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March 30, 2009

'Our Victorian House' Hits the Market

our-victorian-house-0309.jpgLike many others, we've long been admirers of the detailed period renovation of an 1890s Eastlake house in Fanwood, New Jersey that's been documented on a blog called Our Victorian House over the last several years; in fact, we gave it a shout-out way back in 2005. So we were interested to receive a tip from a reader over the weekend that the now-completed project has been put on the market for $799,000. Even if you're not ready to move to the burbs, you've to check out the renovation play-by-play. It's awesome.




Posted by Brownstoner at 10:44 AM | Comments (19)
Categories: Renovation

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Comments

What a beauty. Anyone know what the town is like??? Is this a diamond in a sea of trash???

Mr. B...do you know what they paid for it??? That Bradbury & Bradbury wallpaper doesn't come cheap.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at March 30, 2009 10:53 AM

What a beauty...is right!
Love their blog and how they documented it all with photos.
They did a great renovation job.

Posted by: bayridgegirl at March 30, 2009 10:58 AM

Fanwood is on the Raritan valley line so it has good access to NYC. It's a relatively wealthy town. Fanwood and Scotch Plains, it's neighbor has interesting mix of housing stock.

Posted by: DeLepp at March 30, 2009 11:03 AM

I can't believe it. I read this blog for a long time -- think I heard about it from Brownstoner. Just a enormous about of time/work went into this house. I would just read and shake my head. Months and months on a room...

Posted by: Ringo at March 30, 2009 11:11 AM

How bizarre this showed up. This is the town we raised our kids in in New Jersey! We watched for years as the owners picked at it slowly with great care. We moved away 3 years ago after the kids moved out. Just recently we returned and were thrilled to see how fantastic the outcome of their work was. The town is 20 miles from Manhattan and the house is about 1/4 mile, at most, from the train station (maybe a 5 minute walk.) The library is around the cornor. It's a suburban town that is diverse with a great school system. Strong community involvement all around and great people. There is a 3000 acre wildlife reservation that's excellent for hiking 10 minutes away with a county stable in the middle of it, so riding lessons are reasonable and the trails are wonderful to ride on.
This is far from a diamond in a sea of trash. The house is on a main street for that area and the Memorial Day Parade passes right by with the streets lined with participants. It is a town with many different style houses and economic levels. But one where everyone is a neighbor and friend.

Couldn't recommend it more if you're thinking of moving to suburbia. And you can be back in Brooklyn in an hour or so by train to visit your friends.

Posted by: dakotas way at March 30, 2009 11:16 AM

Thank you, dakotas.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at March 30, 2009 11:33 AM

I grew up three towns over from Fanwood (in Union County that is about 5 miles away). It is a great town and if I was looking to go to the burbs, I would definitely include it in my search.

Although it is no Westfield, it is still a great town in a great location.

Posted by: mrkknox at March 30, 2009 11:35 AM

I am salavating. A fire place in the hallway! Oh well, maybe someday

Posted by: cggirl at March 30, 2009 11:36 AM

$799K seems more than reasonable for a place like that. I wonder what the property taxes are like....

Posted by: Lesloaf at March 30, 2009 11:46 AM

Oops, never mind. I see it now. $11,633. Not bad for the burbs.

Posted by: Lesloaf at March 30, 2009 11:47 AM

I love seeing old homes come back to life. The people who did this are to be commended.

I am really hoping that they aren't selling because they're in a financial corner (loss of job or such). I just find it a little hard to believe that they did this to turn it around and sell it. The work they did was so painstaking.

All the best to the current owners and here's hoping the new owners will continue to be good stewards.

Posted by: TownhouseLady at March 30, 2009 11:48 AM

damn now that is LOVE
however Dutchman will not have magic mushrooms in the parlor.....

Posted by: dutchman at March 30, 2009 12:19 PM

What are the schools like?

Posted by: Architerrorist at March 30, 2009 1:10 PM

OMG, I've been a fan of that house for years! My husband has been cursing them for putting "crazy" ideas into my head. Damn right that Bradbury doesn't come cheap.

Posted by: rh at March 30, 2009 1:53 PM

OMG. These people might as well have built the pyramids. This is equally inconceivable to me.

Posted by: Nomi at March 30, 2009 2:03 PM

Before deciding to stay put in BK, looked in this area and if memory is correct the school system is pretty good (& great compared to NYC schools). does that train line go directly into NYC now or are they still require to switch at Newark Penn? Being near Scott Plains and Westfield is great - easy access to the restuarants, shops, etc.

1 more full bath would be really nice - can sure sacrifice 1 of the 6 bedrms.

Posted by: more4less at March 30, 2009 2:09 PM

I've been following these guys since before I found Brownstoner. They put the yourself in do it yourself. I'm sorry they are selling what was an an amazing labor of love, but their reasons must be good.

I hope $799 is on the high end for their market. There is no way that they make a profit for the man hours alone they put in. The husband remilled the practically every stick of fretwork and balusters on the porch, He recast plaster moldings, restored and remade most of the woodwork, redid practically every fireplace from the flue down, and personally demo'd and replaced every wall, ceiling and floor himself over the course of 5 years. Not to mention he did plumbing and electric, and the exterior, too.

Not to mention the Bradbury and Bradbury wallpaper. If they had to pay for the labor and talent involved, by hiring craftspeople and laborers, that alone would have been close to a million.

But, I know several serial restorers/renovators. The fun is in the job, not sitting around admiring it later. They start to itch for a new huge project. I hope this is the case, as I wish this couple all the best. It's been a fun ride watching them, getting tips, and wondering if there are any more men like him out there, and where they were, and how can I get one.

Posted by: Montrose Morris at March 30, 2009 3:18 PM

The school system is excellent. Both of my kids and I attended and graduated from the Scotch Plains-Fanwood school system and they have something like a 90+ rate of graduates that go on to college.

The train line goes into Newark Penn Station,where you have to change trains but there has been talk for years of doing away with stopping in Newark and making it a mid-town direct. That would probably take about 35 or so minutes from Fanwood to NYC.

The town is near the Garden State Parkway, Routes 78 and 22 and 20 minutes from Newark Airport.

We lived there for 22 years and loved it.

Posted by: dakotas way at March 30, 2009 9:44 PM

My name is Sharon Steele, and I am lucky enough to be Craig and Yvonne's friend as well as the listing agent for this incredible home. I am so happy to see the information here, and I am always available to answer any questions that arise. I can be reached via email at sharon-steele@burgdorff.com

IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US INVOLVED, THAT THIS SALE OF THIS HOME IS TO SOMEONE WHO TRULY APPRECIATES IT'S HISTORY! So, please, if you are that person, or know someone who might be, please contact me. I would be happy to schedule an appointment to show it. Also, I will be hosting a Public Open House this Sunday, April 5 from 12-4 pm. The house is walking distance to the train!

Posted by: sharon steele at March 31, 2009 10:21 AM

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