9 years later...

Wow, it's been a while.  A few photos of changes.  

Guest bath before.  Still had the original plastic shower surround.  Original Kohler cast iron tub.  We could not even replace this tub, the room was built around it and the doorway is too small to fit anything through.  Considering reglazing but still on the fence.

Guest bath after.  New tiles, fixtures, quartz countertop.  Need to redo the acid-stained floor.  I did that when we first moved in and it needs to be redone and resealed.

Went with a clear shower curtain and funky hooks from Quiet Town.  This bathroom is pretty dark with all of the wood and we needed to get light into this alcove tub/shower.

Master bath before

Master bath in progress.  Apparently I never took After photos.   Love that we were able to use authentic terrazzo tile from Wausau Tile.  Quartz counter, rebuilt vanity, Toto toilet, Kohler and Hans Grohe fixtures.

We had some more reno plans that were thwarted by the necessity of two new A/Cs.  Hate spending money on something I cannot see but a high performing air conditioner is a non-negotiable in Arizona.  We went with Bosch variable speed heat pump inverter units.  So far, so good.

Funny Details

He had his stove burners inset into the formica counter top. There are still burn marks on the wood. As much as I would like a brand new kitchen, somehow I would hate to part with these characteristics and clues of the past. (We keep a giant cutting board on the counter to cover these holes)

New Details!

I was researching like a mad woman this weekend and found out there has been another owner of our home. I was completely floored that I could've missed that!

Fred Griffin 1959-1962

H.S. and Barbara Lauer: March 9, 1962 – January 27th, 1966

L Edward Eisele Jr: January 27th, 1966 – April 26th, 1993

Harmona Conradine Ugard (and Bruce Ugard): April 26th, 1993 - February 28th, 2002

Us: February 28th, 2002 - until death do us part :)

I have an unhealthy attachment to this home, I love it so much and feel so strongly that we are meant to be here.

We found this house by accident. We had an appointment with our realtor, who was late. We were supposed to be viewing the little house across the street with the retro screen block.

We were parked perfectly next to the "For Sale" sign of the Griffin House, such that it wasn't visible. Jeff noticed a crazy black wood fence, really funky design. He walked over to look at it and noticed the For Sale sign and flyers. In reading the flyer, we knew we had to have this house. Our agent phoned as we stood outside hoping to get in. They told us no, it would have to be another day.

The wait was awful, I think it was several days, before we were allowed to come back. We wrote a full offer within an hour of leaving.

Even with all of the problems and money sunk into this place, we love it and feel so lucky to be here.

Trees...and the anxiety-ridden day

Large Eucaluptus BEFORE

Large Eucalyptus AFTER

Going up...

Still going...

Sigh. I truly hate having the trees done.  And I am hard to please.  Overall they did a really nice job though I did have to keep running out and micromanaging.  I hate being like that. 

The Cypress and Natal Plum, that were once taller than me, are now about 3 feet tall.  I guess they are used to pruning those down short but I really liked them large & unruly.  The Cypress had created an arch over our pathway and they removed the archway.  The Japanese Privet is another of my favorite trees in the yard, I repeatedly spoke to the owner about the fact the it was butchered and the canopy obliterated by the last tree guys.  We spoke about leaving the new buds/braches on the South alone so it can fill in.  Alas - they raped the poor tree.

Besides these issues, they did a really nice job.  I will hire them again and I do recommend them.  They were less "heavy-handed" than any other company I have hired.  I was distracted with Arizona Organic, the termite guys, while they were trimming and next time I will probably stand outside the entire time :)

Anxiety over tree trim day...

Have had a nagging feeling in my gut about removing the Eucalyptus. I just don't want to. Everything we initially fell in love with at this house has been torn out. The unique built-ins, twelve other trees, the pond, the interior planters. I simply don't want to take out more trees. I called the arborist & we will pow-wow first thing in the a.m.


On another note, I am so in love with this, it makes me smile and tear up

Getting the trees done...

Trees are scheduled for next Friday! Woot! We are feeding & trimming everything. We have to remove one large Eucalyptus because it's more than half dead but I have been assured that the other large Eucalyptus and Chinese Elm will fill in the gaping hole within the year. Really sad to remove yet another tree and hope its the right decision... Pics to follow.

Back to the punch list...

Electric, entire house rewire $16,000
Electric, rewire & move welder & plasma only $945
(found a fab electrician whom I trust,)

Trees, trim & feed $3180
(includes one Eucalyptus on deaths door)

April 3rd, 2011

Wall Update: got the wood ply installed. We had HD rip the sheets and Jeff had to do some routing. This job warranted finally purchasing a router - yippee!! Sanding + Wood Conditioner + Red Mahogany Stain. It's a dark bedroom but I think it matches. Jeff did a stellar job of fitting the panels tightly. Gotta admire the craftsmanship of Mr Griffin as we do these things - the home is pretty tight and with all wood, you cannot cover errors like one can with drywall.

Also moved some seedlings into the bed in front. We'll see...

There are 3 squash!

Reinsulating the guest room wall. We took a look at the plywood we had removed and have decided we will replace.

Ranuculus

Seedlings peeking thru - 6 days since planting

More Ranuculus

Planting another agave

Planting the "garden"

Artichoke, Spaghetti Squash, Boxwood Basil and Beefsteak Tomatoes.

This home *with potential* will be going on the market soon. The way we discovered our house was by visiting this house when we were home shopping. So I kinda credit this cutie with setting us up with The Griffin House. Love the screen block - they need to make a glass wall to the right of it, it appears a garage was enclosed at some point?

The lot directly to the South of this home is on the market fo $24,500. It would amazing to purchase both and have a big private yard. :) http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/2705-N-26th-St_Phoenix_AZ_85008_M13271-47046

This home has brand new solar panels too.

New Rule: No Weed Whackers at The Griffin House. Period.
We arrived back from breakfast to a shattered sliding glass door. Lawn guy. Sigh.

It's been a while. Every time I head over to add a post, I look thru the recent history, end up bawling and leave the site. It's still extraordinarily difficult. I have to pay close attention to not dwell too long on memories of Leonard or I break down.


So, here we go.

Frederick Kirkwood Griffin was married to Ann J. Griffin


Mr Griffin was born July 16th, 1914 and passed away in October 1998 (I think).

Back in 2007, I sent a letter to a man I located through the internet, Frederick Griffin II living in Chandler, AZ. I sent copies of the newspaper articles I have about our house and asked if he could be related to the designer but alas, never a response.

I spoke to a local realtor who had met Mr. Griffin years back and this is what he shared, "I met Fred about what, 15 years ago??? Wow time flies...he's long passed away, I think it was about 2000.

At the time he owned Carefree Realty and was living up there. He had a little office near the Post office that Al Beadle redid. He and his wife worked together and I sold a house he designed and built: a really cool Hogan inspired place in Carefree ranch highlands, sadly now demolished.

His office was filled with drawings and renderings of his houses and designs, built and un-built. As nice a guy as you could meet. He was thrilled that I had interest in his work. I don't suppose his wife is still alive, but I'd love to get a look at his drawings again."


I wish I could locate Mr. Griffin's family....

On another note, have been documenting the MCMs in our neighborhood today.


Built 1959

Built 1955

Built 1975 (by our neighbor, Mike, who now lives up the street)

Built 1954 (cool transom windows in the carport)

Built 1955

More Griffin Homes

I have been unsuccessful in finding much info on Fred Griffin but have come across a few of his other houses in the valley here and there. I need to compile the info so what better place than here?
A local blogger sent me an article about a home built by Mr. Griffin in Tempe. Recent photo
here. The article was from Arizona Days & Ways and originally identified the home as 1114 Okley Place, Tempe, AZ but according to Google Maps, this home's addres is now 1408 S. Oakley Place.

I was sent another .PDF with a photo and caption only of a super modern triangular fireplace flanked by large built-in speakers, this was attributed to Mr Fred Griffen (sic). I know this is our same architect because he also built-in floor-to-ceiling speakers here, flanking the sliding glass doors.
My home-hunting friends recently came across a great listing for only $235 in Encanto! It is falsely advertised as an Al Beadle. As my friends researched tax breaks for historic properties, they discovered this gem was also by our own Fred Griffin! We drove by it tonight and it's a stunner! Love the pool! This one was apparently built in 1953 as Mr Griffin's residence as well. It is located at 2201 Encanto Drive NE, Phoenix. Pictures from the real estate listing and tonight's drive-by are seen below.

So far, this is what I deduce: lot placement of the home is imperative to Griffin. All of the homes I have identified have somewhat unusual placement of the home on the lot to maximize yard space. That is one element of our home that I **love**. We are built on the far north side of our lot and our home runs from the front of the lot (far east) all the way to the back of the lot (far west). So our yard is really maximized and the entire home has glass windows that look into the green yard.
The home pictured above and our home both have unusual decorative elements on the entry door and sidelights on one side. He builds his homes long & skinny :)
Geometric and linear elements are integrated into the design, whether in the wood construction or the block construction. The Encanto home was built in 1953, our home was in 1959. I am surprised to see the nice glass sidelights above, as our home has white plexi. It is quite possible, however, that a homeowner along the way upgraded those windows.
I have a few other .PDFs I will try and get converted and onto the blog soon...