Saturday, April 22, 2017
Signs of Spring!
We have two dogwoods under our large red oak tree, and last week, we caught them in bloom. Although just slightly past their peak, the trees were beautiful! And the red oak is just beginning to leaf out. Welcome spring!
Saturday, January 21, 2017
The East Side Revisited
Two years ago, I posted about the back side of our house. This is the other side . . . the east side. No doors. We live and view the house from the front, west side, or back.
When we do walk around the house, this east elevation always takes us by surprise with its simple geometry. It is perfection.
Let's start from the beginning.
August 2011. (wearing our rose-colored glasses!)
June 2012. Foundation work began.
Entire house floating on wooden pillars as almost three feet of soil was removed.
December 2012. Block foundation completed.
April 2013. Exterior siding and trim repair began.
July 2013. Finished siding repair, and prepared for paint.
August 2013. Paint makes everything look better!
November 2013. Repaired windows installed. See John in the kitchen window?
For the last three years, we have been working on our interior renovation. Although we still have work to do, we are nearing the finish line. Several weeks ago, we spent the weekend doing a few small projects, but we were finally able to just be at house. Here's the back side as we took a very enjoyable walk around the property.
Beautiful!!
When we do walk around the house, this east elevation always takes us by surprise with its simple geometry. It is perfection.
Let's start from the beginning.
August 2011. (wearing our rose-colored glasses!)
June 2012. Foundation work began.
Entire house floating on wooden pillars as almost three feet of soil was removed.
December 2012. Block foundation completed.
April 2013. Exterior siding and trim repair began.
July 2013. Finished siding repair, and prepared for paint.
August 2013. Paint makes everything look better!
November 2013. Repaired windows installed. See John in the kitchen window?
For the last three years, we have been working on our interior renovation. Although we still have work to do, we are nearing the finish line. Several weeks ago, we spent the weekend doing a few small projects, but we were finally able to just be at house. Here's the back side as we took a very enjoyable walk around the property.
Beautiful!!
Saturday, December 24, 2016
Sunday, October 30, 2016
"Icing on the Cake"
Just to remind you (and us!), this didn't happen overnight. This house was and is, truly, a labor of love. For years, we knew we wanted old brick landings at the base of our porch steps. But when you restore a house, one project at a time, some things just have to wait.
It's hard to remember that we spent years climbing into the house. Ladders, brick stacks, cement blocks. That's how we entered the house! Even after the porches were built, we hoisted ourselves up.
We decided on brick for the porch pillars to match our fireplace.
Then . . . fall of 2013 . . . stairs!
And finally . . paint!
But our brick landings would have to wait for . . . 3 more years.
And here we are. We are no longer a construction site. At the end of this summer, we graded the yard, planted seed, and put in our brick landings. Here is one of the masons laying brick below the back steps.
And the front . . .
Then construction debris is removed, and the yard is graded.
As our mason worked on the brick, he looked up, smiled, and said, "this is icing on the cake!"
It's hard to remember that we spent years climbing into the house. Ladders, brick stacks, cement blocks. That's how we entered the house! Even after the porches were built, we hoisted ourselves up.
We decided on brick for the porch pillars to match our fireplace.
And finally . . paint!
But our brick landings would have to wait for . . . 3 more years.
And here we are. We are no longer a construction site. At the end of this summer, we graded the yard, planted seed, and put in our brick landings. Here is one of the masons laying brick below the back steps.
And the front . . .
Then construction debris is removed, and the yard is graded.
As our mason worked on the brick, he looked up, smiled, and said, "this is icing on the cake!"
Friday, June 3, 2016
Sunday, May 8, 2016
Kitchen
Kitchen walls are scraped, primed, and now painted. This is a farmhouse kitchen: white wood plank walls, brick chimney, and a center table to gather for food and spirits!
Of course, looking back to the first time we saw this room, we can fully appreciate the journey.
The middle room in 2011 that became our kitchen.
Welcome!
Of course, looking back to the first time we saw this room, we can fully appreciate the journey.
The middle room in 2011 that became our kitchen.
Welcome!