Ever wish you could peek into one of the home renovation projects happening around the city? Us too. We’re all in luck since Meg Arney, the new owner of a 1914 Foursquare home in Glens Falls, invited us in for a tour as she embarks on a renovation, and we can’t wait to watch as she brings back all of the traditional charm of this home, with a modern flair, of course. C’mon in and see the progress, and stay tuned as we follow her renovation over the next few months!
First off - why Glens Falls? What made you decide to purchase a home here (…and in the midst of a pandemic, no less!)?
I’m originally from Long Island – I grew up in Massapequa. My family spent a week each summer at Canoe Island Lodge on Lake George, in fact we still do even though we’re local – and it’s now one of my favorite places in the world. When my parents retired, they moved to Glens Falls. My brother and sister-in-law were looking to buy a house in Glens Falls and my parents beat them to it, moving from an apartment in Manhattan to an adorable home on Pershing Road. I’ve spent a lot of time in Glens Falls for the holidays and visiting family and friends – there is so much to offer. The proximity to the lake and skiing, the cute downtown area, balloon fests and holiday events – it really is right out of a movie. I always feel so welcome here by everyone I meet. I’ve lived in Arlington, Virginia for the past 20 years where my job is based but I knew I always wanted to end up here eventually. When the pandemic started, and my company moved to full telework, my condo in Arlington felt too small to live and work out of 24/7. I needed more space! My brother and sister-in-law were kind enough to offer their guest room and I’ve been here ever since.
Exterior of the home - before (Photo Courtesy of Meg Arney)
What was the home buying process like during these “COVID” times?
Shortly after I arrived my sister-in-law and I started doing a daily walk around the neighborhood – trying to get outside and exercise more but also checking out all the beautiful houses. We put out feelers to see if anyone was selling soon and looked at all the online real estate sites on a regular basis. I found the house on Sheridan online and scheduled a tour – but I really had another house in mind that I was waiting to go up for sale. As soon as I walked into the house, I knew it was exactly what I was looking for – I loved the front porch and large windows. It has a great layout with large rooms on the first floor and big bedrooms with lots of light upstairs. I went back 3 times that day bringing all my family and friends. The housing market is hot right now – there were multiple offers on the house. I put in a bid that day and found out the next day it was accepted. I closed 2 weeks later.
Dining Room and Living Room - Before (Photos courtesy of Meg Arney)
Tell us more about the home!
The house was built in 1914 – the owners kept the original deed that I got at the closing.
It’s a Craftsman style American Foursquare – with a center hall stairway, great windows and decorative molding throughout. My favorite part of the house is the front porch – I can see myself spending a lot of time there.
Kitchen and Entry - Before (Photos courtesy of Meg Arney)
What made you decide to take on a fixer upper?
My sister-in-law’s parents, Bill and Nancy Turner, convinced me! They own the Bell House Inn which they bought and completely renovated 5 years ago. Bill was a home builder for 20+ years before they moved to Glens Falls to be closer to their grandkids. They helped me think through the project and all the different aspects to consider. Bill was able to show me how I could make some minor changes to give it the aesthetic I was dreaming about. This is a full family effort – everyone is pitching in – including my nieces Abby and Maggie who were excited to help with demo. Although their dreams of a pool in my backyard probably aren’t going to happen.
Exterior - Mid-Renovation (Photo courtesy of Meg Arney)
You wasted no time getting started on demo - what have you done so far?
We have a 20-week plan and started making progress the day we closed! My goal is to highlight the traditional features of the house with a modern flair. We initially focused on the exterior – preparing the house for new siding. We are also updating the interior – for an open concept kitchen/dining area and reformatting the living room space to include an office.
Opening the Kitchen to the Dining Room (Photo courtesy of Meg Arney)
Having renovated an old city home ourselves, we know there are always surprises. Anything come up for you yet?
With Bill helping drive the project we had a pretty good idea of what we were getting into – but there were some surprises. When we took down the siding, we found some water and ant damage which is probably to be expected with an older home. It also looks like a whole family of squirrels decided to make their home in the rafters above the front porch – they made quite a mess!
Tom wants to know - did you find anything interesting while you were tearing things apart? Any bars of gold or historical artifacts?
There were several bars of gold and multiple diamonds in the house….just kidding. Nothing yet, but perhaps I should put a time capsule in one of the walls we’re building for future owners!
Adding a fireplace to the Living Room (Photos courtesy of Meg Arney)
And the big question - what's next? We'd love to hear your plans for the house.
We are about 5 weeks into the project. We plan to have the new siding up by mid-October and then work on all the interior projects – kitchen, bathrooms and all the fun stuff. One of the things we are finding, is that many suppliers have significant delays on products and materials due to Covid. We are trying to get things ordered as early as possible to keep our timelines. I’m hoping to be done with all the major projects before the holidays. I can’t wait to host all my family and friends in my new home to thank them for helping me. These cooler temperatures have me dreaming about hanging lights and garland on my front porch!
