Today marks our second Thanksgiving in the house and in Cleveland. It's much less stressful than the Baltimore Thanksgiving.
The weather hangs over us like the Sword of Damocles. There is a weather front bringing us this fall's to the coldest temperatures. and promises of rain, sleet, grauple, and snow, separately, or at the same time. In my childhood days, this happened by Halloween, but these days, who knows.
Right now it's sleeting. Five minutes from now it's anyone's guess.
Projects coming up include a new back door to replace the worn-out 1974 door, and new storm doors. That should be happening in the next three weeks.
As for BIG projects, that would be the kitchen and the sleeping porch off of my office.
The sleeping porch is a full gut. The previous owner claimed to have put $30k into remodeling the sleeping porch, but no. Because of his handyman job - over boxed windows, window and door trim put on every which way, and his "Built-Ins" - crafted with all the skill of a five-year-old with a junior tool kit, the contracts have to rip out everything to replace the old broken, nasty, vinyl windows from the 1970s. New windows will go in, then new drywall
The kitchen is a total gut. What was done in 1974, and then "refreshed" in 2010, is worn out. Open a cabinet door and it could fall off and bean you. We can't safely used two burners on the new range because of a wall. And because of where the sink is, we cannot have a dishwasher that is correctly vented.
ALL Of that will get remedied.
So we are Thankful. Thankful we can do this, thankful to have a roof over our heads, and thankful for a plan.
Lordy! Not so much a "plan" as a complete makeover!! Good luck, dears! Jx
ReplyDeleteWhere are the property brothers when you need them?
DeleteNope. Never heard of 'em, but looked them up and they're quite easy on the eye... Jx
DeleteWell, you knew what Cleveland weather was like before you returned, and really it seems that things are not so severe as in the past, although in my opinion any freezing rain is too much. It seems that your house is old enough that perhaps the original kitchen was not comfortable by modern standards. Today they tear through walls and ceilings making huge kitchens and rooms that may be impressive in a photograph but to me look entirely unlivable. Those 70's renos, though, often seem especially designed to make the houses hideous and uncomfortable, just in another direction, which fifty years aging of cheap materials does not improve. Just imagine, however, how beautiful your house will be when all that is torn out and rebuilt with your impressive knowledge and sense.
ReplyDeleteThe 1974 cupboards are dark wood, inside and out. Caves are brighter.
DeleteAnd luckily that snow business missed us and is giving Geagua, Lake, and Ashtabula much misery.
DeleteWe love a good plan---Make sure your "remodels" are timeless---This way your efforts will last longer--- I hope you had a good Thanksgiving despite it all---Best---
ReplyDeleteWe are going for the least faddish options. The new cupboards are wood and painted. Sage green on the bottom and white up top. White tile backsplash.
DeleteI'm in Massachusetts and had to look up the word 'grauple'.
ReplyDelete