Showing posts with label Home. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Home. Show all posts

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Our Renovation - Drywall Finishing & Prepping for Paint

 
Immediately after Travis completed the drywall installation, the drywall finish began.
Mudding & taping the drywall was the one job of this entire project that we hired to be completed.
It is a skill that is best left for a professional.
We made that decision in the very beginning & never waivered one bit.
 
Mudding a taping can be a very tedious job.
If it is not done correctly it can ruin the walls in your home.
We thought it best to take no chances on this process.
It is also an extremely messy job.
So, we put resin paper down throughout the entire house to help with clean up.
It made it so much easier.
Tear up the paper.  Roll it up.  Throw it out.  Done.
 
 
The Mudding / Taping / Ceiling Finish took about 5-6 days overall.
They do a layer, let it dry, do a layer let it dry.
You get the point.
 
 
 
In the meantime it's time to choose paint colors & flooring!
They are up next on the list.
 


Saturday, March 9, 2013

Our Renovation Moves Inside - Drywall Installation & A Tour

January 2013

Welcome to the new & improved Corson Cottage!
Come on in!

March 2012
Remember when the entrance looked like this?
It's a getting a little better I would say, almost inviting even.
(Okay, maybe not just yet.  It will be eventually I promise!)
Our drywall installation was completed in January.
I thought this was a great reason to share an updated tour of our interior renovation progress.

For those of you who may not have seen some of our before photos,
you can see how far we have come by clicking here and here.

The Living Room

The Living Room is part of the original existing home structure.
It has a very similar layout,
other than we completely opened up the space to the kitchen and dining area.

The Kitchen

The kitchen area was completely changed. 
The original kitchen was only partially open to the living room.
It was a long galley kitchen style running along the same wall,
but on the right side there was a bathroom and the ceiling height was lower.
It was very dark with only two small windows.
We tore that part of the house off, it wasn't in good shape & looked strange.
Then we included about 2.5 feet or so of the kitchen into the addition we added on the back.
Which enabled us to have the ceiling height throughout the kitchen be 10 foot.
Also giving us the chance to have the group of 3 windows.

(All my idea..I'm totally taking credit here.  Ha!
 One of the best features of the house in my opinion!
And my Dream Kitchen Come True!)
Truth be told had Travis not discovered how strange the lower height of the
 back corner of the kitchen was during demolition,
it would have totally changed the kitchen layout & design.


Ultimately all of our planning ended up
giving us the opportunity to have a huge open kitchen perfect for entertaining.
Our dream kitchen!
You can see a peak here of the french doors that will eventually lead to
a deck and patio area that leading into our backyard.
It will extend our living area considerably to have a great indoor/outdoor flow.


The Kitchen Reverse View

As you can see we have a great open concept.
The opposite side of the kitchen will have a big dining space.
We decided to add this pantry closet to ensure adequate kitchen storage.
The plan for our kitchen cabinet layout with the 3 large windows,
is that we will not have traditional upper cabinets.
We wanted to be sure to leave ourselves enough kitchen storage.
So, we ultimately took a bit of square footage from the middle bedroom to allow for the pantry.

The door opening on the right leads to Bedroom 1.

Bedroom 1 / Our Office

Our Home is a 3 Bedroom / 2 Bath Home.
This is Bedroom 1. 

For now, we don't really have the need for 3 bedrooms.
So, we decided the bedroom on the front of the house would make a nice office.
This room has great natural light and it's directly off the living room.
Making the living room seem a bit larger.
I love to have tons of natural light in any room.
I think it will be especially nice here, where we are planning
 to have a set of french doors leading into the space.
Allowing the natural light from both rooms to flow into one another.

It will be a great functional and useable space.
Travis can use this space to possibly entertain potential clients.
I can use this space for my photography.
We can also use this room for additional seating if we are entertaining.
I had Travis hard wire the closet for our computer and printer.
So, we will be able to hide all those ugly cords.


On the other side of our kitchen pantry is a door leading to Bedroom 2,
and a small hallway leading to the Master Bedroom, Main Bath and Laundry.

Bedroom 2

This is the smallest of the three bedrooms.
This is also where the old house meets the new house.
That is the reason there is just the one window and it is shifted to one side.
We were not able to cut through the structural beems supporting the house
 that are in the middle of this exterior wall.
The hole in the floor is now gone.
They left the hole as easy access to the basement,
while they were completing the plumbing and electrical.

Small, but it would make a nice nursery, don't ya think?
It will be a guest bedroom for now.

The Master Bedroom

I apologize for the dark photos.
Often times I have to take my photos in the evening just after I got home from work.
It is not a great time of day for good lighting.

The Master Bedroom is fairly large, even though this photo doesn't really show it.
There is a small hall off to the left, a Master Bath, and walk in closet.

The Main Bath

For some reason I can't ever get a great angle in this bath.
It's a little small, maybe that is the reason.
I absolutely love this window.
Can't wait to start choosing bathroom tile and vanities.

The Kitchen / Living Room

Well, that concludes our tour during our renovatoin post drywall installation.
There is still clean up to continue with at every stage.
But, thank goodness each stage the cleaning gets easier and easier.

Stay tuned for cottage updates.
We will be choosing interior finishing options very soon!
Who wants to help decorate???







Monday, November 5, 2012

Our Renovation ~ Choosing Exterior Siding Part 2

 
If you guessed that we selected the Certainteed Mainstreet Double 4" Vinyl Siding, you were correct.
This is the exterior siding material choice we have gone with on our home.
  If you haven't checked out Part 1 of Choosing Exterior Siding click here for a Reno catch up.
 
As I stated in Part 1, choosing siding pretty much all came down to budget.
I will admit, I was just a lil bit disappointed.
If you read my first post about choosing siding, you know this wasn't necessarily my top pick.
I knew all along, it may come down to this, but I am an optimist, so I held out hope:)
Don't get me wrong, I most certainly do not want to sound ungrateful,
I truly am absolutely thrilled with how our home is turning out!!!
 
But, when you realize this may be the only time you get to make these decisions, you want to make absolutely sure the choices you make for your home will stand the test of time.
I want our home to have an exterior modern & timeless cottage feel.
I know that aesthetic would have been best captured by
 more natural material or more natural looking materials.
 
A little Renovation Reality...
YOU WILL MAKE COMPRISES
BUDGET IS THE BUDGET
Don't get me wrong, we have gone over on some things & came in under on others.
But, for us sticking to our budget is a must in the end.
It's also part of what we originally set out to do.
Make the home of our dreams on a budget & that is exactly what we are doing!
 
We may still add some character and dimension in the gables on the front of our home.
But, just as I have to wait & see on that one so do you!  Ha:)
 
 
So, now that the big siding decision is out of the way it's on to the fun stuff!
Time to choose a siding color.
Wanna help?
 
We have it narrowed down to three options.
 
1. Granite Gray
2. Flagstone
3. Pacific Blue
 
{Views from the Outside}
 
 
1. Granite Gray
 
 
 
2. Flagstone
 

3. Pacific Blue
 
Our Home Renovation
(The porch is still coming off & the upper windows to be replaced.)
 
 
Well...what do ya think???
 
Whats' your favorite?
Which would you pick?
Which would you pick for us?
 
 
Want to see more of Our Cottage Renovation click here.
 participating

Monday, October 22, 2012

Our Renovation - Accent Window Dilemma

The architectural detail of windows.
 
I love the architectural character added by the detailed design of the accent windows on this home.
I believe that windows can make our break any great home design plan.
 
Love the 3 windows in the peak.
 
Windows are the added character of the home's exterior.
They also add natural visual balance and warmth to a home both inside and out.
Windows are the main source for an abundance of natural light.
Every one of my ideas of the picture perfect dream cottage has an abundance of great windows.
 
The round windows in the peak.
 
I love the nod to a port hole with a round window in a peak.
 
Simple Single Square window in the peak.
 


That being said....
 
We have a window design dilemma!
 
 
 
Okay, so please try to work with me here.
Forget that the bushes are absolutely out of control and that that horrendous porch has got to go!
In due time my friends....in due time.
 
Please concentrate on the windows:)
 
Originally I shared that the reclaimed obsessed restoration admirer inside me
 wanted to save the architectural windows on the front of our home.
Well...um...now I think they look like crap!
(Please excuse me, there really was no easy way of saying that.)
 
So, now I have to decide the best way to handle this dilemma.
I need your help!
 
Here is what I am thinking...
 
1.)  The Gable on the Left could be without a window.
We are thinking of using an accent siding on that gable.
We are also planning some extra details on the trim to add character, more on that later.
 
2.)  The gable on the right could be a single small square window.
The problem with this option is that the peak is slightly off center from the
 windows below and things like that drive Travis absolutely insane.
It really doesn't bother me.  You???
 
3.)  Use another window layout with small squares on the right gable.
 
Oh yeah...& that budget issue.
We have pretty much used up our window allowance.
So, whatever option we go with has to be affordable.
The accent windows do not necessarily need to open.
They are in the attic.
 
What are your thoughts???
 
Please share I really could use some good old
 fashioned blogger to blogger DIY advice!
 
 
 
all images from Houzz.com
the old shabby house that's ours:)

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Our Renovation ~New Windows

 
We have been busy at work on our renovation the last two weeks.
Starting with prepping for the new windows to go in.
Removing the remaining old siding on the house.
Wrapping the entire house in house wrap before the siding goes on.
(You can also see part of the new roof in this photo.)
And...
 
 
And last, but certainly not least, installing new windows.
 
Yesterday Travis installed our new windows!
We chose to go with the Thermastar Vinyl Windows from Pella.
As you know, Travis is a contractor.
He works with all different brands of windows and different quality levels and price ranges.
From a contractor's point of view, the Thermastar from Pella
were a good quality & affordable option for us.
 
 
 
As you can see, we have a few remaining older windows still.
The house has an upper level.
The upstairs is somewhat strange & the ceiling heights are very low.
We chose not finish the upstairs for now.
So, the remaining older windows....well...I suppose you could say are still up for debate.
We plan to change out the older windows on the side of the house eventually.
But, trying to stretch our budget as far as we can we are leaving them for now.
 
 
 
 
French doors that will entually lead to our deck & patio area.
I have always wanted to have french doors in my kitchen.
I'm so excited!!!
 
 
These windows are actually my favorite windows from the inside.
They are part of the kitchen.
They also have some of the best views in the house.
They sit up just high enough that, through our neighbor's trees
you can catch glimpses of the Mississippi River.

 

 
It's very exciting to finally begin to see some major progress around here!
We may actually get to move in one day!
Ok, maybe I'm getting just a bit ahead of myself...
So, maybe there is still a LOT of work to do, but we are gaining on it.
 
 
Thanks for being patient with my blog posting that as been sparadic at best lately!
I'll try my best to keep updating you!
 
Interested in seeing how far we have come on click here
 
linking up to
 

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Our Renovation ~ Setting Trusses

 
Our home is starting to come together & actually look like a home.
Well, kind of...
We have set the trusses to the addition.
 
Don't worry, there are windows.
We are just leaving the house mostly covered for now,
 so we don't expose the inside to the elements. 
Or at least try to protect it as best we can.
 
The plywood sheeting is going down.
 
 
Here you can see part of a view from the driveway.
The opening is actually partially open to where there will be french doors leading to a patio one day.
 
Hope you are having a great weekend!
 
 
paticipating
 
 

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Dwellings Fall 2012 ~ Sneak Peak


Well friends, sorry for my abesence this last week. 
Here is a sneak peak of what I have been up to this week.
Dwellings is set for Fall 2012.
This week several nights after work I helped Michael at the shop.
He does all the fun stuff & displays.
I help price and put new merch out.

It's always a whirlwind that sends me on decor inspiration overload!
But, it is so much fun to watch the shop transform from season to season.
I see so many new things that I know will be just perfect in our new house!
It's hard to not buy it all!

I truly love the Fall.
I especially love LeClaire in the Fall.
You start to feel the slight brisk breeze in mornings roll off the river.
The afternoons are sunny & beautiful & by evening it cools off
just enough to throw on a cozy sweater.

 I normally get several questions when I post about Dwellings.
So, here is a little about the shop.
Dwellings is located in historic downtown LeClaire, Iowa just 2 hours west from Chicago.
We unfortunately do not have a website at this time, although it is in the works for the future.
We would love for you to visit!









Saturday, July 21, 2012

Tour a Chic California Beach House ~ Modern Cottage Inspiration


The perfect beach getaway.
I had to share this tour.
It is stunning!




This home had so many of the details & styles I absolutely adore.
I only hope our new home will have half of the style that this home has.


What a quaint cottage kitchen.






This living space is fantastic.






The bathroom....




It doesn't stop outdoors...



Isn't this home absolutely perfect???
I can hardly stand it...
I LOVE it!

Pin Away...

All Images fromt this post via House Beautiful.


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