now you see out of it | now you don't...and a wall update

So, the twin window seats are a dream come true, or at least they will be! Here is the former window situation and a shot of the twins together, with that silly wall in the way. We have submitted a request to an architect to determine if the wall is load bearing. Initial reports are good which is hugely exciting! Once we have a green light the wall will come falling down and we will sheet rock our great room! This week?

Yay} foyay

The stripes were applied with a meticulous hand. Greg graphed the area to determine the appropriate width of each stripe to ensure a perfect circle. After applying the bottom coat, he marked everything off as shown using a green painters tape and a guide he made out of a ruler. Then before applying the darker color he used a small hand brush and saturated the tape with the base color.

The great paint debate

I am completely stumped! I have been sitting on this post trying to locate a picture I am sure I took of the living room with all of our samples splattered all over the walls. The picture really would have said it all. We invested about $30 in $5 paint samples trying to figure out what color to paint the living room. I must humbly admit that this is the first time I have ever been so indecisive with paint. But, this room is vaulted and has lots of changing light. Paint on the wall would look one color by the window and then look completely different just 12 inches away! Needless to say, it was a challenge and the finished product is a story in and of itself.

Along the way to this color we tried various Benjamin Moore golden hues. Good news is, we now have a color for the great room. Then we explored taupe, and various yellowish greens. Not loving any of these we both recalled a Ralph Lauren color, Cotswold Breechest which we had used in my mom's kitchen. So, we tracked down a sample of it, thinking with all the light it would be just a shade lighter than we recalled the kitchen-perfection! Until we put it up and were surprised by how dark it was. We added white. Perfect! Greg heads out to Miller to match it before the sale ends at 5. When he get's back he admits he changed his mind at the last minute for a greenish taupe: Devine - CRUNCH. I looked at him in utter disbelief and secret jubilation. Now if it's wrong it won't be my fault! So, without further ado...our living room in Devine Crunch. What do you think?

Jumping for Joy } Tile's In

Tile: American Olean Hennesey Place 12 by 12

Store: Interstate Flooring Co.

We felt something glossy was right for this space. We wanted the look of marble but the price and durabilty of ceramic, so we decided on porcelain. We also chose a light color to open it up and make it feel bigger. Some words we hope will describe this space when it is complete are: spacious, formal, welcoming. Cheers to step 1 complete!

Look for step two...PAINT!

Greg and I are especially proud of this crawl space cover he designed in the closet. It is perfect!

First Window In...barely

When you are installing your own windows you have to do it in order of priority. For us, the first window to change was easy to select. Just listen for the one that rattles when you walk down the hall, has no screen and gets full afternoon sun. It will lead you to bedroom number three, aka the office/guest room.

Greg installed all the windows in our last house, this should be cake, in theory! The caveat, as there always is with these sorts of things, was a miscalculation in the size of the window. The fin on the former 1969 window had a step down that is no longer used, and was not anticipated. Long story short, the new window's are approximately 1/4" too large all the way around for the allotted space.

{Insert me panicing}

Fortunately for me, I married an engineer who found a solution by making the space mildly larger. Seems simple enough but is mildly involved. At least they'll be snug! Nice save babe!

Windows have arrived!

Windows: Milgard

Store: Parr Lumber } Windows and doors

It is a happy day when the window truck pulls up and loads 13 glorious double paned windows into your garage. You have to embrace the moment and play a little.

Hello beautiful kitchen bay window, oh, how I love thee!

Move over Hoover

Some housewives, like my mother prefer a traditional vacuum, a Hoover or a Kirby. Not me, give me the power of a Ridgid shop vac any day. Us remodeling mom's with toddlers know a real vacuum when we see it!

Bell Jar Lanterns have arrived!

Fixtures: Crystorama Camden Clear Glass Pendants

Sometimes you have to stand your ground. If a space calls for a bell jar, it shall have a bell jar! As with all relationships you have to give and take and this was a house decision I was not willing to budge on. This space needed a bell jar. Did I mention that? Anyway, we shopped forever and finally settled on two of these little beauties from Crystorama.

Bell jars are timeless and the antique brass finish will complement the creams and greens that will be used in this space. The light bouncing off the rippled glass jars and glossy flooring will also create an enchanting effect.

Stay tuned to see them in their up and working in their new space!

Date Night ~ Late Night

It's 11:27 pm and he lays the first tile. The crowning moment of one of our recent date nights. I bring out the camera because I think this moment might be one that will challenge my ability to create art and beauty with my camera.

He is so loving with his tile, gingerly inspecting each peace before placing it. He measures and re-measures and in the stillness of this moment I am reminded why I love him.

Front Door

Door: Lowe's

Hardware: Emtek

So, here is the front door on day one. The door itself is hidden by the screen, so I will just tell you it was a plain, white, wooden door. Given it's age and the weather, it had warped and lacked energy efficiency. Of course we planned to replace it. I must confess, it has been a journey to reach a decision about what exactly to replace it with.

I am a huge fan of light and really wanted a door with glass but really couldn't find one I loved and that I felt worked with the obscurely shaped window above the door.

Okay, what if we take out the window? And replace it with what? This went on for a while and the search continued. Putting in side lights seemed impractical, especially given the plans for the interior. So, in the end we settled on a classic, solid, fiberglass door. We ended up getting it from Lowe's as their molding had the most definition and offered the door at the best price.

The hardware was another lengthy debate. I can't count how many times we went down to Chown Hardware hoping to find one we both agreed on. We ended up with an Emtek product in bronze.

Of course white is not the end color here, but phase two of the front door will happen when we paint the house!

Exterior

We have been waiting for the arrival of summer here and have made the best of the few sunny days and gotten outside to enjoy the first stages of remodeling the exterior of the Barkton House.

The kiddos were eager to try out their new gloves, roll up their sleeves and assist with some bush removal. We have removed all the bushes from under the front awning. We are thinking this space will become a patio of sorts, but have not committed to any one idea yet. Most bushes have been torn out on both sides of the house as well, to make room for a shed and garden boxes.

Headers, baseboards and trim oh, my!

During the lull between tile shipments, Greg has put his efforts into the trim work. He has found it surprisingly unmotivating and has been lamenting it's mild impact. I reminded him that the trim is what finishes the room, and hey, that means you're FINISHED!

I am a big fan myself. They're grand, but still understated.

landmark

I have been waiting for the moment when I could look down this hall and see my monochromatic vision take shape. The before image doesn't do an excellent job of illustrating how dark this hall used to be, but you can see the dark wood and get a general idea.

Now that the doors have been replaced and the walls have been painted a calm, neutral I am starting to see my vision come together. When I walk down this hall now, I love the blast of white and light that greets me and with each addition I know it will only continue to delight.

For whatever reason this felt like a landmark achievement for me in this process and it got me thinking about all the things I was sad to leave in our last house and how they are starting to slowly be restored. A finished, beautifully remodeled bathroom for example! Plus, all the extras I didn't have...like a gas range and soon to be three bathrooms! I guess this means we are out of the really dismal phase and I now have more than hope to keep me going.