So, I haven’t done a blog post in about six weeks. Maybe you’ve noticed, but you probably haven’t, you’ve been as busy as us.
I have, though.
April and May are the busiest months for me as a band director. You’d think it would be marching season, right? Nope. Not so much. Between school, and Doug’s running (he ran a full marathon and two half-marathons in nine days!), and my work with the National Band Fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi, I haven’t had a moment to breathe. Or, a moment to work on the house.
Working on this house that I love so much isn’t really a hobby. It’s become a part of who I am. Who WE are. I think this is pretty true with people who save houses, and it’s certainly true with me. It’s part of my soul, and when I can’t work on it, I feel like something is missing.
I’m ready to be back at it. Soon.
Even just THINKING and planning and making lists makes me happy. Hence, I’m writing this blog post that doesn’t really tell you anything, but it makes me feel a whole lot better and happier.
So, what have we done the past six weeks?!?!?!
We installed the hardware on the pocket door for the Laundry Room.
It’s lovely and important. But not a huge change.
And, theBuilt-In between the Butler’s Pantry and Kitchen?
I never liked it painted white. I decided that it didn’t belong white with the door frames, but rather needed to be black with the cabinets.
See? especially with the Butler’s Pantry finished, it looks out of place.
So I took off the doors – and all of these weirdo nails.
Scraped and sanded what I could….
And Doug added some leftover egg-and-dart to the top.
I used a tinted primer (which, really, is manna from heaven) to paint the cabinet.
Once everything was primed, I painted everything black!
I replaced the non-original handles on the drawer with one that matched the cabinets in the kitchen.
Oh yes – this was the right decision!
That took SIX WEEKS. It should have all taken a weekend. But, none of those were to be found. Sigh.
So, What’s next?!?!?!
I’m so glad you asked. I have no idea why, but I always tend to think of projects in groups of three. I like to know what we’re doing now, what’s on deck, and what’s just around the corner.
What We’re Doing Now
Remember this cart that was in the Butler’s Pantry once upon a time, but now doesn’t belong there?
It moved into the kitchen. The cart, and this salvaged-find hutch, are going to be re-worked and married together into a beautiful union that will solve the ONLYÂ thing I hate about my current kitchen. I’ll explain soon.
On Deck
We still live on the third floor mostly, which is hotter than anything in the summer. In an attempt to creep evermore onto the first two floors, I’m going to do a mini-makeover on this bedroom.
Don’t worry, the treadmill goes. I love this room so much. I love any room that’s not square.
We won’t do the floors yet, or touch the ceiling. But, we will get the turret put back together after the “Turret Rot Debacle of ’14.”
And this ceiling fan will go away, to the cheers of everyone, everywhere.
And the “Blue Strawberry” wallpaper that has given such great conversation, is going to be taken down. It’s mostly coming down on its own, anyway. To be replaced with……
I’m scared to tell you. So, I’ll just whisper it.
(I’m going to paint the walls black. It’s going to look amazing. Don’t be scared. Just trust me.)
Around the Corner
We will be working on the front parlor, and fixing all the water damage and plaster damage, including taking down this ceiling (it’s not original!) to take care of the rot, and begin to put a beautiful room back together. I have big, BIG plans for this room. Including trying to film some of the restoration to show you. We’ll see how that works out. And I’m going to buy a hardhat!!!!
That’s where we are! It’s nice to write again. And after a couple weeks of amazing performances by amazing students and graduations and parades and banquets and awards and finals and zillions of other things, I’ll be able to write some more.
We’re excited.
My husband and I had dinner at the Willard yesterday evening. Before heading home, we decided to walk some of the pizza and wings off, and took off in the direction of your home. You take such beautiful photos, but the pictures just don’t do justice to actually seeing her in person….you have a breathtakingly BEAUTIFUL masterpiece of a home! I am so struck with the architecture and detail. Your beautiful painted lady, commands attention and has quite a personality! Thank you for sharing your passion and journey 🙂
Brenda, this may be the nicest thing anyone has written. Wow. I’m so glad you love it! Thank you so much. (Hopefully you didn’t look at the landscaping. It’s a mess. I need Brett’s help!)
1) The front parlor ceiling is…surreal. It shall not be missed!
2) Nor the ceiling fan!
3) Have you thought about painting the CABINET black but the FRAME white?
4) I, too, love non-square rooms. It thrills me that I have seven to lounge around in (even though six look like bomb sites).
I’m so glad that I am not the only one that feels like something is missing when I am not working on my house! No matter how many times I try to explain it to my husband I don’t think he will ever understand!
Keep up the amazing work!
Please don’t wish May away. Time is passing fast enough (relative to my progress) already!
And I can’t wait to see the black room. I always had it in my head that your house had dark woodowork, but looking at it now, I think it’ll show up nicely against the black.
Hi Amy, thanks again for taking the time to share! We know you both are extremely busy, so your posts are all that much more meaningful! Leticia and I are truly fans for life!
That being said, I actually love the pocket door hardware! We have seen beautiful homes with the hidden doors that are so, well…bland. Those doors are part of the elegant “personality” of older homes so plain old rusty metal cups just don’t do the doors justice!
At any rate, we fully understand and so we will cut you both a tiny bit of slack because of your schedules, but… anxiously waiting for your next post!!!
I LOVE the black paint on the built in! It takes it from a “vintage rental” look to high end, timeless design. Don’t even get me started on those glass cup pulls. They are fantastic!
Thank you so much! I’ve become such a big fan of black cabinetry.