Mansion Fixers: A 1915 Colonial Revival, Indianapolis Indiana

Today we feature a great Colonial Revival on Mansion fixers. Now 375K might normally be a lot to fay for a fixer. But this Fixer is between The Meridian Park Historic District and ultra expensive Meridian Kessler.

This home sits in an area of mostly large homes and mansions but had some commercial encroachment in the 1960-70's. The area became largely office/commercial by the 1980's and now is swinging back residential as prices in nearby area have skyrocketed.

This home will need some work including recreating the two single story front porch sections that were on either side of the main columned porch but there are photos showing its original configuration. At almost 6000 Sq feet this was grand home in its day and can be again,

The home sits on over a 1/2 acre lot and has a large carriage house with apartment for potential income. While this home still has commercial zoning its best and most valuable use now would be single family

More info and photos: 3447 Washington Blvd

Midwest Preservation Bargains: Craftsman Cottage,Huntington Indiana

We don't feature enough Craftsman homes and the Midwest has some real winners. This house would be 1/2 a million, or more, on the west coast.

Character and Charm abounds delightful Bungalow-style home!!! Beautiful woodwork through out the living room and Dining room.

Has a wonderful built-in buffet China cabinet in the Dining room to show off your fine China dishes. Nice built-in bookcases beside the fireplace in the Living Room. Three bedrooms with hardwood floors under the carpet.

More information and photos : 646 Byron

Midwest Preservation Bargains: Romanesque Townhome 529 W St Catherine, Louisville KY

Louisville is home to some really pricy real estate in the Historic Old Louisville neighborhood, so when we saw this Great St Catherine town house we knew it was bargain and we think you will think so too as its priced under 150K

This 2-story brick 4 bedroom & 2.5 bath Victorian-style home is in Old Louisville. Features include: custom brick work, original woodwork, hardwood on 1st & 2nd floors and original wood fireplace mantles (fireplaces are decorative). Eat-in kitchen has Cherry cabinets and stainless steel range & dishwasher; lots of cabinet space.

Large living room & dining room. Large bedrooms on 2nd & 3rd floor; Den on 2nd floor has custom hearth & bookshelves. Two bathrooms are partially updated. Large master bedroom on 3rd floor w/recessed lighting & exposed beams & built-in drawers & cabinets in walk-in closet. Rear fenced yard has pond and covered rear porch. Water heater & furnace are in cellar w/access hatch on rear porch. Original woodwork on staircase.

More information and photos: 529 W St Catherine

Midwest Mansions: Samuel T Hayes House, Lexington KY

This Antebellum classic, built in 1854, is known as the Samuel T. Hayes House and is listed on The National Register of Historic Places.

The 12.2 acre farm has been lovingly maintained by the current owners. The double door entrance opens to a wide foyer with 12 ft. ceilings flanked by a double parlor with beautiful tri-fold walnut doors on one side and a light filled formal dining room on the other.

Antique light fixtures and original wide plank floors are just a few fine details of this home.

A den with wood burning fireplace and a garden room with 1/2 bath complete the 1st floor. The 2nd floor features an owner's suite with large en-suite bath, an adjoining 2nd bedroom currently used as a study, and two other large bedrooms connected by a bath.

The back patio overlooks the in-ground pool. A 2 bedroom guest house is located near the pool and a 2 room efficiency apartment is located above the 4 car garage.

More information and ton of photos: Samuel T Hayes House

Preservation Envy: A Grand Victorian, 1203 Grove Terrace, Dubuque IA

Most of do not have 1/2 a million laying around for housing, but if we did and before we'd buy some bland suburban tract, we would seriously have to consider this grand home on a hill at 499K.

This house pretty much has it all, a grand entry and we love the front doors and vestibule.

Make no mistake this is a big house, 6 bedrooms, 4 baths and over 6300 sq feet.

Stained glass is exactly what one would expect in a fine Victorian house and this home does not disappoint.

The wood work is superior in every room of this home.

The upper floor hall is spacious.

Veranda Views are impressive.

More information and photos: 1203 Grove Terrace

Midwest Preservation Bargains: Queen Anne, 602 Main St , Montecello IN

Sure this one needs work, but its evident someone has been 'trying' to bring this one back.

The height of the witches hat I find intriguing and some correct size porch columns would make world of difference on the exterior and I suspect at a minimum claps under that siding maybe some other shingling.

It looks like most of the interior woodwork is there albeit painted, Put some salvage mantels in this and some period lighting and you are well on your way back.

Kitchen is 'serviceable' for now. Priced at 69K we bet there is some play in that price and it might well be worth a try to get this towered Queen Anne.

More photos: 602 Main St

Spring break posting schedule and links to keep you busy

Its Spring and a very busy time for us here. As a result we are taking a week off from posing to give us time to catch up on some projects, deal with some historic properties saves and sales, handle our Spring Cleaning Ebay sale, and take a one week break from the "research rigors" necessary to get this blog to you.

In the meantime some things to keep you engaged:

Want to own a piece of history? The Nagele Merz house is for sale on Historic properties.com. Regular readers of the Victorian Antiquities & Design Blog have followed the history of this home for years. This home is will be sold and the next owner will continue the quest to restore this piece of Neo Grec Stenciled design history. More info about the listing can be seen here: Historic Nagle Merz House for sale

Looking for a Victorian Fixer? The Knox Hill Neighborhood Association's Save not Raze Program may be your answer. The program rescues homes that are in distressed situations like slumlords, illegal conversion to apartment or threatened action by the city and does basic stabilization and then resells them to "Preservation minded" individuals looking for a historic home to restore. Current opportunities: The Fultz House , Italianate townhome , The Wilkins House

Maybe you already own and old house and are thinking maybe its time for antiques? Well its always time for antiques of course, but if you are looking for Victoriana, this is the time as we have a ton of stuff on Ebay and some special one week only opportunities to buy  some inventory we normally don't list including some stuff from our private collection due to recent acquisitions.  To see what we have and more will be added all this week check here: ANTIQUES

We hope this week off doesn't send our readers into panic but we have lots to do and we look forward to being back fresh and ready on Monday the 23rd.

A Classic Victorian: 2025 N New Jersey, Indianapolis

Its not often that we would feature a 300K "Fixer" but this house sitting as it does in a great historic neighborhood really is a bargain at this price and really only need minor work.

This home also is a study in the fact you can not judge a book by its cover as the interior of this house is superior in its detail.

We love this grand entry with its built in pier mirror and  fine woodwork. This late Victorian early Edwardian interior is just amazing and its rare to find it all intact.

The woodwork, mantles and built ins are all there and really need nothing. A little paint and minor updating is really all that is required with this home.

This home is 4 bedrooms , 2 bath and 3758 sq ft.

More information and photos: 2025 N New Jersey

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