It’s that time of year again; a time when haunted houses bask in fleeting celebrity and a time when the horrific gains new prominence.

Speaking of horrific, get a load of these formerly normal structures which have received creepy alterations…  and have a happy Halloween!

 

 

 

A clunky addition to the back of a Victorian house includes an enclosed stairwell… a decorative “Mansard” roof snakes along the top of it.

 

This former ranch-style house has been SuperSized with what appears to be a Neo-Shed addition!  Source:  zillow.com

 

The remains of an old house lurk beneath this facade of synthetic stucco; the fake quoins are impressive – but not in a good way!

 

Is it just me or does an enormous wall of wood planks stuck to a brick chimney seem more than incongruous?  Source:  zillow.com

 

Haphazard window type, infill, and a missing cornice section make this once-beautiful building tough to look at.

 

This former Craftsman bungalow is now in full “Victorian” drag. The upper portions of the porch piers have been decorated as pedestals while the battered (tapered) columns have been given moldings to create a panel effect. An Italianate scroll-sawn balustrade is capped with Colonial style handrails – and anchored with box newels. In the gable, original Craftsman roof beams have been bolstered with Italianate brackets. Paneled fascia boards and a scroll-sawn gable ornament complete the look. Thanks to Chad for finding this! As he notes, you can still see the J-channel of the vinyl siding quite plainly in spite of all the expensive millwork.  Image courtesy Google Street View.

 

Not scared yet?  Here are some Before and Afters to send a shiver down your spine:

 

BEFORE.  Image courtesy Google Street View.

 

AFTER!  I’ll sure be happy when this current fad for natural cedar goes away.  Source: zillow.com

 

BEFORE:  This house did not get remodeled, but one identical to it (across the street) received a new addition…    Image courtesy Google Street View.

 

AFTER!  The original ranch-style house can be seen at right.  Source: zillow.com

 

BEFORE:  Innocuous, maybe a bit boring, but blending in well with its historic neighbors.  Image courtesy Google Street View.

 

AFTER!  More cedar!  Weird “landscaping”!  Source: zillow.com

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