Get to Steppin’

3 Comments July 24, 2013 julie

That title was pretty gangsta, eh? Anyways, this staircase is a huge part of the wow-factor when you first enter our new home. It’s kinda in yo face! And all up in yo biz-ness.

Alright, enough Julie from the Street.

Here’s some progress shots. Remember this staircase when we bought the house?

The carpet came off to reveal layers upon layers of paint and deteriorating wood. Dad has spent a lot of time getting the paint off of the beautiful newels with a heat gun. The heat gun looks a lot like a blow dryer so I’ve walked in to find Dad looking like a hair stylist giving our newel a fab blowout.

The new risers and skirt board are in place but the stair treads are being stained. So for now we get to walk up the stairs like Nik Wallenda on a tightrope.

Stay tuned for the big Stairway to Heaven reveal!

The Latest

2 Comments July 23, 2013 julie

OK, here’s the latest. I decided not to include progress shots this time but rather just the before and current views. Jared likes the dramatic effect. Note the first coat of paint is on the walls and trim is going up. Exciting stuff!

View in Living Room looking into Dining Room

View in Dining Room looking into Living Room

View in Kitchen looking at sink & basement door

View in Kitchen looking at Front Door

When Are You Moving?

July 22, 2013 julie

We get asked this question a lot. Often by the same people. I’m not annoyed by it. I ask myself the question maybe hourly. But here’s the thing people need to know…

We are doing a huge freakin’ renovation. Like epic. People don’t usually do this or do this much themselves for that matter. If we had a giant crew to sweep through a la HGTV we would have been moved in by now. But nope. It’s my Dad, Jared in the evenings, and Mum and I on the weekends.

And just to give you an idea of how things always take longer than you expect or would like- here’s a little tale of how I was going to finish our master bedroom in one weekend but not so much…

The demolition was long done. We had removed a drop ceiling, carpeting, the walls were patched and I was given the green light for painting and completing our bedroom.

I prime the walls.

I paint the walls.

I paint the trim.

I paint the walls again.

I paint the trim again- but the aforementioned fight between me and the trim ended with bleeding onto the walls so…

I cut in the walls again.

I paint the floor.

I paint the floor again.

I paint the baseboards again to touch up where the floor paint hit them.

You think we’re done, right?

The electrician puts in the fan.

The electrician puts in the can lights- oh but wait! Julie bought the wrong stupid size lights so now you can see the metal in the back. Argh!

And then one can light must have gone in with a little extra oomph because now there’s a gash beside it that needed to be patched, sanded, and- yes you guessed it- painted again!

Then the light and plug plates went in but again- too much oomph and more touch up paint comes out! Oh and there’s a screw missing.  We are so close it’s painful! But this is what happens. It’s just one thing after another and you have to just keep on chugging until it’s the way you want it. It’s not easy. I have plenty of days when all my muscles hurt and I’ve been sweating and dirty the entire day and all I want is a clean home and a relaxing weekend with my husband or even a day out doing something. Anything. Anything but repainting the same damn wall I’ve painted for the last four weekends.

But then I realize there will be plenty of those days ahead. And just like Dad (and Trace Atkins) says, “you’re gonna miss this!” I’m not sure about that but I know we’ll look back on this renovation and all the work we’ve put into it and be very, very proud.

Beat the Heat

2 Comments July 19, 2013 julie

It’s hot. No, really hot. I’m sure anyone reading this in Death Valley thinks I’m a total wuss with these consecutive 90 degree days in the Boston area. But give me a break because I’m about to offer you some great advice (if I do say so myself!).

Growing up, we never had central air conditioning and I still believe that living near the ocean is air conditioning enough. However, on these super hot days it doesn’t hurt to take a couple of steps to make sure your house (and you!) are the coolest possible.

1. Who turned out the lights?! You should! Switch them off or change them out. Compact fluorescent bulbs not only reduce energy but produce 70% less heat than standard incandescent bulbs. Going green is “cooler” than you think!

2. Close and spritz the curtains! This is an old desert dweller trick. With either your curtains or a dark sheet, block the sun rays from coming in and heating the house. And when the air outside is dry and cooler than the air inside, open a window and soak them! Incoming breezes will be cooled by the evaporating water.

3. Vent the bathroom! During and after a steamy shower, be sure to leave on the fan. It will help all that sticky moisture escape.

4. Dry naturally. No need to let the dishwasher complete the dry cycle or even use the clothes dryer during a scorcher! Leave the washer door open to let your dishes air dry and hang a clothesline in the backyard for sheets and towels to flap in the breeze. You’ll get the added bonus of that fresh from the line smell!

5. Power down. Set your computer to sleep mode or power down altogether. One monitor can put off as much heat as having another person in the room.

6. Spice it up! I never knew if this one was true but I always heard that it’s good to eat or drink something hot when it’s hot. Turns out that there’s a reason Mexican and Indian food is so spicy! Eating hot stuff can actually cool you down. Capsaicin, a chemical found in chili peppers, helps us perspire more readily and sweat is our internal cooling system… just make sure you load on the deodorant!

For more information on these or other summer tips and tricks, check out Real Simple Magazine’s Summer Health Survival Guide.

House Tour #3

July 18, 2013 julie

Today’s house tour comes to us from The Lettered Cottage. Kevin and Layla Palmer have since moved into a new home but this house below is one of my favorite transformations. You can see all the before pics here but these are the stunning afters…