Renovation
April 17, 2008
Renovation Without the Debt
Brooklynites may be able to learn a thing or two from the discipline and staying power of one Ohioan renovator. Granted, the Akron couple featured in today's New York Times, David and Gina Giffels, picked up their 1913 Tudor for an envy-inducing $65,000 back in 1996. But their meticulous renovation in the intervening twelve years without taking on a penny of debt (they don't believe in credit cards) is impressive nonetheless. Of course, there were other costs, like vacation time spent with a caulk gun instead of the children. But it's clear that the couple's relationship with the house transcends finances anyway. “What I put into it was about eight ounces of my heart,” Mr. Giffels told the NY Times. “It’s like asking, ‘Well, what do you have in Gina, what have you spent on Gina over the years? Gina is not a commodity; neither is this. It’s not something that we really bought, it’s something that came into our lives.” We're sure there are more than a couple readers who have a similar tale.
Don’t Hate Me Because I’m Solvent [NY Times]
An Artful Restoration Slideshow [NY Times]