Green Real Estate SD

From Signonsandiego.com

When seeing the exterior of artist Doug Kipperman’s 1917 bungalow in South Park, no one would guess the eco-friendly house to be a century old.

The inviting front porch, stained-glass pieces, well-furnished gumwood paneling and beautiful country-style backyard could be deceiving. However, the importance of sustaining the environment and its people is what led Kipperman to improve the old home.

After stumbling across its sale in 2004, Kipperman and his wife immediately fell in love with the original craftsmanship and felt the need to bring the charming details of the house back to life. Patience with the long renovating process has given him and his family a beautiful space to call home sweet home.

To find inspiration for your living space, view this sustainable house along with four other homes showcased at this year’s Old House Fair, now in its 13th year and presented by the South Park Business Group and the Greater Golden Hill Community Development Corp.

Q: How long did it take to refurbish the house?

A: The physical building took about seven to eight months, but the property is evolving. The gardening took a little over a year, but the overall yard took about over three years. It’s been on a project-by-project basis. Our next project is a “living wall” on the backyard deck. It will be a tapestry with real plants and backlit stained glass. However, we’re calling it an “eternal wall,” because my attitude is to make sure it lasts for the rest of my life.

Q: What led you to want to renovate the house?

A: The place was a diaster. It was neglected for a lot of years, but we just fell in love with the craftsmanship. We sat for six hours talking to the owner. There was this warmth, beauty and craftsmanship about the house that we don’t see anymore. Nowadays, we are in such a hurry we forget about before. We wanted to maintain the spirit of the craftsmanship, but put in our own personality.

Q: What was the most challenging aspect when fixing the house?

A: To make it safe. To make it a healthy environment. The construction and materials that are sustainable were not readily available, so it was hard, but it was important to make it safe. And accessible.

Q: Any advice for people who are interested in repairing their old homes?

A: Be patient and have deep pockets. Make sure people you work with know what you want. We’ve been blessed with the people we’ve worked with. Know the repertoire of the contractor. I talked to customers of contractors to know how they worked.

Q: Why did you feel it is important to show your house at the Old House Fair?

A: Pride. We’re proud of our house. As an artist, I look at a lot of different things, and I like to put my own signature on it. I look at everything and inspire to create my own art. Hopefully this will inspire others.

When seeing the exterior of artist Doug Kipperman’s 1917 bungalow in South Park, no one would guess the eco-friendly house to be a century old.

The inviting front porch, stained-glass pieces, well-furnished gumwood paneling and beautiful country-style backyard could be deceiving. However, the importance of sustaining the environment and its people is what led Kipperman to improve the old home.

After stumbling across its sale in 2004, Kipperman and his wife immediately fell in love with the original craftsmanship and felt the need to bring the charming details of the house back to life. Patience with the long renovating process has given him and his family a beautiful space to call home sweet home.

To find inspiration for your living space, view this sustainable house along with four other homes showcased at this year’s Old House Fair.

Q: How long did it take to refurbish the house?

A: The physical building took about seven to eight months, but the property is evolving. The gardening took a little over a year, but the overall yard took about over three years. It’s been on a project-by-project basis. Our next project is a “living wall” on the backyard deck. It will be a tapestry with real plants and backlit stained glass. However, we’re calling it an “eternal wall,” because my attitude is to make sure it lasts for the rest of my life.

Q: What led you to want to renovate the house?

A: The place was a disaster. It was neglected for a lot of years, but we just fell in love with the craftsmanship. We sat for six hours talking to the owner. There was this warmth, beauty and craftsmanship about the house that we don’t see anymore. Nowadays, we are in such a hurry we forget about before. We wanted to maintain the spirit of the craftsmanship, but put in our own personality.

Q: What was the most challenging aspect when fixing the house?

A: To make it safe. To make it a healthy environment. The construction and materials that are sustainable were not readily available, so it was hard, but it was important to make it safe. And accessible.

Q: Any advice for people who are interested in repairing their old homes?

A: Be patient and have deep pockets. Make sure people you work with know what you want. We’ve been blessed with the people we’ve worked with. Know the repertoire of the contractor. I talked to customers of contractors to know how they worked.

Q: Why did you feel it is important to show your house at the Old House Fair?

A: Pride. We’re proud of our house. As an artist, I look at a lot of different things, and I like to put my own signature on it. I look at everything and inspire to create my own art. Hopefully this will inspire others.