Visit this home and 8 other stunning historic structures in Algiers Point at the Shotgun House Tour on Saturday, May 12
425 Seguin St · Paulina Hilderbrand
In 2001, Paulina Hilderbrand fell in love with Algiers Point and purchased her home at 425 Seguin St. Her double shotgun was most likely built in the last years of the 1890s, right after the infamous 1895 fire of Algiers Point. The Italianate arched windows with matching transoms, are a common feature of houses built in the period. The wood flooring, plaster medallions, mantels, and high ceilings are all original to the home. The deep front porch was most likely updated to include Craftsman style detailing, such as the bracketed gable and exposed rafter tails, in the 1920s or 1930s, and the wrought iron columns date to a later period. The amalgamation of period styling currently in place helps to tell the story of the home’s evolution.
Upon purchasing the house, a major challenge Paulina faced was refinishing the original wood flooring that at some point in the past was covered with stapled down plywood and carpeting. Thankfully, after much hard work and effort, the historic wood can breathe again. Another challenge was coming up with distinct rich paint colors for each room that wouldn’t clash; a challenge that Paulina met and overcame elegantly.
The large backyard was the first thing that attracted Paulina to the property, she loves gardening – it’s her paradise. When she purchased the home the yard was completely bricked over with large concrete planters lining the middle section between the two residential units. She has since masterfully landscaped the space, with the addition of grass, as well as lemon and grapefruit trees. The planters remain as a natural boundary between the yards of the two-units of the house. A natural boundary but one not fully adhered to, with both Paulina and her tenants enjoying access to the whole yard. She is thrilled young families are moving into the neighborhood and that downtown is just a ferry journey away.
Photos by Charles E. Leche
