Weekly Photo Challenge: Movement

JGL working on the molding so we could lay the flooring down in the bathroom

Backsplash

To say that the past week was a whirlwind is a gross understatement.  There was a “quick” journey north to visit family and attend the wedding of a dear high school friend, a stomach bug that jumped on board unbeknown to me in VA and traveled up to NH, a Dad who made the connection that tablet meant iPad and yes I could use my iPad to read his “This Old House,” and the list goes on and on.

A crazy week, yes, but a very, very good week.

And the countertop man came yesterday to get the official measurements in the kitchen and the bathroom–huzzah!  After a lot of research and a bang up deal at the Home Depot, we decided to go for a solid surface countertop in both the kitchen and the bathroom (Samsung’s Staron in Bright White).  We did both the kitchen and the bath because our kitchen is so small it lacked the required countertop square footage for a) our more local home store to even look at doing the job and b) in order to get the free sink we needed the extra square footage.  What we’re telling folks at all of the cocktail parties we’re going to is that we’re doing it to help create a cohesive feel in our small humble abode, not that we’re cheap.

We’re totally just cheap.

And the countertop man was great–on time, professional, and willing to answer our questions.  The only snafu that he shared was that our current countertop is not solid, and as such our new countertop will either have to be molded to fit the current design (at a more expensive price), or we can simply just put the solid surface on top without molding it, raising our current countertop 3/4 of an inch. If we go with this option, we are going to have to take some existing tiles out of our wall and either cut tiles to put in, or add a decorative backsplash to fit.

So do remember that part where a) we’re totally cheap, and b) I just had almost an entire year of This Old House handed to me?

I’m considering using corks to DIY a cork backsplash.  I cut one up this morning and used craft glue to stick it to the existing tile, but the juries still out.  It certainly would be incredibly cost effective and solve our backsplash problem, and I love the idea of using something that we have on hand and means something to us to integrate that into the house.  I just worry that it’s not going to look right in our matchy-matchy white-on-white kitchen.

Thoughts?

Picket Fences

Back in March we inherited tools from my folks.  They were amazing and brought them down from MA, and all these little projects that JGL and I had been dreaming about all of a sudden became actually feasible.  First project JGL wanted to tackle?  Ripping up an ugly bush on the side of the house by the rose bush and then installing a privacy fence.

It’s looking great–the wood needs to dry out before we start painting it white, and I have plans to get some planters on the stakes.  More to come on the details of how JGL crafted the fence!

Inside and Out

At the end of this month we will have lived in this house for five years.  It feels like it was just yesterday that we shlepped our stuff from our 4th story attic apartment into what, at the time, felt like a huge home.  It’s hard to even imagine this place before I ripped every bush and plant out of the front yard.

The House, 2007

 

The House, 2012

We tackled the outside with a vengeance because honestly the inside was move in ready, save some pretty tremendous wallpaper and unseemly wiring issues.  But 5 years, two dogs, and a pretty constant stream of projects later, we’re ready to start tackling some different projects here at the homestead.  I’ll update you all on JGL’s fence project soon, but we should *fingers crossed* be starting on some inside bathroom and kitchen renovations shortly.  Countertops are ordered, flooring is purchased, and JGL and I just need to make our final to-dos.

It’s going to be fun summer inside and out, and we appreciate you all being along for the ride!