The Silverado is the official sponsor of your next home improvement project.
If you watch home-and-garden television or just adore a transformation of any kind, witnessing a house undergo a massive renovation is A+ social media content. Thankfully, Metro Detroit has an array of historic homes going through reno that you can watch rise from the ashes like a phoenix.
Because these renovations are often massive, the changes can take years to complete. But that is the joy in viewing how the owners get through the ups and downs of such projects. They are our collective Metro Detroit neighbors, so rooting for them is part of the long journey where we’re all along for the ride.
Many of these houses also are based in Detroit, so that makes their work that much more satisfying as a home that might have been slated for demolition gets new life. There are many books written on this topic, so you know people have a vested interest in seeing the city’s transformation and the revival of whole neighborhoods at the same time.
If you follow along with these stories, the result can be amazing. Many times, these homes open up for tours or may be available as Airbnb-style rentals, so you can live in the home as it is finished. Otherwise, if the home is a private residence, be respectful of the owners’ privacy and leave your comments on social media rather than in person.
Here are some homes and building renovations that deserve your follow on social media:
Seminole Phoenix
The house known as the Seminole Phoenix went through a massive fire, so its revival truly is like a phoenix rising from the ashes, something that Detroiters can relate to given the city’s tenacity. The house was designed by noted architects Rogers and MacFarlane in Detroit’s historic Indian Village.
Between 6 & 7
This social-media feed is one part personal blog and one part photo journey of a home that went through every kind of renovation before it was ready for visitors and its owners. The house, built in 1927, was vacant for seven years before two auto-industry employees bought and rehabbed it. You can also stay here in its Airbnb portion.
Highland Park Rehab
With the help of DIY and HGTV local Nicole Curtis, the owners of this Highland Park masterpiece brought it back to life. You can watch it on television and see it through pictures on Instagram. The owners are equally committed to helping others in their neighborhood improve their homes through repair and fundraising.
Henry Glover House Project
Talk about a slog. Watching the renovation of this historic building has been both joyful and painful as the work moves slowly forward. It is amazing to see the dedication of the owners as they make all of the repairs and hope for greater things, like reopening it to the public.
Iroquois House
This Instagram account follows the ups and downs of owning–and constantly maintaining–a 110-year-old mansion in Detroit’s Indian Village built for Alexis and Fanny Angell and their family by architect William B. Stratton. The stories these walls can tell are found throughout the photos and captions.
