A Lesson in Renovation Mathematics & Updates

I had about sixteen feet of unused attic space.  Part of that space is allocated for the HVAC unit.  That would leave about ten feet where I was just going to throw down some plywood and use as attic storage.  Then I had this thought, since we are doing all this other work, why not just build out the space?  It wasn’t structural, so (I thought) why not just add the insulation, some electrical, sheetrock and bippity boppity boo…I have additional square footage.  How much more money could it be?

Fast forward…things are not that simple.  Some engineering is required, the electrical is a bit more complicated, add duct work and we’ll need some additional hardwood flooring.  So my incredible contractor (who really is a great guy) got the numbers together and to build out this additional 120 square feet, it will come to about 45 per square foot.  But it would appraise much higher per square foot handing over some instant equity.

We had some windfall monies from parts of the renovation that we over budgeted, so those monies will fund the build out of the 120 square feet of attic space, keeping us within budget.

Bippity Boppity Boo is right.

Updated pictures from the progress from this week.

I hope you find some inspiration.

Always.

Cindy

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I am being framed…finally


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I went by this weekend and got some additional photos and took some measurements.  As the various spaces are being framed in, it gives me a better sense of the size of the rooms once the renovation is completed.

It’s not much to look at…but it’s progress.  The ugly way, way before the pretty.

I hope you find some inspiration.

xoxo

Cindy

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Not quite the count down to Round Top…yet

 

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I’m not quite ready to start the countdown clock for the Round Top Antiques Show; it’s too soon.  But I supposed there is no harm in posting pictures from my last trip there.

Round Top is a small (very small, population 93 on a normal day) town in the Hill Country of Texas.  A coveted place to live, acreage is quite pricey.  I am told by my sister that Governor Perry is building a home in Round Top.

In the spring, the fields along the highways and byways are saturated with the color from the wild flowers, the blue of the bluebonnet or the poppy color from indian paint.  Long Horn’s gracefully graze as if it’s summer and the architecture of the old farm houses remind you of the German influence that settled in much of the Hill Country.

Twice a year, this sleepy little town  completely transforms into an antique mecca.  Dealers from all over the world, with price points that range from reasonable to ridiculous attract over 3 million people.  My sister and I go and make a weekend of it.  We stay in Belleville which is about 20 minutes away.  All the more coveted B & B’s have legacy bookings, with the same people booking every show, so it’s difficult to get something closer to Round Top unless blind luck steps in.

Here are a few shots.  Trust me when I tell you it doesn’t even begin to capture the sheer volume one can expect to see at each show, in the spring and fall.

I’ll be posting some updates for the renovation next week.  We’ll have some major framing completed this week, so the pictures can show the progress.

I hope you find some inspiration.

Always,

Cindy

xoxo

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My One Renovation Splurge…

Let’s face it.  My renovation is largely budget driven when you consider that 70% of the budget will be spent on things you can’t see like electrical, plumbing, HVAC, etc.  So when it came to finishes, we had to keep things simple and economical so no high end splurges on anything.

One area, though, I absolutely insisted on a splurge are my kitchen appliances.  So much so, I am purchasing them myself and not running the cost through an already strapped budget.

I settled on the AGA suite of appliances: range, fridge and dishwasher.  My decision really centered around the range.  I had a list of must haves and for the most part, the AGA Legacy Series of ranges checked of every box on the list:

  • 5 burners
  • dual fuel
  • two ovens
  • vintage look/feel
  • the proper finish option

Regarding the finish, it was important to have a finish on the appliances that melted in with the aesthetic.   Since I am creating a great room that makes the kitchen, dining room and living room into one area, I really didn’t want to go the trendy stainless steel route. The high contrast that the stainless steel finish would create between the appliances, antiques pieces, kitchen cabinets and furniture would fight the harmony I am trying to create so I have chosen an antique white finish for all three pieces.

Fortunately, AGA was also having a year end special whereby if you purchase the stove and fridge, they tossed in the dishwasher for free.

I hope you find some inspiration.

Always,

 

Cindy

Antique white finish, two ovens and five burners.

Antique white finish, two ovens and five burners.

Broiler.

Broiler.

Two ovens and a broiler; convection heat.

Two ovens and a broiler; convection heat.

French Doors and bottom freezer.

French Doors and bottom freezer.

Full size deli drawer and filtered water dispenser.

Full size deli drawer and filtered water dispenser.

Simple styling with integrated, hidden controls.

Simple styling with integrated, hidden controls.

Harvest Design

Back of the restaurant.  I love the large table with the rope light installation.

Back of the restaurant. I love the large table with the rope light installation.

 

Went to  a new restaurant in Downtown McKinney  named Harvest.  It is a farm-to-table restaurant owned by Rick Wells of Rick’s Chophouse, also in Downtown McKinney.

I am deeply enamored with its design.  It is one of my favorite styles, pairing the rustic with the refined.  Old, original exposed brick, barn wood, industrial light fixtures, filament bulbs, burlap and teal velvet.  They use simple cotton, waffle pattern dish rags for napkins.  They present your check to you rolled up in a wood cube along with a card that can be ripped in half and planted to yield flowers.  A lot of really unique and earthy touches that are in keeping with it’s concept.  You’ll feel warm and toasty the minute you walk in the door.

This may give me some ideas for my own renovation. Hmmm…we’ll see.

I hope you find some inspiration.

Always,

Cindy

Barn wood, industrial light fixture, filament bulbs along with these really fabulous teal velvet tufted wing chairs.

Barn wood, industrial light fixture, filament bulbs along with these really fabulous teal velvet tufted wing chairs.

Scaffolding planks, cast iron piping and mason jars with vegetables artfully displayed greet you at the door.

Scaffolding planks, cast iron piping and mason jars with vegetables artfully displayed greet you at the door.

All the finishes work together to create a really warm vibe.

All the finishes work together to create a really warm vibe.

A light fixture that is stunningly simple.

A light fixture that is stunningly simple.

 

The front porch has these terrific swinging settees with the teal velvet cushions (although it now has tables, great for nice weather dining or drinks)

The front porch has these terrific swinging settees with the teal velvet cushions (although they have added tables, great for nice weather dining or drinks outside)

Great little drift wood lamps adorn the 4 top booths.

Great little drift wood lamps adorn the 4 top booths.

Discovery – Vintage Kitchen Reproductions

Kitchenalia is my latest passion.  I recently scored a lovely French herb chopper and an antique garlic or potato masher.  Sometimes, however, the real thing is a tad expensive.  I was mining the web and found two sites that offer reproductions at a much reduced price over its antique counter part and I thought I would share them with you.

Original English butter slabs can run anywhere from $1200 to $2500.  Or you can find a reproduction English Butter Platter from Joanne Hudson for much, much less (click on the picture to go directly to the product/site):

Reproduction of an English Butter Slab.  Other styles are available.

Reproduction of an English Butter Slab. Other styles are available.

 

Original French wire ware cooling racks can cost upwards of $150 or so, if you can find one.  However, a reproduction of an old wire cookie rack from Donna Hay is very reasonable (click on the picture to go directly to the product/site):

Reproduction of an old French cookie rack.  It comes in two sizes.

Reproduction of an old French cookie rack. It comes in two sizes.

I get tremendous joy (and use) out of both of these items and look forward to having them a part of my renovated kitchen.

I hope you find some inspiration.

Always,

Cindy

I needed a little Christmas…

 

Glittery little wreath ornaments on an old, mottled mirror.

Glittery little wreath ornaments on an old, mottled mirror.

Getting in the Christmas spirit has been a little hard this year.  I am firmly ensconced in what I affectionately refer to as the size 7 shoe box apartment while the renovation is going on.

About the only thing I could think of to make me feel a little better about it was to do some nominal decorating for the holidays.  Something that was enough to make me smile, but didn’t require a lot of effort and could be accomplished on a small budget.

I hope you find some inspiration.

Always,
Cindy

A pensive looking Samantha curls up on the bed for a nap.

A pensive looking Samantha curls up on the bed for a nap.

Little Annie in her favorite spot.

Little Annie in her favorite spot.

Simple ironstone basin set on top of a fresh greenery wreath.

Simple ironstone basin set on top of a fresh greenery wreath.

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Vintage, hand blown ornaments in a wire basket, setting softly on  a wreath on my coffee table.

Vintage, hand blown ornaments in a wire basket, setting softly on a wreath on my coffee table.

A lovely mid century lamp on an antique textile with a lovely holiday candle for aroma and ambiance.

A lovely mid century lamp on an antique textile with a lovely holiday candle for aroma and ambiance.

Keeping it simple with a wreath hung above the bed.

Keeping it simple with a wreath hung above the bed.

A little nook in my apartment with a simple wreath, some candles and a lovely quilt with lovely festive colors for some contrast.

A little nook in my apartment with a simple wreath, some candles and a lovely quilt with lovely festive colors for some contrast.

 

The Prettiness of Ugly


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We are at a bit of a standstill with the renovation until we get our permits approved.  So when I went by the house this weekend, I didn’t expect much would be different.  And I was right.  But what little had changed was choice indeed.

The six or seven layers on the kitchen floor were pulled up and to reveal original hard wood floors.  They don’t look especially great right  now, but everyone loves a Cinderella story and these little ugly ducklings have a shot at becoming pretty.  What a sweet surprise!

My contractor believes we can salvage the floors in the kitchen.  All the floors will be refinished in a honey pine tone.  They will be a nice, warm contrast to the exposed ships lap on the walls which will be painted white as part of the renovation.

 

The top half of the picture shows the newly revealed kitchen floors, the bottom have of the pic are the floors that were already exposed.

The top half of the picture shows the newly revealed kitchen floors, the bottom half of the pic are the floors that were already exposed which are in serious need of refinishing.

Here is a general sense of the feel I am going for:

A simple palette: white walls with pine flooring.  This will make the house a canvas for my antique pieces.

A simple palette: white walls with pine flooring. This will make the house a canvas for my antique pieces.

A Lovely Mess


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The Guest Room

The last few weeks have been stressful, to put it mildly.  Closing on the loan, packing, moving and settling in to a tiny apartment.  It’s fair to say that I am a nester and being in limbo is not my strong suit.

I needed to see progress on my house in order to feel like this is all for something.  In this case, moving forward, or progress begins with stepping back and deconstructing.

Week #1 has begun with demolition.  And it’s a lovely mess.  I am beyond thrilled to see that under all the sheetrock was ships lap.  Original to the house and of its time, it really needs to shine.  We are keeping it exposed for the renovation and will eventually paint it.  We’ll harvest, patch and repair where we need to and fill the whole house with it.  Wood walls.  Warm, comforting wood walls.  What a simple path to happiness.

Here are the pictures from the first week.  Please join me on this journey.

Always,

Cindy

FullSizeRender (17) FullSizeRender (16) Looking towards the stairs. Another kitchen shot. Layers of subflooring scrap through. I wonder if there are wood floors underneath. FullSizeRender (21) FullSizeRender (22) FullSizeRender (19) FullSizeRender (15) FullSizeRender (14) FullSizeRender (13)

A Country Christmas


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Tin Lanterns with the twinkly of real candle light.

Tin Lanterns with the twinkle of real candle light.

For the first time in twelve years, I won’t be decorating my little cottage for Christmas.  So I thought I would dream a little bit and bring you Christmas style from others.  These have a strong Scandinavian influence which is no accident…it’s my favorite Christmas style; simple and restrained.

I hope you find some inspiration.

Always,

Cindy

 

A simple tree in an old galvanized bucket.  My favorite kind of tree stand.

A simple tree in an old galvanized bucket. My favorite kind of tree stand.

The beauty of the red barn with bright white trim just sings Christmas.

The beauty of the red barn with bright white trim just sings Christmas.

White table with a smattering of red for the Holidays.

White table with a smattering of red for the Holidays.

Save for some candles, a plain tree that looks just lovely.

Save for some candles, a plain tree that looks just lovely.

Lovely tree sculptures seem simple and are pretty as well.

Lovely tree sculptures seem simple and are pretty as well.

Classic Swedish grey with high contrast red for a stunning display.

Classic Swedish grey with high contrast red for a stunning display.

A few berries in  a bucket and simple garland swag across the window.

A few berries in a bucket and simple garland swag across the window.

Unfussy, barely there Christmas style looks effortless.

Unfussy, barely there Christmas style looks effortless.

A simple make-do heart wreath from garland.

A simple make-do heart wreath from garland.

Simple. Simple. Simple.

Simple. Simple. Simple.

Traditional candle chandelier.

Traditional candle chandelier.

Country stairs simply adorned that say "Welcome."

Country stairs simply adorned that say “Welcome.”