When we decided to buy this property, it needed more than a little bit of "sprucing up." One of the things Freddy decided to do was to move the washer and dryer. We've been living in a condo with a closet for out washer and dryer and desired to have a mud room where he could come in from the farm, take off his boots and muddy clothes and drop them in the washer. We also needed some kind of folding table.
So, when we found this particular house, we spent a lot of time planning how to change from another closet to an area that would have the washer, dryer, shelves, a sink and a folding table and, in addition, give us access to what will eventually be a deck where we can cook out and hang out.
We decided to take the back section of what is a closed-in garage and make it into a laundry/mud room. It will not be walled-off, but sectioned off with book shelves and maybe an old door. We also have an extra refrigerator that needed a nook, as well. Instead of running a hot water line all the way through the attic, Freddy decided to put in 20 gallon hot water heater in a cabinet with a sink we already had.
He had someone else do the plumbing but he did the electrical and last night did the sheet-rock and mud. It will be ready to be sanded and painted today. His ability to problem-sovle and think of everything amazes me. He thought to pull a wire for a light above the sink. Now there is a practical and creative man for you.
We've started moving our things and I guess will be asking all our friends if they might help us with the heavy stuff by the end of the week. It's really coming along and I love my cabinets!
Yesterday I was able to get some prints done for some last-minute shoppers, including myself. Freddy and I have a deal that he can do the electrical, plumbing, sheetrock, etc that still needs doing and I will be the one to pack. There's nothing I hate worse than packing. Although I moved about 25 times in the last 30 years, I still hate it.
The first thing I decided to take on over to the house was all the framed photography. It's amazing how good the colors works, even the salmon in the kitchen. It actually got me excited thinking about making a nest. So while Freddy pulled 220 wire for the drying and thought about a light above the laundry room sink without me, I just kept on plugging with loading and unloading my little car. When I put one particular picture over the sink, I knew this is going to be a happy kitchen and a happy house.
So today it will be more of the same, except it will be the crystal and the Christmas china, old linens and the remaining artwork, which is still a substantial amount. I used to buy street art wherever I traveled and I bought from good artists who just hadn't made it yet. It will be fun to see how it all fits together.
I had a hard time picking out the paint to begin with. But once I made the decision on Tansy Green by Sherwin Williams I knew the kitchen cabinets had to be red. I tried three different reds and decided upon one of them which I thought was originally by Pratt and Lambert called Faded Rose. So at $60+ per gallon, I called and told them to mix what the painters needed. There were several patches of red paint all over the wall and even on a cabinet door. I was confident I had it correct and didn't go back and check myself. Tuesday afternoon the painters had not even started to prime and told me they would only have one coat on the cabinets by yesterday morning.
We got a call about lunch time that the painting was finished and were ready to be paid. When I walked into the house and saw the cabinets, my heart sank but I didn't panic. I stood there and just looked at how good it looked with the green, thought about the fact that we're going to paint the outside brick in the same family and knew that re-painting would mean more time and money.
Then I looked at the breakfast room fixture and realized it had that color and red and teal and amber in the stained glass. I can work with anything, but especially trying to make the best out of an un-solicited situation. Freddy said, "Awww it will be fine. If it's not you can re-paint it later."
Now, I'm kind of really excited about it. I've got photography and other art work I'll use to pull it all together. Keep watching and reading. It's gonna be great!
Mary Clay decided she wanted her room to be pink. So it is pink. Yesterday, I had the opportunity and privilege of taking her to Belk's to pick out her linens for her bed. She's not my child but she could be Hannah. Always having an opinion, always wanting to please, always thinking about how much things cost.
She had in her mind celery green for a bedspread. I told her that was a good choice and that I ordered her 600 thread count sheets, which meant nothing to her (I'm a sheet snob). Then we found a really soft blanket that really didn't match but had puppy dogs on it and she liked it. Lastly, there was a fuzzy pillow. All were on sale and reasonable and all were purchased. She is her daddy's child: aware of everything, sensitive and as sweet as any sixteen-year-old you'd ever encounter.
We than made the infamous trip to Lowe's that I wrote about yesterday. I learned all kinds of things about her. She helped me pick out everything. I miss my daughters but she is so very refreshing it's overwhelming. We got home and watched "The Piano" and "Legally Blonde." She spent the night and let me hug on her this morning. We're bonding over the house that will be part of her home.
This afternoon we went to lunch and ran errands and talked and talked. It's all about relationships even in the process.
It's always exciting when the paint is almost dry and it's time to start working to build on that beautiful blank canvas. Since this house is eight-plus years old, we are having to replace many things, especially starting with the details. Some of those details include: brushed nickel door hinges and door knobs, light fixtures and kitchen cabinet knobs. It's always in the details if you want the finished product to be what you want.
So, along with Mary Clay, who is 16 and a good sport with good taste, we headed to Lowe's in Greenville. We are changing the front door from solid to an older, multi-paned door we picked up on the side of the road. But when I found just the right hardware, I am told I that they are out of that style, it has been discontinued and that they will not take it off of the display. I suppose I'll be surfing ebay tonight. But, we were able to find brushed nickel door knobs, kitchen drawer pulls and cabinet knobs. We were also able to find a colorful, somewhat funky fixture to go over the black bar-height table we have for the nook/dining room. It's multi-colored and reminds of something that could be from the Deco period. Taking the place of an ugly and very old fluorescent overhead kitchen fixture, we found a long, multi-light fixture. We also found some pretty cool bathroom lights for over the mirror.
Now I start getting excited about the fact that I do have a blank palette (almost) and then I can start building one layer at a time. Freddy finished the very large planter he made from barn wood today so I'll go find some pansies tomorrow.
Sarah: Remember it's one step at a time.
Most of the time I know what I want and go for it! With this house, for some reason, it took a lot of sample paint and many different colors splashed on the wall in order for me to make a decision. I have ADD really bad so when I paint a house, I usually paint the ceilings, walls and trim the same color. Looking for a paint color that makes me happy enough to do just that is sometimes a bit challenging.
I started with darker greens and moved into the lighter side of the teals. Those didn't make the cut even after I'd painted fifteen different places on quite a few different walls. I knew I wanted to paint the kitchen cabinets so once I decided they would have to be red, then I made the decision that the walls needed to be green. I wanted something between apple green and avocado. I must say the folks at the paint store were very patient in helping me find just the right shade.
The painters will finish today. Yes! I'll post pics when I can. I'm truly loving the green and can't wait to see my red cabinets.
It has been said that if a couple is capable of making it through re-doing a house, they are capable of making it. Period. We have been looking for a house for over a year. Fortunately we found one. Unfortunately we closed last week which means while we have a beautiful Christmas tree in our condo, we also have boxes everywhere, not to mention the fact that we have way outgrown our condo anyway.
We are not personally painting our new home, but having it painted. But, we basically will be doing everything else including electrical, some of the plumbing, changing part of the structure, doing the yard work, etc. Freddy is quite amazing and can do any of the aforementioned. I, on the other hand, am quite capable in the area of giving support and helping with the design work. We work well as a team.
As this blog progresses so will you be able to learn with us the process of re-doing a house. First advice: Don't paint the week of Christmas!
