The front doors , porch , living rooms and dining room are much the way they were originally constructed minus the multiple layers of paint and varnish applied over the years . The upstairs bedrooms are pretty much the way they were originally configured with interesting nooks and fascinating details . The one concession , to contemporary needs , was the addition of a decent sized closet in each room . The doorway to the exterior staircase in the back is gone and replaced by a window .
Two things that are quite different from most contemporary homes are the landscaping and the charming eclectic interior .
The house sits in the middle of a large lot with several trees . Very large pepper trees , tall palm trees and a huge redwood give the property a “ been here forever ” look . Raised beds , plenty of shrubbery , garden decorations , an old flagpole , picket fence , grass areas , back vegetable garden and decks complete the look .
While the Votaw House is still owned by the Fiorenza family , Bill , with his feel for design , has incorporated his love of Asian and contemporary art into the classic Victorian elements of the house . Everywhere one looks there are snippets of color , beauty and art in an upscale , turn-of-the-century setting .
The future of this gem is unknown but Marge Fiorenza says , “ It ’ s always been my dream to return to the house and make it into a nice tea house of sorts where we could have afternoon teas for little girls , bridesmaids , birthdays and Red Hat Ladies …. I ’ ve always planned to return there , if I live long enough , because Morgan Hill has a special place in may heart .”
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