This Is Hardcore: Craig and Yvonne's Parlor
It’d been a while since we checked in with Craig and Yvonne over at Our Victorian House and, man, we’d forgotten what a bunch of maniacs these guys are! They really live and breathe restoration. To refresh, Craig and Yvonne bought their Victorian woodframe house back in 2001 and have been painstakingly doing a period…
It’d been a while since we checked in with Craig and Yvonne over at Our Victorian House and, man, we’d forgotten what a bunch of maniacs these guys are! They really live and breathe restoration. To refresh, Craig and Yvonne bought their Victorian woodframe house back in 2001 and have been painstakingly doing a period restoration themselves. While we’re not sure we’d want to live in such exacting period detail ourselves, we are still blown away by what they’ve done in rooms like the parlor (pictured above). So check it out–it’s a far superior reno blog to our own!
Parlor Floor Photos [Our Victorian House]
Renovation Tip: Recruit Relatives [Brownstoner]
It is truly a wonderful sight to see it done right, without short cuts, with dedication,understanding, knowledge, perseverance and purpose. We
had the opportunity to do something like what you have tackled, but, at our age (66 and 72), it would have been too much to tackle. I truly envy you your wondrous re-emerging home, and
I know you will see it to it’s completion, no matter how much time it
takes. The way you have documented the
work that has been done is also one of the best I have seen, and I’ve seen a lot. Had we done what you are doing it would have been done in the “high Victorian” decor. I have already done
all of the window design work for the
layering of the windows and even though we won’t get the home that we want to do it in, the windows will be
done and the furniture, etc will be in
the High Victorian manner. I don’t know
where or when it will be, I just know that someday, it will be. Just as I
know that you will accomplish the job
that you have started. I wish for you
all things good, health and happiness
and a pride in what you have accomplished, both you and your wife.
I will keep watching your progress and
vicariously enjoy the results. Thank
you for sharing your journey with those of us that were born 125 years too late.
It’s never too far from Halloween for ghost stories!
Spooked, I love their ghost stories…does anyone have any Brooklyn ghost stories? I would love to hear them, even though Halloween is way off!
Did anyone else read the ghost stories about their house on their site? creepy!
Oh my goodness! I am amazed!!! That is more than a full time job! I hope they are not doing it “on the side” while working? All I can say is I am in awe. Kudos to both of you!
we are doing most of our renovations ourselves, money being the biggest reason. they give me hope! they are doing a terrific job, my hat if off to them both.
God I heart Craig and Yvonne. They got me interested in decorating in the first place. Exteriors are great, but you spend most of your time inside the house, right? I may not be all about Victorian opulence generally, but I would love a parlor just like that. I just wish they’d update more often.
Wow, that is spectacular. One of kind home. For do it yourselfers, they have a lot of skill.
A couple of years ago, my husband actually emailed Craig and Yvonne, scolding them for “giving my wife crazy ideas”. Only half serious, of course. We own an elaborate Victorian upstate and a Brooklyn brownstone, both of which we’re renovating mostly by ourselves. (I know…nuts!) The painted lady is alot more fun to work on because you can really make it a work of art. I’m not saying that you can’t do that with brownstones, but I feel like you have to stick with the safe period details (keeping re-sale in mind).