We have this awesome doorway in the house. It's in the one room that had original trim and we kept it. It's gorgeous. S also worked hours on saving the original chandelier in the room - it came down to one wire in the way and she prevailed. It's up to code with the chandelier lighting up the room by way of the original light switch. It is so cool. When the light turned on after testing it, we all cheered, even the plumber.
The doorway in the photo on the left, was actually the original porch door into the property that had been covered up when the house was resided years ago. We threw some ideas around and Bill, our contractor, and Jeff, our Master Carpenter, brought it to life. Behold the shelf seen to the right above. It re-purposed the doorway perfectly and it's gorgeous! Whether the new owners use this room as a formal dining room or a living room, this shelf brings modern touches of craftsmanship while keeping the country theme of the home. It's stunning.
(Press Play on the video) then scroll down and read.
I'm so glad we had this time together....It's time to say thanks to all the great workers we got the chance to meet. We are quickly coming to the end of this great project and we couldn't have done it without you. Thank you!
Please know that our highest recommendations come for the following professionials.
Chris Shuett
HVAC Chris, thank you so much for a top job! You had the worst job ever. If you weren't in the attic, you were in that crawl space, yuck. The owners will be so cozy with all the fantastic heat including the window seat, great idea! So, I have a gift for you. Don't worry, I won't tell the others you got the best present. Just take it and don't look back.
gift for chris! (oh you are so welcome!)
J. Encarnacion Rivera Pelgado
Drywall Chito and son and wife and baby. You are a hard worker and you made the place look like it is a new build! You have truely made this house a home that the new owners will cherish. Next time, you can take all 16 layers of the wallpaper down and what's great is, you won't complain like I did!
King Electric, Fabian Flores 970.381.9355 http://www.king-electric.biz/
Electrician Fabian, thank you for bringing the knob and tubing up to date and more importantly code! You were the one who got an early present, the centennial Kodak magnet from the fridge. You were so excited that it was exactly like the one your grandfather had in his car when you were a little boy. I love stories like that and people that cherish the good memories. It was a pleasure working with you.
Two Rivers Mechanical, Gabe Apple 970.381.5230
Plumber Gabe, some people can only do the job the right way and we are so lucky that you are one of them and to have you on site! Even the inspector was impressed! That bathroom is going to be perfect for a new family. We are glad to have met you and hope to do more business together in the future. I was going to give you the stove as your present, but you lost out on that!
Black Pines Builders, Jeff Van Blaricom 303.808.4066
Carpenter Jeff, at first I was not sure about you and your head banging music, but once you built the shelf I was a believer. You've been all over the house and your final touches are making the home flow and feel as comfortable as my own. Thank you. Your present is that you get to work with me again.
Ace Hardwood Floors, Erol Osken 970.420.9596
earl or air-ol, not sure about that, but I am sure you bring the wow factor to wood floors! I am so glad you did this project because those floors were just begging us to get refinished. And I truely hope to work with you again.
John even though you are missing in action and I am angry about that (sorry Tammy), I have alot to say. Your work ethics are incredible, except for the time off for massages, you do the work of 3 men, your work is superb, you are pleasant and funny, you cherish your girl (yes he does Tammy!) You began the job at the worst part, the demo and never complained. You worked on the roof in the 95 degree heat, * sorry about choosing black! The porch and roof look fantastic. Thank you so much and yes, sorry again Tammy, I miss working with you! Hopefully we will get the chance to work together soon.
(sorry, I'll get your contact info soon)
Painter KC you are quick and efficient and the place looks brand new! Thanks for a really good job! Everyone loves the red shed and door!
Five Star Construction, Bill Fisher 970.215.0118
GC Bill, well you've taken one for the team, run the project on time, managed through personnel changes, gotten the perfect subs, updated us at every step, taken all my 10 text thoughts at a time, suffered through the permit, inspection, and definately know when someone needs a hug....what would we do without you. Certainly not this. Thank you so so much. I knew this project would be a good one but you've help make it great!
And this is how I want you all to remember me because it's how I feel after all the incredible overwhelming amount of work that had to be done...just me and my moonshine!
And finally, Bessie the ghost, thanks for all your help sweeping and keeping the house safe. You know the new owners will love this place and you can go toward the white light now......seems we just got started and before you know it, comes the time we have to say so long....
Check out the projects page of our website, pinkhousegirls.com for updated construction photos...
Back in 1969, the marketing/advertising geniuses at Anheuser-Busch introduced a character that was destined to become perhaps the most recognizable symbol of Budweiser in the history of the brand. I’m referring, of course, to that "Dauntless Defender of Quality" --- Bud Man.
These stickers were on the bedroom door until yesterday. This friday we will toast you! Goodbye budman!
It was an odd week at the Bath House. The many layers of wallpaper almost told a story. Was it the mood of the lady of the house, Mrs. B, that chose each pattern, or the desire for something familiar but new? When I finally reached the bottom layer, concrete dust spewed back at me from the scraper. Cold, rough, cell-like concrete. It really made me wonder what Mrs. B thought when she first saw that wall. Maybe she didn't have the know-how or funds for plaster, and just really wanted something beautiful to adorn this room thus choosing wallpaper. The walls would still feel cold and unforgiving, but have a beautiful exterior - or nearly beautiful unless one was up close. Then, each time the wall faded or her maybe the seasons changed, she'd choose another pattern. Did she buy what was on sale or what her heart desired? Somehow, scraping the layers away, I felt a connection to Mrs. B. It was as if the eyes in the wall replayed many memories in the home, and I really wondered if she was watching from where she is today. Maybe, just maybe, her soul could be more at rest with those layers removed.
The butterfly puzzle on the wall came down with a thud, and truthfully, I couldn't decide whether it was put together by Mrs. B or another member of the family - it was glued skillfully with the purpose of adorning the wall. Being a family that served in the military, the butterfly puzzle definitely told a story of bravery and American history. It proudly adorned the doorway of that room, but definitely did not match the beauty that once met those walls with wallpapered patterns. It was almost a man-cave option in a weird sort of way - if you can ever see a butterfly as manly. The beauty of it was it also ended an era of this family - their joys, their struggles, their memories - and the butterfly flew away to create a beautiful new more-modern room that will welcome laughter and memories for a new family, a new generation in the house of Bath.
Wallpaper came to America in 1739, when Plunket Fleeson began printing wallpaper in Philadelphia. Who knows if this piece of wikipedia is true but I need someone to blame.
The above picture has 4 layers I couldn't separate!
These are only the 16 samples of wallpaper we’ve spent hours steaming and cursing, I mean scraping off the walls and ceilings. Yes wallpaper on the ceilings must have been all the rage in the 1900′s! Thank goodness that our kids will know wallpaper as a digital thing and not the toxic gluey, messy, ugly thing of the past.
This photo, taken from the attic, is actually the original roof. Pine, unique and very cool. It was amazing how many layers of shingles we pulled off the roof, each layer telling the history about the property. These original boards are still covered in bark on the sides and look as though the tree had just been cut. Wavy in appearance, they stand out as an old soul to the life of the home. Every step of the way, we're finding more and more character, and the words 'Extreme Home Makeover' are really the only that fit this exciting project.
