Installing the last window is momentous!

Last window house #1 2007- Last window house #2 2010-
So, I know it is 2011 but this was one of our last projects of 2010. It was 9 pm and I was in my slippers, standing outside in my robe, hoisting a giant window into the giant opening in the wall. Hoping that the neighbors would not mind our construction noise for just 30 more minutes. After which, Greg said "Got it?" And I prayed the weight of my head would support the mass long enough for him to place a few nails! It did.

Since installing this window a lot of people have asked us why we wanted to put a giant window in our homes most intimate space? I get it, I really do. But my first thought is, "Why not?" I can think of about a-ga-gillion reasons to do it, natural light being my first and most prominent reason. My second is good design. My third, natural light. Fourth, balance. Fifth, have I mentioned natural light? Because really, it's reason enough for me!

Insert clever hearth title here

We tackled the removal of the family room hearth and were surprised to discover that the bulk of it was filled with sand! This of course is understandable and made disposal a lot simpler. Greg constructed this nifty strainer out of the mesh grate to filter the sand into our wheelbarrow so we could til it into the garden. Surprisingly, this ingenious idea was mine. For the record.

A few more...and the wall came tumbling down

This event really does deserve multiple posts. It was a very big deal that the wall was NOT load bearing and that it came down so effortlessly. It has also been a very big deal to have a big room since it left us.

I found It!

So, remember how I told you I couldn't find the picture of my paint drama in the living room? Well, it's a new years miracle! See? A picture really is worth a thousand words.