First Kitchen Window Installed

Okay, so there's no light bathing the kitchen at the moment...because it's dark outside, silly! We were so amped to get this thing in that we worked in a downpour until well into the evening. Not enough time left to tackle the other two, though.

Demolition Begins on the Staircase

Preparation to replace the ridiculously illegal 24" wide staircase. After interviewing many, many, many stairbuilders and contractors (and getting stood up times), we finally found a guy based on a recommendation from my aunt and uncle. This is one of the few jobs we will be hiring out, mainly because stairbuilding is a craft.

It takes time and practice and mentoring and persistence to master a craft. Sure, we could probably bang out a rudimentary series of things that resemble stairs...but we want this to be one of the showstoppers.

Wallpaper of Yore

One of my favorite things about renovating an old house is uncovering all of the treasures of the past. Old newspapers, a medicine tin, a long-lost mother of pearl button, a check to pay a $7 telephone bill, a cache of hockey trading cards, are all fingerprints left behind. I discovered this wallpaper while demolishing the stairwell and removing some baseboard trim. It is original to the house, and owners were very fond of these colors. Variations of this wallpaper are throughout the house. I hope to incorporate these traditional Victorian colors when we get to the painting stage as my little homage.

Secret Window Reborn

Wee li'l window no more. To bring more lightand drama into the tiny foyer, we installed this lovely $50 salvage yard find (brand new)!

New Kitchen Windows- As Easy As 1,2,3!

This side of the house is about three feet from the neighbor's house, so the kitchen was very dark and cave-like. We took out the existing counter weight double hung and will replace it with three glass bock windows. The end effect: a kitchen bathed in light, with privacy!

Rusted, Busted Radiators

We had a cold snap shortly after we purchased the big house. Unfortunately, that cold snap caused three of the five upper floor radiators to burst. This happened awhile ago, and I only think of it now because I got a line on a woman selling three radiators from a home she's renovating, for $10 bucks a fin. This is cheap! The salvage yards sell them for $15 or more per fin.

So we (we meaning wimpy me and my fairly muscular huz) drive to the woman's house, in rush hour traffic, get there twenty minutes late. She's gone. We decide to take the radiators anyway, figuring we'll just leave a check tucked in the mailbox. Then we try to lift the first radiator onto our dolly. These muthas are h-e-a-v-y! Then we have the front steps to manage, andI won't even mention the circus of hefting them into the truck.

To make an already long (and frankly, rather dull) radiator adventure story short: we return home with zero radiators and one messed-up lower back. Ouch!

New Windows for the Cabin (Interior View)

For a bright and sunny galley style kitchen, and for a lovely view whilst washing the dishes and daydreaming at the kitchen sink! Hopefully those nextdoor neighbors will clean up all of that junk in their backyard, heh heh.

New Windows for the Cabin (After)

Got 'em in! Took J & D only most of the Saturday.

New Windows for the Cabin

Remember that deal we scored a few weeks back? Well, it's time to put in the new windows. These two are in what will become the kitchen. J & D got the saws roaring at 6:45 in the morning.

Guest Bathroom Floor