So as not to lose track, we’ve started a list of projects completed at the Elizabeth Murphy House since late 2016 and we will link to before-and-after photos and posts as they become available.

1. Removed faux brick from kitchen alcove and re-plastered and painted
2. Leveled concrete walk slabs and replaced front steps
3. Removed secondary walk and steps and planted grass
4. Removed and replaced wrought iron with red cedar railing
5. Removed carpet and parquet floor from sleeping porch, repaired, conducted forensics on materials and paints, and repainted in original color
6. Removed carpet from bedroom floors and refinished
7. Removed linoleum from kitchen floor, hallway floor and basement steps and refinished
8. Replaced kitchen appliances (stove, fridge, dishwasher)
9. Repainted basement room floor, doors and walls
10. Removed out-of-code wiring on walls and in closets and removed ceiling fans in bedrooms
11. Removed two window air conditioners, repaired window frames and replaced glass
12. Removed 1970s front door and screen and replaced with restored unused door and new wood screen
13. Removed window air condition from entry way ceiling and converted to glass/screen window
14. Repaired Pebble-Dash damaged by air conditioner installation (1990s)
15. Removed and replaced warped kitchen and breakfast-nook cabinet shelves
16. Removed all galvanized supply plumbing in the house and re-plumbed with copper
17. Patched and repainted every interior wall
18. Repaired cracked basement floor
19. Removed over-sized radiator in kitchen
20. Gutted bathroom to the studs and joists, completed period-appropriate renovation including re-framing, plumbing, electrical, ventilation, plaster, fixtures, trim, finishes, medicine cabinet, lights, tile, and heated floor
21. Replicated interior finishing technique to refinished and reverse WC door
22. Repaired, restored and replaced shoe trim as required
23. Added floor drain, shower stall, toiled and exhaust fan in basement utility room
24. Added hanging cabinets in basement utility room
25. Removed faux eyebrow roof over garage, replaced trim and parged concrete
26. Removed ornate stucco decoration and parged foundation all around
27. Removed exterior electric outlets
28. Replaced driveway lights
29. Replaced damaged garage door
30. Added accent lighting for sleeping room ceiling
31. Replaced all ungrounded outlets with grounded devices
32. Add ground-fault protection as required by code and best practices
33. Replaced breakfast nook light fixture
34. Replaced kitchen light fixtures
35. Added drain tile, repaired foundation and improved grading around crawl-space
36. Removed overgrown vegetation and invasive weeks and trees and replanted front and back gardens
37. Repaired and replaced exterior trim in appropriate material
38. Added flower-box cantilevers 
39. Added light grid American System-Built ornamentation on front facade
40. Repaired glazing in all exterior windows
41. Replaced missing lead work on front windows
42. Reroofed (tore off and replaced.)
43. Built replica breakfast nook table
44. Removed aluminum soffit and fascia covers, restored, replaced and repainted 1930s wood bead-board and trim
45. Removed warped gutters and downspouts and replaced with period-appropriate, Wright-specified hanging gutters
46. Repainted and re-stained exterior: from gray with white trim to goldenrod with brown trim
47. Removed weathered cedar shake from chimney and replaced with new and re-stained
48. Added exterior lighting

To learn more about the house and its history, attend a free presentation at the Shorewood Public Library a 7pm on September 17th.

Here is a before-and-after picture from 2016 to today, September 5th, 2019.