I built a house in Mexico

I built a house in Mexico

AS CRAZY AS IT SOUNDS, IT REALLY DID HAPPEN.

In 2006, my family decided to jump off the crazy hamster wheel for a few years. Based on the rave reviews of some very interesting and eccentric friends, we headed for San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. An interior town 3, built during the Mexican revolution, filled with artists and eccentrics, hours north or Mexico City.

Flipping Lincoln Avenue: The progress continues

Flipping Lincoln Avenue: The progress continues

As we await building permits, we are doing everything we can do so we stay on schedule! Chop chop!

Above you see Lance with our contractor, Winston Whittaker and general contractor Victor Bringas. We are continuing to make tweaks to our plan. Because we are creating a master bedroom in what is currently the attic, it involves a lot of structural engineering. Each decision can be quite costly. So we are trying to gain as much square footage as possible while staying in our budget (which we are already out of).

Yikes, this place is a mess.

Yikes, this place is a mess.

You’ve heard “buy the worst home on the best street”? We just did. This is our third flip home. It’s a 1925 Tudor that’s in a state of wrack and ruin. And, geez, does it stink.

"So, why did you choose this house?", you ask.

Well, we both are passionate about old homes with soul. And our eyes are always open for the next project. However, we are constrained by how much money we have to throw at a project. At this point, we're not bank rolled. So, here it is:

"Be brave, be stubborn, but most of all dear ones, begin."

"Be brave, be stubborn, but most of all dear ones, begin."

I am not sure who this quote is from. Might be Elizabeth Gilbert. But I thank whomever it was, for it got me to put pen to paper. Rather, fingers to keyboard. This is not my first blog entry. But it’s the first, in earnest, of my desire to share my passion with anyone who is interested enough to read it. I’m not sure exactly when this all started. For 20 years, I worked my way through the ranks of advertising to become a Creative Director. But there’s always been a part of me that yearned for work on physical things.

When I met my partner, Lance, we put our passions together to create uniquely beautiful homes, first as a hobby, then as a business. Sharing that process is my way of helping other people find beauty and soul that brings them to life. I hope you’ll join us along the way.

Flipping Lincoln Avenue: Fun with Tack Strips

Flipping Lincoln Avenue: Fun with Tack Strips

So, I should start by telling you that Lance is the builder on the team. Together, we come up with a vision. Then he oversees construction. And tells me what to do.

Since I don’t have any real building skills, I get the fun stuff, like light demolition and heavy duty cleaning. Today’s job is pulling up the tack strips that hold the carpet down.

Treasure Island Flea Market turns four!

Treasure Island Flea Market turns four!

As we wait for escrow to be finalized, we are already thinking about our next project (which we haven’t found yet). So, in anticipation, we went to the Treasure Island Flea Market to look for more treasures to stage the next house with. The food trucks turned out to be more abundant than the merchandise. That being said, we scored! Check it out!