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Originally part of the Euclid
Heights development created by Patrick Calhoun, this Meade-designed home once
belonged to George Humphrey, Treasury Secretary in the Eisenhower
administration. With the present owners acting as general contractors, the
65-year-old house has been completely restored to its former glory, the entire
project taking a brief and very busy four months. The fresh decor conveys a
warm but sophisticated sense of style.
In the living room the ceiling
and crown molding are new, the floors refinished, the walls stripped and
painted. The piano was once the prized possession of the owner's
great-great-grandmother.Sliding French
doors, which had been completely painted over, have been refinished and rehung.
The front leaded glass bay windows were repaired and are repeated in the dining
room, where the walls are covered in silk. In the den the leaded glass windows
are original, and the hearth has been converted to marble.
Original items in the kitchen
and pantry include the tin sink, cabinets, some hardware, stainless steel
counter tops, and the old buzzer system for servants. The recessed lighting,
wine rack, and Italian tile are new. An open eating nook was created by
removing a door and part of a wall, an island was added, and the sink and stove
area switched. In the back hall the inner doorway was enlarged and the stained
glass transom above the rear door added to match the rest of the house, as was
the stained glass in the downstairs lavatory.
On the second floor, five
bedrooms have been converted to four, plus three full baths, a cedar closet,
and a lady's dressing room. in the master bedroom is the original walk-in
closet, with storage space perfectly suited for men's attire.
New electrical wiring has been
installed throughout the 20-inch thick walls, storm windows have been added,
and the front yard has been re-landscaped.A rose garden and stone wall in the backyard add a gracious touch to a
truly gracious home.
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