REHAB ADDICT: RESCUE
GARY (30) & GABBY (30) & GRANDMA GRACE (76)
Home: 1915 Craftsman
Layout: 6 Bedroom 3.5 Bath
Square Footage: 3,200 SQFT
Budget: 75k
RESTORATION NEEDS
Master Bedroom
Bathrooms
Attic Space
Wood Work / Wall Repairs (?)
Gary and Gabby are an ambitious young couple looking to make their dreams come true by restoring and renovating their 1915 Craftsman style house into their forever home. In 2015, Gary moved back to his hometown of Detroit, Michigan where he found the “perfect big old home” in the historic neighborhood of Indian Village. From the moment Gary walked through the front door, he instantly fell in love with its century old character and charm. A love he learned from his late grandfather who was an expert at restoring and renovating historic homes to their original charm. His grandfather had built all of the homes he and his wife, Grace, lived in over the years, so it's been a labor of love that is deeply ingrained within the family.
During the first few years of Gary owning his new home his grandfather’s health was severely deteriorating. Gary opened his doors and invited both his grandparents to live with him so that his grandfather could spend his remaining years in the type of home he always admired. Unfortunately, Gary’s grandfather has since passed away but grandma Grace said that Gary gave his grandfather an incredible gift of comfort during his final months which is something Gary is very proud of. After his grandfather’s passing, Gabby moved in with Gary and grandma Grace and immediately fell in love with the incredible space and rich history that was contained within the walls of the home. However, Gabby had never lived in an older home, especially one under constant restoration so it was a shock to say the least. However, Gabby wanting to make it work with Gary put on a brave face and has also made it her mission to bring the home back to its original glory while making it functional and safe for everyone living there. Although it was an unusual set up for a young couple, they committed to turning it into their forever home and honoring Gary’s late grandfather by doing everything the right way.
Over the years, the project has proven to become incredibly overwhelming. Not only by the “amount of house” that needs a lot of attention, but also by the unforeseen setbacks and increasing financial strain it has put on them as a couple. From faulty electrical that caused a massive power surge which fried all of the electronics and appliances which led to over 200 holes in the walls in order to make the necessary repairs, to leaking pipes and significant water damage. There was even a tree that fell on the side of the house! There were very few things that could be left as-is. Gary’s immediate focus was to make the home livable by fixing the bones of the house and making it structurally sound along with the electrical and plumbing. However, Gabby says “once you finish one room, there’s another one and then another one. It just keeps on going.” Nearly five years later, although they have succeeded in making small improvements here and there, they’ve realized how daunting and difficult a task it is to complete the restoration with their limited time. Upping the pressure even more is them finding a solution for grandma Grace who can no longer get in and out of the current tub in the bathroom because of her age. They are looking to provide her with a walk in shower to make sure there are no unfortunate accidents...a situation in which Gary could never forgive himself if it ever happened. They are completely overwhelmed and in desperate need of help.
Gary says that while owning and renovating a home is stressful, renovating an old home is even more stressful. He wants to make his grandfather proud by not taking shortcuts and ensuring the safety of his grandmother for her remaining years with her in their home. For Gary and Gabby, they want their “forever home” to be their sanctuary and where their relationship can continue to flourish. Gaby says it would be a “huge relief to just be able to trust someone who knows what [they] are trying to do, that knows old homes and that [they] can fully put their trust into.” They would love to be able to get the renovation and restoration completed soon and with the best craftsmanship.
Main Bedroom: Gary and Gabby are looking to turn two very small bedrooms into one large main Bedroom. Both rooms are very small, dated, and don't work well for modern-day needs. They are also currently using the other room as a closet and would love to have one fully functioning master bedroom to meet all of their needs.
Bathrooms:
1st Floor: When Gary’s grandmother and grandfather moved into the house several years ago, Gary converted a coat closet on the main floor into a bathroom because they weren’t able to climb stairs easily. Although it's an incredibly small space, they would love to try to finish it off, by putting a small sink in there and making it look like it belongs in the house.
2nd Floor: Refinishing the main bathroom on the second floor is incredibly important. It's currently not suitable for grandma Grace since she is unable to get in and out of the shower without help, and her safety is becoming a growing concern. They all share the bathroom that's part of the master bedroom and everyone feels it needs to be renovated from top to bottom.
3rd Floor: The Bathroom on the third floor needs a lot of help as well. There is a lot of water damage and with slanted ceilings it makes it feel very cramped and awkward to use. It also has a window that needs to be completely restored.
Attic Space/ Third Floor: The third floor was previously used as attic space that they’ve slowly been working to make into usable space. Since they love to entertain and host family and friends throughout the year, the space is currently not suitable for visitors to stay comfortably for any amount of time. They need to finish repairing walls, finalized plumbing and electrical, finish custom wood cabinets, as well as paint and decorate. They believe this could be a phenomenal living space that's unique to the house when they finally have it completed.