Bradly's HG

06/19/2026

A look at the basement, in bad shape and the cause of many issues. I said the bricks were probably from Eaton Rapids, but it was most likely Grand Ledge.

Two videos, lots of problems down there. The basement runs the full size of the front portion of the house and half way under the back part. The back portion is a crawl space and I wouldn't like to be down there. It's pretty tight and has many issues too.

I am still currently working on vacuuming the walls out, I can't believe how much debris and the time it is taking. The house will be moving in July sometime.

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06/18/2026

Beautiful things await. Update your space in fresh shades of green and white -- from pillows to vases and more.

06/16/2026

Planning a big celebration of American's 250th? Get your table decked out in style with paper placemats and napkins in red, white, and blue stars, stripes, checks -- and watermelon!

06/15/2026

This is not the Kilbourne-Mead 1847 house. But it was an 1850's Greek Revival around the corner on Turner. Unfortunately it was in really bad shape and was recently taken down.

I was able to put up my scaffolding and salvage the exterior trim. I took as much as I could, one small spot I could not get to. This is trim that would have been harvested and milled here in Lansing during it's early beginnings.

Although the trim is not 1847, it is of the era and I will be using it on the Kilbourne-Mead 1847 house's exterior portico and side porch renovation. I am going to write on the backs of the moldings as to where it came from. I also rescued stones from the foundation and a large wood beam that I will also use.

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06/14/2026

We just got done dressing the mannequins for the Birch Rak window today, when Marah (who works at Thrift Witch) walked by the store wearing the exact same outfit. We had to stop her--and she was kind enough to come in and pose with her "twin."
Thanks, Marah!

06/12/2026

06/12/2026

Currently working on clearing out the walls. We started pulling out the blown-in insulation and the many animal nests, walnuts were falling out of the walls. Pictured is our friend, Jeff Olney who has been helpping us at the house, he's not blond, that's insulation dust flocking his head. Glad this phase is done.

On to vacuuming the 180 years of acclimatation. The plaster was all removed in 2002 when all the original details were stripped out, but the plater backing remains in the walls. Once the house is moved we will be applying spay insulation.

Things found in the wall; a period transferware broken cup, old wood thread spools and a 1950-60's match box. So far no gold, rare coins or period expensive jewelry to help pay for the restoration. I'll keep digging!

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06/11/2026

This was day one, clearing out what was left behind and the start of the deconstruction to inspect for termites. You can see in this dumpster, one of several and over 100 yards, wet and moldy belongs out of the basement.

The pink and green board pictured here was an original 1847 piece of trim out of the front south room. You can see it is completed infested and destroyed by termites, into the dumpster, sadly.

We have found other pieces of trim buried in various walls. I am going to have a blade made to cut boards to recreate that trim profile for the house. The original base boards we are finding, will be stripped and refinished and used as mirror surrounds in the bathrooms.

Thanks to Daggett Container Service LLC.

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06/11/2026

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06/10/2026

Here's a look at the post and beam construction, also the floor joists that are mortise and tenon. No nail construction, everything is hand notched and drilled to fit together. Some of them have termite damage, so far, two beams will need to be replaced before the move.

We will expose as much of this craftmanship as possible, even though these elements would have been covered up when the home was built in 1847. As much as we are going to recreate and put back what has been lost, the home will still live in the 21st century. We want to celebrate that history and craftmanship, while deliberately adding it to the design of the home.

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