I Had More Clothes Than Closets

Sammy Davis, Jr. has been quoted as saying, “I had more clothes than I had closets, more cars than garage space, but no money.”  That’s kind of how I felt when we moved into The Big Yellow House. 

Most historic homes are known for their lack of closet space, and our new home was no different.  We also had no garage, but that’s a different story.  And the money we did have was disappearing fast with all the renovations we were making.  All of the bedroom closets in the house were filled with my clothes.  So were 3 cardboard wardrobes—compliments of the moving company. Larry had taken over the linen closet and what should have been stored there was stuffed into other nooks and crannies around the house.

Yes, this inconvenience was my fault.  I had to have a bathtub in the master bathroom and the only way to do that was to re- purpose the closet in the master bedroom.  I had made my choice and now I was paying for it.  Within a few weeks, I knew we had to find a better solution.  I was tired of sprinting from room to room looking for my clothes. More frustrating was wandering around the house searching for where I stashed the clean towels, extra toilet paper or the first aid kit.  We needed a master bedroom closet, and we needed it fast.    

Since the nearest Ikea is 222 miles away in Woodbridge, VA we placed our order on-line and waited for them to be delivered. My siblings and their spouses (aka The Big Yellow House’s Renovation Team) were planning to spend the week between Christmas and New Years with us, and I had a project to keep them busy.

The boxes arrived several days before our renovation crew (I mean guests), and the project began in earnest by carrying the 9 massive boxes from the carport up the two flights of stairs to our bedroom.  Larry and Gary quickly removed the molding and capped the electrical outlet located on the wall where the closets were to be installed.  Jim began assembling the first cabinet. Needless to say, the project was taking longer than I expected.  Nancy and I got into the mix by assembling the chests of drawers that would go inside the cabinets. 







After two days of holding, screwing, and inserting part A into part B, the closets were fully assembled.  I gathered up my clothes and celebrated each time an armful of shirts was reunited with its sisters. The temporary cardboard wardrobes were carried to the curb and the linen closet was returned to its original purpose. No more did I have to think about where I might find a new bottle of shampoo.

Within a couple of weeks I found just the right crystal-looking knobs and the job was complete.  At least for now.  Ultimately, I’d like to close in the area above the cabinets making them look more like they’ve been part of The Big Yellow House for many years.  But that’s a project for another time.
 

Nuts to You!



One of 3 Pecan Trees

 If you’ve been a faithful reader of this blog, you know we’ve already had several close calls when large limbs suddenly broke off of our pecan trees and crashed to the ground. Fortunately, nobody was hurt and there was minimal property damage. However, two occurrences in just a few months was enough for Larry and me to begin thinking about whether we should be making plans to prune or maybe even take down these trees. But that was in July and August and now it’s November. Fall is time for gathering pecans, and boy did we do our share of harvesting!

According to the NC Cooperative Extension Service, North Carolina produces 5 to 6 million pounds of pecans annually. Pecans are harvested when the shuck opens, allowing the nuts to drop to the ground. This natural process is fostered when strong winds prevail, as we had with Superstorm Sandy on October 29 and 30th. For a small-scale operations like that at The Big Yellow House, mechanical aids can also be used to speed nut fall. In our case, those devices were neighborhood boys swinging long sticks.



Our Neighbors Enjoy the Harvest



After gathering our first crop of nuts, Larry and I carried them to the attic and laid them out on window screens to dry. When we went back to the attic two weeks later, I was delighted to learn either we have no “attic critters” or those critters don’t like pecans and decided not to share in our stash. Not one pecan had been disrupted; they were all spread out on the screens just as we left them.



Pecans Drying in the Attic



The following week while Larry’s Dad and his girl friend were visiting from California, Jane and I bagged the nuts so they could be shared with those who attend The Big Yellow House Open House on December 2nd.



Bagging Nuts to Give Away

While Larry and I collected about 6 gallons of these tasty treats, our trees also provided an ample supply of delicious tidbits to several of our neighbors, the mailman, one of the salesmen from the local Sherwin Williams paint store, and a group of four women driving by on their way home from church.

We were delighted to share our harvest and hope we are able to do so again next year. There’s been no more discussion about those trees coming down any time soon.



Hurray, It's Moving Day!



Want to Buy a House on the Potomac River?


What can I say other than moving day has come and gone… and Larry and I are exhausted! Moving day was actually three days so perhaps that has something to do with why we are so tired.



Larry Says Goodbye to the River House







The festivities got under way early Monday morning when the All Star Movers team arrived in Colonial Beach to pack up the “River House”. While not yet sold—doesn’t anyone have a friend who would be interested in a steal on a weekend house with a million dollar view--, we decided to remove the furniture and take it to Edenton.  

Larry and I were both sad to leave our River House.  We've really enjoyed the time we've spent there, enjoying the quiet and solitude while watching the Potomac River flow by. 

On Tuesday morning, the movers arrived at our condo in Vienna with not one, but two trucks. It took them just about half a day to fill the first truck before they drove over to the storage unit to fill the other. Since it was late in the day when they finished, the movers decided to stay the night locally and drive to Edenton in the morning. Wanting to make sure the house was ready for their arrival, I left town when the movers headed off to the storage unit. Poor Larry made the four hour drive to North Carolina that evening.

Waiting at the Condo for the Movers



The Movers Arrive at the Condo



Wednesday morning, Larry and I had several hours to “prepare the house” for its new belongings before the moving trucks arrived from Virginia. It was nearly 7:00pm before the job was finished and the movers were headed back to VA. I was happy not to have to make that trip again and instead climbed into my big bathtub for a long soak before sleeping in my own bed in our Big Yellow House.

 

Ready or Not, Here We Come!



Larry's Retirement Luncheon

Since last I wrote, Larry retired from L-3 Communications. His colleagues gave him a great sendoff, purchasing and personalizing a toilet seat cover that wishes him well as he continues to renovate The Big Yellow House.  They also bought us a subscription to "Old House Journal", a monthly magazine we should have been reading for many years before initiating this project.  Since we now have more time than money, it was great to be able to make a mid-week trip to Edenton without all the usual weekend traffic.


When we arrived at the house, we saw a good portion of the hard wood floors upstairs had been sanded.  Unfortunately, they were in much worse shape than Dave the floor man realized and were taking more time than planned.  While apologetic about the delay, it was obvious Dave was working hard to make our floors look as good as they did when they were first installed 96 years ago. He was also striving to meet our schedule having drafted his father to help with the work!
 

Newly Sanded Family Room Floor





Dave at Work

Pop Helps Dave Meet the Schedule

We are also experiencing delays in the kitchen. The tin ceiling is late in arriving and most likely will not be installed until after we move in. All of the prep work, however, has been completed so installation can begin as soon as the tin arrives.

Tommy and Patrick Frame for the Tin Ceiling



James Helps Fit the Ceiling Lights



Elsewhere in the kitchen, much of the finishing work has been done. Beveled glass was added to the two exterior doors to bring more light into the kitchen, all the remaining hardware was affixed to the new cabinets, a glass tile backsplash was fitted near the sink, and most of the appliances were installed.




Windows Added to the Doors








Glass Tile Backsplash in the Kitchen





 

Despite all of this progress, the delay on the wood floors has caused us to readjust our priorities and to push back our move date. To simplify the floor job we've decided not to refinish the two stairways. While this dirty dusty work is better tackled when the house is vacant, it's just going to have to wait until after we move in. By eliminating these areas, Dave “thinks” he can get the floors done in time to let them cure for a few days before our furniture arrives. Fortunately, All Star Movers can accommodate a delayed move date and we're now scheduled to "begin" moving on September 24th.  I say begin because this will be a 3 stop move.  First we must empty our home in Colonial Beach before the contents of the storage unit and condominium in Vienna can be placed onto the truck.  Then, it's off to Edenton!  

Working Hard on Labor Day

It was Labor Day weekend and boy did we "labor" at the house! I’m excited to see all our work coming together and am anxious to move in at the end of the month.

Last time I wrote, I mentioned I wanted to show you the progress we’ve made in the laundry room. Here is a photo of the slate floor that was installed in the laundry and mud rooms.

We unexpectedly came across some similar tiles in Lowe's, and installed them as a backsplash over the sink.





The laundry room is also home to all the water purification and softening equipment we purchased. As you can see, it takes up quite a bit of floor space in this tiny room. However, the water softener in particular will help extend the life of some of our new appliances so it was worth the trade-off.


Fortunately, we saved some space in the room by replacing our old water heater with a tankless version. Not only will it ensure I don’t run out of hot water before my tub is full, it’s a more efficient way of heating water. Unfortunately, the box that houses the mechanism is located on the side of the house visible from the patio. We definitely need to find a way to hide the equipment without impacting its operation. Does anyone have any creative ideas to share?


How Can I Hide this Monstrosity?

Larry and I spent most of the weekend painting. Returning to our original list of priorities to finish before we move in, we tried to complete all the painting in the master bedroom and bath, kitchen, mud room and first floor powder room.  We didn't make it, but we got close. 



Painting the Mud Room

Since I was also curious what the outside of the house might look like if we painted the window frames, corner boards and belt course Classic French Gray , Larry agreed to do a little experiment at the back of the house. While we won’t make any final decisions until the back door is painted Teal Stencil, I’m thinking we'll probably go with this new combination when we paint the house next spring. Leave me a comment and tell me what you think? 

Experimenting with Gray

After many hours of holding a brush we went home on Monday with big smiles on our faces knowing we just have one more visit before we move in.

Three Trips to the Hardware Store and They Were Done!

Mudroom Cabinets and Floor

It was back to Edenton this weekend, with Nancy and Gary in tow. While I’m excited to see the progress made by Scott and his team, the drive back and forth is getting tiresome. Larry announced September 8th will be his last day at work so we’re planning on moving in late-September. That means we only have one or two more trips to make before we move.

Coming through the kitchen door we saw the windows in the mudroom and rear exterior door had been replaced, and the cabinets and slate floor had been installed. Once again there was a miscommunication between us and Scott and the cabinets were not exactly as we expected. Scott offered to make whatever changes we wanted and with some minor modifications we settled on a plan I am happy with.


Thomas Helps Us Paint


With the installation of the new windows and door, we had a lot of priming to do so we hired Thomas to help us. Ironically, Thomas grew up in the "Big Yellow House". He’s part of the Cumby family and is currently living next door while he awaits entrance into the Coast Guard. He was happy to have the work, and we were happy to have his help. While Thomas primed the exterior walls, Nancy and I primed the exterior door.

Knowing we needed to paint the exterior doors with their new color soon, Nancy and I took a walk around the neighborhood to look at the colors others have painted their doors, windows and trim. While we plan to leave the house pale yellow, the metal roof "Edenton Green", and the window sashes white, eventually we’d like to paint the window trim (currently white), doors (white or Edenton Green), and porch railing (white) new colors. I definitely want to add some pops of color, especially since we are also planning eventually to remove the remaining Edenton Green wood shutters from the windows. While I love the shutters and hate to take them down, more than half are missing and many of those remaining need significant repair. Being in the historical district, any replacement would have to be wood and that’s a reoccurring cost I just don’t want to take on.


After much discussion, and looking at lots of color swatches, I’ve decided to use “Classic French Gray” on the window trim and porch railing and “Teal Stencil” on all four exterior doors. Since we also have a screen door on the front porch door, it will be painted Teal Stencil too. Before we make the changes everywhere, I am going to try out the new combination outside of the mudroom where the new windows and exterior door were just installed. Since this area is hidden at the back of the house, if it looks horrible nobody will know but us and our neighbors Kenny and Mistie. I’ll show you what it ends up looking like in a future post.


The floor in the mud and laundry rooms has also been installed. I love how the colors in the slate harmonize with the old brick in the nearby fireplace chimney while toning-down the orange on the walls. We purchased some similar slate that looks like a stacked stone wall and Gary installed it as a backsplash behind the utility sink. I forgot to take pictures before we left so I’ll have to do so the next time we are down.



Our Tiny But Efficient Laundry Room


Speaking of the laundry room, Alan the plumber made a lot of progress in there. All of those canisters on the floor represent the equipment needed for our new water softener and water purifier. Outside, hanging on the exterior wall, is the tankless water heater. This all looks kind of ugly, so I’ll have to come up with a plan to camouflage it. The metal box housing the tankless water heater on the outside wall is particularly ugly. I’ll post a picture soon and you can offer your suggestions for hiding it.



Master Bathroom Floor



Most of the guys work this weekend focused on the master bath. When we arrived, we were happy to see the new porcelain tile floor and the black subway tile around the shower door had been installed. That meant it was time for Larry and Gary to install the vanity. Purchased at Home Goods for $599 this was one great find.

I Think They Got High on that Glue

Not only is the frame made of real wood, it came with two under mount ceramic wash basins and a black granite countertop. These materials, however, make it extremely heavy. Once the guys muscled it into place, they went to work modifying the existing plumbing. After just three trips to hardware store, we had water! Unfortunately, the pipes had to be run from the left wall through the cabinet to both sinks and so we lost some storage space under the counter. While one of the draws still needs to be shortened and the granite backsplash needs to be cut, Gary and Larry did a wonderful job making this great find priceless. I just love it!



A Bargain at $599 from Home Goods

While Gary and Larry worked on the vanity, Nancy and I primed the walls in the new tub area. We also painted the bead board paneling that is going to be applied to the bottom portion of the walls around the tub area. We used a gray color called “Fawn Brindle”, the same gray that is going to go on the accent wall in the master bedroom.


Nancy Paints the Alcove for the New Tub



Over the next two weeks we expect a lot of the final details in the kitchen, mud room and master bath to be finished. Dave Sampson from Mastercraft Floors will also be in to begin refinishing the wood floors and stairs. That work doesn’t include shortening the center island in the kitchen. After talking with Nancy and Gary about my dilemma, I decided not to have the counter height shortened. The height has started growing on me the way it is, and I just don’t want to take the chance of breaking the granite.


Driving home reflecting on the work that’s been done by the professionals, I regret I wasn’t around more when they were actually working. While we’ve done our best to communicate what we envisioned and they’ve done their best to give us what we asked for, there’s nothing like seeing something to know whether what you had in mind is what you really want. Next time (will there be a next time?), I hope not to be renovating from 250 miles away.

A Costly Miscommunication

Admiring an Antique Clock

Larry and I made a quick trip to the house this weekend. Since the water heater had been removed, we stayed at the Pack House Inn. This time, we stayed in the main house—once known as the Proprietor’s Inn. Michael and Giuliano run a great B&B and I was happy each evening to go back to a hot bath and a real bed. Ironically, while I was wondering around the main building I came across an antique clock that could be a cousin to a clock I bought at auction in Colonial Beach about a month ago.  I’d show you a picture of my clock, but it’s at the clock shop in Vienna being cleaned and repaired. When I get it back, I'll post a picture of the two together. I can’t wait to get it back and sit it on our living room mantle.

Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign

When we arrived at the house, I couldn’t help but sing the lyrics of Signs, a well-known song of the 1960s by the Five Man Electrical Band. “Sign, sign, everywhere a sign. Blockin' out the scenery, breakin' my mind. Do this, don’t do that. Can’t you read the sign?” It seems like everyone was getting into the act advertising their business by placing a sign on our front lawn.

The Color on the Roof is Called "Edenton Green"

The signs told us R&D Construction had been to the house, giving us a newly repaired and painted roof. With a 5 year warranty, we are hoping this investment will ward off all future ceiling leaks. The second sign, from HomeStyle, announced our appliances had been installed. I couldn’t wait to get out of the car and into the kitchen—but not before thinking maybe we should get our own sign that says, “Almost Out of Money”.

The Counter Tops Look Awesome

As we entered the kitchen we were welcomed by our new granite counter tops. They looked fantastic and really showed off the cherry cabinets. I immediately loved them. As I walked around the room, however, it seemed something wasn’t right. The center island was too high. I pulled up one of the counter stools from our Stone Vale house and it was immediately obvious the center island had been set at bar height vs. just above counter height as I had envisioned. Crap. How did that happen? And what could be done about it? I’m paying five times what my annual salary was in my first job for this kitchen and it’s not what I wanted!!!!

The next day Scott came by the house and told me (after a big sigh) it was possible to take the granite counter top off, cut down the counter and re-install the granite. Taking a big breath and letting out an even bigger sigh, I asked him to make the change. I may be smiling in the picture, but inside I was crying. My dear patient husband didn’t say much, but inside I’m pretty sure he was screaming.