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She Needs Her Make-up - 3000 @ $5 Paints House

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Hi, my name is Venus Kent and for the last year I have been restoring my first house, a 1924 Cape Cod, located in Camp Washington, just outside of downtown Cincinnati.  Her name is Janet, in honor of my mother I lost almost 20 years ago to colon cancer (get your colon screenings - it could save your life).  My home is a survivor of neglect and abuse.  Your support of this GoFundMe page will help me give her, her "make-up" and the curb appeal she and the neighborhood richly deserves.  

I have been charting my restoration journey on a blog called Venus' DIY World - My First House It Is Well With My Soul .  It has truly been a labor of love that I've poured my blood, sweat, tears, and entire savings in transforming this stripped down shell of a house into a place I'm proud to call home.  A friend encouraged me to create this page when the renovation load was denied.  Given I was doing so much of the work myself and this is not my profession, she thought people would be inspired to support my efforts.  With the inside almost complete and funds near depletion I'm giving this avenue another shot with an ambitious, but doable campaign.  3000 people at $5 and she'll have her make-up.  I have written 125+ posts that have had over 35,000 views from  38 countries.  That truly humbles and amazes me.  I hope the individuals that have taken time out of their lives to read about what I'm accomplishing are educated, inspired, and motivated to follow their dreams like I have.  If less than 10% of the people that viewed donated just $5 I'd raise enough to paint the house.

The entire color scheme for my house (outside and first floor) I've taken from the 2017 HGTV Urban Oasis Giveaway Home .  It is my favorite to date and I followed it almost 100%, the only exception being the front door, which I painted Harvest Yellow  instead of pink.  Yellow to give homage to the color it was when I bought it and because pink is just not me.  My trim will be Incredible White (also used on ceilings and 1st floor bath walls) and the house Sea Serpent, which depending on your eye and the sun looks blue, grey, or green.  It looks blue to me, my favorite color.  I tested it on the wood that boarded up the broken sidelights in this picture.


I would not have been able to accomplish what I've done so far without the help of my father, who spent 6 months away from his Florida home and cousin Cameron who was my primary muscle in the rough stages of the restoration.  The two of them were a great team and tackled replacing the missing and broken asbestos tile which had to be done before she could get her paint. 


In addition and before the painting I will also have the foundation walls repaired.  The condition of these walls almost made me walk away from purchasing this house as I was getting CRAZY recommendations and bids on the repair (nothing under $20,000 and as extreme as jacking up the house and pouring a new foundation).  Since repairing the box gutters and stopping the water from beating on the foundation I've had minimal water seepage in the basement.  


I've gotten three estimates on the house painting ranging from $13,000 - $16,000, much higher than I thought it would be.   With the foundation I'm looking at approximately $18,000 in getting the outside to match the caliber of the inside.  Here are a few before and after pics to show whats been done:

Living Room-Swanky Grey 

Dining Room-Krypton
1st floor bath-Incredible White

Kitchen- Incredible White with Navy cabinets (tile from Home Depot)

Front Door-Incredible White and Harvest Yellow

In appreciation, any individual gifting $250 or more will receive a coat rack I'm making with the porcelain knob and tubs that have been removed from the house and reclaimed flooring.  Available while supplies last.

Thank you for your consideration and support!

Organizer

Venus Kent
Organizer
Cincinnati, OH

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