Built in 1870, Kraemer House is situated in Berks County, Pennsylvania near Antietam Lake. When we first saw this stunning Victorian Italianate, it was love a first sight and knew this was the one. But, it didn’t always look this good!
Did you see the movie “The Money Pit” starring Tom Hanks and Shelley Long? It’s about a couple who purchase an old house and one repair leads to another–and another–and another–until by the end of the movie, they have basically rebuilt the entire house. Well, Kraemer House is our real life “Money Pit.” Every single inch has been restored in one way or another. Floors refinished, doors stripped of decades old paint, hardware recast, walls and woodwork repaired, sanded, primed, and painted, a new electrical system installed and the entire house rewired, and even the radiators were sanded and repainted. And that’s just the inside!
Here’s an overview of the renovation. From the Renovation tab, check out the before and after pictures organized by exterior and interior, room by room. Enjoy!
Original blueprint from the 1944 renovation
Kraemer House By The Numbers:
31 Windows
27 Doors
22 Radiators
97 Staircase Balusters
38 Shutters
70 Light Switches
69 Electrical Outlets
52 Stairs
48 Recessed Ceiling Lights
8 Ceiling Fans
11 Hanging Light Fixtures
2500+ Square Footage
5+ Acres
…and a partridge in a pear tree!
