The most interesting thing about progress, is that to go forward you have to take a few steps back.
Case in point, take our Transit System in Toronto, Ontario. To improve gridlock and traffic congestion, we unfortunately have to create more gridlock and congestion. The thing is, by creating it, through means of construction, we will improve it in the long-run.
That is the step backward, or in some cases, many steps backward. The congestion will drive commuters nuts, myself included, but in the long run, it will be progress in the right direction.
But this isn't about traffic, or transit, but about my parents.
30 years ago they purchased a home in the Dufferin & St. Clair area for around $70,000 for their growing family. My brother was already 4 years old, and I was 1, with my mom expecting my sister. The home was very simple. A two story 4 bedroom home, with an unfinished basement.
In the 33 years of owning this home, with some serious renovations in the passed, and a lifetime of memories, they have done something they never expected to do.
They decided to pack their bags, and move.
But they aren't moving to another home. They are moving out for 6 months, and returning not just to a different home, but a new home. The house is being completely renovated, with the entire interior being removed, an extension on the back, and the basement being completely finished.
When I mentioned about progress being a step or two backward, for them, they are stepping back more than 30 years. All their memories, now will be turned into just that. Memories... Their home, as they know it today, will no longer exist, but be a moment in their life... In fact, my parents' entire working career has been while living in that home. So for them, it's a change that is extremely dramatic. They have a hard time going into their home now since the demolition is complete (mostly).
They walk in flooded with memories, and walk into stark devastation. Bare studs, no outside strapping, just brick walls, and a blank slate.
The only remaining part of the home as it once was is the staircase and railing, and the windows. It's like walking into an abandoned building. I guess, in some ways, that is essentially what it is.
I see the home now in its current state, and smile happily knowing that it is for the better. Sure, they have to move out and live at my brother's place with him and his wife, but they try to be there as little as often.
Thankfully I had my camera phone in my pocket, and decided to document the home at the emptiest moment I have ever seen it. Even though I have lived there during multiple other renovations, there has never, in all my life, been anything this dramatic at this home.
So... as it is today...
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Second Floor from back bedroom looking to front of house.
Originally I would have been standing in the back bedroom. In front of
the camera would be a wall, but there would have been two more
bedrooms in between the rear bedroom and the front master bedroom.
Now it's just floor boards and the studs of a Retaining Wall. |
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Front (Original Master) bedroom looking down the hallway.
Originally there was a closet, and at the end of the hallway, a bathroom.
Now the open stairwell with original stairs, and bare brick walls. |
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| Original Master Bedroom looking toward rear of house. |
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Another view of the retaining walls from the Original
Master bedroom. You can see the joists for the ceiling
and original floorboards from the 1920s. |
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Looking at the stairway opening and where a closet
used to stand. Now brick walls, and floorboards. |
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Front corner of the home. Looking at the sloping roofline
where Raccoons have made their home multiple times. Now
they have no possible living quarters. |
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Broken floorboards from the staircase. In the bottom of the strapping you
can see two ceramic channels for old Knob and Tube wiring. That would
be considered the "Tubes". |
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| Rear corner of the house, where the original Bathroom was. |
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Looking down the upstairs hallway from in front of where the bathroom
would have been. |
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| Down the stairs. |
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One last photo from the staircase showing the
open walls and some of the only remaining
items from the home. The windows and studs. |
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Looking from the original living room to the rear of the home.
Last wall at the back would separate the dining room from the kitchen.
Window and patio doors are still in place. |
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Looking from the living room to the stairs to the basement and upper
floor. |
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From the Dining room (original) to the stars to the basement. Side entrance
door is still existing. Open square box is actually the old Milk-Man delivery
door. This was an open box where the milk-man would drop off bottles
of milk in a cubby-hole that was accessible from inside and outside the home.
It eventually was considered to be a safety hazard and a possible intrusion
point into the home. Now it's stuffed with insulation, and will probably
be removed. I think it should be retained as a cubby hole and decorated
in a nostalgic way showing an image of an old bottle of milk. |
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From the original Kitchen looking toward the front of the home. Fireplace
is still existing, but will most likely be removed and bricked up. |
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| Kitchen partition and retaining wall. |
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Original fireplace, still existing in the living room.
Soon will be removed and bricked up. Added a Lith
Layer in CS5 |
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Stairs to the second level. Showing the last remaining
structure of the original home. Soon it will be gone and
replaced with wider stairs, which will also turn and exit
into where the original dining room was. (At least that's
what has been discussed if possible). |
So that's it in a nutshell. I haven't taken photos of the basement as of yet, but I plan on it very soon and will try to add an update.
I am really looking forward to seeing the finished product, but it is not expected to be completed for the next 5 to 7 months.
A long and exciting renovation.
Continue following to see more updates as the home progresses from demolition to diamond.
All in the name of...
Progress....
Until next time.. Keep those shutters firing!
