Facelift

After much paint stripping, scraping,  sanding, more stripping, more sanding....we put a coat of primer on some of the trim today. Much more easy on the eyes.

                                                                             Before

After

Before

After

End of the day :0)

Kitchen

We had the reclaimed screen door hung for the walk in pantry. Next to the pantry door, you can see what will be a built in refrigerator space.

On the opposite wall, we hung the old cast iron farm sink we purchased in Iowa last summer. 

While in Wisconsin two years ago, we found this great old "ice box" that we will use in the new kitchen. It was found in the basement during an estate sale covered with years of coal dust. There was no price on the ice box so I hovered over it  while Julie went upstairs to get a price. A very heavy piece. We took all of the chrome hardware off and gave it a good cleaning and a fresh coat of paint and varnished the top. It should be a nice addition to our "unfitted kitchen".

Jerry and I covered the gable with fish scale shingles. Also built and added two decorative roof supports that will add a nice look when painted. The reclaimed windows in the gable have a southern exposure and let in  sunlight to the living room's cathedral ceiling. Julie appears happy with the progress :0)

Electrical wiring

We decided to wire the house ourselves so that we could customize each area of the house for our needs. We have found that proper placement of light switches and wall outlets can be very important. Since everything is wide open and easy to get to, the job was much easier. It also helps that Julie's brother is an electrical contractor and a go to person for any questions that might arise. After two weeks, the job is done.

Interior louvered doors

We have decided to go with louvered doors throughout the inside of the cottage.  These will add a breezy look and allow the air conditioning to circulate better. Two of these doors were found at an architectural salvage, one was used and purchased from Jerry, our carpenter, and three were purchased new.
They will all get painted white eventually.

New kitchen cabinets

A while back, we had found two 24"x54" antique glass doors at a salvage yard. We are now building two matching 24"x54" cabinets (which these doors will attach to) to go above the two 24" base cabinets on either side of the stove.  Will also build the 30" cabinet to go over the stove that will sit between these. Fun to use the nail gun :0)

This cabinet is finished and waiting for the door

This cabinet still needs a back

Finished cabinet with antique door resting against it.

Siding continued

I worked with Jerry for three days this week measuring, cutting, and installing Hardie cement fiber siding. It has the look of overlapping wood without the problem of wood rot. Very tedious to cut out around the windows since they are not perfect rectangles. This is really looking good.

We plan on doing some type of shingle pattern up in the gable.

Back next week for more.

House gets new siding

We just returned from four days at the beach. The roof is on and the house is "dried in".
 The front porch  decking was our first job . We had previously purchased  the 4" tongue and groove  boards and primed them in anticipation of redoing the deck. The addition of paint made for a very tight fit and this turned out to be a bigger job than we had anticipated. No pictures, but it looks great.
Applying the hardi - board siding began this week and the house is really  beginning to look finished (from the outside :0) The siding comes in a gold color which will eventually get painted.
Lots of work remaining  to do on the inside.
Julie and I installed  the electrical boxes throughout the house  that will eventually contain the light switches, electrical outlets, and smoke detectors. Lots of thinking and planning for this. We then drilled holes through the 2x4 studs to "run the wire" to the various boxes. Next week we will run the wire to all of the outlets.

THe historic salvaged windows were installed in the gable of the front of the house. THis gives that part of the house a nice look and lets more light into the living room.

While there, managed a swim in the ocean to cap off each day. What a great feeling. Our dog Dirk enjoyed the beach as much as we did.