Crestwood Neighborhood

Renovation Story: Crestwood Home Ownership a Family Tradition

Dec 12, 2004

Owning a home in Crestwood is something of a family legacy for Leslie Stratton of the 2700 block of NW 21st. Leslie?’s home is across the street from the home in which she was raised. A home purchased by her great-grandparents immediately after it was built almost 80 years ago and still occupied by her step-mother. Leslie?’s home was built in 1930 and came in to the family in 1952. While occasional updates, such as new carpeting and painting, had been done over the years, no major updates had been made to the home in over 40 years.

All of that changed in September when Leslie?’s sister and brother-in-law, Linda and Dan Laughary of Dallas, started a complete renovation of the home. The first thing to go was the out-dated carpet. As with most Crestwood homes the carpet covered warm oak flooring which has been sanded and will be finished in the final steps of the home upgrade. After the carpet was gone work started on the walls and ceilings. The long neglected plaster walls had yellowed and cracked over time. Each wall has been beautifully textured and painted a peaceful shade of light blue. All of the ceilings have also been painted and new crown molding installed in four of the rooms.

When he first saw the condition of the cast iron bathtub Dan Laughary said that he decided the only thing to do was purchase a special saw to cut the tub into pieces for easy removal. However, a friend suggested that he have the tub refurbished. Dan contacted a local contractor and the results are beautiful. The refurbished tub is smooth and spotless.

Most of the work on Leslie?’s home has been done by Dan and Linda Laughary. After spending a week on the job in September Dan and Linda returned to their home in Dallas, but come back to Crestwood every other weekend to continue their work. For Linda the trips are bi-monthly homecomings as she grew up in Crestwood and has fond memories of the neighborhood. She reminisces about her days at Northwest Classen High School and Ned?’s Pizza on May Avenue.

It?’s not all work for Dan and Linda. If you stop by at break-time you can play with Leslie?’s new kitten or Dan?’s lovable chow while Dan entertains you with his harmonica. Stop by Danny?’s Blues Saloon at 10th and Villa and you might catch Dan jamming with Danny and the boys.

Leslie?’s home renovation is still very much a work in progress, but already the results are beautiful. It?’s a labor of love by Leslie?’s family. Love for Leslie as well as love for a neighborhood that has housed four generations of their family.