Funky House
So, I’ve seen my share of odd homes in Santa Clara County. I love seeing what people try and do with their homesteads… adding rooms in interesting places, garage conversations (a San Jose favorite)… who needs a garage when we have such great weather?, basement bars, basement rooms that look more like dungeons, houses within houses, backyard “shantis” where 5 more families live on the property… and the list goes on. Well, the other day I came across a very interesting home modification that I thought someone may appreciate. This home in downtown San Jose is 109 years old and is an absolutely gorgeous Victorian. As it happens with homes of this age, they have seen their fair share of homeowners and renters pass through over the years, each one adding (or taking away) from the home. This home has lath and plaster walls, an old chimney which has been closed off, a second chimney (also abandoned) which was used as the original heater and a “secret” attic that the owner was in the process of converting into a master bedroom – here begins the source of funkiness for this home. At first I didn’t know that there was an accessible attic in this home. I meandered through not bothering to open the door in the kitchen which ultimately led upstairs, because it was a pantry door. It was only after I wandered into the backyard to get a good look at the roof that I noticed a skylight that I hadn’t seen shedding light inside the home. So, I went back in opening doors to find out how to get upstairs when I found the old pantry had been “converted” into a staircase that reached up into the attic space… this little addition was definitely NOT original and seriously lacked planning since the middle landing of the stair case butted right up to a window that a child could easily walk right through… Once upstairs I was surprised how open it was up there. Although it was complete bare – no floors, no furniture and only one measly light bulb for light – I could immediately see the potential for remodel. I explored the area which only boasted of walled of areas where there was an idea of a room and an idea of a bathroom. The homeowner got as far as running the plumbing upstairs for a future bathroom. Here’s where it got funky… As I was examining the thought process behind the layout and was looking at where the shower would be, I couldn’t find the drain for the shower. I thought to myself that the lack of drain was interesting since all of the other plumbing was viewable. I chalked up to “weird” and then went downstairs to finish my inspection of the property. I ventured outside and looked under the home and to my surprise I saw a drain pipe coming out of the abandoned chimney!!! So, instead of running the plumbing in the walls, someone had decided to use the abandoned chimney has housing for the drainpipe (and probably sewage pipe as well!). Very creative… It was never finished, and the pipe did not connect to anything. What can we learn from this story? The lucky buyer who decides to purchase this gem will have a lot of corrective work on their hands.
Kelsey
