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Thursday, August 13, 2015 • 19
Journal photos by Lee Walls Jr.
OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
Natalie and Irving Meisler.
A Lockerbie DIY
Mountain Brook Couple Creates Dream Home From Fixer-Upper By Kaitlin Candelaria Natalie and Irving Meisler weren’t intimi-
dated by the idea of a fixer-upper when they found their dream home in Mountain Brook. In fact, Irving said he looked forward to the challenge. “I have a real passion for construction,”
Kitchen Aid
Irving said. “When it comes to houses, it’s more like an art project to me. When I start remodeling a house, I want to know how much I can do to it.” This isn’t his first renovation project. A real estate developer and builder by trade, Irving found the house with a leaky basement and a rotten roof.
“There were problems all over this house,” he said. “To me, that was an opportunity to get it for a great deal because I knew there were a lot of items I could fix.” For nine long months, the Meislers worked hard to restore the home in the Lockerbie community. Once they began the process, they See meisler, page 20
Vestavia Family Gives Kitchen Modern Update By Kaitlin Candelaria
Journal photo by Lee Walls Jr.
Maria and George Dikis moved to Vestavia
Hills last year. Their daughter, Evie, was approaching school age and they were interested in the education system. They compromised on their home; George loved the modern mid-century building, whereas the painted brick gave the house a cottagefeel that catered to Maria’s more traditional style. However, there was one thing they both agreed on – the kitchen had to go. “The kitchen looked like no one Maria Dikis had touched it since the 1960s,” Maria with her daughter Evie said. “The layout was very odd. For in the recentexample, the stove was right next to ly remodeled the refrigerator so I always felt like I kitchen of was going to catch it on fire when I their Vestavia cooked dinner.” Hills home. The couple put their heads together and hatched a plan to update their kitchen. They contacted AllSouth Appliance Group in Homewood and began working to create their dream room. “My husband likes the modern style, so See kitchen aid, page 21