One April Award Home Has Been a Labor of Love

Erika and Jason Stuller may take extra pride in their home at 1125 Lexington because they did all the hard work themselves AND it's paid off.  Receiving the Home Award this month is actually the third time their home has been publicly recognized; in 2002 it was on the ARCH home tour and, a few years later, ARCH officially recognized their historic restoration.  Now it's the neighborhood's chance to say, "Job well done!"

 They bought their house 11 years ago.  Jason soon went to work removing all the vinyl siding to expose the original wood siding.  He scraped and painted one side of the house per year, taking breaks only for the births of Elliot and Edie.  If Jason has a motto, it must be "If you want it done right, do it yourself".Inside, the Stuller's removed wallpaper, exposed hardwood floors, added double french doors to bring more light into the dining room, and kept the kitchens period character - good bones - but cheered it up with a fresh dose of blue and yellow charm.Erika has terrific color sense that shows inside and out.  She's also the gardener and applier of lovely touches, like the window box and the candle lights that glow year round in the windows.During the 2002 ARCH tour, only the first floor was open because the rest of the house was still in progress.  Erika is the first to sign on for our potential future ARCH tour, when I know we'll get to see much more of this labor of love.--Pat Thomson