A labor of love A labor of love (October 22, 2004)

House brought back to life

By Carol Blitzer

What a difference a coat of paint and sweat equity can make when freshening up an older home.

Ron Sira figured this out quickly when he started fixing up his parents' home in Palo Alto. He and his three siblings grew up there and attended local schools. Each had moved on by the time their dad died 11 years ago.

For four years he helped his mother keep things up, but then it became necessary to move her into a nursing home. Maximizing the rent from the property was a priority -- and enhancing its charm a necessity.

On of the first things was painting the house creamy white, and trimming it out in a bluish green. "It was all beat up, brown and yellow," he said. "I couldn't rent it."

Today, a wicker chair painted cobalt blue sits on the front porch, along with a cheery welcome mat.

The kitchen retains the original 1936 counter-top tile in white, contrasted with salmon trim. But, the dark cabinets were soon painted white, and the two doors taken off their hinges to open up the space -- and let the heat circulate better.

Outside, Sira tackled his parents' garden with a vengeance, creating a Mediterranean section that his Palermo-born father would have appreciated. On the side, he babies his dad's roses, although he says he really doesn't like them. He prefers the 27 cypress trees and the raised beds with lavender. Or the cactus section.

Around the back, Sira recreated a favorite scene from his childhood, when he used to ride his bike up to the Alpine Inn (Zott's) in Portola Valley. First he fenced in a section of the large back yard, then collected wooden furniture and finally built a tropical-themed outdoor bar.

Sira turned a former lean-to into a second-story sun deck, and recently added an exterior wall to afford his parents' longtime neighbor more privacy. He laid the bricks in the patio, and built a raised deck to one side. He even created some stepping stones and a small table, using a mold to pour concrete and embed with tile or glass.

But the structure that means the most to Sira is the former garage, which he dubs "The Office." Today it stands as a memorial to his parents, his childhood and his life. Signs dangle from the rafters proclaiming "Sira's Beer Garden" or "Love, laughter, and friends always welcome."

Every wall is filled with photographs, including some of his folks when they were young. There's his 1958 Cubberley High School football team picture, right next to a frame filled with clippings about Stanford's run to the Rose Bowl.

Sira's collection of signs, crate labels, T-shirts -- even the half shovel with plaque he received after 20 years' service at Lifetime Pools in Palo Alto -- sit comfortably with prints of Italy and bunches of plastic grapes.

Today, his tenants have use of the garage as a sort of family room, complete with sofabed, refrigerator and large television set.

But several times a week, Sira just opens up the garage door and waits for old neighbors to drop by.

"It's the centerpiece of the neighborhood," he said.

Sira lives in Campbell while maintaining his mother's house, and knows that someday he'll sell the family home. What he'll really miss are the neighbors, and the easy camaraderie he's experienced over the years.

Design challenge: Repair neglected home to prepare for renting

Unexpected problems: Termites, leaks discovered when house first rented out

Size of house, grounds: 3 bedroom, 1-bath house on about 1/2 acre

Year home built: 1936

Time to complete: Ongoing over 11 years

Budget: Less than $30,000

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