In 1961 my parents Tom and Ann purchased a "less than well maintained" house (which was rended for 40 years previously) at 6910 in South East Wisconsin. They moved from their small apartment with their first Child Victoria into what is today (2010) still the family home. Tom and Ann had three children, Victoria, James and Paula (Polly/me). When pop died died of a massive brain hemorrhage in March 2009, I (Paula) left my home, saintly and husband (Jan) to stay with my mother at 6910 until I was satisfied that mom could live there safely. I had promised her as a small child that I would never let anyone take her from her home and move her into a nursing facility: I intend to do what it takes to keep that promise -- my brother and sister are both in agreement.

To understand where we are today with 6910 a little needs to be understood about my father (WWII vet, Cavalry, mechanic and of the generation who believed in wasting nothing. Dad kept everything; not even a rusted and broken screw found in the street was beyond potential value to him some day. Sure he was a little nuts, but he was also the kindest, most generous man I've ever met; a man who never held a grudge and therefore saw everyone as deserving of his time and maximum effort. Dad sometimes worked three jobs during the Christmas season to make things a little better for his family. His wife and children grew up living paycheck to paycheck (not uncommon for the day). We were not in poverty but we all felt and saw the financial strain.

Fast forward 50 years or so, and you have a house that was and still is in even greater need of attention as there was no money to invest in the house when the children were young and when your father is willing to help anyone, anywhere this also means he has a little less time for putzing around his own home - sometimes our greatest virtues are also our greatest vices - eh? Upon reflection, I wouldn't have had him be any other way. Nevertheless this left the family with a house full of "potentially useful stuff." ;p All the projects on the to-do list since 1961 were either partially finished or set aside for a future date in order to deal with a more pressing crisis (and there were plenty).

Keeping the promise to Mom

With all kids in agreement that mom was not about to lose her house after just having lost her husband, some serious renovation and restoration needed to be done to allow her to live on the first floor. Shortly after pop died mom underwent knee replacement surgery which put her in a rehab facility for about a month.

Jim and Polly: earlier collaboration

I will not be shy about saying my brother and I took total advantage of mom's absence from 6910 to empty the house as much as possible, our sister Tori has physical limitations but served throughout the worst of the process as my personal mental health aid as did my cousin Julie.

Dumpster after dumpster were ordered and filled. With Mom in the rehab center the pressure was on to excavate. Eventually most of what remained was worthy of donating or keeping. Mom was still in rehab while I researched and interviewed potential design/restoration teams to give her a full bath and updated kitchen at 6910. After much research and 2nd interviews I took mom to meet the two designers still in the running for the job and much to my great pleasure she selected the group I trusted most to do the job right and in keeping with the period and character of the home.

Click HERE to read about why the design team of timothyj, inc. was chosen for this monumental yet very personal job.