Hidden Behind old Dying trees, Kraemer House sees the sun for the first time in decades
“A good home must be made, not bought.” —Joyce Maynard
The first time we went to see Kraemer House, we had a tough time finding it. We knew what it looked like but that was of no help. It was hidden away behind century old trees up a long and narrow driveway atop a hill. We couldn’t even see it from the road. And since it’s on a private drive, the car’s navigation system was of no help either. We would later learn that those old trees hiding the house from view were actually dying. We loved the shade they provided but an arborist confirmed that many would have to be taken down because they posed an immediate threat to the house. So, one of the first orders of business would be to have someone remove them. While most of the work over the years has been done by Rich and me, even we aren’t crazy enough to attempt this! Being the true do-it-yourselfers that we are, this would be the first of only a few times, for better or worse, that we would seek outside help.
After trees were taken down, the ivy that was growing into the brick had to be removed. Soffits and facias replaced. Paint scraped from the brick then sanded, primed, and painted. There were porches that had to be replaced. Shutters that had to be repaired and painted. The list goes on and on and on and it has taken years and years to get to this point.
Before, During, and After
More Exterior Fun
