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About Wallowa County chieftain. (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1943-current | View Entire Issue (June 24, 2015)
Wallowa County Chieftain wallowa.com June 24, 2015 B5 GROW REMODEL: A partnerships of period and style Continued from Page B1 “(The restoration) seemed like it was something we both needed to do,” Joella said. “We knew it individually, but it’s not something you wanted to do without a partner.” The couple bought the house DW WKHLU ¿UVW RSSRUWXQLW\ 0D\ 2014. They were married shortly af- ter that, in August of 2014, took up housekeeping in a borrowed 16-foot, 1976 Santa Fe camper and immediately started work on the wreck. “It was somewhere between a derelict structure and a con- struction project,” Steve recalls. Floors were rotted out, ceil- ings were falling, three stories of chimneys needed to be torn out, doors had been walled over, and concrete steps leaned precipitously. But the couple worked dili- gently and fast. “I think it tipped over from a project to a house by Christmas ´-RHOODVDLG³%\0DUFK 2015 it started feeling like a home.” 7KH\ FHOHEUDWHG WKDW ¿UVW tipping point by having an open house for the neighbors. “So many people have told us how much they appreciate what we’re doing,” Joella said. “People had seen the place left for so many years. They’re hap- py to see it being loved.” They celebrated that Christ- mas in the manner to which they intended the house to become accustomed — three huge Christmas trees and loads of decorations. “I think we’ll do that every year,” Joella said. The couple agrees that the house is made to host lots of parties. For starters, it’s an en- tirely livable house, despite the one-of-a-kind decorative touches, antiques, and period DSSURSULDWH¿[WXUHV The dining room, for in- The best that can be said about the living room area when the Arments arrived was that they didn’t fall through the floor (as they did in other areas of the house) and the water- and fire-damaged second floor had not fallen through the ceiling. Photos by Kathleen Ellyn/Chieftain The fireplace in the living room was buried beneath a wall and in very bad condition. The Arments removed three stories of chimney on two separate locations just to make the home safe. VWDQFH LV D PL[ RI WKH ROG WKH locally made, the custom-de- signed, and the new. The 12½ foot, larch wood trestle table was milled by Jim Zacharias of Joseph and seats 17 people in the deliberately mismatched antique chairs. The ceilings in the dining room were ruined by water dam- age and when Steve repaired the ceiling he shored it up with more Zacharias milled beams, joined with decorative brackets made by Kni-Co Laser Cutting and 0DQXIDFWXULQJRI:DOORZD Steve has carved the end-piec- es of the table in a willow tree motif, echoing the new name of the property: The Willows. Nearby, in the living room, old carpets (Steve balks at call- ing them antique) cover the UHVWRUHG VRIWZRRG ÀRRU $O- though some hardwoods have been installed in the home — in DUHDVZKHUHWKHÀRRUZDVURWWHG out — most of the softwood has been retained. It’s serviceable, it’s authentic, and “it’s nice,” Steve said. Elegant partnerships of period and style continue throughout the house: in the living room stands a grandfa- The finished dining room features custom-made arch supports, a refinished softwood floor, and Arment’s 12 1/2 foot larch trestle table milled by Jim Zacharias. The Arments insist this beautiful living room is not finished; for instance, the fireplace has yet to be finished with tile and the gas insert placed within it. Joella Arment poses before the partially completed fireplace. The 1885 Renaissance Revival Acanthus Scroll mirror above it came out of a San Francisco hotel. The Arment-made mantel echos the pattern of the mirror — with the added Arment whimsy of a butterfly centerpiece. ther clock — a partnership of a \HDUROG )UHQFK 0RUELHU clockworks (found in a Clark- ston, Wash., junk store) and an Arment-carved housing made from apple wood donated by Paul Grote of Joseph. 2YHUWKH¿UHSODFHDUXLQGLV- covered behind a wall) an 1885 Renaissance Revival Acanthus Scroll mirror from a San Fran- cisco hotel now commands the room. The mantel beneath is Arment-made and echoes the pattern of the mirror — with the DGGHGZKLPV\RIDEXWWHUÀ\FHQ- terpiece. The remodel has a long way to go. “Decades,” said Steve. But the couple is enjoying every minute. “You wouldn’t be able to do this if you weren’t in love,” Jo- ella said. She meant “in love with this house,” but one would have to be blind not to see the love be- tween the Arments that sustains the work and sends ripples out- ward. 7KRVH ULSSOHV H[WHQG WR WKH QH[WJHQHUDWLRQWRR “We’ve had lots of young people involved all along,” Jo- ella said. “That’s fun: teaching young people how to paint and carve and restore.” Summer is a great time to think about heating! Ask about our cash & car discounts! Also specializing in: Anton’s Jotul• Pacific Energy•Enviro•Iron Strike Store Hours: Monday thru Saturday HOME & HEARTH 8am to 6pm Sunday 10am to 4pm 06 S. 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