Marble and more marble!
And now, for the week’s Russet Valley report! Grout has been applied to the new marble fireplace surround. It looks amazing and will be a great contrast to the flooring. (Since you can’t really see the floor in the photo, check the last photo in this post for the recently installed luxury vinyl tile floors.) The gleaming tile will help keep the room looking light and bright.
Continue reading
The front lights. I tried to get a photo of what the chandelier looks like from the outside, but I got a reflection! Ha!
Lighting was the focus for this week’s Washington update. We’re getting ready for phase 3 of the project, too, so Lee and Cody met on that, which is really why we went there. We are all more than ready to see how the exterior paint comes out and to see a door that doesn’t look like burglars just left (we think a dog did the scratches).
But mostly Mandi and I hung around with James and talked about lighting, not falling off of tall towers, and people we knew who did fall down from buildings.
As for the lighting, everything seems to work, which is always a real bonus, right? Plus, we had to have a bit of fun, because it IS allowed occasionally. Continue reading
Three of the new doors greeted me in the driveway.
Every renovation is different. Some are light cosmetics, others complete gut jobs. Most fall somewhere between the extremes. And while we almost always replace water heaters, doors are another thing. Usually, all doors need to be happy is a coat of fresh paint…maybe a few minor repairs.
Front doors are a special case. They take a lot of abuse from the elements and from people going in and out. They also make a statement. So, we often choose to replace front doors, even if they are in pretty good shape. Continue reading
I wish there really were a secret formula to determine how much to spend on a renovation. We have systems that help, but each house is different. As you probably get tired of hearing me say, “It depends on what you want….”
We all want to get the most out of our renovation dollar.
A friend of Sue Ann’s recently sent us a couple of questions. Since these questions came from a real person, I’m going to answer in the second person. You know. Like I’m really talking to you or something. And I’m going to assume the backstory.
Renovation is in full swing!
Our team led by Jennifer Young is making good progress on the Washington house in Cameron. We only have one photo (Lee says the only other one he got was a pile of debris in the garage), but it really tells a story.
The most obvious change is the lack of wall separating the kitchen and family room from the entrance. The framing is still there, but the indoor planter is out. I can’t wait to see what the new open space will look like.
Also missing are the ancient kitchen cabinets and appliances. In their place is a very large structural beam that attaches to a very thick support. My guess is THAT is going to stay, since it will be holding the house up once the rest of the wall is gone.
It also appears that paneling on the walls is outa here. I can’t wait to visit later in the week and get some more pictures!