Everett home transformed into Pride of Neighborhood
Published 4:46 pm Wednesday, October 8, 2008
A Monte Cristo home looks like this: pink cosmos nodding over a white picket fence, hydrangeas loaded with blooms, cobblestone paths, an arbor arching over a walkway, a swath of neatly trimmed grass with clover, an American flag, a covered porch, planters with pops of color and lavender everywhere.
This tidy north Everett cottage belongs to Tina Guzinski, a human resources analyst.
It’s one of 60 properties to win a Monte Cristo Award this year, an Everett city award that recognizes people who take exceptional care of their homes and businesses. The winners receive a plaque to display on the exterior of their homes.
Former Everett City Councilwoman Marian Krell developed the Monte Cristo Awards 14 years ago. The idea was that instead of ticketing people for trash-littered yards and dilapidated homes, the city could also reward people for doing things right.
This year, a committee of citizen volunteers whittled down 130 nominations based on how well owners had maintained buildings and landscapes. The winners come from all neighborhoods in the city and fall into several categories, including Pride of the Neighborhood, Rejuvenation and Transformation, and Neighborhood-Friendly Business. One home in the Boulevard Bluffs neighborhood owned by Tor and Karen Vaabene won the Director’s Award, a top award that exemplifies the best of the best.
Guzinski won a Monte Cristo in the Pride of the Neighborhood category.
“I’ve always loved older homes and always wanted to live in one,” she said. “I grew up in a late ’60s home and I always wanted the high ceilings and crown molding and the character that comes with it. I knew I wouldn’t be happy in something new.”
In her case, the charming bungalow she purchased in 1993 also needed some serious work inside and out: There were problems with plumbing, wiring and dry rot. She spent hours scraping the paint off windows sealed shut. And there wasn’t much special about the front yard.
She dug out weeds and added plant borders. She laid paths and a patio and planted a hedge in the back yard to provide a little privacy.
Over time, her lawn shrunk to a swatch. She likes the way that cool patch of green looks against her flower beds. Her front yard is now “organized chaos,” a cottage garden with swirls of pinks and purples.
“If you asked my neighbors, they’d say I’m crazy,” she said. “I’m constantly redoing it. I love to garden, and I love garden design.”
The letter from the city informing her of the award was a pleasant surprise. It’s not, however, what keeps her working on making this old house a home. It’s stress relief, a hobby and more.
“For me, it’s about making it comfortable and inviting.”
Reporter Debra Smith: 425-339-3197 or dsmith@heraldnet.com
