A Taste of Grace

Third Annual Candlelight Home Tour

2012 Preview of Homes

1630 W. Grace Street – John and Chen Mahoney

Built in 1904, 1630 W. Grace Street was first occupied by Jesse James Haley, a famous Christian reform missionary, journalist, and preacher. According to the book The New Living Pulpit of the Christian Church by W. T. Moore, Haley was the editor and founder of The Australian Christian Watchman, co-editor of the Apostolic Guide of Louisville, Kentucky, and editor of the Christian Monthly here in Richmond.

By the time the Mahoneys purchased the home in 2006, it was being used as a rooming house and was subject to the usual transit abuse. The house was completely renovated, with new construction, electrical, plumbing, and heating. Most of the renovations were completed by the Mahoneys while living in the home.

Guests should note the beautiful fleur-de-lis stained glass window in the dining room. This and all the other stained glass is original to the home, as are the floors, wainscoting, and wooden trim. The Mahoneys added the crown and ceiling molding, and the archways.

The chandeliers were purchased locally by the Mahoneys. The chandelier in the family room was purchased from an antique mall on Broad Street in 2003, and there is a lovely crystal chandelier in the dining room. John painted the dining room ceiling himself, an acrylic on canvas which was then attached to the ceiling.

1812 W. Grace Street – Joe and Christine Baum

Christine and Joe Baum purchased this 1903 four-bedroom townhouse in December 2010 after a job transfer brought them from rural Salem County, New Jersey to the city of Richmond.

Most of the thoughtful work to the home had been done by the previous owner who lived at 1812 for 23 years. The lovely renovated kitchen and relaxing color scheme throughout were the previous owner's choices and have continued to work well with the Baum's furnishings.

Changes by the current owners include converting the fireplaces in the dining room and second parlor to direct vent gas – an addition that has greatly enhanced the comfort of these rooms during Richmond's changeable weather! Also added are the exceptional cameo glass foyer chandelier (shown) and a crystal chandelier in the front parlor. A pond-less waterfall feature and raised stone garden beds were designed and built by the new owners to increase planting space and capture restful water sounds that aide in creating a soothing living space. Current plantings are still underway and include the new owners' discovered joy of growing camellias and gardenias. A wrap-around entry-level deck unites indoors and outdoors.

The house has been treated well by its owners over the years and retains its original floor-plan, mantels, pocket doors and moldings. The interior furnishings feature a mix of period and reproduction furniture enlivened by collections of American majolica and Victorian salts.

Of particular interest:

In the foyer – cameo glass chandelier, 3-in-1 baby carriage/stroller/high chair, and revolution-era sea chest

In the front parlor – family Victorian hair picture, Federal secretary/bookshelf, empire crystal lamp, country Sheraton chest of drawers

In the second parlor – ten-and-a-half foot tall Eastlake pier mirror and salt cellars collection In the main hall – large Currier & Ives lithograph In the dining room – collection of majolica, 19th century knife boxes and large lithograph of U.S. Senate

1851 and 1915 Steinway upright grand piano

1819 W. Grace Street – Mike and Jessica Dyer

Built as a single family home in 1910, 1819 West Grace Street was spilt into at least six separate units nearly thirty years ago. In 2002 C.E. Spitzer, Inc. and the then owners of the home began a total "to the studs" renovation. The three story home boasts three-member crown moldings throughout, original hardwood floors

and wainscoting, seven fireplaces with their original mantels, plantation shutters and three original claw foot tubs (re-glazed).

The first floor features a grand staircase upon entering. The formal living room and dining room features original moldings, pocket doors and twelve foot ceilings. In the hallway leading to the den you will see a print of a daguerreotype of the White House taken in 1846, which is thought to be the first known photo of the White House. The print was a gift from Karl Rove to the owner of the home. There is also other political memorabilia throughout the first floor.

The den features custom-cabinets, bookshelves, china cabinets with seeded glass fronts, granite countertop, slate backsplash, wet bar with under counter refrigerator and icemaker. The room also houses its original mantel with mirror, molding and wainscoting.

The fully updated kitchen contains custom fiddle back maple cabinets; granite and concrete counter tops, slate backsplash, and new appliances. The kitchen also houses a wine storage unit, tile floors, recess can and pendant lighting. At the rear of the home there is a second stairway which was added in the renovation in 2002 and a view of the rear patio and garden.

2203 W. Grace Street – Bob and Leslie Lytle

It’s been said that there’s more work in these old houses than is possible in one family’s lifetime. This is certainly the case at 2203 West Grace Street. Built as a single-family home in 1908, it was turned into a rooming house in the 1940’s, and gradually fell into disrepair. When Bob Lytle bought the house in 1984, the floors featured shag

carpet and fleas, and each room was a separate apartment, supplied with its own sink, stove, and exposed plumbing pipes. A carpenter by trade, Bob continued to rent out rooms as he painstakingly renovated and reclaimed the house room by room.

Leslie joined Bob in 1995, and in 2003 they embarked on a substantial renovation that included creative restructuring of upstairs halls and walls that resulted in a master bedroom suite, a second full bath, a laundry area, and additional closet space. On the first floor, they added a powder room and expanded the kitchen into the butler’s hall. In preparation for the 2012 Candlelight Home Tour, they put the finishing touches on several projects, including a new backsplash for the kitchen.

The Lytle’s vision in all their renovation work has been to maintain the visual and architectural integrity of the original home while bringing it into the 21st century with regard to what’s beneath the walls. Wherever possible, they have salvaged or re-purposed original features. For example, heart pine planking from the original porch has been used to repair the many holes in the floor from its rooming house days. Forty-two balusters were turned to replace two by fours used to hold up the front staircase bannister. An arch uncovered during the 2003 renovation was recreated in a master bedroom alcove. The kitchen light shades were salvaged from outside the nun’s rooms of Richmond Hill, where Bob served as a consultant during its 2004 renovation. Other downstairs light fixtures are reproductions of Colonial Revival fixtures in keeping with the era in which the house was first built. The one car carriage house out back is architecturally consistent with the crumbling building it replaced.

The Lytle’s home features thrift-store finds combined with family heirlooms, Asian antiques, Middle Eastern rugs, and an eclectic collection of artwork. Prominent throughout the house are the paintings and sculpture of Bob’s mother, Emma Lytle, a well-known Mississippi artist.

And the work goes on. After nearly 30 years in the house, there are still projects on the Lytle’s to-do list, including a redo of the back porches and yard. But the house is well positioned for its second century. They Lytles are grateful to the Candlelight Home Tour for spurring the completion of their latest series of projects!

2239 W. Grace Street – Sharon Glover

2239 W. Grace Street was built in 1905 by Lee M. Ellis and his wife Lila. Property records list the cost of the house at $9600. At one time, the property included two large lawns on each side of the house. Lee and Lila had

two sons who were both born in the house. Mr. Ellis was a grocer whose store was in the 300 block of E. Broad and later on Cary Street.

After the death of Mr. Ellis in about 1924, his widow fell upon financial hard times. She sold her adjoining properties and as of 1925 there were houses built on each side. Mrs. Ellis continued to live in the house until her death in about 1952.

When the house was purchased in 1953, all of the furniture, including wardrobes in each bedroom, was sold for a total of $500. From 1953 until 1975 only two more owners lived in the house. But, in 1975 it was turned into a boarding house and remained so until the last owner, Mr. Ramsey, bought it in 1987 and carefully renovated it. He did leave a rental unit at the back of the house that continues to be rented out to this day. The house still contains many original period features including heart of pine floors, stained glass, carved wood mantels, six working fireplaces, ceramic tile hearths and beveled mirrors.

The current owner purchased the home in 1997 and has recently updated, and expanded upon, many of the renovations, drawing from an appreciation of the house’s history, yet reflecting her personal style. It features art and other collections from her travels around the world.

2501 W. Grace Street – Kevin and Sarah Gross

Kevin and Sarah Gross purchased their home at 2501 West Grace Street in 2001 after walking through many times over the three years it was on and off the market - and proudly declared it their ‘forever house’. Built in

1911, the home features 13 columns around the front of the wrap around porch, meticulously preserved plaster dentil moulding in the parlors as well as columns in the foyer, a 16 panel pocket door and mahogany inlaid floors throughout.

In its 100 years, this home has only seen 4 owners but went from single family to rooming house and back again. Many may remember Piggy Hutchens of “Piggy’s Attache” - the 3rd owner who bought the home for his parents then carefully maintained it later as a rooming house until the Grosses purchased it.

Upon moving in, Kevin, Sarah and their architect and friend, Stephanie Garnett, renovated the kitchen to create a more modern living space - complete with curved soffits, concrete counters, recessed stove with handmade wood surround and a reinstalled rear staircase designed and built by Kevin himself.

Outside the back door and over the fence is the clever carriage house built just before the main house. Its slate sloped roof, 2-story design and separate address make it one of the most unique little houses in the Fan.