Inching Toward the Finish…

March 30, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Went by the house this weekend and there has been incremental progress.  We have a pile of planks and ships lap from the demolition that we have committed to reusing.  The trick is maximizing this very limited resource and minimize waste.  This takes time and progress over the last week has been a bit stilted.    Having said that, what was completed was choice.  The great room is starting to realize the design.  Contractor Pete, as I like to call him, has been able to clad the pantry and the fireplace completely with harvested, salvaged ships lap and it looks amazing.

Just a couple of pictures to show the progress.  As if that wasn’t enough good news, some pictures of my budding hydrangeas, mint leaves and rosemary from the garden.  I love the transition to Spring.  It means the Winter hibernation is over.

I hope you find some inspiration.

Always,

Cindy

New wall with an old side light, oriented horizontally. It will act as a transom and allow natural light into the new hallway.

New wall with an old side light, oriented horizontally. It will act as a transom and allow natural light into the new hallway.

Pantry and Fireplace clad in old ships lap.

Pantry and Fireplace clad in old ships lap.

Paneling in the stairway with paneling taken from our salvage pile.

Paneling in the stairway with paneling taken from our salvage pile.

With the trim removed, the old window weights are revealed. I love old houses.

With the trim removed, the old window weights are revealed. I love old houses.

Leaves coming in on the Hydrangeas.

Leaves coming in on the Hydrangeas.

Mint springs up from the ground for harvesting when I am back in the house and cooking up a storm in my new kitchen.

Mint springs up from the ground for harvesting when I am back in the house and cooking up a storm in my new kitchen.

Hardy rosemary plants, evergreen throughout the seasons.

Hardy rosemary plants, evergreen throughout the seasons.

Filed Under: Before 'n After, My Home, Projects, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

The Winter Progression

March 2, 2015 by Leave a Comment

I was pretty sure last week was a wash as far as renovation progress went.  The weather last week was unforgiving and unyielding, so I assumed nothing had been done at the house.

Just for grins and because I am an eternal optimist, I went over to the house this weekend to see if any progress had been made.  Much to  my surprise, there was substantial progress.  To call me happy as a lark would be an understatement.

  • The HVAC system and duct work was installed.
  • The outside of the fireplace had been clad in siding and trimmed out.
  • The fireplace box had been installed and framed in.
  • The electrical was completed.
  • The outside stairs leading to the court yard were built and the antique window installed in the Master Bedroom.

It was a lot to take in, mostly because I wasn’t expecting it.  But it made me happy and that makes today a good day.

Pictures below.

I hope you find some inspiration.

xoxo

Cindy

Exterior fireplace. The cladding and trim work is complete.

Exterior fireplace. The cladding and trim work is complete.

Although the flash didn't engage, hopefully you can see the old side light window in the master bedroom. The bed will go under this window.

Although the flash didn’t engage, hopefully you can see the old side light window in the master bedroom. The bed will go under this window.

Just a picture to show what a bit of a war zone the house is right now. It's the ugly before the pretty.

Just a picture to show what a bit of a war zone the house is right now. It’s the ugly before the pretty.

Zero clearance fire place set up and framed in.

Zero clearance fire place set up and framed in.

Duct work, duct work and more duct work.

Duct work, duct work and more duct work.

Ah...sweet relief. My old HVAC system a source of great consternation and funds depletion. A total new system and I am a happy camper.

Ah…sweet relief. My old HVAC system a source of great consternation and funds depletion. A total new system and I am a happy camper.

Filed Under: Before 'n After, My Home, Projects Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Renovation Taking Shape

February 15, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Progress is satisfying. Every visit to the house yields something on the punch list complete. Framing is 95% completed.  Plumbing is complete and electrical was being worked on this weekend and should be complete.  Once these three things are done, all three will need inspections from the city. Once inspections are completed, then onto insulation and then we can begin closing the walls and trim work.

The exterior of the house is being closed in as well.  I am hoping that we’ll be able to paint the exteriors at some point soon.  Although I haven’t picked the colors, I am shooting for a grey exterior with bright white trim.  But that is getting ahead.  Let’s stick to the inside.

A variety of pictures to show this week’s progress.

I hope your find some inspiration.

Always,

Cindy

2015-02-14_15-55-24 2015-02-14_15-57-54 2015-02-14_15-59-01 2015-02-15_5-05-34 2015-02-15_5-14-04 2015-02-15_5-16-26 Presentation1

Filed Under: Before 'n After, My Home, Projects, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

The Physicality of the Space

February 9, 2015 by Leave a Comment

-- Download The Physicality of the Space as PDF --


The physical feel of each room is starting to take shape.  This is meaningful because we are working with the existing foot print to carve out additional rooms; not by adding square footage to the foot print.

You can look at scaled drawings and imagine it in your mind, but neither of those things give you a real sense of the space.  Walls are going up, windows are being added and storage is being built in and all of these thing are starting to help me understand the physicality of each room.

It’s fair to say, this will be a cozy cottage with small but well appointed rooms.  Every room is getting a closet, plus some additional built in storage squired away because I am losing my garage for storage and I have to make up for it somewhere else.

Nothing illustrates this more than the master suite.  We have a bedroom, sitting area, bathroom, dressing area, closet and some generic storage.

Since the master area occupies the entire second story, it will become a true retreat.  I made the decision to build out an additional 120 square feet, the question becomes what is the best way to use the space.  They did some additional framing, but before we can do more, I need to decide what the configuration should be.  With some guidance from my contractor, I have settled on using it for closet space, storage space and a dressing area.  Picture and diagram below.  Other framing updates follow.

I hope you find some inspiration.

Cindy

xoxo

Always

2015-02-08_9-30-37

2015-02-08_9-49-38

2015-02-08_20-06-01 2015-02-08_20-02-31 2015-02-08_19-59-15 2015-02-08_19-58-01 2015-02-08_19-56-42

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Before 'n After, My Home, Projects, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

French Farmhouse Window

February 6, 2015 by Leave a Comment

 

This gem will be used in found condition. With the exception of glazing; there will be no treatments of the surface.

This gem will be used in found condition. With the exception of glazing; there will be no treatments of the surface; it will be installed as is.

For the renovation, I have been searching for architectural pieces that I can use in found condition that will reinforce the age of the house.  With all the new construction, I have made careful design decisions that will keep the old cottage feeling old.

One piece I came across from one of my favorite downtown McKinney antique dealers, is the old French Farmhouse window.  It will have a place of prominence in the house.  It is in the direct line of sight as soon as you walk in the front door.  It will be set, with its current worn finish against a wall of white plank boards in the kitchen, above the kitchen sink.

The kitchen sink, by the way, will be an old zinc trough.  I believe the pairing of the old window and trough sink will be lovely reminders of the age of the house.   I have seen them at a number of dealers at Round Top, so I’ll add it to my list of things to get:

13103721_1_l

 

The cherry on the sundae will be an old brass wall mounted sink faucet…if I can find one.

As I was looking on the Houzz website this weekend, an old French farm house kitchen caught my eye.  When I clicked on the link and saw pictures of the entire house, I spied a window very similar to mine.  I am in heaven.

I hope you find some inspiration.

Always,

Cindy

xoxo

Beautiful French farm house bedroom. I love the stone floors and the architectural salvage bed. But mostly, my eye was drawn to the window above the door.

Beautiful French farm house bedroom. I love the stone floors and the architectural salvage bed. But mostly, my eye was drawn to the window above the door.

The window looks very similar to the one I bought from Chase Hall in downtown McKinney, pictured above the post.

Capture

 

 

Filed Under: Discoveries, My Home, Projects, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

A Lesson in Renovation Mathematics & Updates

February 2, 2015 by Leave a Comment

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

xoxo Garage Before 2015-02-01_20-02-54 2015-02-01_20-04-17 2015-01-25_9-44-24 2015-02-01_16-38-01 2015-02-01_16-48-30  2015-02-01_16-50-192015-02-01_16-20-29 2015-02-01_16-22-07 2015-02-01_16-23-14

Filed Under: Before 'n After, My Home, Projects, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

I am being framed…finally

January 25, 2015 by Leave a Comment

-- Download I am being framed...finally as PDF --


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

2015-01-25_9-59-462015-01-25_9-43-26 2015-01-25_9-34-47 2015-01-25_9-38-36 2015-01-25_9-39-43 2015-01-25_9-31-29 2015-01-17_8-09-42

Filed Under: My Home, Projects, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

My One Renovation Splurge…

January 2, 2015 by Leave a Comment

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.

Filed Under: Discoveries, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Prettiness of Ugly

December 14, 2014 by Leave a Comment

-- Download The Prettiness of Ugly as PDF --


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.

Filed Under: Discoveries, My Home, Projects, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Ah…Finally. The Plans & The Look.

April 21, 2014 by Leave a Comment
The Look.

The Look. Besides the natural light…the most striking thing about this picture is the extraordinary use of the batten board walls.  I will be using the batten board sheeted material which is generally used for exterior siding.

 

White and Light.

White and Light. While this design shows white walls and ceilings, my walls will be white but the ceilings and the floor will be anchored with raw pine.  Much to think about!

 

Folks, my posting has been pretty spotty lately.  It’s mostly because I have packed up a lot of my DIY tools and supplies in anticipation of my upcoming renovation.  To that end, we have a ta-dah moment.  We have two things: The Look and The Plans.

The Plans are completed and embedded below.  My wish list is about a page and a half long, but here is a condensed version:

  1. Add a fireplace
  2. Change the front door from two French style doors to a single door
  3. Deck the back yard
  4. Gut the kitchen
  5. Insulate all the exterior walls
  6. Update electrical
  7. Add a bathroom upstairs
  8. Add a dormer to the upstairs bedroom bringing it to code and allowing it to be counted as square footage
  9. Build out the garage
  10. Replace all sheetrock with horizontal wood planking
  11. Update bathroom fixtures in current bathroom
  12. Interior/Exterior Paint
  13. Etcetera, Etcetera, Etcetera

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope you find some inspiration.

Always,

Cindy

Here are the drawings:

Main Living Floor Plan

Main Living Floor Plan

 

Second Level Floor Plan

Second Level Floor Plan

Filed Under: My Home, Projects, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,