Monday, November 26, 2007

Fun Monday #5

Today's Fun Monday is being hosted by Blue Momma at Life in the Fish Bowl. And this is what she wants us to do:


I want you to show me your......projects. More to the point, I want to see your unfinished projects. I have so many that I really need some reassurance that I'm not the only one. Home improvement projects are what I have in mind, but it you don't have any of those show me any kind of project - needlework, cooking, scrapbooking, etc. You can even show me your spouse if they qualify as a work in process. And please, I WANT PICTURES!!!! You can talk if you want, but you don't have to. I know since you are all bloggers talk is bound to happen, but I most definitely want to see photos of those unfinished projects.

Great. Just when I've committed to not writing book length posts for Fun Monday, too. I have projects galore afoot because, as I've said before, my house is trying to kill me. We've owned it a year and a half and have made a lot of progress, but...


This place gives The Money Pit a whole new meaning. Here is a sampling of home projects we are a) in the middle of, b) working up the courage for or c) too scared to think of for long (but will somehow have to).

I've complained about my fireplace before. We're trying to decide on tile and haven't had much luck. I'm about to scrap everything and start all over again.



There are two of these windows along the staircase. For the most part they're in great shape, but a few of the smaller pieces need to be replaced. And they need cleaning, as they are old house double paned and are hard to get to. You can see the broken pieces here (especially the half moon piece on the bottom right side).




This used to be a transom window over the front door, but someone de-transomed it. I'd like to restore it to the way it used to be. Eventually. On a way more global note, if you look around the window you'll see a lot of really lovely molding that needs to be stripped. The entire house is full of very interesting details that are all covered by (fifteen coats apparently) of white paint.




This is the hole in the downstairs family room ceiling. I badgered the Film Geek to take out the existing fixture so we could hang an Ikea chandelier I've had for a year. But...once he was in there he ran into one problem after another, culminating with the fact that the new hole is now way too large for the fixture. So we're replacing the existing fixture (which is fine, really) and we'll hang the chandelier in the entry hall.



This is the humiliated chandelier that started all the ruckus in the first place. It's combined wired and candles and I really wanted it over the dining room table, but I'm not willing to tear out an entire plaster wall to get it there. Eventually it will find a home that isn't covered in dog hair.




This is the big, bad scary monster that sends both the FG and I to our corners with our thumbs in our mouths. This is shot from the entry hall and shows the staircase going up. There's a lot of scraping that needs to be done in the top right hand corner and then it all needs painting. But first we need to fix a spot on the roof that's letting small amounts of water in.

The staircase curves and the ceiling is really high and there isn't enough money in the world to get me on a ladder up there. This'll be the one we hire out...eventually.

(The window at the top of the stairs is the match to the one mentioned earlier, by the way. It also has some small broken pieces).



My major project in the planning stage is landscaping the front yard. I didn't do a blessed thing last year because I was so overwhelmed by the whole thing. But this next Spring I'm planning a massive attack even though I'm still scared half to death.

The problem is that I don't know what I'm doing. But I'd better learn quick.


This is the front of the house. (Which will hopefully be painted in the next year or so. Uh oh. I'm back in a fetal position again).



This is one side yard. The other side is about the same size. (Oh yeah, we also have to extend the fence line to the privacy fence on the left). The middle area is ours, but when we moved in we only fenced the part right by the house. The middle is a huge day lily patch and I didn't want the dogs to destroy it, so for now it's just left open. But our neighbors put up a privacy fence so we're going to extend ours to theirs. And landscape it. (Rocking in corner crying for my mama by this point).




I hope Blue Momma feels better that she isn't alone in her project overload. Because I all of a sudden have a migraine.

I need my teddy bear.

39 comments:

laurie said...

showoff! i could have shown that many unfinished chores too you know.

seriously, that is one fabulous, fabulous house. even before you've finished it. it's really something. i can see why you love it.

btw i think those tiles might be too small for a big fireplace, though any of those colors would be great. but what do i know....

the rotten correspondent said...

You know, I hadn't really thought of the size as being too small. Do you really think so? How big are your tiles? (And where is that picture you mentioned a while ago, huh?)You went with a matte green, right?

I'll trade you. I'll put your books in order and you paint my staircase.

Please??

ped crossing said...

I love your house! And I like that we are all in the same boat.

I think I agree with Laurie about the tiles, but then again, you can't tell how big the fireplace area is from that picture.

Altaglow said...

You can't tell from the pictures but the room the fireplace is in isn't very large. Small tiles are really more in keeping with the scope of the space. Large tiles would actually be overwhelming, I think.

Pam said...

if you use small tiles you should/could intersperse them with like 3x3 tiles with some interesting detail. but i can't really tell how big your fireplace or your space is...so that's my two cents for today lol

willowtree said...

Now I'm in a foetal postion.

Flowerpot said...

What a beautiful house RC. Adn very brave to list your unfinished projects. I don't dare....

Beth said...

That staircase! Those windows! The fireplace! They may be unfinished projects, but they are going to just make the house.

We live in a small town and yet have several local stained glass craftspeople who do things like your windows. Leave a few less wrinkles on your thumb and give them a call for an estimate.

Re the coats of paint: liquid sander. It won't do the job for you, but it will help.

But now I'm feeling this urge to get into the fetal position myself, because I just realized how much we have to do on our house. I wish my camera were out of batteries.

Hootin Anni said...

OH my goodness....would I ever love to redo the interior of this home...there are so many beautiful pieces I see...and the window is something else...so pretty. Ya, I would have to agree...the light fixture [I say light fixture only 'cause I can't spell chandalier<--see?]...the light fixture is a must.

laurie said...

RC, i'll email you a picture of our fireplace. yes, i think you should make yours look exactly like ours. since we're twins and all.

and you would not want me anywhere near a loaded paintbrush in your house.

i remember my little brother (he of the fabulous bungalow) inspecting my duluth house after i painted the bedroom blue and white. and i heard a shriek.

apparently i had painted some of the trim white, and some of the trim blue, and hadn't realized it. the inconsistencey offended his sensibilities tremendously.

not to mention the blue paint schmears on the ceiling....

Sandy said...

Your home is beautiful! Good bones, to quote my dad. It will be gorgeous when it is finished (yeah, I know - older homes are NEVER finished!).

Anonymous said...

I love that staircase! I'd love an older home, but hubby insists it would be too much work. Though as I am the one who does that kind of work (ok, I'm supposed to be doing it) I don't see what the problem is.

Love the stained glass, too. And yes, I am feeling better!

Anonymous said...

Our first home was built in 1914 and had the most gorgeous details. That peep of your floors and the trim and the transoms. Just loved it.

Potty Mummy said...

Wow, RC, great house and one hell of a project. Must admit that I too would want to call up in a ball at the thought of all that...

Alix said...

You have a beautiful house, have fun getting it just as you want it.

Jenni said...

You have some lovely details in your home! I love the little stairwell windows. Whoever detransomed that doorway should be shot. Transoms are so cool.

Bren said...

I absolutely LOVE the stained glass! And that staircase is gorgeous too!

Sauntering Soul said...

What an awesome house! I rent a house that was built in the 1940's and there are so many things I would have done differently than the owner did. Oh well.

Madam Crunchypants said...

Oooh! Your house has such character!

I like the multicoloured tiles for the fireplace, myself.

Anonymous said...

Bless your little heart...personally, I'm feeling every inch of your pain! Gosh, that's overwhelming! Thing is, you've got great "bones" in your house, so when you DO get to all of it, it's gonna be unbelievable!

I'll send ya a teddy bear in the meantime...you might have more work ahead of you than anyone else I've seen today (like you really needed to hear that). I'm not JUDGING, just observing...makes my little unfinished stuff look like child's play :).

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

Wow, can really see the potential there. And this post? A wee tiny one compared to what I'll be posting later today. So there. =P

Anonymous said...

I think I'll just sit down in the middle of all this "stuff" I dragged out of my desk to organize while your post is on my computer screen...makes my project look manageable.

Diana said...

Ahhhhhhhh. You know I love you, right? And I love your house! And right now, I'm blessing myself that we've a soulless ranch that's only about 10 years old, so the only stuff we've got to contend with is some painting and patching of small holes. Well, that and the yard which will need about 50 years of labor to landscape the way I dream of.

Unknown said...

I'm with you on the fetal position. Just looking at how much needs doing makes one's head implode. I know how you feel when it comes to actually making a decision. Not making one is better, right?

Anonymous said...

You guys are taking on a lot all at once...it's gonna be a beauty when you get it all done. As it was just said, it's got great bones.

Tiggerlane said...

Your home reminds me of my current home - such pretty trim, but a PAIN to paint. Transom windows (mine aren't stained glass, but they are intact) - and I would use the smaller tile as accent, but a larger 3x3 style of tile for the fireplace. Just my two-tiles worth!

Anonymous said...

Oooooo! I like the green tile on the fireplace! Your house has wonderful old character to it!

Akelamalu said...

A work in progress eh? ((wink))

kitten said...

Bless your heart! Keep up the good work!

the planet of janet said...

your house is great! and it will be even better when you finish your projects! :-D

junebug said...

Well, if you're going to get all technical and go outside for shots, I guess you might like to know that I have much needed work to do out there too. We are waiting for the soon coming day when all three college students are through with college. We will then tackle the outside of our adobe (actually bricks). We have to replace or reface our bricks under our windows. Replace our windows. Fix our carport water problems. We need gutters. My flower bed needs overhaul. The list goes on and on....money pit indeed!!!

Robin M said...

What a beautiful home and so many interesting features. Take it one step at a time and before you know, it will be done. Have fun and enjoy learning as you go along. Thanks for sharing. My fm is up.

Robin of mytwoblessings

Swearing Mother said...

RC you have just made my day. Your list is longer than mine.

Thanks.
x

Irene said...

Hi RC, I suppose I don't feel so bad in my relatively small town apartment in the little country of the Netherlands with only two bedrooms and a patio. My life is fairly simple and easy to manage. But I do remember what it is like to be a suburban middle class white family in America. It isn't easy and I am not being sarcastic! I wish you lots of luck on all of your projects and hope you get them done speedily and cheaply and find a really good handy man to help you with them. DIY is not what it is cracked up to be, it will cost you your nerves and it is not worth it.

Cheerio! Take care!

Cynthia said...

OH, YOUR HOUSE IS BEAUTIFUL! Huh, my caps lock keeps sticking, didn't mean to yell.

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous home and that staircase is to die for!!

Pamela said...

wow
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
wow

Debs said...

You have a beautiful home. :)

I would not be brave enough to get on a tall ladder.

Love the windows.

Jo Beaufoix said...

See. I said I'd catch up..i

Ok.
Love the house.
Love the staircase.
Love the windows.
Love the garden.
Love it.
And I wouldn't go up that ladder either, Bloody hell.