Photos by Hillary Ehlen
In 1987, Bryan and Michelle Vidger purchased their first home. Thirty years later, they opened their doors to the public for the 2017 Historic Hawthorne Home Tour. Now, you can find out how the Vidgers have customized this 1919 arts-and-crafts-style house to reflect their eclectic taste.
Just Two Young Kids
In the late 1980s, the Vidgers liked to visit open houses just for fun. “We were just two young kids looking at houses,” Bryan Vidger said. However, they both saw something special in this 1919 arts-and-crafts-style home and walked away from the open house with a contract.
Living Room
When they first moved in, everything was white. Since then, the Vidgers have painted and added trim, moldings and textured wallpaper throughout the home.
“When we bought this house, everything was white.” – Bryan Vidger
Dining Room
Recently, the Vidgers added sliding doors to separate the sun room from the dining room. These doors came with the home. “They’re experienced doors. They’ve seen a lot of things,” Michelle Vidger said.
Sunroom
This sunroom was added on in the 1940s as a three-season room. Since then, the Vidgers have added insulation.
Kitchen
The Vidgers remodeled their kitchen in the 1990s. Underneath the linoleum, they found original wood floors. They also chose to keep the exposed brick, which would not become popular until much later.
Exterior
The Vidgers took extra care to make sure that the exterior of the addition matched the front of the home. They also built a new garage in the same style.
In 1994, the Vidgers built an addition.
In the back yard, the Vidgers have the largest American Elm in the state. “We were at a party and there was a forester there. We were talking big trees, and he said, ‘I need to come over and measure that,'” Bryan Vidger said. They nominated the tree, and it was named the grand champion.