LAKEWOOD, Ohio - When it's warm enough, Jackie Taylor loves to relax with his dog Rufus on the balcony of his second-floor apartment on Madison Avenue in Lakewood, taking in the sounds of traffic, dog walkers and the chatter of passers-by.

He says he and Rufus sometimes sleep on the balcony "and just listen. About 2 a.m., it gets really quiet and very peaceful."

The two-story commercial/residential building that he bought in 2003 is close to the busy intersection of Madison and Warren avenues. The brick structure houses two small businesses on the first floor and two vintage, two-bedroom apartments on the second floor, one in which Taylor lives.

He prides himself on creating an affordable vintage space where everything is restored, repaired and reused. Most of the materials came from Habitat for Humanity.

"At first I bought it as an investment," says Taylor, who paid $200,000 for the building. "But after spending so much time here working on the apartments, I thought, 'I really like it here.'"

When he bought the building, one of the two apartments in it was vacant, and that's where Taylor's rehab project began. He removed a center bedroom, which opened up the space like a loft. A wall of windows provides a panoramic view of Madison Avenue.

"I can see the bus coming five minutes before it gets here," he says.

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The apartments weren't trashed, just neglected for 90 years. For example, the dark, rich oak baseboards, crown molding, trimming around the fireplace and even the doors had been painted white.

"If it were pine I wouldn't mind," says Taylor, who stripped all of the woodwork himself. "You can't buy Tiger Oak anymore. It's beautiful."

The doors have polished crystal doorknobs and brass hardware. Most of the windows are original, which is nice because the old glass is unique.

The work was, and still is, slow-going. Taylor, 63, who owned a fabric store in Fairview Park before he retired, has other property to take care of as well as a four-bedroom home in Cleveland's Edgewater neighborhood, which borders Lakewood.

Taylor bought the building he's now renovating from someone who was living in the second apartment. That person moved, so Taylor decided to spend time focusing on that space. He thought it didn't need as much work as his other properties.

He decided not to tear down walls but leave the Lakewood apartment as a multi-room space. It has a long, linear hall, almost shotgun style, with a clear view from the front door to the back door.

In 2012, Taylor spent about $40,000 on new plumbing, wiring, heating, air conditioning and other "heart and vein" updates, as he calls the repairs.

The apartment has lots of character, some of it inherent, some of it added. The balcony has a black wrought-iron rail; another small balcony is off a different room. The front room facing the street has a brass Murphy bed where Taylor and Rufus sleep when it's too cold to doze off on the balcony. There is an old gas fireplace that Taylor hasn't yet used, but plans to.

Although the living room and bedroom feel comfortably aged and cozy, thanks to the abundance of wood, Taylor wanted to bring a bright, retro modern feeling to the kitchen and bathroom. He rearranged the floor plans for a more convenient and flowing space. He also added recycled fixtures, windows and doors.

This renovation could have cost lots of money, which he says he lacks, but what he had was time and a vision.

"I couldn't afford to purchase new materials, and the apartments called for a vintage feel," he says. "Not only was it less expensive but more fun to shop and buy recycled fixtures and building materials, kitchen cabinets, counters and stained-glass windows. It turned out great."

Taylor has been one of Habitat for Humanity's ReStore's best customers, he believes. Restore, on West 110th Street in Cleveland, is said to be one of the largest reuse and recycle centers in Cuyahoga County. It sells new and gently used building supplies, tools, furniture, appliances and more.

To look at Taylor's kitchen with its stainless-steel counter, sink and appliances, colorful, trendy tile partially embellishing one wall and older renewed oak wood cabinetry, stained glass window and more, you'd think Taylor spent big bucks.

"This whole kitchen cost about $2,000 and 200,000 hours of labor," Taylor jokes.

As Lakewood was closing schools, Taylor salvaged cabinetry and whatever he could find and afford and put it to use in his apartment.

The bathroom, which is also fashionable, has an old-time white porcelain sink with sleek chrome legs and chrome towel racks. Red, black and white tile behind the tub and black and white tile on the floor complete the contemporary feeling.

He says the ambiance, the location and the commercial feel are perfect for him and Rufus.

"Everything is within walking distance. Right out my front door, are restaurants, clubs, shopping, and the bus if I like," he says. "I started renovating and thought, 'This is going to be our new home.'"

Now that his apartment is nearly the way he wants it, Taylor's returning his attention to the other apartment in the building, which still needs a lot of TLC.

The renovation has been a lot of work, mostly done by Taylor, but he's happy he decided to bite the bullet and restore the two flats to how they looked when they were built with just a few modern updates.

"I'm glad I had the vision to save them, (the apartments), because they saved me. It kept me busy and occupied," he says. "It's been hard, it's been daunting, and it's been very rewarding."