Finally a new entry!

Its March 15th--the Ides of March!

The landscaping has commenced.  They are ripping out the old vines and overgrown bushes and lots of old concrete blocks.

They have trimmed the Live Oaks.

They pulled out all the nasty vines near the trash cans.

They have a dump truck and are putting all the nasty stuff in it.   All the old metal fence posts, concrete parts that held the fence posts---all going away.

YAY!

before




after day #1

28 degrees

It's snowing, lightly, it 5:48 am, I've been awake for an hour.  Outside, it is white and quiet.  The rocks are snow covered and the bay is calm.  The street is still white, no rush hour slush, blissfully absent of cars except for the occasional idiot driving in the snow.

My cats are perched on their electric heated pads, watching out the windows, peering on the snowy beach for any movement.  Will they see an elusive fox?   Or even the feral/stray cat that I feed nightly?  I doubt it, those animals, I hope, are tucked in a warm, dry spot.
Maybe in the insulated box I placed out there under the deck, just for this kind of weather!

My one guy, Cooper, has probably never felt snow before. He is a true Texas boy.  Gavel is snoring.  Basil is asleep.

The bay bridge lights are hidden in the fog and grey sky of the snow.  Not even a flicker.

Today the temps will turn upwards toward the 40s and snow will change to rain.  But for now, it's lovely and quiet.

The warm coffee has helped, I have warmed up.

Porch details

So here are some other porch details, J is at work and likes to look at the blog when he is flying.  So this update is to make him happy.

I bought an old chair frame from a craig's list add--I think I paid $35, because I wanted the spindle chair from the frou-frou fabric store: Calico Corners, but was NOT going to spend $3000. I am NOT kidding  3k......one chair.

So I took it to the upholstery shop and for about 10% of the pricy one, I got a really cool porch chair--I was gonna paint it, but the upholstery guy told me it was at least a 100 yrs old because of the types of screws they used.   And I liked the contrast of the darker wood and the fun cushion pattern.

refurbished antique chair

chandelier for when the dining nook arrives---I think it looks like sand dollars!

curtain tiebacks---J made these out of sailing rope and I made the curtains out of Home Depot Drop cloths!

Very colorful and PERFECT seahorse finial!!

So tomorrow I am going to start painting the outside--at least that is my plan.  I struggled with the color, but think that painting it the same blue as the rest of the house is correct--then I will add a splash of color on the door like before: cantaloupe!

J added the doorbell I bought on ETSY and it was custom made to reflect the Navy blue and Orange accent colors!  I could have gone w a beach theme again, but the little bird just spoke to me.  

the button is lit at night

Finished PARTS

Painted porch, exposed beams, curtains made from drop cloths. 

lamp and dresser were estate sale finds, the dresser I repainted. 

unpainted, but finished exterior--board and batten style

Lovely authentic brass lamp-found in a cool marine store in Annapolis. 

PORCH

In september we started the PORCH renovation. The porch is about 7 1/2 ft x 28 feet.
So about 200 extra sq feet.
Not a bad space.

The intention is to have a sitting and dining area on the porch.

I found a great chair frame on craig's list and I have it at the upholsterers right now.   I picked a beachy fabric for the cushions.

I also found a perfect small dresser, at an estate sale,  that I am about half way finished with the repainting. It is short enough to slip under the window sill.  It will serve as a side table with storage for the sitting area.
Both the chair and this dresser will be a bright yellow.

Today, I picked 12 unique drawer pulls that I'll add to the dresser once it has finished drying. I really like the ones on ETSY made from sea glass, but at 12.50 each--12 would have been pricy.

I found mine at ANTHROPOLOGIE, some were on sale for 2.99.

SO that will be one end of the porch, under a ceiling fan.

The other end has a tall water heater--ugly, but currently necessary.
I found a large teak screen, again at an estate sale, that is hiding it right now.

I also commissioned a wood worker artisan to make a dining bench and trestle table to fit the space; found her on ETSY.  She will build it this winter and deliver it mid January 2016.

it looks like this, but smaller:

This one fits 5 or 6, I asked her to cut it down to fit 4 or 5.

I'll add cushions on the benches too.  They also open and offer storage!


Here are some pix of the actual porch:

beginning of demolition

1/2 way

GUTTED

covered, waiting for windows

spray foam insulation! 

J working on the electrical parts and the bead-board

installation day

view of the beach 

nice new and secure door. 

Installed windows, window sills and head-board!!  Even a new doorbell!


We are still waiting on getting the exterior finished, plan is to have it covered in a board and batten design. But our contractor has had some delays!

The drywall guy is still finishing up the ceiling. I expect he may finish in the next day or so, then we can paint.

There will be LOT to paint. (walls, ceiling, trim on windows that need prime first, the old windows need scraping, reglazing and new trim paint.

In the mean time, I have been adding mulch to my trees to prep for the winter, and painting the exterior wooden fence a teak oil waterproofing stain.

Hopefully soon, we will have a finished porch.  

mostly FINISHED kitchen!!

Xcept for the pantry door and the baseboards--the kitchen is DONE!

new DOOR, cabinets, induction cooktop, retractable vent, new floor

ORiginal

custom cabinet, European oven

ORIGINAL

pantry entry w new floor

converted pantry to refrigerator alcove with new microwave and appliance center




NEXT..........porch redo! 

new cabinets, sink, granite, upper cabinets w rain glass, new dishwasher/sink

A FULL YEAR

Well here we are July 20th--We have lived in the little beach house for a Full year.  Wow--It has been a PROCESS.  I am so thankful we have AIR conditioning this year.


Here are some PIX to get things updated.

retractable clothesline! Love the fresh air smell on clothes! 

nasty front door removed, entrance WIDENED! 

Lovely, solid, new exterior, door, both open OUT!  Add a lot of light to the living room now!



Well, we have added some new changes to the kitchen as well, But I don't have complete photos yet.
The stainless steel microwave shelf arrived, J put it up and it's nice to have that counter space back.

We are waiting on details now:  the remaining toe kick, the knobs and door pulls, the paper towel holder mounted under the cabinet, the blind I ordered from Smith & Noble to hide ugly kitchen windows.......it all needs to be hung and put UP!

And I need to paint the final bank of cabinets.  I hope to complete them this weekend!