A Coastal New England Dutch Colonial Home

The End

2010-07-14T09:54:00.001-04:00

We're now living in a "new" old Dutch Colonial home by the sea!

Kitchen Remodel Before and After

2010-07-14T09:45:00.003-04:00

The kitchen remodel came to completion last year!

This is but a distant memory.

The Grass is Green

2009-06-30T15:13:00.010-04:00

The upside of the rainy weather here in New England..., the grass is green! Our lawn went from shabby to chic in no time...

... and it looks like a carpet...

... we also planted a little garden in the corner...

... it's blooming...

... the hedges toward Main road are doing well too...

... just as I said..., like a carpet!

Sweeping and more

2009-06-14T13:34:00.004-04:00

The usual Spring cleaning...

... sweeping off the sand left from the winter...

... then a future repair awaits..., the cracks in the road along the driveway (to the left)..., but first we'll get a dumpster in and clean out the basement.

Lawn Care -The Big Reveal

2009-05-05T01:16:00.004-04:00

Remember this, the Mud Slide Prevention cloth?

Tada! Two months later. The grass is growing, but overall our lawn looks crappy. Not that I'm complaining, it's just what it is. According to our neighbor it will take two years for it to look good. I'll be planting some flowers this week, hope that helps to get some curb appeal.

Recycling Old Wood For Kitchen Island

2009-04-04T17:11:00.004-04:00

Taking down all the old wood shelving and partition walls in the basement...

... then recycling the old wood for our new butcher block(esque) kitchen island, which Peter will build...

... seems to be the destiny of this wood which has been recycled before by the previous owner out of crates from local textile mills.

Some landscaping or rather Mud Slide Prevention

2009-03-21T13:49:00.006-04:00

Since we had run off problems causing mud slides after the Driveway Construction we decided to put down some gardening cloth...

... the cloth allows the grass to grow through it and over time the sun will break it down and the cloth will disappear on its own...

... but what about all the metal pins that we used to hold the cloth down to the ground, can we leave those too, I wonder...

... for now, we just wait and see.

Do It Yourself Stair Runner Installation 2

2009-03-09T14:42:00.008-04:00

After Stair Runner Installation Part 1, here comes part two, the finished project...

... looks like a professional installation, doesn't it? But you'll see it has some Do It Yourself characteristics...

... our solution to the "turn" dilemma that can simply not be solved if you only have a pre-cut/pre-edged roll of stair runner to work with...

... and here on the landing I'm sure you notice (hopefully only barely) the diagonal seam...

... we think it's perfect!

Entry Foyer Done

2009-02-23T15:31:00.003-05:00

Nothing out of the box...

... the before: Entry + Stairway..., I just couldn't decide on a color with punch, and if in doubt go beige(ish), right. So that wall ended up just a tad darker then the hallway color and the two cubes give us room for gloves, hats and sunglasses.

Stair Runner Installation

2009-02-23T13:53:00.014-05:00

Finally we got around to begin the stair runner installation and cozy up the stairway to the second floor...

... it begins with cutting and stapling on the pads that go underneath the rug...

... and the same for the tackless strips -those pink things with little nails that hold the runner...

... nice job!

... pushing the stair runner, so it is gripped by the tackless strips...

... et voila!

But we're not done yet, we've got a challenging turn here to figure out..., and in case you wondered..., we followed these Stair Runner Installation instructions.

Entry and Stairway

2009-01-15T02:10:00.003-05:00

I'm in the process to finish the entry and stairway..., meaning I'd like to give that one wall a different color than the rest..., add some cube shelves, mount new light fixtures which are ordered and lastly install a stair runner which we still have to find.

Kitchen -Ceiling Can Lights are up

2008-12-30T10:59:00.004-05:00

All the Ceiling Can Lights are up...

...they're all on dimmer switches, divided up in four sections...

...so the kitchen can be blindingly bright or be flooded with a warm evening light.

Todays Project -Snow Shoveling

2008-12-21T19:05:00.009-05:00

More snow kept falling..., so today lots of time was spent shoveling...

...meaning Peter was shoveling (I took the pictures)

...more shoveling...

...the entire town is a winter wonderland..., an empty Main road...

...a very quiet town park...

...and no one lounging in this wood chair at our local coffee shop Coastal Roasters.

Our Dutch Colonial Home in the Snow

2008-12-20T01:47:00.003-05:00

It began to snow yesterday afternoon...

Permeable Pavers Driveway Problems

2008-12-15T15:05:00.018-05:00

Since the installation of our permeable pavers driveway we had some heavy rains and they have created several run offs along the sides of the driveway. There is no grass so the soil is washing away..., not good...

...and the permeable pavers seem to be wandering from the center to the left, leaving large gaps...

...so we called All Island Landscaping last Friday and today they came by and added soil. To prevent future washout we thought the soil should also be stabilized in some form, covered with cloth, hey or something until we have grass..., but maybe not. Regarding the increased gaps between some of the permeable pavers..., they might or might not crack, we'll see. But we should be in good hands since we've got a one year warranty.

Creating a New Kitchen

2008-12-04T11:16:00.014-05:00

Creating a new kitchen...., now more like "waiting" for a new and free kitchen..., well free cabinets that is. We've heard it happens, people ripping out brand new cabinetry. Old cabinets would be fine too as long as they're good quality wood -that's something we can work with. Until then we live with the kitchen as is.

So the floor is finished now, all patched up and repaired with original wood planks salvaged from underneath the fridge and other places. Next will be the installation all the can lights as well as a door for the washer/dryer unit that you see on the far right. Just imagine an L-shaped counter top along the wall and where the couch is, left to the sink a stove/oven, right to the sink a dishwasher and in place of the table a large magnificent kitchen island with two bar stools.

Some Kitchen Ideas:

It's either this sink (seen at BHG -click image) or an undermounted more traditional one. These windows just look like the ones in our kitchen!

I like this island style from House to Home. It feels spacious and offers a comfortable seating area.

Or this simple butcher block island from Coastal Living (without the sink). This stage of creating a new kitchen is fun...and I'm sure I'll be collecting more ideas.

Permeable Pavers Driveway Installation Finished!

2008-11-27T14:27:00.005-05:00

The permeable pavers driveway installation project was finished last week. The grass around the construction area won't grow in now, but the seeds are there "sleeping" till next spring. So it doesn't quite have that finished look yet.

This is how it looked before the driveway installation. Something was missing!

We drove up for the first time a couple of weeks ago..., just couldn't wait to see and feel how steep the hill was. It was no problem at all.

This and the next shot I took today. I love that I can now drive up to the house and don't have to haul groceries up the hill anymore. Peter then drives down backwards..., eventually I will try that too (and get used to it). Turning the car around is also an option but it takes a few turns. The permeable pavers start/stop right at the edge by the stairs leading up to the large front porch.

This is the compacted gravel parking area which is very solid. You don't even see a trace of the car on it. Even though the permeable pavers driveway installation (with the stone wall and hedges) went way over budget because we wanted/needed more pavers we're very happy with it.

Permeable Pavers Driveway Installation Last Stretch

2008-11-02T10:44:00.002-05:00

The last pile of permeable pavers has arrived and is ready to be installed this week. The hole driveway installation is coming together nicely and we love it. It feels like walking up a paved driveway, only in heels I imagine (which I hardly ever wear) it would be a bit of a bouncing act.

Planting Privet Hedges

2008-11-02T10:20:00.008-05:00

In coastal New England when planting privet hedges you might want to tie them down. Winds can be strong and gusty and we learned the hard way -scroll down to the last image here: Crushed Gravel Driveway and Paking

I am so glad we chose planting privet hedges over installing a wood fence. We're now solidly sheltered from the road and the landscaping bolders I think add a lot of character to the property and this "farmer wall" will only look better as the privet hedges grow -I understand privets can grow a foot a year or more.

Crushed Gravel Driveway and Parking

2008-10-28T01:26:00.016-04:00

River rocks were delivered and spread early in the morning last week, and we had a little problem, actually two. One: wrong rocks. We had specified crushed gravel and these round rocks were uncomfortable to walk on as compared to the 3/4" crushed gravel rocks that interlock and pretty much give you an even and flat surface. Two: while hauling the load of rocks up the driveway with heavy machinery over a dozen pavers were destroyed, cracked under the weight.

The next day all the rocks were scooped up and removed and the new crushed gravel was delivered promptly, this time from the top. New pavers were ordered and should be arriving later this week from Canada. And if you look closely you see that in the meantime the hedges were planted too.

And here they are. Beautiful privets, 40 to be exact, lining our property toward Main Road, and of course the finished crushed gravel parking area that we love.

Then Saturday night the wind came, strong winds I have to say which are not that unusual here near the water and some of the privets fell over. Something needs to be done about that.

Permeable Pavers Driveway Installation

2008-10-20T12:32:00.009-04:00

The driveway installation can begin and the slope is ready for the permeable pavers to be put in place.

Some heavy lifting is involved as each interlocking paver unit is unloaded from the truck and placed onto the prepared soil. The good thing about permeable pavers for our hillside is that they absorb water rundown, so no need for a drainage system.

The driveway installation is progressing and the permeable pavers are creeping up the hill. Once one stretch is completed pavers are being cut to fit and complete the edge.

A good part of the driveway installation is finished, just a few more rows to go. The top which is the parking space will be gravel only. And of course the openings of the permeable pavers will be filled with gravel too.

Build Retaining Wall

2008-10-15T09:56:00.004-04:00

Build retaining wall? There are many ways to do it and stacking up large natural boulders is what we chose to do...

To build the retaining wall was the first step in our driveway/parking project. It took three truck loads of large natural rocks from the local stoneyard to cover the length of our property line toward Main Road.

We chose to build a retaining wall with boulders because we wanted something stronger and more durable than a fence and we were looking to blend in with the surrounding area as well as keep within a certain budget. There are lush hedges and trees along the roadside of other people's properties and only ours stood exposed with nothing green.

To the road the boulders are between 2.5 and 3 feet above the boardwalk. The space in the middle is approx. 2.5 feet wide and 40 hedges will be planted there. And I'm sure there will be plenty of space in the bed to add color with smaller plants and flowers next Spring. I also intend to soften up the stone look with creepers and ground coverings.

Related Articles:
"The great virtue of stone retaining walls that are mortar-less is that your “drainage system” comes built-in: water will usually seep through the cracks between the stones..." by About.com/Landscaping

Build Retaining Wall with concrete bags? "Whats awesome is it is so cheap and easy to build.. anyone could truly do it." Read it at eHow

Building a Driveway -First Pictures

2008-10-08T11:48:00.011-04:00

The landscaping crew has arrived and started with building the driveway this morning, beginning from the top with the parking area. This is so exciting. No more walking up and down the sometimes wet and slippery grass hill. I'll probably still walk up and park on the bottom of the hill but it will be on nicely packed gravel and permeable pavers.

The old cesspool is being filled in the process...

and off to lunch...

then back with the first load of boulders to build and retain the mound. Come back next week and see the progress!

Also check this out on my other blog: A Real Estate Flip gone bad

Old Wood Floor Repair and Ocean Breeze

2008-09-29T01:31:00.004-04:00

Sunday started with wood floor repair and ended with a drive out to the beach in near by Little Compton.

Wood Floor Repairs

2008-09-23T02:04:00.005-04:00

A break from cutting wood in the basement on Sunday. We'll be piecing and blending the floor together where the wall was removed. The now joined rooms that make up the kitchen unfortunately do not have the same wood floor. Hopefully it'll work out.

Blue Painted Old Wood Door

2008-09-14T17:31:00.007-04:00

With the last coat of paint I put on the old wood door in the front entry of the house the project has come to an end this weekend.

Blue Painted Old Wood Door Detail Shot:
Stripping off the old paint revealed all the beautifully carved details. We both love how the original bronze (polished) hardware contrasts with the blue.

Polishing Door Hardware

2008-09-08T15:36:00.005-04:00

My last week's contribution was humble. I primed that stripped front door (scroll down a bit) and polished its hardware and knobs.

Foundation Repair Finished

2008-09-08T15:28:00.003-04:00

The wet weather was perfect for finishing up the foundation repair. So Peter went for it. And Sunday when the sun was back it was time to mow the lawn again!

A Weekend of Labor -The Old Wood Entry Door and Kitchen Ceiling

2008-09-01T18:02:00.015-04:00

But it's labor of love...and there was some sightseeing going on too as well as eating the best fried clams ever! This was the end run of stripping off the green paint. And our awesome entry door is now ready to be painted the same blue as the back door (by me).

Even though Peter had cut out the holes with the template that came with the light cans the holes weren't big enough. One more time I hung plastic to avoid dust to coat our entire kitchen area. So this is P. cutting the holes wider.

A Lot of Garden Work

2008-08-25T10:56:00.004-04:00

Our Sunday brunch on the porch got interrupted yesterday morning by powered hedge trimmers. Our neighbor tamed his hedge and later on Peter chimed in with the lawn mower and weed wacker, spending several hours with garden work while I was preparing the papers for obtaining the driveway permit. After that we called it a day.
I didn't know but there seems to be A Science of Lawn Mowing.

About Floors and Mice

2008-08-18T13:39:00.006-04:00

While I re-finished a stretch of kitchen floor, the neighbors cat worked on reducing the population of mice in our septic hill. Said neighbor informed us yesterday that she had received seven dead mice. That cat is on a roll and I'm forever thankful.

more cat pictures

Creating a new Kitchen -The Light will be Bright

2008-08-11T11:36:00.009-04:00

The kitchen is our last major interior project...
and this weekend's remodel goal only required a couple of hours. Summer just isn't the time to breathe dust (if there ever is a good time for that). So while I did some touch up floor sanding to prepare for clear coating, Peter wired up more can lights and dimmer switch boxes. And off we went to the beach.
Note: can lights in the kitchen are the best.

Foundation Repair and Drainage Trench

2008-08-04T09:56:00.006-04:00

What a beautiful weekend it was. Breezy with lots of cloud action. This is the weather that I'd like to have around forever. Peter tackled the last drainage trench and started to repair that one corner of the foundation wall with gaps between the stones. Other than that the two of us celebrated our 12th anniversary with 2 pounds of halibut and a bottle of wine.

Septic Hill is off to a New Start

2008-07-29T13:55:00.006-04:00

Septic installer Clement Rose came back...The hippie rye grass is gone, new soil was added, seeds were spread. It's all looking good now.

Stormy Days in Southern New England

2008-07-24T15:47:00.005-04:00

Rain clouds are hanging in the sky.

Idea for a driveway and more parking

2008-07-24T01:30:00.006-04:00

Instead of a stairway going up the hill and up to the porch we could have a driveway going straight up to the side of the house where there is room for more parking. That we didn't think of this before still puzzles me. It's so obvious (now).

New Lattice Installed -Befor and After Remodel Pictures

2008-07-21T21:45:00.000-04:00

And our weekend project was: finished replacing the old lattice with the new one.
The beginning.

Al Fresco, preferably on our porch

2008-07-17T12:35:00.011-04:00

Since we live in this house moments like this -al fresco in nearby Newport last weekend- have become rare. With a porch looking over the water into the western sky and a fish prepared to our very specific taste (that seems to step over any chef's threshold of tolerance, grilled very dry and crusty that is), why go elsewhere?

Burried Yard Drains

2008-07-14T11:26:00.000-04:00

All our gutter downspout drains need to be extended and burried so not to wash out the soil around the septic system and in general not to mess up the yard. A few more to go. And speaking of septic. In the middle of me taking down the grass we got a surprise visit by Clement Rose, the installer, informing us that he had always planned to come back and clean up the hill himself, meaning adding soil where it settled, getting rid of the dead rye grass and seeding the area with perennial grass. Of course he didn't show when he said he would, what contractor ever does, right? I put it out of my mind and one day I'll step out on the porch and it's all looking good.

It will get done eventually

2008-06-28T16:54:00.001-04:00

I'll be posting again the week of July 14th.

Buy From Art.com

The Old Wooden Door

2008-06-26T09:31:00.004-04:00

The old wood door toward Main Road is made over(see the old version here). We left it without the moldings and added an orbit sanded Polycarbonate Sheet for a frosted window look that provides privacy. Paint does do wonders.

Three Thunderstorms in a Row yesterday

2008-06-25T00:01:00.002-04:00

Enough with the Hippie Grass

2008-06-24T12:15:00.001-04:00

Armed with a power trimmer I'm taking on the hill, cutting the grass, preparing for some civilized landscaping. I've started on top of the hill and will be working my way down. Vigorous raking will keep me fit this summer. Also, need to find more spots to hide the mounts of cut grass. This was obviously a mistake, tall rye grass is not appealing and looks like a bad hair due after rain.

Replacing Lattice Panels around the Proch

2008-06-24T00:49:00.001-04:00

This weekend we started the lattice project, taking the very green, old and warped panels down, replacing them with new white ones. The previous owners were lovers of Green and had their perfectly white vinyl lattice painted (on both sides) and plenty of overspray got on the studs..., so it's a paint job as well.

Playing with Exterior Staircase Designs as If there was Nothing to do...

2008-06-18T12:43:00.012-04:00

...no sanding and painting door frames, no paint touch ups, no cleaning up..., but we do need access to the house from the parking and it is our next big project. So I've been playing around with some exterior staircase designs and these are my favorites. They both take the most advantage of the yard and add some outdoor lounging space. Both entirely inspired by my love of leisure. However we had long decided to build steps into the hill leading up to the existing porch stair to the left of the house, so this is a new idea and Peter doesn't know yet that all I'm doing today is conceiving ideas about how to spend more money.

Nothing Says NO TRESPASSING more Politely than a Row of Happy Little Privets

2008-06-17T15:32:00.016-04:00

That was our weekend project. Does not look like much..., but it included correcting a mistake. I had dug a ditch (plant bed) some time ago and had left a mount of dirt which overgrew with weeds. So there was a lot of weeds to pull and soil to move. I had created a bed because I thought I wanted the mulch look, then changed my mind. And the real reason: I had been overcome by a compulsive reaction to yet another trespasser living up to "Old Habits Die Hard"..., and I thought, "May They All Tumble Over Dirt And Fall Into A Ditch". And SUCCESS. Habits broken without injuries and those otherwise dear co residents of Tiverton began to walk AROUND our property. Part of the project of course was getting the plants. So we drove out to the beautiful country side of South Eastern MA and visited Sylvan Nursery and have plenty of mosquito bites to show for it.

Hot Pictures of a Gravel Parking Construction Gone Awesome

2008-06-10T14:37:00.009-04:00

The sun must have been brutal on the site and I don't know what it takes to perform work under such heated conditions. All I know is that whatever it is, I do not have it.

Previous Picture here.

Gravel Parking Construction Day One -and Black Cat arrived promptly

2008-06-06T12:37:00.010-04:00

Just when I was settling at the computer with my morning coffee All Island Landscaping pulled up. I stepped out onto the porch and asked the two guys if they had any questions. They had non, so I went back inside. Then when I glanced over my computer screen I saw them talking and pointing and one guy crossing his arms in front of his chest and I got nervous..., "I surely hope they know what they're doing." Nothing taps into my existential fear more than people who are about to mess with my domestic queendom. But they did not. Three hours later I am exceedingly happy with what I see....., then black cat arrived promptly to test sit the site.

What it takes to Mount House Numbers

2008-06-03T00:55:00.003-04:00

Good job, bad job. It's obvious. Is it? So what does it take to mount house numbers? Two people, two attempts.

Building a Concrete Step

2008-06-02T00:30:00.004-04:00

Spackling (the kitchen ceiling) ended on Sunday around 1PM and a window for porch leisure opened, but strangely enough we were not yet in the mood for lounging and decided to take a step toward building the step leading out to Main Road. What you see is the frame and the idea is to fill it in with concrete.

An Uninvited Guest to Get Rid Off

2008-06-02T00:23:00.004-04:00

I do not want to know what kind of creature this is sitting on the wall...I caught it with the designated bug jar and gave it back to the outside world. This was not the first time either, and I sincerely hope that this is not an old house thing.

Summer, Celebration and a Little bit of Spackling

2008-05-26T12:31:00.008-04:00

The summer kicked in just on schedule for our one year of home remodeling celebration. Peter did some ceiling spackling in the kitchen, other than that we hung out on the porch and drove out to Sachuest Point near Newport walking the trails where I spotted the two happy hats.

New Parking Driveway -Dig Save Flag from National Grid

2008-05-20T15:06:00.005-04:00

When I first spotted these tiny yellow flags from the upstairs window I saw red. Could our parking spot be jeopardized? I'm a bit phobic that way but in the process of overcoming it. Upon closer look I saw it's national grid kindly marking the gas line that comes into our house.

Tight Squeeze

2008-05-20T00:44:00.003-04:00

Since the leak above is fixed the Washer/Dryer unit went back into place.

The new Monster Drain

2008-05-19T14:08:00.004-04:00

This is what it took to make the shower drain water tight. Beauty unfortunately was not an option. It's function only with this one.

Saturday Evening Light Show

2008-05-18T11:37:00.005-04:00

The Black Cat that Caused our Shower Stall Leak

2008-05-16T11:16:00.010-04:00

How could I even think that the plumber had anything to do with our shower stall leak... It was the black cat that loves to mingle with our ever growing rye grass.

Theme of the Week is the Shower Stall Drain Leak

2008-05-15T18:13:00.014-04:00

The last few days I've been doing what I like doing most, making rooms look pretty. This time it's the corner room in the kitchen that houses the washer/dryer that got beautified. Peter on the other hand is not so lucky. Every evening he's been fixing the shower stall drain and with that an unusual amount of work gets dumped onto the bath tub, which might or might not walk out on us on its claw feet if it doesn't get its peace and quiet back soon; it's had a very busy winter.

The Shower Stall is Leaking

2008-05-11T23:40:00.012-04:00

At the tender age of 10 months our shower stall begins to leak. Diagnosis: fatal cracks in the shower base due to a drain hole being misaligned with the drain pipe..., not my fault, but a certain plumber comes to mind. So we toss around some ideas for a temporary fix (to last until all the home remodeling is done and we can begin the next phase of home re-remodeling) and came up with an ingenious plan that involves cutting out a larger hole, Peter taking a dive through that hole, a metal plate and a giant tube of silicon.

Psychedelic Grass

2008-05-10T19:48:00.006-04:00

Our grass is officially out of control and we've become the lawn hippies of Stone Bridge Tiverton.

The Other Old Wood Door

2008-05-05T18:05:00.004-04:00

The other old wood door is in the kitchen and leads out to Main Rd. For the previous owners this was the main entry, but for us it's the back entry. We use the door that leads out to the porch and that Peter is destined to strip of its green as the front entry. It has the extra fancy moldings, which makes me believe that it was always meant the be the main entry. But back to the back entry door, the door in the picture. We agreed on doing it my way and my way always involves throwing something away. So we took out the paint cluttered moldings and junked them and the surface was clear to be sanded, easy. Now we just buy new moldings, nail them on, clear coat with water based Poly, reattach the shiny restored door hardware (scroll down to see) and we'll have a beautiful new old wood back door.

Old Wood Door Hardware Restoration

2008-05-05T17:54:00.007-04:00

Now this is what I call a sweet project: little effort and big shiny result. I simply steel wooled these plates, except for one which Peter wire wheeled because he's a lover of power tools.

Painting Kitchen Walls

2008-05-02T21:43:00.014-04:00

In a snap I transformed this part of the kitchen (before and after below) with the help of a ladder, fluffy roller and a gallon of Behr washable flat Silver Drop 790C-2. And may I add, the ceiling of course was primed and painted too as well as the heater covers. I was on a roll for two days and the rest of the week I spent in awe over all the work we've done.

Weekend Stunts of a Home Remodeler

2008-04-28T14:51:00.005-04:00

Peter in the role of a tree, a Leyland Cypress to be exact. This first stunt did not require any training.

The acrobatic act of spackling the ceiling on a step ladder however was rehearsed for hours and performed without a safety net. Peter is now thinking about joining Cirque du Soleil.

All Island Landscaping: Curb Appeal coming Soon

2008-04-25T14:15:00.006-04:00

We had Byron from All Island Landscaping in Portsmouth over yesterday because we both can't see ourselves digging 20something holes for a row of 5 to 6 foot tall Privet Shrubs along our 80something foot long property line on Main road, not to mention the cypress tree that will come with a root ball the size of our Ford Explorer (I wildly imagine). Byron also told us that our lovely very green grass around the new septic system is not rice grass but rye grass (Peter must have had dinner in mind when the septic guy told him what kind of grass it was). He also warned us that this rye grass is going to die this year and will turn into a stack of hey..., and a farmer I am not, so my guess, Byron will be back when that happens. So much for my easy landscaping idea. All Island Landscaping will also construct our gravel parking spot. It should all happen in a few weeks.

Stripping Paint off our Old Wood Entry Door, or my Love for Old Wood has reached an end

2008-04-23T15:49:00.013-04:00

Peter wants to bring the entry door that leads out to the porch back to its previous life preserving all the details. So I gave it a try today and began stripping off the green paint. The orange gel stripper that helps save the planet did not work at all, the other one that's environmentally unfriendly did get some of the green paint off, but the fumes made me sick to my stomach, and the result left me unimpressed. My love for old wood has officially come to an end with this door and I gladly sacrifice the details and suggest that we forget about it (meaning that Peter forgets about of course because I already have) and turn to good old sanding.

Kitchen Marathon: Old Wood Floor Repair, Edge Sanding, New Window Moldings and Misc

2008-04-21T15:52:00.014-04:00

We put in a full work day on Saturday. A start right after breakfast and keep going without a significant break till sunset kind of day, which I haven't done for a long time. I can still feel it in my legs, all the kneeling from edge sanding the old wood floor. Peter on the other hand enjoyed a healthy workout going up and down the stairs leading into the basement workshop a zillion times, cutting wood pieces to repair the kitchen floor as well as fitting new moldings for the two windows above the sink. We did get to soak in the last evening sun rays over a Bass Ale and mixed nuts though, initiating the porch for the season. Here are the pictures:
The black vent covers had to go since additional baseboard heaters are planned to run along the wall.

This is where the wall was, and the repair here is temporary. We still have to figure out how we are going to bring the two different wood floors together.

And brand new moldings for these windows.

Will my easy Landscaping Idea around the New Septic System work?

2008-04-19T12:00:00.013-04:00

How much greener (and taller) could this giant rice grass around the new septic system be? Looking down on it today I am not so sure any more whether my easy landscaping idea for the area around the new septic system is going to work. It has to, I keep thinking: buying seeds of a variety of native wildflowers and other grass types and simply throw them (from the porch) into the lush rice grass field, in the hopes that it will all flourish and grow into an amazing natural meadow that then I can edge with a border and make it all look landscaped. But the rice grass looks awfully "giant" and dense too. Will those seeds even have a chance to land on the soil, and if yes, then will they have enough light to live? Some research lies ahead of me.

The Zen of Spackling

2008-04-18T19:30:00.009-04:00

Every day, after work, Peter has been spackling the kitchen ceiling in those very thin layers for a couple of hours, matching and blending into the old ceiling of the front room with its character of age.

Desperate Landscape

2008-04-16T15:47:00.019-04:00

I've just entered a contest for a front yard overhaul by DIY network. There is a chance in a five thousand that I don't have to dig sixty holes (for all the shrubs I want to plant).

A Dutch Colonial that is dreaming of a traffic stopping Yard.

I think our mail man deserves better.

Not a heavenly sight to look upon for the church across the street.

Technorati: Yard Landscaping Gardening

More Wallpaper to Remove

2008-04-15T14:42:00.011-04:00

I didn't think that I had to remove wallpaper (ever) again but the crown moldings came off in the room that is now part of the kitchen (since the wall is gone) and there it was, an old bridle very green wallpaper border that needs to be removed. And while I'm scraping along, antique dust landing on my head and on every surface below, memories of me balancing on a very tall ladder stripping off all the wallpaper in the hallway pass by.

Kitchen Ceiling: My Husband the Spackle Master

2008-04-12T14:27:00.007-04:00

The same way that I am unable of making a small or medium size salad -they always turn out huge, I can't get myself to spread a thin layer of spackle onto the drywall. That's why Peter is the spackle master in our team of two. It absolutely amazes me how thin and perfect each run turns out. Once he is done, my job begins. I'm the master painter and I will slam the paint on thick, transforming the kitchen (just like all the other rooms) with one coat of paint.

Silly Window Treatments: Bamboo Roman Shade

2008-04-10T11:13:00.006-04:00

I bought these Bamboo Roman Shades at K-Mart a while ago and the reason why they're still hanging, blocking 1/4 of the light and the view in their rolled up position is because the windows are in the kitchen where construction dust still circulates and I don't want to mount something new just yet. One of them also stopped functioning properly since a pull up string gave out.

Kitchen Ceiling: Holes for Can Lights

2008-04-07T17:39:00.005-04:00

When I came home yesterday from my meditation getaway I found all the holes cut out on the kitchen ceiling for the can lights and the support beam has been sheetrocked and coated with joint compound. The dust that was spinning around while drilling those holes was unreal, so I hear. I can still smell it. I am glad I missed that part. There is no compound left so in order to continue finishing the ceiling and the walls we have to re-stock. Perhaps I do some plant research in the meantime.

Remodeling Break

2008-03-27T17:52:00.002-04:00

While Peter will continue on the kitchen ceiling and trying to find a contractor, all I will be doing for the next 10 days is silently sitting on a cushion at the Insight Meditation Society.

Sheetrock goes up -Kitchen Ceiling in the Making

2008-03-22T17:52:00.004-04:00

We needed some extra help today to get the sheetrock up, so Peter made these two beams to do the heavy lifting. How we got each panel to that stage though was quite a bouncing act.

The Beginning of Spring

2008-03-20T17:42:00.005-04:00

Funny, how I don't find it the least bit annoying to live with this kitchen that is missing its counter top, stove, oven,..., well, the picture tells the story. Maybe it's because my parents took me camping each summer, or because there is not much I need to clean (or both). I just replaced the old plastic table cloth that still had the Christmas theme going with this fresh yellow that marks the beginning of Spring.

Bye bye Contractor

2008-03-19T23:14:00.005-04:00

I really got my hopes up with this landscape contractor. He came recommended by our local hardware store, returned calls promptly, which was exciting and dropped the sample pavers for the apron when he said he would, which was even more exciting. And with all that excitement going on in my head I got a bit carried away and forgot the other part of the deal, the price. We got it yesterday, promptly, after we had let him know our choice of paver, and all I could say was: bye bye contractor.

Safety glass collection for home remodelers -Gucci or Dior?

2008-03-15T15:31:00.017-04:00

Sometimes I just want to look great when I'm home remodeling..., stay away from the all transparent models though. Not only do they blend in with your face and make no statement at all, but they also blend in with all the junk and tools and you'll never find them. Now, seriously: how scary are they?

And best of all, they are all unisex, so you are never running around looking for your glasses, just the glasses.

I prefer these:

Which Cobble Stone Pavers for the Gravel Parking Area?

2008-03-13T12:51:00.008-04:00

We just received some samples of Cobble Stone Pavers for the 5 foot wide apron for the new gravel driveway/parking area from a local landscaper. Four to choose from. I am glad to see this project developing.

Creating the New Kitchen -Wall Patching

2008-03-11T15:28:00.005-04:00

Last night one ceiling sheet went up and we need to get more angles in order to continue. I have been patching up the walls which is an easy job with lots of down time since the joint compound has to really be dry before applying the next coat.

New Drop Ceiling Structure is going up

2008-03-09T15:19:00.007-04:00

The electric for the can lights is solved, the drop ceiling structure (light guage galvanized steel angles) will be done today and an the new ceiling is ready to go up.

More Prep Work for Drop Ceiling Installation with Can Lights

2008-03-05T20:48:00.007-05:00

Some more prep work for the Drop Ceiling Installation has been done. The spacing is marked and most of the electric wires are in place. We also bought all the Can Lights (17). There is not much I can do right now in the kitchen until all the wiring is done, then I can start finishing the walls up. Of course there is all the small stuff such as cleaning up the walls around the stairway that leads into the basement, some more window detailing too, but I have chosen to deal with the taxes among other things. And soon it will be warm enough to work outside...

New Septic System

2008-03-01T15:11:00.006-05:00

The Gravel Bed Settling Issue has been solved. Somewhat at least. We never heard back from Clement Rose, so Peter decided to call Todd who engineered our New Septic System, et voila, the next day the hole was filled up with new gravel (by Clement Rose) and so far nobody thinks that there is anything wrong with it. It's just soil settling -Todd will come over and check it out to make sure. We redirected more of our drains too that will be buried in spring.

Finished Small Bathroom Remodeling Pictures

2008-02-26T19:36:00.007-05:00

The Small Bathroom (Powder Room) downstairs is finished. It's kind of hard to get a good picture. The room is only 32" wide and 75" long.

Bathroom Storage Space Saver

2008-02-22T15:47:00.011-05:00

I successfully assembled this Bathroom Storage Space Saver Etagere by Zenith and it was a pleasure. All the parts were numbered, the instructions were great and the quality is awesome: solid wood and the cabinet doors align perfectly. The Small Powder Room is almost finished...

Here is a similar Bathroom Space Saver by Zenith:
ZENITH 9720WW

The Gravel Bed of the New Septic System is Settling. Problem?

2008-02-20T18:54:00.006-05:00

Today when I went out to the porch to check the temperature and looked down to the Septic Gravel Bed I felt that it had settled some more. I find it strange that it is just in this one spot. We had left a message for Clement Rose Excavating Inc. who was the installer of the New Septic System (hired by the previous owner) to find out whether this is a problem or whether we simply need to add more gravel, but no answer. I guess we have to chase him down...Does anybody know perhaps?

Drop Ceiling Installation using Drywall

2008-02-19T18:35:00.005-05:00

The preparation for the Drop Drywall Ceiling Installation has begun and some of the first framing angles went up along the wall. Since all the new plumbing for the added master bathroom above runs here in the kitchen we need to install a Drop Ceiling to cover it all up and we'll end up with 8 feet in height for this room.

New Master Bathroom Pictures -Acrylic Clawfoot Tub and Pedestal Sinks

2008-02-15T11:37:00.004-05:00

The new Master Bathroom is finished, done, complete...to the detail. It's simple, fresh, open and with that spa feel. It's got two pedestal sinks, two wall mirrors with shelves, two shutter door wall cabinets, an acrylic clawfoot tub and corner shower stall, plus an inbuilt shelf next to the shower.

Polished Wood Baluster Railing Spindles

2008-02-14T18:15:00.005-05:00

The work upstairs is coming to an end...,a little bit of paint touch ups here and there, but that is for later. So after giving the hallway floor another finish I attended to some details like cleaning and polishing the wood baluster railing spindles, done with Orange Glo Wood Cleaner and Polish. No more construction dust up there...

Designing Walk In Closet Done Before and After Picture

2008-02-14T00:14:00.003-05:00

After a few minor challenges the Walk in Closet is done. This room went from being an old pink bathroom to being a Closet that fits all our clothes and has just enough space to serve as a dressing room as well.

Constructing a Gravel Parking Area

2008-02-10T18:05:00.002-05:00

We are ready for the next project involving a Contractor -Constructing a Gravel Parking Area. I marked the space with a bright orange and two days later there was a blue line on the grass too. Someone from the Stonebridge Water District must have seen it and marked the waterline. Thanks! Would not be good to damage that one. Well, we knew it was there but it still helps to have it outlined. So construction should begin soon...

Designing Walk In Closet -Wire Shelving System, not so great

2008-02-05T16:58:00.001-05:00

I thought the wire shelving system was a good idea for a small walk in closet, but unfortunately when I began to hang the clothes one of the shelves dislodged from the bar designed to hold it up..., or really more out -it seems to be designed to work under tension. I tied them down with picture hanging wire for now, but will replace them with something rock solid. I also concluded that I want the clothes to hang higher and then install drawers underneath.

Still Building and Designing that Walk In Closet

2008-02-04T11:04:00.001-05:00

The dust part is over, walls are painted and I've tackled the carpet, and as I so often do I start a project, learn while doing, then redo. So I had the carpet all tucked under the treshhold and nailed down only to find out that it didn't roll out straight. Now it is in and glued down too and I can proceed installing the heater cover which I cleaned up and painted, the floor moldings and of course shelving. As far as designing the walk in closet goes, it's two 6' long shelves with hanger bar on each side so far. We definitely need some drawers, space for a laundry basket..., it will all answer itself once I start using the room.

Moldings for Walk In Closet

2008-01-28T18:50:00.001-05:00

Today I cut and installed the crown moldings in the Walk in Closet, using some of the original molding pieces that I took down in the kitchen. And the paint will go on tomorrow -my favorite part.

Wiring for the new Kitchen

2008-01-26T18:28:00.000-05:00

Before all the walls can be closed up there is still some more wiring to do for the planned ceiling can lights, and that is quite a project.

Building a Walk in Closet -Sanding, Sanding

2008-01-23T19:15:00.001-05:00

After more than two hours of sanding the joint compound on the walls the future Walk in Closet was covered with white dust and looked like a winter wonder land.

Building a Walk in Closet -Walls

2008-01-21T11:57:00.000-05:00

To cover up new and old plumbing in the old ex-bathroom we installed a wall with plywood backing. This will make it easy to mount shelves. There are a few more smaller pieces of sheetrock left to install before I can start patching everything up. I also want to start thinking about the layout and design of the walk in closet. Once the Closet is done (in two weeks or so...) I can paint the last of the three bedrooms that serves currently as our closet and the upstairs will be completely done. And only two major projects remain: the kitchen where we have to install a new ceiling too, and the exterior -parking/driveway, stairway, landscaping.

Building a Small New Powder Room

2008-01-17T15:58:00.002-05:00

After Building the Small New Powder Room downstairs I painted the wood floor a dark brown in there, which turned out to be a mistake. The painted wood floor looks great in the master bathroom upstairs (maybe because it's a light beige color), but for some reason in the Small New Powder Room the floor looked plasticy. So I sanded it all off today, which took a few hours, clean up not included.

Creating a New Kitchen - Small Progress

2008-01-13T19:00:00.001-05:00

For the exterior walls we use 5/8" thick sheetrock which is heavy and a bit of a challenge to handle. Taking this wall out was so worth it and we are now thinking about replacing one window with a wider door that leads out to the porch. This would mean more light and more view.