A lot of houses on the market are stripped of character on the
assumption that it’s the best way to appeal to the widest possible
audience, much like the idea that every apartment must be painted
off-white and have beige carpeting. This house ignores such
preconceptions to grand effect.
The owners have been in residence 10 years, and it feels like they
were busy the whole time. In the front yard, an iron fence made of
recycled metal elements embodies the unconventional attitude often
expressed in Cooper-Young.
Inside shows the same artistic attention. Each room has its own
touch, whether it be a hand-stippled border at the ceiling, a painted
“wallpaper” stripe, or a rug stenciled on the floor. All work together
to create a harmonious and most distinctive interior.
The living room has a rough-cut fireplace with a bracketed stone
mantel shelf. Bookcases flank the fireplace with small paned-glass
doors. An elegant pair of French doors with antique glass are set
opposite the fireplace as entry to the den. This room offers both a
quiet getaway or great overflow space when the hordes descend.
Five-panel pocket doors connect the living and dining rooms. An
exquisite collection of period light fixtures adorn the 10-foot
ceilings. Heart-pine floors run throughout the ground floor, imparting
their rich color to the interior.
The full bath has its original small, white ceramic floor in
impeccable condition, along with a beautifully reglazed, footed tub. An
antique wooden sideboard converted to use as a vanity adds the perfect
eclectic touch.
Two of the three bedrooms are downstairs. The one in the attic is
the largest, and there’s also a nicely sized bonus room upstairs. The
rear bedroom on the ground floor has a large walk-in closet that could
easily become a second full bath and French doors out to a deck. It
also has one wall of Elvis paneling from the 1970s, imprinted with
images of the King. There’s a new workshop that would be a perfect art
studio out back behind the detached two-car garage.
The kitchen is the major highlight. It’s composed in the English,
unfitted style with freestanding sculptural elements. A long,
porcelain-on-cast-iron sink with two integral drain boards is the
central focus with custom beadboard cabinets above. A unique, double
pot rack is composed of two iron-spoked wheels connected by a curving
run of copper pipe. All of this plays off a wall of corrugated,
galvanized aluminum that rolls sinuously up and across the ceiling.
This house is not a cookie-cutter bungalow. It’s quite the romantic
— clearly a labor of love.
1831 Oliver
Approximately 2,140 sq. ft.
3 bedrooms, 1 bath; $189,000
Realtor: Crye-Leike, 276-8800
Agent: Paige Arnold, 870-7653
