tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526309971215744148.post4667750746290912921..comments2024-03-22T03:48:07.325-07:00Comments on The Krisel Connection: Vintage California Modern North Winnetka Palmer & Krisel For Sale – Winnetka, CAKrisel Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844503653288750014noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526309971215744148.post-78047206918926180312022-01-23T10:24:40.256-08:002022-01-23T10:24:40.256-08:00I was the fortunate buyer of this magnificent home...I was the fortunate buyer of this magnificent home in May of 2016. I purchased from the widow and original owner, Jeanne LeDuc, who was married to architect and original draftsman for the Palmer and Krisel firm, Ernest LeDuc. Jeanne graciously left me the original blueprints of the home and additions drafted by her husband in 1956. Among the treasures I found with the blueprints was an original pencil rendering of the home, nearly identical to what was built, without the addition. I had it framed and it now resides on a wall adjacent to the dining room.<br />When Ernest LeDuc passed away in 1991, Jeanne did a complete "update" of the home, including replacing the original windows with vinyl ones and patio doors. Wall to wall carpeting, window treatments and wallpaper in the style of Laura Ashley, new roof and modernized house systems including an industrial garbage disposal, tankless water heater and Carrier dual HVAC system.<br />I did a careful stripping away of the carpets, which were in every room including the bathrooms! Underneath I discovered almost untouched parquet wood flooring in the living room and back bedroom and checkerboard vct tiles in the dining room. Additional rooms and hallway had putty colored and most likely asbestos backed linoleum, and white speckled vct in the bathrooms. Unfortunately the vct was in poor condition and had to be replaced.<br />I removed the window treatments and wallpaper, patched and prep painted, and looked for local contractors who carried flooring and wallpaper styles that were true to, if not original to the period.<br />Floorworks in Chatsworth supplied me with the green, brown and peach 12" x 12" checkerboard vct to replace the 4" x 4" tiles in the dining area of the same color. I carried that scheme into the master bedroom and found deep red vct tiles at the Restore in Chatsworth for the guest bathroom. I purchased bright canary yellow vct for the master bath. A lucky Restore purchase of 4" x 4" Japanese ceramic tiles completed the guest room and hallway. A local wallpaper company had a 1950's style hash print in green and gold, and a reverse one in cream and green. I bought all and had the dining room, hallway, second bedroom and entry repapered. They went out of business several years ago so I am glad I purchased enough of a tropical print to eventually cover the wall in the back bedroom which will become a dance/yoga studio.<br />Since the toilets had been replaced with modern low flow, I took my time searching for original American Standard pink and yellow toilets and a sink to put back in the guest bath. The entire vanity was gone, only the dual sliding mirrored medicine cabinet and original pink bath remained. Luckily the master bath was untouched except for the toilet and only needed painting and new floor tile.<br />The living room had original wood panel walls, built ins, including a hidden entertainment center and speakers with a record player! I merely had the floors lightly sanded and matte finished, repainted the stark white floating bookshelves, trim and overhang a warm burnt orange to better blend with the wood and replaced the ceiling fan with a light fixture of the period.<br />In fact, all the rooms had ceiling fans, also added in the 1990's. I took them all out, save for the guest and back bedroom and replaced with period correct fixtures. I managed to find original Remcraft cone fixtures for outside and added around the exterior of the property. The electrical system was upgraded to accommodate some modern use, but overall has performed well over the past five years.<br />Lastly, I replaced the cracked asphalt driveway with open turf block pavers and grey gravel, removed rotted lattice fencing and replaced with breeze block, and rotted wood slats in the cement with gravel for a French drain throughout the side and backyard. The exterior of the home now more closely resembles the rendering I mentioned earlier. Monica Hayneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12175575907379971232noreply@blogger.com