Sunday, January 23, 2022 globegazette.com | Section C
Dream H MES
MARY PIEPER PHOTOS, FOR THE GLOBE GAZETTE
Steve and Shelley Mace stand by the fireplace Steve built in their home in Ventura.
Couple renovates fixer-upper in
VENTURA NEAR THE LAKE MARY PIEPER
For the Globe Gazette
When Steve and Shelley Mace bought an 80-yearold five-bedroom home in Ventura two years ago, their friends were skeptical. “Everyone was like, ‘Are you serious?’” Shelley said. However, even though the 2,400-square foot house was in such bad shape that it had been on the market for five years, “We could see the potential in it,” Steve said. The house is located just a few blocks from Clear Lake, so they have views of the lake from the deck they built off the first floor as well as the master bedroom on the second floor, where they are building a second deck. “I can see all the way to Ventura Heights from our bedroom,” Shelley said. They also loved the open concept layout of the first floor. “I think it feels cozy,”
Shelley said. “It is all together rather than being separated.” The couple’s former home in Garner had a more traditional set-up, with a living room separated by walls from the kitchen. Shelley said they ended up not using the living room much because they were always hanging out in the kitchen. However, because the living room, dining room and kitchen in the new home are all basically one big room, someone can sit on the big sectional sofa in the living room area and chat with whoever is in the kitchen, according to Shelley. Although the Maces liked the overall feel of the main floor, the layout wasn’t exactly what they wanted. The floor and the ceiling also needed a lot of work. Fortunately, Steve is a Please see RENOVATES, Page 2
The kitchen of Steve and Shelley’s home in Ventura.
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