Eastwood Home Tour

[crunchtastic]

The thread on festivals reminded me how quickly we go from the dog days of summer to an absolutely event-jammed October...

The Eastwood Home Tour is next weekend, so if you've been curious about the east end, come on out.

http://www.eastwoodcivicassociation.org/hometour.html

Casa de Crunch is on the tour, so stop by and say hi!

[samagon]

cool! don't know if I'll make it, but still looks neat!

[bachanon]

i have a meetup scheduled at noon, october 17th, for this event. cool!

http://www.meetup.com/Historic-Houston-Meetup-Group/calendar/14980660/

[travelguy_73]

We will definitely be going, any excuse to take a peek inside other Eastwood homes!

[Dan the Man]

I really enjoyed this home tour. The weather was perfect, and the atmosphere seemed more laid back, compared to some of the other home tours I have been on. Many of the homeowners were actually present and were able to answer questions from the visitors. The owners seemed very proud of their homes, as they should be. It was evident that a lot of work had been put into renovating the homes. In addition, it was refreshing to see that each project contained some degree of personal expression, rather than just blindly following the current decorating trends.

[bachanon]

The thread on festivals reminded me how quickly we go from the dog days of summer to an absolutely event-jammed October...

The Eastwood Home Tour is next weekend, so if you've been curious about the east end, come on out.

http://www.eastwoodc...g/hometour.html

Casa de Crunch is on the tour, so stop by and say hi!

darn! which house is yours? i guess i thought yours was the one featured in dwell magazine.

i really enjoyed the tour. we walked and were too tired to hit the last two houses (8 and 9 i think).

[bachanon]

I really enjoyed this home tour. The weather was perfect, and the atmosphere seemed more laid back, compared to some of the other home tours I have been on. Many of the homeowners were actually present and were able to answer questions from the visitors. The owners seemed very proud of their homes, as they should be. It was evident that a lot of work had been put into renovating the homes. In addition, it was refreshing to see that each project contained some degree of personal expression, rather than just blindly following the current decorating trends.

i really enjoyed talking with the homeowners. you should have met up with us. it would have been nice to meet a fellow haifer!

[silverartfox]

On behalf of the Eastwood Civic Association, thanks to all of you who came to this year's Home Tour. I served on one of the committees and heard the homeowners say how much they enjoyed talking with the visitors, too.

It was really neat to see so many people who grew up in the Eastwood area coming back to visit their old stomping grounds. They were pleased that the neighborhood is reviving.

Several couples who came to the tour mentioned they were looking to buy a home in the area.

[Porchman]

i really enjoyed talking with the homeowners. you should have met up with us. it would have been nice to meet a fellow haifer!

We all probably passed each other several times.

Mrs. P. and I enjoyed the tour, as well. An excellent selection of homes. It was fun that the homeowners were more present and involved in this Tour than they are for some others.

Kudos the to crunch and "the cap'n"...The house really looked great! It really showed its light and grace. The house really is exemplary of the planned components of the neighborhood.

No, bachanon, it was not the Dwell house. That house on Curtin was great. I loved how the living room walls roll open. However, wouldn't be cool if Dwell did more coverage of older homes with very high celings, lathe walls, restored woodwork, and fabulous front porches? These homes are the archetypes of efficiency. Simply realized, there was a time in Eastwood and other Houston neighborhoods when people lived without air conditioning and prospered.

Ooo! Mrs. P. and I also got a bonus tour of a really cool East End project of which we had seen the early evolution. Thank you, [other HAIFer]!

[travelguy_73]

We enjoyed the tour as well, and took our new neighbors along who were excited to see how other homes have been renovated in the area. We had also remarked at how much more casual the tour was compared to the Heights or Norhill, most of which are overdone, and make you stand around in a room listening about the homeowner's collection of snowglobes, rather than tour the house at your own pace and take it all in. I look forward to seeing the McKinney work in progress duplex as a tinished product on the tour next year.

[marmer]

Yes. Very nice indeed. Lovely homes and lovely volunteers and very welcoming homeowners. Crunch, I'm sure I saw you because I went to every house. I was the fat bald guy with the beard, tan shirt, and plaid shorts. Oh, and no pretentious shoe booties in sight!

Church of the Redeemer's mural is amazing, if you've never seen it, and Lantrip Elementary is spectacular. There are still plenty of houses in Eastwood that could use a lot of work... ;-)

[bachanon]

marmer,

we visited with you and one of the homeowners in her upstairs seventies themed fun room. i've never seen so much charlie's angel's memorabilia in one place!

i wondered if you were a haifer!

there is house i love at the intersection of telephone and mckinney. it needs paint! it would have great street presence if restored.

google map link to my favorite eastwood house

[travelguy_73]

marmer,

we visited with you and one of the homeowners in her upstairs seventies themed fun room. i've never seen so much charlie's angel's memorabilia in one place!

i wondered if you were a haifer!

there is house i love at the intersection of telephone and mckinney. it needs paint! it would have great street presence if restored.

google map link to my favorite eastwood house

*Everyone* loves that house, and I have a feeling the owner knows it and doesn't do anything to it out of spite, LOL,

[silverartfox]

*Everyone* loves that house, and I have a feeling the owner knows it and doesn't do anything to it out of spite, LOL,

I heard, or maybe read somewhere that the owner seriously believes if he paints it or fixes it up, his taxes will skyrocket!

[TheNiche]

I heard, or maybe read somewhere that the owner seriously believes if he paints it or fixes it up, his taxes will skyrocket!

Well sure, if he pulls a permit for anything.

[RedScare]

I heard, or maybe read somewhere that the owner seriously believes if he paints it or fixes it up, his taxes will skyrocket!

You'd be surprised how many people believe that.

[marmer]

marmer,

we visited with you and one of the homeowners in her upstairs seventies themed fun room. i've never seen so much charlie's angel's memorabilia in one place!

i wondered if you were a haifer!

there is house i love at the intersection of telephone and mckinney. it needs paint! it would have great street presence if restored.

google map link to my favorite eastwood house

Right, you were the audio guy. Nice to meet you. Like I said, I almost certainly met crunch but didn't know it.

[crunchtastic]

Well crud, I didn't meet any of you guys knowing you were HAIFers, that's too bad!

Ours was the house with the phone booth, not the upstairs Charlie's Angels rumpus room. (those owners give great parties, BTW)

LOL Travelguy, my sno-globes were on the shelf in the bathroom, but I refrained from talking about them. Mostly we were just busy explaining to folks how we didn't do any of the actual renovation work ourselves, but have been busy with undoing bad re-muddling and lots of deferred maintenance.

It was fun, and tiring. I loved that it was laid back. I went into it with feelings of general unease and unworthiness, because

we're just nothing like the places you see on home tours, what with our cracks in the drywall, mix and match furniture,

etc. In the end, though, it was great and most people realy seemed to enjoy themselves--I know I did.

[marmer]

Well crud, I didn't meet any of you guys knowing you were HAIFers, that's too bad!

Ours was the house with the phone booth.

You mean the TARDIS full of CD's. I saw you but I don't think I talked to you because you were talking to someone else. You have the great porch, right?

[silverartfox]

Well crud, I didn't meet any of you guys knowing you were HAIFers, that's too bad!

Ours was the house with the phone booth, not the upstairs Charlie's Angels rumpus room. (those owners give great parties, BTW)

LOL Travelguy, my sno-globes were on the shelf in the bathroom, but I refrained from talking about them. Mostly we were just busy explaining to folks how we didn't do any of the actual renovation work ourselves, but have been busy with undoing bad re-muddling and lots of deferred maintenance.

It was fun, and tiring. I loved that it was laid back. I went into it with feelings of general unease and unworthiness, because

we're just nothing like the places you see on home tours, what with our cracks in the drywall, mix and match furniture,

etc. In the end, though, it was great and most people realy seemed to enjoy themselves--I know I did.

Crunchtastic, I hope you, Capt. Crunch and your kitties have recovered from the tour. I heard many compliments on your home. Now that I know your true identity, I must apologize for my cousin-in-law's behavior at your place. He asked Capt. Crunch about the knob on what is, to all appearances, a piece of molding. The Capt. told him it was only a skinny cupboard, whereupon my C-I-L just had to open it to see for himself! C-I-L is an electrical engineer by trade and does inspections for large chemical plants, so perhaps you'll excuse him for opening small doors that look like they're hiding something interesting or dangerous. I'm glad I wasn't along when he and my dear cousin visited the other homes -- there's no telling what else he did!

I enjoyed seeing your house and talking with all of you. Wish I had written down the name of the artist whose work is hanging high on the wall facing your door -- I believe you said he was German. Please PM me if you have time -- thanks!

[samagon]

I went into it with feelings of general unease and unworthiness, because

we're just nothing like the places you see on home tours, what with our cracks in the drywall, mix and match furniture,

etc. In the end, though, it was great and most people realy seemed to enjoy themselves--I know I did.

that comes from living in the house, and seeing everything every day! what is normal every day to you is unique and interesting to someone else

cracks in drywall is a feature of older foundation types, if you didn't have cracks, I'd be worried, and mix/match furniture is the best cause you've got something different to sit in no matter the mood you're in

I hope to make it next year, just had too much going on this time around.

[travelguy_73]

I heard, or maybe read somewhere that the owner seriously believes if he paints it or fixes it up, his taxes will skyrocket!

It's ironic, because it is primarily lot value anyways. Maybe he should also put some sinkholes in to decrease the land value as well.

Oh another note, if anyone is looking for a potential reno for a (seemingly) great price, this one at 4325 Coyle certainly fits the bill. I could see it as next year's work in process house, complete with box fans and glamour shot RE agent.

http://search.har.com/engine/doSearch.cfm?QUICKSEARCH=coyle&FOR_SALE=1

[bachanon]

Well crud, I didn't meet any of you guys knowing you were HAIFers, that's too bad!

Ours was the house with the phone booth, not the upstairs Charlie's Angels rumpus room. (those owners give great parties, BTW)

LOL Travelguy, my sno-globes were on the shelf in the bathroom, but I refrained from talking about them. Mostly we were just busy explaining to folks how we didn't do any of the actual renovation work ourselves, but have been busy with undoing bad re-muddling and lots of deferred maintenance.

It was fun, and tiring. I loved that it was laid back. I went into it with feelings of general unease and unworthiness, because

we're just nothing like the places you see on home tours, what with our cracks in the drywall, mix and match furniture,

etc. In the end, though, it was great and most people realy seemed to enjoy themselves--I know I did.

i met you. two women and a large guy, light blue shirt. we stood between the dining/kitchen and discussed the wood floors, paint colors, sunlight and closet space. your passion for old homes is evident and we enjoyed visiting with you.

[bachanon]

Crunchtastic, I hope you, Capt. Crunch and your kitties have recovered from the tour. I heard many compliments on your home. Now that I know your true identity, I must apologize for my cousin-in-law's behavior at your place. He asked Capt. Crunch about the knob on what is, to all appearances, a piece of molding. The Capt. told him it was only a skinny cupboard, whereupon my C-I-L just had to open it to see for himself! C-I-L is an electrical engineer by trade and does inspections for large chemical plants, so perhaps you'll excuse him for opening small doors that look like they're hiding something interesting or dangerous. I'm glad I wasn't along when he and my dear cousin visited the other homes -- there's no telling what else he did!

I enjoyed seeing your house and talking with all of you. Wish I had written down the name of the artist whose work is hanging high on the wall facing your door -- I believe you said he was German. Please PM me if you have time -- thanks!

i noticed that piece of art as well. in fact, ms. crunch (i now know that was her) told us the artist name and i've already forgotten.

[Dan the Man]

Well crud, I didn't meet any of you guys knowing you were HAIFers, that's too bad!

Ours was the house with the phone booth, not the upstairs Charlie's Angels rumpus room. (those owners give great parties, BTW)

LOL Travelguy, my sno-globes were on the shelf in the bathroom, but I refrained from talking about them. Mostly we were just busy explaining to folks how we didn't do any of the actual renovation work ourselves, but have been busy with undoing bad re-muddling and lots of deferred maintenance.

It was fun, and tiring. I loved that it was laid back. I went into it with feelings of general unease and unworthiness, because

we're just nothing like the places you see on home tours, what with our cracks in the drywall, mix and match furniture,

etc. In the end, though, it was great and most people realy seemed to enjoy themselves--I know I did.

I envy your sleeping porch/sunroom off of the master bedroom. What a great space...

[travelguy_73]

I envy your sleeping porch/sunroom off of the master bedroom. What a great space...

Oh yeah, that was one of my favorite features on the entire tour. That, and the zen-like side garden at the modern house (which I enjoyoed as well, love when reallyl modern homes are sprinkled into old areas).

I forgot to mention how much I enjoyed peeking through the back and side curtains of many of the homes to see the views of neighboring homes. We are pretty fortunate to have a well-kept newish home next door to us, a decent brick-duplex on the other side, and landscaping to hide our back neighbors falling down garage. I now see that not everyone is so lucky! I think I would have paid to have some of my neighbors homes painted by now if I had those views, LOL.

[marmer]

I forgot to mention how much I enjoyed peeking through the back and side curtains of many of the homes to see the views of neighboring homes. We are pretty fortunate to have a well-kept newish home next door to us, a decent brick-duplex on the other side, and landscaping to hide our back neighbors falling down garage. I now see that not everyone is so lucky! I think I would have paid to have some of my neighbors homes painted by now if I had those views, LOL.

Yeah, I kept noticing that as well. I also walked to all but the two farthest houses. In the neighborhood, I noticed: 1/3 nicely restored and well kept; 1/3 shabby but livable; 1/3 total dumps that almost look beyond renovation.

[samagon]

Yeah, I kept noticing that as well. I also walked to all but the two farthest houses. In the neighborhood, I noticed: 1/3 nicely restored and well kept; 1/3 shabby but livable; 1/3 total dumps that almost look beyond renovation.

I'm actually surprised what someone is willing to rebuild.

there's a house at the end of Elliott, on Forcade, that house hasn't got a roof, and it has looked like it will collapse any second (since Ike at least). They put up a fence around the whole house about 2 months ago, and yesterday I noticed that the interior is completely gutted, and most of the roof has been removed.

Maybe they're painstakingly deconstructing the house, rather than just bulldozing it in one go? But to me it looks like they're going to do a full renovation.

I'll try to snap some pictures of it.

Edited October 20, 2010 by samagon

[CHiPs]

I didn't make it to the home tour this year; attended the East End Art Fest. A friend of mine volunteered and said it was great. My collegue's home on Walker is on the tour. It's great homeowners interact with visitors. Curious as to who decides which home gets on the tour.