Windows

Probably the most exciting part of our project was opening up the windows.

As always, we have to start with the boring, but necessary, part of building the support. Here is the header.

With a little imagination you can start to see how it will look eventually.

This really doesn't have to do with the windows, but it was at this point that the ceiling was completed. We borrowed this nifty lift from one of Eric's co-workers who was glad to get it out of his house for awhile.

This is the only part of the project where we haven't been able to do the work ourselves. The company we ordered the windows from cut out the wall and installed the windows. What a difference this made!

I love these new windows! Almost everyone who has seen this picture asks if our remodel is on the second floor. Remember we live in the hills of Tennessee. The view from outside clears up this question.

From this shot you can clearly see that the sunroom is on the first floor. After this picture was taken, the windows were trimmed out identically to the one you see upstairs.

There's still a lot to be done, but with the windows installed I feel like we've made a lot of visible progress.

French Sliding Doors

Another update on the renovation. We are much further along than this, but it takes me awhile to get pictures transferred around in cyber-space.

Adding the header for support.

The "pocket" is built into the wall. This was a first for Eric, but he did a good job.

I painted the doors before they were installed. They came with plastic over the glass, so you just paint, then peel off the plastic. No taping required!

Doors open

Doors closed

The drywall is up and the sliding doors look great!

Resolving to Cook

I got an awesome cookbook for Christmas. It is full of recipes that serve two people. This is quite a challenge if you've been cooking for five for several years. So for 2018, the year that we officially become empty-nesters, I resolve to cook one new recipe each week. I plan on documenting how it goes here.

Chicken Vesuvia

This was really good. I picked it because it seemed like a pretty straightforward, easy one-skillet meal. However, it took about 1 1/2 hours from start to finish. It is basically chicken, potatoes, and peas in a white wine and lemon sauce.

Structural Support

 

To support the new construction and also just to counter 40 years of settling, Eric and Caleb added more beams under the house. It is about 4 times more sturdy than it needs to be now, but better safe than sorry.

Extra beams were added to every other support, to shore up the upstairs. Eric said this should have been done when the house was built. So this was just a needed repair.

Dividing the brewery from the sunroom.

Dividing the sunroom from the living room. The header is to support the wall over the new french doors. You can see them in the background.

I'm updating this very slowly. We are much further along at this time, but not as quick as I would like. I was hoping the sunroom would be complete by Christmas but that is not going to happen. Maybe by summer break.

Beauty

The weather has been wonderful and sunny, showing off oak trees that don't know everyone is listening to songs about snow and rushing headlong into Christmas. It is nice to see nature taking her time. 

Thankful..

for these guys.

 

 

And all their craziness.

Demolition

Once you tear up that first piece of carpet you've committed to at least replacing the flooring. Once the walls and ceiling come down, you're all in. So here goes.

We've had some help from Caleb, but Eric has done the bulk of the work.

The brewery is going in the old wet bar area. There is already plumbing there so that is a bonus.

Flooring and the bar are gone.

Ceiling is down so that more supports can be added to take care of the upstairs floors creaking when you walk on them and to counter 40 years of settling.

Paneling is off the wall because paneling is just gross. And to make way for the new windows. Although this is a demolition picture, you can see the hardibacker down on the floor ready for the new travertine (sunroom) and ceramic tile (brewery).