Comments on: For Sale: New 20th Ave Craftsman x3 http://www.vintageseattle.org/2008/01/09/for-sale-new-20th-ave-craftsman-x3/ Fri, 04 Jul 2008 04:01:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Julie http://www.vintageseattle.org/2008/01/09/for-sale-new-20th-ave-craftsman-x3/#comment-5096 Julie Sat, 12 Jan 2008 02:53:34 +0000 http://www.vintageseattle.org/2008/01/09/for-sale-new-20th-ave-craftsman-x3/#comment-5096 Cliffe, I think it's fabulous that you put these homes on your website. True quality and charm. King Construction has remodeled one house for me, and built another large project for us on a non-ferry service island in the San Juans. He is an unsual and extraordinary builder - and has such high standards for himself that he will likely not make a penny on these gems. Pulling out carpet and replacing with hardwoods at some point is a great project to save for. But the kitchen, bathrooms, lighting, floorplans, etc. are all so beautiful, who can gripe? I'm been watching these under construction and can't wait to see who ends up with them. These are houses that are going to still look fabulous in 40+ years. . . Julie Cliffe,
I think it’s fabulous that you put these homes on your website. True quality and charm. King Construction has remodeled one house for me, and built another large project for us on a non-ferry service island in the San Juans. He is an unsual and extraordinary builder - and has such high standards for himself that he will likely not make a penny on these gems. Pulling out carpet and replacing with hardwoods at some point is a great project to save for. But the kitchen, bathrooms, lighting, floorplans, etc. are all so beautiful, who can gripe? I’m been watching these under construction and can’t wait to see who ends up with them. These are houses that are going to still look fabulous in 40+ years. . .
Julie

]]> By: Cliffe http://www.vintageseattle.org/2008/01/09/for-sale-new-20th-ave-craftsman-x3/#comment-5001 Cliffe Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:06:54 +0000 http://www.vintageseattle.org/2008/01/09/for-sale-new-20th-ave-craftsman-x3/#comment-5001 RPH: While I agree that I would absolutely prefer stained wood molding rather than painted white and I've already stated that I don't care for the carpet, I would not classify this house as "Crapsman." I have seen the Crapsman style you refer to in many, many homes, and this wasn't a case of it. The molding is not MDF in this home. Also, the house is not in Capitol Hill, but Squire Park. Part of the reason that this property is priced so high is that the usual junk materials were not used, and you can tell that when you tour it. I encourage you to do that and make up your own mind. With that said, this home is not perfect at all. I've pointed out the faults as I see them: carpeting upstairs, having two identical houses next door, a rather small backyard, etc. I do agree that since such poor craftsmanship and design is used in most modern houses, our expectations and quality bar is lowered -- elevating houses like this to the upper tier. Sad, but true. All of this recalls a difficult balance that preservationists often struggle with, that of quality vs affordability. At what point is quality not worth it, if it starts to price people out? Personally I am pretty high on the quality side, but someone with a lower income than me would probably have a different answer to that question. Cliffe RPH:

While I agree that I would absolutely prefer stained wood molding rather than painted white and I’ve already stated that I don’t care for the carpet, I would not classify this house as “Crapsman.” I have seen the Crapsman style you refer to in many, many homes, and this wasn’t a case of it. The molding is not MDF in this home. Also, the house is not in Capitol Hill, but Squire Park. Part of the reason that this property is priced so high is that the usual junk materials were not used, and you can tell that when you tour it. I encourage you to do that and make up your own mind.

With that said, this home is not perfect at all. I’ve pointed out the faults as I see them: carpeting upstairs, having two identical houses next door, a rather small backyard, etc. I do agree that since such poor craftsmanship and design is used in most modern houses, our expectations and quality bar is lowered — elevating houses like this to the upper tier. Sad, but true.

All of this recalls a difficult balance that preservationists often struggle with, that of quality vs affordability. At what point is quality not worth it, if it starts to price people out? Personally I am pretty high on the quality side, but someone with a lower income than me would probably have a different answer to that question.

Cliffe

]]> By: RPH http://www.vintageseattle.org/2008/01/09/for-sale-new-20th-ave-craftsman-x3/#comment-5000 RPH Wed, 09 Jan 2008 23:46:30 +0000 http://www.vintageseattle.org/2008/01/09/for-sale-new-20th-ave-craftsman-x3/#comment-5000 This type of retrocraftsman, new construction has been going on everywhere for quite some time, and I agree that it is appealing on the surface, and fits especially well into the old Capitol Hill neighborhood. There are entire new neighborhoods built this way in Bend, Oregon, and here in West Seattle, in the High Point neighborhood, where I purchased such a townhome last summer. I have a builder friend in Bend who calls this phenomenon "Crapsman". Although the exterior, windows, and fixtures look vintage in this model, the interior finishes (2nd floor carpet and white paint) are far from classic, bordering on cheesey. After a lifetime of fixing up old houses, it certainly is a pleasure to live in a new home with classic features combined with modern amenities. If only these new houses were constructed with the old growth woods that define the true vintage Craftsmans, rather than OSB sheathing and MDF mouldings. I'm curious how these reproductions will hold up over time. Also, the lot is 4000 sq.ft., the house is 2557 sq. ft. This type of retrocraftsman, new construction has been going on everywhere for quite some time, and I agree that it is appealing on the surface, and fits especially well into the old Capitol Hill neighborhood. There are entire new neighborhoods built this way in Bend, Oregon, and here in West Seattle, in the High Point neighborhood, where I purchased such a townhome last summer. I have a builder friend in Bend who calls this phenomenon “Crapsman”. Although the exterior, windows, and fixtures look vintage in this model, the interior finishes (2nd floor carpet and white paint) are far from classic, bordering on cheesey. After a lifetime of fixing up old houses, it certainly is a pleasure to live in a new home with classic features combined with modern amenities. If only these new houses were constructed with the old growth woods that define the true vintage Craftsmans, rather than OSB sheathing and MDF mouldings. I’m curious how these reproductions will hold up over time. Also, the lot is 4000 sq.ft., the house is 2557 sq. ft.

]]> By: Cliffe http://www.vintageseattle.org/2008/01/09/for-sale-new-20th-ave-craftsman-x3/#comment-4998 Cliffe Wed, 09 Jan 2008 23:10:36 +0000 http://www.vintageseattle.org/2008/01/09/for-sale-new-20th-ave-craftsman-x3/#comment-4998 Ya, I'm totally with you Holly. I'm not a fan of carpet at all. If I owned this house (and had the money), the first thing I'd do is yank out the carpet and match the hardwoods downstairs. Even after a few years, I'll take dust-bunny's over ratty old carpet any day. Cliffe Ya, I’m totally with you Holly. I’m not a fan of carpet at all. If I owned this house (and had the money), the first thing I’d do is yank out the carpet and match the hardwoods downstairs. Even after a few years, I’ll take dust-bunny’s over ratty old carpet any day.

Cliffe

]]> By: Holly http://www.vintageseattle.org/2008/01/09/for-sale-new-20th-ave-craftsman-x3/#comment-4996 Holly Wed, 09 Jan 2008 22:56:22 +0000 http://www.vintageseattle.org/2008/01/09/for-sale-new-20th-ave-craftsman-x3/#comment-4996 Gorgeous house -- I will need to see if it's on the open house schedule for this weekend. What I really like is that it doesn't look like a new house; it looks like someone did an amazing remodel of an 80 year old craftsman. Now that is attention to detail. My only gripe is that it has carpet. I hate carpet, owing largely to the fact that I have 2 cats and 2 dogs. The only carpet in my house is a runner on the staircase that is necessary because the stairs are quite steep. Gorgeous house — I will need to see if it’s on the open house schedule for this weekend. What I really like is that it doesn’t look like a new house; it looks like someone did an amazing remodel of an 80 year old craftsman. Now that is attention to detail.

My only gripe is that it has carpet. I hate carpet, owing largely to the fact that I have 2 cats and 2 dogs. The only carpet in my house is a runner on the staircase that is necessary because the stairs are quite steep.

]]> By: Didi http://www.vintageseattle.org/2008/01/09/for-sale-new-20th-ave-craftsman-x3/#comment-4982 Didi Wed, 09 Jan 2008 16:35:10 +0000 http://www.vintageseattle.org/2008/01/09/for-sale-new-20th-ave-craftsman-x3/#comment-4982 I aspire to get a house with a carport. This is one "beautifuy" little home. I aspire to get a house with a carport. This is one “beautifuy” little home.

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