let me introduce you to… my dream house
OK, so it needs a bit of work. And no, it’s not the one we’re buying. But you can see the potential oozing from it, I know you can. This Durham, NC house has been on the market for a while and it just pains me to no end that I can’t buy it myself. Want to know how much it is? All 2,195 square feet of it, with those stained glass windows and beautiful woodwork details? Just $192,500. Sounds cheap? As long as you can afford to fix it up—yes, Durham is a great place to buy a house.
The McCracken-Mize house was built in 1902, and has been a family home in addition to a “demonstration project intended to inspire other residents of older homes,” a homeless shelter, and office space. A local newspaper, The Herald-Sun, wrote an article about the house and you can read more about its history here. (Side note on the Herald Sun article: after visiting the house, I take issue with the “it needs new everything inside” line. But then again I tend to see old dilapidated houses through rose tinted glasses…).
The house has gorgeous tall ceilings, big rooms, a sweet kitchen, an upstairs with nooks and crannies just perfect for some imaginative kid, huge french doors, and multiple fireplaces. If we owned this house we’d be broker than broke, and yet… I want it so bad it hurts.
These beautiful photos were taken by Jessie Gladin-Kramer and you can see more of them right here.
Responses to “let me introduce you to… my dream house”
twobrunettesshop
September 15, 2010 at 9:45 amOMG ELLIE! this is so so gorgeous. I feel your pain. Wow
A house and home
September 15, 2010 at 9:57 amWhat a deal! I love that transom light above the double doors…all those panes!
Jane Flanagan
September 15, 2010 at 10:13 amOh boy, this house is so fantastic. I really, really want you to have it!!
Laura Marie
September 15, 2010 at 10:44 amOh my gosh, so lovely!! Those ceilings, that staircase, that fireplace… {sigh}. Thanks for sharing!
Amy
September 15, 2010 at 10:57 amOh, it is lovely! I agree, I don’t think it needs new everything, I must see it with rose colored spectacles too :) That stainglass all over is amazing!
erin
September 15, 2010 at 11:05 amoh my goodness.
ethanollie
September 15, 2010 at 11:12 ambuy it and be broker than broke. fix what it needs right now and then go on the 25 year plan. it is amazing! we ate mac and cheese for months with our first fixer upper and never regretted a minute of it
Allie
September 15, 2010 at 11:23 amSuch a great price and so beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
linkcreations
September 15, 2010 at 11:23 amoh man what to say what to say. just no words.
Nichole @ Parlour
September 15, 2010 at 11:31 amGor-jus! I sooooo wished I lived in the area…what a amazing house. As far as needing everything new on the inside…I’m with you. A little paint and structural/electrical/plumbing updating and you’re in business. The woodwork, architecture and “charm” cannot be replicated! Sigh…I love old houses!
Anna
September 15, 2010 at 11:48 amAhh I am so swooning right now. I would LOVE to catch a house like that :)
Rachel Johnson
September 15, 2010 at 12:00 pmso beautiful it breaks my heart.
Rachel Johnson
September 15, 2010 at 12:04 pmyou could make a super-low offer and maybe get it….
Sera
September 15, 2010 at 12:04 pmOh my gosh, this is so lovely!
I want it.
Rachel
September 15, 2010 at 12:15 pmwow…this reminds me sooo much of the house on ‘Charmed.’
Alison
September 15, 2010 at 12:51 pmi would kill to live there. if only i weren’t going to be in college for another 4 years… I’d uproot and take on the adventure.
Cat
September 15, 2010 at 3:02 pmI can relate: in our recent search for a house there was one I wanted so badly it hurt. But it was a smidge out of budget, not quite where we wanted it to be, and would have cost a fortune to fix because while most of the house was beeeeeyoooutiful, there were major foundation problems. Like, joists holding up the house type problems.
Have heart, though. There are so many houses out there, you’ll end up in one that’s affordable AND lovable.
Shanon
September 15, 2010 at 4:45 pmOhhh! All I want in life is a foyer/staircase just like that. =)
Cassaundra
September 15, 2010 at 5:16 pmum, WOW! that’s a beauty with tonssss of potential!
Lergahin
September 16, 2010 at 6:56 amI totally understand what you feel for this house, it’s gorgeous! I would love to live in such a place =)
Fayet
September 16, 2010 at 9:34 amWhat a beautiful house! The windows are gorgous, and the light! When I saw the first picture I couldn’t help smiling.. and the funniest part? I lived in Durham for a while, actually not too far away from the area this house is located in, and it’s one of those houses I always dreamed of owning when I walked past. Here’s to hoping that you might get it some day..
Mish
September 16, 2010 at 6:57 pmIt’s so beautiful!!
ellie
September 16, 2010 at 7:42 pmoh wow, Fayet! small world.
angela hardison
September 16, 2010 at 10:13 pmthis makes me sad and a little sick to my stomach, because we paid more for our house and it is nowhere near as beautiful/charming/amazing… oh the joys of buying real estate at the worst time ever :(
-angela
ellie
September 16, 2010 at 11:45 pmangela –
:( Durham is a cheap place to buy a house but people who live here don’t get paid much either!! it’s all relative…
Melissa de la Fuente
September 16, 2010 at 11:56 pmIncredible! Wow…I can’t believe no one has snapped it up yet! I have been loving looking around here at your gorgeous blog. SO many wonderful finds! Thanks :)
xo
Melis
Lauren
September 17, 2010 at 1:55 pmThat house looks amazing! I love the circle room in the front too!
Lauren
Lrstewart0711.blogspot.com
Elizabeth @ rosalilium
September 17, 2010 at 5:30 pmStunning! I love a house with potential and character. I really hope whoever eventually buys it renovates it with love and care, retaining those original features.
PriscilaPetersDecor
September 19, 2010 at 7:01 pmBeautiful. I really like the stairs….
I just came across your blog and I love your layout. Great blog!!
handmaidliset
September 20, 2010 at 2:54 pmOhhhh I’ll dream along with you…
Erin
September 20, 2010 at 10:38 pmI was seduced by a house very much like this one. Eight years and piles of money later it still enchants me. But I’ll probably never be able to sell it for anything like what I’ve got in it! Oh well… It’s true love.
m2ira
September 23, 2010 at 6:49 amwoooh! its soooo cool! and beautiful..