Cindy Brown often had noticed a small quaint house on the east side of Palm Avenue whenever she traveled along the street. But the house in west-central Fresno wasn't look- ing its best.
"It was a mess," she says. Still, it caught her eye. "I'm into interior design and always wanted to restore an old house."
So in early 2000, when she saw a for-sale sign in front of the house, she decided to check it out. By April, the home was hers.
"This is my treasure box," she says. "It's so unique."
Even though the house has elements from more than one style and some interesting characteristics, it can be considered an example of a late Tudor Revival cottage, says Karana Hattersley-Drayton, Fresno's Historic Preservation Project manager.
The home "is of structural brick with a cross-gable plan," she writes in an e-mail. "Character-defining features of the Tudor include the prominent cross gable with chimney, the steeply pitched roof and the round, arched front door, which has decorative stonework around the entrance to create a quoinlike effect.
"In the case of this home, the owner/contractor went a bit wild and added half stones as decoration in numerous other places as well: on the lower half and top of the chimney, around French doors on the facade, around the base of the home at grade and on a side bay window."
However, it's not completely Tudor Revival.
"Out of character with the Tudor is a polygonal corner tower, which is more typical on the Queen-Anne style," she writes. "As with so many buildings, the house reflects an eclec- tic mix of materials and influences."
J. L. Smith built the home in 1936 for $3,000, according to the city's building permits.
With about 1,250 square feet, the home has two bedrooms and one bathroom. There's also an attic.
"You could make another room upstairs easily [of the attic], but it'll take some effort," Brown says.
The home also has some original features: a living room fireplace with a quartz surround and mahogany mantel, arched doorways, oak hardwood floors in the dining room, crystal doorknobs and a milk door.
"I kept everything as original as I could keep it," Brown says.
Tudor Revival cottage
Where did it begin? The Tudor Revival style is loosely based on English manors from the 16th and 17th centuries. Cottages are smaller versions of these homes.
What will I notice from the outside? Steeply pitched cross-gabled roofs and decorative false half-timbering.
What are the characteristic interior details? Large fireplaces.
Where can I see this style locally? In older neighborhoods near Fresno City College and Fresno and Roosevelt high schools.
What's coming up next month? Foursquare. If you have a house designed in the foursquare style, send us a note at Elements of Style, Features, The Fresno Bee, 1626 E St., Fresno, CA 93786. You also can fax info to 441-6457 or e-mail to features@fresnobee.com (put "Elements of Style" in the subject line).
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