Pleased as punch to announce that this post was awarded the
"Just Plain Good" award over at Hilary's Smitten Image blog.
Go here for links to other "award winning" blogs of the week.
House prices in the Vancouver area are pretty insane so you have to start out with something in need of a little TLC to try to break into the market.
This uniquely styled bungalow in Finn Slough has great potential. Look at those big picture windows and welcoming double doors! The garden has that wild natural look to it that so many horticulturists strive for, yet the yard is small enough that only minimal lawn mowing would be required. This bucolic setting is ideal for inviting friends over for a barbeque, taking full advantage of that spare gas tank (which the vendor is throwing in for free!) that you see on the generous front porch. And when the yule season rolls around, your Christmas tree is standing at the ready for decorations--talk about saving money! Another big selling feature is the building supplies left over from the first stage of renovations. Just imagine what this modest little gem could be turned into with a bit of imagination, a good application of elbow grease...
and a fresh coat of paint!
(Serious enquiries only, please.)
(Serious enquiries only, please.)
Haha! This is funny!
ReplyDeleteThe housing situation in London is so bad that some people might be glad to get something like this :)
Is the CARPENTER sign an identification of former tenants or an an unanswered request for help?
ReplyDeleteHilarious. But it seems as if pricing has gone through the roof.. literally.
ReplyDeleteWOW! That is for sure a wonderful opportunity! If no one else has made an offer.....
ReplyDeleteHahaha! Wonderful post, Louciao! Started my day with a laugh. I like that!
oh stop it, you might just cause a bidding war... i'm surprised this gem is still on the market!
ReplyDeleteWOW!!!A Wabi-sabi house!
ReplyDeleteC'est formidable!
Wouldn't that be the perfect place for me and my rusted metal?
Love the paint job.
What a challenge, but I don't think even Mike Holmes or Martha Stewart would want to take this on.
ReplyDeleteA promise in the making.
ReplyDeletePlease have you all a good new month.
Jenny,
ReplyDeleteI might be tempted as well, if it was in London!
DCW,
ReplyDeleteI think as with hockey players hanging up their skates, a carpenter blew into town and hung up his shingle.
Hilary,
ReplyDeleteYou certainly do pun with the best of them! Pricing's through the roof, all right: The sky's the limit!
Audrey,
ReplyDeleteI'm so pleased you made it in time for the house showing today. Wouldn't have wanted you to miss out on this great opportunity to take up residence again in your beloved Vancouver.
m,
ReplyDeleteIt is astounding, isn't it! Obviously you are well-acquainted with the Vancouver housing market. I think Audrey's just about to make an offer, so you'd better act fast. I think the pace of life here may be just the one you're longing for.
Jackie,
ReplyDeleteMais oui! For you and your rusted parts it's in move-in condition, and with that great design sense and decorating experience you have, you'd make a showcase of it in no time at all. Make your offer fast, though; there's considerable interest being shown in this hot property.
Shirl,
ReplyDeleteA challenge, indeed, and certainly well beyond the limited imaginations of Holmes and Stewart...but just think if we let that dynamic decorating duo of Lynne and Pierre loose in there! After all, they have considerable experience with abandonned houses and houses that should perhaps have been abandonned. Potential potential potential! And I haven't even mentioned the view!!!
robert,
ReplyDeletePromises are like pie crusts, easily made and easily broken. But thank you for your very positive outlook on this particular piece of pie. I'm glad you see the juicy opportunity that it truly is.
Happy September to you, too!
The "fresh coat of paint" version has possibilities! This country estate reminds me of some that Owen discovered in France-- Too bad you don't celebrate Halloween up there--this maison terrible would be perfect!
ReplyDeletespate: actually, a real word meaning flood
Hurricane Irene left us an angry spate of the Saddle River (as well as four days without power and one fallen tree!!)
I'm in !
ReplyDeleteYes, this is TRUE po-TEN-tial, ten out of ten !
Oh yeah, and just one song for this one... I'm on my way there... yep, I'm going...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkXIUv1B9Ko
:-)
:-)
:-)*
* (a three smile post !)
Margaret,
ReplyDeleteI love how you refer to this property as "a country estate." Clearly, you are a woman of taste and discernment! And we do "celebrate" Halloween up here. I don't think there would be many trick-or-treaters travelling along the boardwalk to get to this haunted house, though, no matter how many goodies were being handed out.
Four days without power!? Yeesh--that is a spate of bad luck.
BrOwen,
ReplyDeleteHmmm, didn't know that moody Dylan song. Good one to post on one's blog when the time comes to walk away from it...
Somehow brings to mind the old Ferlinghetti book of poetry, "Pictures of a Gone World" which could be an apt title for many of your photographs and musings (I just visited your latest posting). Even the moment just before this one is already a gone world. Be here now, man.
Anyway, I think we'll have to build a second story on this beautiful property as the demand for it is getting quite high.
:-)
Hmm...me and my rusted parts. Could she be referring to my body parts? haha!
ReplyDeleteOh, and the "Fixer Upper" title couldn't help but remind me of a comment someone left quite a long time back now on an abandoned house photo I'd posted... they said something like, "This looks more like a burner-downer than a fixer-upper"...
ReplyDeleteLooks like it wouldn't take much for this place to go up in smoke... better get over there quick and start clearing out the brush and trash and flammable materials...
So, did you tour the inside as well? Or were you afraid of crashing through the porch floor ? And what was hanging from the door handle ???
Mysteries, mysteries...
Jackie,
ReplyDeleteWell, you have complained of some stiffness from time to time.
BrO,
ReplyDeleteI doubt this place would go up in flames all that easily as the whole slough is very...shall we say, damp. You'll get a better idea of the setting when I post further pix. No, I didn't venture in, or even near; just struck a pose and continued on down the cat walk.
:-)
Them there white thingamagummies hangin' from the door knob are floats. You know, like fishermen use for floating their nets? At least, I think that's what they use them for. Maybe they used them as swimming aids or ear plugs. This was once a thriving fishing village where the boats were parked next to the houses and the Finnish fisherfolk just drove away in one on their way to work each morning.
sorry but you are still not selling it to me...love that last shot - delightful dilapadation!! Greetings from the Riviera...
ReplyDeleteCatherine,
ReplyDeleteYes, probably not quite what you've become accustomed to, living on the Riviera and all.
;-)
So, are you still busy clearing out the cobwebs and sprucing this place up, getting it ready for our New Year's Eve party there ???
ReplyDeleteBrO,
ReplyDeleteThought we might do All Hallows' Eve first as there's less decorating and cleaning to be done. Am presently scouting the area for other suitable dream houses.
BrOwen--PS
ReplyDeleteThanks for the song you left for me over at your place. It made the perfect theme music for my house-hunting in the Slough.
OK< I'll take it!!!
ReplyDeleteSaj,
ReplyDeleteYeah, I guess this diamond in the rough looks like a precious jewel to you after what you've been through in Christchurch. I'll have to find myself a place down the boardwalk to move into. Let the good times roll!
A fixer-upper indeed! Great shot and artistic application of the photos. I always wonder what happened to the people who at one time lived in a place like this and would it make them sad to see it in such bad repair.
ReplyDeleteLet us see how you fix it up...
Bises,
Genie
Genie,
ReplyDeleteThis was once a fishing village of Finnish settlers. I haven't delved far into the history of it (lazy)but I imagine they moved on to other occupations and locations as the industry, laws, tides of the times and the dykes changed. It's a bit of an arty community of sorts now. I'd be too timid to live there!
gave me a good laugh. really though it is amazing things like this near a marsh? have not been torn down and mc mansions built.
ReplyDeletesukipoet,
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear your laughter echoing through the slough! I think the area is too unstable for McD's and such to march in and start building. Lots of flooding, plus the tides. It was a fishing village originally, of Finnish settlers. Some creative, adventuresome souls (including an old friend of mine) are making homes here.
greatness! i'm sending my check for escrow now!!!
ReplyDeletecame over from hilary's to say congrats on your POTW!!! love this!
We've been looking for a new apartment and this is better than a lot we've looked at! Lol. Congrats on your POTW.
ReplyDeleteI laughed when a home down the street like this started a redo, I would have leveled it.
ReplyDeleteTexWis Girl,
ReplyDeletePlenty of room for your dogs too!
Thanks for stopping by. My people will call your people and we'll get you fixed up in this fixer upper in no time!
Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteIt's all about location! Thank you for stopping by to look over this prime piece of property.
Out on the prairie,
ReplyDeleteYou know what they say about one man's trash being another's treasure. Sometimes they are one and the same thing.
I really like the way you make reference to this particular home because "a nation property. inch Obviously, you're a female associated with flavor as well as discernment! As well as all of us perform "celebrate" Halloween night upward right here. We don't believe presently there will be numerous trick-or-treaters going across the boardwalk to get at this particular haunted home, although, regardless of the number of treats had been becoming passed out.
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