Observatory Hill

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Summer 2017 Newsletter
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83 Watson Boulevard

83 Watson Boulevard


Home of Ann Murry. History: The house was built in the early 1920's from a plan by California architect, Henry Wilson. I have a copy of the 1910 house plan. Two other identical bungalows were constructed on either side it. The current owner bought this the house in 2006. She had always wanted an arts and crafts bungalow so when she discovered that this house was for sale, she immediately made an offer and sold her 1908 four square on Richey Avenue, also in Observatory Hill.

Renovations: The previous owner rehabbed the inside and exterior of the house. The paint colors in the living room and dining room were chosen because they were popular colors in arts and crafts homes of the 1920's. The owner hired a local carpenter who is also an artist to rehab my bathroom. He replicated the look of the wainscoting in the living room and dining room in the bath.

The Details: The house is filled with arts and crafts quarter- sawed oak furniture that the owner inherited from her great grandmother. The furniture was used in a mission style house that she designed in 1909. The living room has wainscoting, a 10-foot high, beamed ceiling, window seats and a working fireplace. The arts and crafts designs above the fireplace are replicated in the bath. Built-in bookshelves are on either side of the fireplace. The original lights and mirror hang above the fireplace. The dining room is separated from the living room by beautiful walnut pocket doors. The pocket doors generally aren't used because this California style bungalow is meant to have an open floor plan. The dining room also has wainscoting, beamed ceiling, and a long window seat beneath three bayed windows. There's a built-in china closet. The arts and crafts chandelier above the dining room table was originally in the owner’s great grandmother's house. The original swinging door separates the dining room and kitchen. The kitchen has been remodeled using cabinets with the straight, clean lines of the period. The hardware is a replica of the arts and crafts era. The framed prints in the kitchen are from a trip I made to Cuba. The bathroom was redone in 2007, and a local carpenter and artist handcrafted the wainscoting. The owner moved to Observatory Hill from West Virginia. She loves the friendly people and beautiful old houses in the neighborhood. She was thrilled to find a bungalow in the neighborhood. She says every window she looks out, she sees green: trees, ivy, grass. “It's like living in the country smack dab in the middle of the city.”