

Midwest Preservation Bargain: An early Italianate, 133 W Washington, Galveston IN

Classic Early Center hall Italianate, tat most likely had a front porch

You might, at first glance, dismiss this home, covered in vinyl. Its only when you look deeper that you see how old this home is. We have been finding a lot of early homes around the Midwest lately. Galveston Indiana was laid out in 1854 and we would not be surprised if this house was already there.

The main staircase retains its original details

There are some telltale details about this house that tell its age. First of all it a center hall, Italianate style home, but its definitely an early home as it has a more Federal looking door details. You can see by the door on the second floor that home originally had a front porch and that you could walk out to the second floor.

One clue to this homes early build date is the design of the molding detail

So what we have is a Italianate center hall likely built between 1850-1860, but research might reveal a even earlier date. The home has a main staircase with rooms off it on each floor and there is a one story wing off the back which probably always houses a kitchen perhaps originally built as separate structure and later connected. the house also has a much newer 2 car garage at the rear.

A "campable kitchen" is a plus while you restore this historic home

Priced at only 34,000, the home has 3 bedrooms, 1 bath and 2098 Sq ft and sits on a 1.3 acre lot. The home  would appear to retain much of its original trim and staircase.

This Garage would be excellent for workshop space while restoring the house

More details: 133 W Washington