A Coastal New England Dutch Colonial Home

The Grass is Green

2009-06-30T15:13:00.010-04:00

The upside of the rainy weather here in New England..., the grass is green! Our lawn went from shabby to chic in no time...

... and it looks like a carpet...

... we also planted a little garden in the corner...

... it's blooming...

... the hedges toward Main road are doing well too...

... just as I said..., like a carpet!

Sweeping and more

2009-06-14T13:34:00.004-04:00

The usual Spring cleaning...

... sweeping off the sand left from the winter...

... then a future repair awaits..., the cracks in the road along the driveway (to the left)..., but first we'll get a dumpster in and clean out the basement.

Lawn Care -The Big Reveal

2009-05-05T01:16:00.004-04:00

Remember this, the Mud Slide Prevention cloth?

Tada! Two months later. The grass is growing, but overall our lawn looks crappy. Not that I'm complaining, it's just what it is. According to our neighbor it will take two years for it to look good. I'll be planting some flowers this week, hope that helps to get some curb appeal.

Recycling Old Wood For Kitchen Island

2009-04-04T17:11:00.004-04:00

Taking down all the old wood shelving and partition walls in the basement...

... then recycling the old wood for our new butcher block(esque) kitchen island, which Peter will build...

... seems to be the destiny of this wood which has been recycled before by the previous owner out of crates from local textile mills.

Some landscaping or rather Mud Slide Prevention

2009-03-21T13:49:00.006-04:00

Since we had run off problems causing mud slides after the Driveway Construction we decided to put down some gardening cloth...

... the cloth allows the grass to grow through it and over time the sun will break it down and the cloth will disappear on its own...

... but what about all the metal pins that we used to hold the cloth down to the ground, can we leave those too, I wonder...

... for now, we just wait and see.

Do It Yourself Stair Runner Installation 2

2009-03-09T14:42:00.008-04:00

After Stair Runner Installation Part 1, here comes part two, the finished project...

... looks like a professional installation, doesn't it? But you'll see it has some Do It Yourself characteristics...

... our solution to the "turn" dilemma that can simply not be solved if you only have a pre-cut/pre-edged roll of stair runner to work with...

... and here on the landing I'm sure you notice (hopefully only barely) the diagonal seam...

... we think it's perfect!

Entry Foyer Done

2009-02-23T15:31:00.003-05:00

Nothing out of the box...

... the before: Entry + Stairway..., I just couldn't decide on a color with punch, and if in doubt go beige(ish), right. So that wall ended up just a tad darker then the hallway color and the two cubes give us room for gloves, hats and sunglasses.

Stair Runner Installation

2009-02-23T13:53:00.014-05:00

Finally we got around to begin the stair runner installation and cozy up the stairway to the second floor...

... it begins with cutting and stapling on the pads that go underneath the rug...

... and the same for the tackless strips -those pink things with little nails that hold the runner...

... nice job!

... pushing the stair runner, so it is gripped by the tackless strips...

... et voila!

But we're not done yet, we've got a challenging turn here to figure out..., and in case you wondered..., we followed these Stair Runner Installation instructions.

Entry and Stairway

2009-01-15T02:10:00.003-05:00

I'm in the process to finish the entry and stairway..., meaning I'd like to give that one wall a different color than the rest..., add some cube shelves, mount new light fixtures which are ordered and lastly install a stair runner which we still have to find.

Kitchen -Ceiling Can Lights are up

2008-12-30T10:59:00.004-05:00

All the Ceiling Can Lights are up...

...they're all on dimmer switches, divided up in four sections...

...so the kitchen can be blindingly bright or be flooded with a warm evening light.

Todays Project -Snow Shoveling

2008-12-21T19:05:00.009-05:00

More snow kept falling..., so today lots of time was spent shoveling...

...meaning Peter was shoveling (I took the pictures)

...more shoveling...

...the entire town is a winter wonderland..., an empty Main road...

...a very quiet town park...

...and no one lounging in this wood chair at our local coffee shop Coastal Roasters.

Our Dutch Colonial Home in the Snow

2008-12-20T01:47:00.003-05:00

It began to snow yesterday afternoon...

Permeable Pavers Driveway Problems

2008-12-15T15:05:00.018-05:00

Since the installation of our permeable pavers driveway we had some heavy rains and they have created several run offs along the sides of the driveway. There is no grass so the soil is washing away..., not good...

...and the permeable pavers seem to be wandering from the center to the left, leaving large gaps...

...so we called All Island Landscaping last Friday and today they came by and added soil. To prevent future washout we thought the soil should also be stabilized in some form, covered with cloth, hey or something until we have grass..., but maybe not. Regarding the increased gaps between some of the permeable pavers..., they might or might not crack, we'll see. But we should be in good hands since we've got a one year warranty.

Creating a New Kitchen

2008-12-04T11:16:00.014-05:00

Creating a new kitchen...., now more like "waiting" for a new and free kitchen..., well free cabinets that is. We've heard it happens, people ripping out brand new cabinetry. Old cabinets would be fine too as long as they're good quality wood -that's something we can work with. Until then we live with the kitchen as is.

So the floor is finished now, all patched up and repaired with original wood planks salvaged from underneath the fridge and other places. Next will be the installation all the can lights as well as a door for the washer/dryer unit that you see on the far right. Just imagine an L-shaped counter top along the wall and where the couch is, left to the sink a stove/oven, right to the sink a dishwasher and in place of the table a large magnificent kitchen island with two bar stools.

Some Kitchen Ideas:

It's either this sink (seen at BHG -click image) or an undermounted more traditional one. These windows just look like the ones in our kitchen!

I like this island style from House to Home. It feels spacious and offers a comfortable seating area.

Or this simple butcher block island from Coastal Living (without the sink). This stage of creating a new kitchen is fun...and I'm sure I'll be collecting more ideas.

Permeable Pavers Driveway Installation Finished!

2008-11-27T14:27:00.005-05:00

The permeable pavers driveway installation project was finished last week. The grass around the construction area won't grow in now, but the seeds are there "sleeping" till next spring. So it doesn't quite have that finished look yet.

This is how it looked before the driveway installation. Something was missing!

We drove up for the first time a couple of weeks ago..., just couldn't wait to see and feel how steep the hill was. It was no problem at all.

This and the next shot I took today. I love that I can now drive up to the house and don't have to haul groceries up the hill anymore. Peter then drives down backwards..., eventually I will try that too (and get used to it). Turning the car around is also an option but it takes a few turns. The permeable pavers start/stop right at the edge by the stairs leading up to the large front porch.

This is the compacted gravel parking area which is very solid. You don't even see a trace of the car on it. Even though the permeable pavers driveway installation (with the stone wall and hedges) went way over budget because we wanted/needed more pavers we're very happy with it.

Permeable Pavers Driveway Installation Last Stretch

2008-11-02T10:44:00.002-05:00

The last pile of permeable pavers has arrived and is ready to be installed this week. The hole driveway installation is coming together nicely and we love it. It feels like walking up a paved driveway, only in heels I imagine (which I hardly ever wear) it would be a bit of a bouncing act.

Planting Privet Hedges

2008-11-02T10:20:00.008-05:00

In coastal New England when planting privet hedges you might want to tie them down. Winds can be strong and gusty and we learned the hard way -scroll down to the last image here: Crushed Gravel Driveway and Paking

I am so glad we chose planting privet hedges over installing a wood fence. We're now solidly sheltered from the road and the landscaping bolders I think add a lot of character to the property and this "farmer wall" will only look better as the privet hedges grow -I understand privets can grow a foot a year or more.

Crushed Gravel Driveway and Parking

2008-10-28T01:26:00.016-04:00

River rocks were delivered and spread early in the morning last week, and we had a little problem, actually two. One: wrong rocks. We had specified crushed gravel and these round rocks were uncomfortable to walk on as compared to the 3/4" crushed gravel rocks that interlock and pretty much give you an even and flat surface. Two: while hauling the load of rocks up the driveway with heavy machinery over a dozen pavers were destroyed, cracked under the weight.

The next day all the rocks were scooped up and removed and the new crushed gravel was delivered promptly, this time from the top. New pavers were ordered and should be arriving later this week from Canada. And if you look closely you see that in the meantime the hedges were planted too.

And here they are. Beautiful privets, 40 to be exact, lining our property toward Main Road, and of course the finished crushed gravel parking area that we love.

Then Saturday night the wind came, strong winds I have to say which are not that unusual here near the water and some of the privets fell over. Something needs to be done about that.

Permeable Pavers Driveway Installation

2008-10-20T12:32:00.009-04:00

The driveway installation can begin and the slope is ready for the permeable pavers to be put in place.

Some heavy lifting is involved as each interlocking paver unit is unloaded from the truck and placed onto the prepared soil. The good thing about permeable pavers for our hillside is that they absorb water rundown, so no need for a drainage system.

The driveway installation is progressing and the permeable pavers are creeping up the hill. Once one stretch is completed pavers are being cut to fit and complete the edge.

A good part of the driveway installation is finished, just a few more rows to go. The top which is the parking space will be gravel only. And of course the openings of the permeable pavers will be filled with gravel too.

Build Retaining Wall

2008-10-15T09:56:00.004-04:00

Build retaining wall? There are many ways to do it and stacking up large natural boulders is what we chose to do...

To build the retaining wall was the first step in our driveway/parking project. It took three truck loads of large natural rocks from the local stoneyard to cover the length of our property line toward Main Road.

We chose to build a retaining wall with boulders because we wanted something stronger and more durable than a fence and we were looking to blend in with the surrounding area as well as keep within a certain budget. There are lush hedges and trees along the roadside of other people's properties and only ours stood exposed with nothing green.

To the road the boulders are between 2.5 and 3 feet above the boardwalk. The space in the middle is approx. 2.5 feet wide and 40 hedges will be planted there. And I'm sure there will be plenty of space in the bed to add color with smaller plants and flowers next Spring. I also intend to soften up the stone look with creepers and ground coverings.

Related Articles:
"The great virtue of stone retaining walls that are mortar-less is that your “drainage system” comes built-in: water will usually seep through the cracks between the stones..." by About.com/Landscaping

Build Retaining Wall with concrete bags? "Whats awesome is it is so cheap and easy to build.. anyone could truly do it." Read it at eHow

Building a Driveway -First Pictures

2008-10-08T11:48:00.011-04:00

The landscaping crew has arrived and started with building the driveway this morning, beginning from the top with the parking area. This is so exciting. No more walking up and down the sometimes wet and slippery grass hill. I'll probably still walk up and park on the bottom of the hill but it will be on nicely packed gravel and permeable pavers.

The old cesspool is being filled in the process...

and off to lunch...

then back with the first load of boulders to build and retain the mound. Come back next week and see the progress!

Also check this out on my other blog: A Real Estate Flip gone bad

Old Wood Floor Repair and Ocean Breeze

2008-09-29T01:31:00.004-04:00

Sunday started with wood floor repair and ended with a drive out to the beach in near by Little Compton.

Wood Floor Repairs

2008-09-23T02:04:00.005-04:00

A break from cutting wood in the basement on Sunday. We'll be piecing and blending the floor together where the wall was removed. The now joined rooms that make up the kitchen unfortunately do not have the same wood floor. Hopefully it'll work out.

Blue Painted Old Wood Door

2008-09-14T17:31:00.007-04:00

With the last coat of paint I put on the old wood door in the front entry of the house the project has come to an end this weekend.

Blue Painted Old Wood Door Detail Shot:
Stripping off the old paint revealed all the beautifully carved details. We both love how the original bronze (polished) hardware contrasts with the blue.

Polishing Door Hardware

2008-09-08T15:36:00.005-04:00

My last week's contribution was humble. I primed that stripped front door (scroll down a bit) and polished its hardware and knobs.