http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/17/garden/17akron.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Um…amazing? Crazy? Beautiful? Sad? All those rolled into one?
In a nutshell, it’s an extreme renovation story that involves 12 years, a falling-down house with a solarium (!), and the two owners who dedicated every free moment to fixing it up. If anything, check out the before and after slide show- it’s really incredible.
As for my own (comparatively minor) renovation of the kitchen- painting is planned for the upcoming weekend- and maybe the building of a half wall…Stay tuned.
Have I mentioned that I love to travel? No? Maybe the pictures of various locales tipped you off?
I’m not sure what it exactly is, but the chance to see new architecture/cultures/ways of living inspires me more than I can express. Whether it’s new color combinations, ideas for using old objects in a new way, or just the way a railing can throw just the right shadow…
Funny how that works out.
Happy Love Thursday everyone!
The kitchen seems to be progressing in bits and pieces- like most of our projects.
Step One- Get SUPER excited about all the possibilities for a new _(insert random project here)_!
Step Two- Start researching options and realize you underestimated prices on 98% of the materials needed for the project.
Step Three- Get discouraged, have a drink, and wait about three weeks before starting back with Step One.
Step Four- Start purchasing supplies needed, while quietly rocking back and forth and weeping in the hardware store over the loss of your retirement savings to pay for _(insert project name here)_.
Step Five- Rough out a general plan & time-line to include all supplies already purchased. Always assume you’re a superhero, and though all the experts recommend taking 2 weeks to complete the project, you can get it done in an easy weekend.
Step Six- Begin installation and realize the 98% of what you purchased doesn’t fit/work in the space/looks ugly in your home, and the other 2% you haven’t bought yet is crucial to project success.
Step Seven- Discuss/argue/yell at your significant other about the lack of planning,/organization/technique/all of the above. (Note that this step usually takes place between the hours of 1AM and 3AM on a Saturday or Sunday night.
Step Eight- Finish the project about 3 years after project was originally dreamed up.
Step Nine- Get a stiff drink and vow never to take on anther DIY project.
Step Ten- Get an idea for a new improvement and think “The _(insert previous project name here)_ that we finished last year wasn’t so hard…we could get _(insert new project name)_ done just as easily.”
Not much progress on any of our projects over the weekend- though I think I did decide on a cabinet color.
Drum-roll, please?
None of the choices shown!
I went back to the cabinet supply store, took another look at the finishes, and realized that the unposted “maple praline” matched everything the best. Also, there is no extra charge for that specific color (the color I liked on the posted pictures was $6 per linear foot), and the new cabinets cost only $1 extra per linear foot. You can call me frugal- but I’m always in favor of paying only $1 to get the effect of $6.
Now we just have to wait for the general contractor to come and measure so we can finalize the design. That also means that we’ll soon be up to our eyeballs in sink, faucet, and dishwasher choices.
And the countertops? Again, we chose none of the above, in a manner of speaking. My parents suggested looking at granite tile- it’s cheaper than granite slab, and comes in convenient 24″ tiles- which allows us a little more customization because we can install it ourselves, for a lot less money. Turns out it’s cheaper (about $15/sq foot) than a lot of the other choices out there- including solid surface, concrete, and (my personal fav) soapstone.
Did I mention I was frugal?
But again, we’re faced with color options…below are the two we like the best from The Tile Shop (an extremely helpful tile store here in the Milwaukee area).
Design? Check. We’re pretty close (see below).
Budget? Check. We decided it this week.
Cabinet manufacturer? Double check. With a 10% discount we’ll be able to afford the higher quality cabinets for the same price as the lower quality.
Color of the cabinets? That’s the newest problem.
Our floors are going to be a light natural maple color. The woodwork around the kitchen windows, the doors, the baseboard, and all moldings are a mix of colors- courtesy of 70-odd years of natural weathering and use- ranging from a honey color to a chestnut brown.
So- should we choose a middle tone? Should we try to match the woodwork? Or, should we go with a darker matching hue to the woodwork?
The colors we’re trying to decide between are in blue below. The middle color (my personal fav) is an extra 5% because it’s a glaze- which doesn’t rule it out, just adds an additional element to consider.
So what would you choose?
…with a quick picture of my own for Shutter Sisters- my new favorite photography site. Any (and all) of their pictures are something to aspire to- and worthy of hanging in my living room.
We now return you to general ranting about the price of kitchen cabinets- already in progress.
It’s crazy how a wide variety of options pop up when you look at the links ON YOUR OWN BLOG…
Ahem. (insert sheepish grin here)
…by far is picking out the material/colors/style right before starting a new project.
But maybe that’s obvious by all the pictures of what I’d like to do to our house…
Anyway, while we still are working on getting the insulation installed upstairs, I got to indulge a bit this past weekend when M and I took a real look at materials for the kitchen.
After I left a pool of drool in front of the most expensive kitchens in two (count ‘em TWO) home improvement stores, we actually started settling into a more realistic budget realm for the kitchen.
The problem now? While I love choosing the various parts of the project…I’m also a bit indecisive.
So, what would you choose?
Soapstone?
Or the more common Corian?
Or maybe concrete?
Or something I haven’t even thought of?
Too many choices- but a fun position to be in.
this and this and this for the house- a little sanding of the frames, and we’d be set…I’m trying to figure out a way to incorporate any (all?) into the upcoming attic (or kitchen) renovation…it’s just too bad that the last one is off by 30 blocks or so.
All are from Island Girl Salvage- a neat architectural salvage company owned and operated by some women in Illinois. Very cool idea.
If it wouldn’t be such a tough commute, I’d apply for a part-time job so I could have first shot at the great items they salvage. Any chance they have an employee discount?
Yeah, I know most of it is fake.
I mean, a castle? In the desert?
A Venice canal? In the desert?
The Eiffel Tower?
Yup. In the desert.
But I was surprised at the craftsmanship and, believe it or not- I found inspiration for my little bungalow in of some of the casinos in Vegas.
