Exterior Update

I was in South Carolina last week and one of the final activities was a visit from the landscaper.  I will do the plantings, but the yard needed some attention!

I now have a properly graded front yard with berms to route rain water away from the house.  The yard was seeded with rye and fescue so it should start to look better after some rains.  The grass will, of course, limit erosion. This also means a lot less red clay/mud will get tracked into the house.  The new driveway greatly reduces my chances of getting stuck in the mud with my vehicle!

The goal is for the yard to eventually look like it might look if it had not been scraped bare.  I don't want to be tied to lots of yard work when I am in SC so I'm thinking of a natural look with shrubs and small trees.  Limited need for mowing.  It will take some time, but that's OK.

Still need to finish painting  doors and trim, but the yard is so much better.
Frost on the roof that morning!

We added a turn around spot to keep me out of the mud!

The cat and the dog went with me on this trip and the cat was a very good traveler!  A few squalls, but once Barney (dog) got right next to her crate she was silent the rest of the way.  On some level, I think he must have been letting her know it would be OK.  Silence is golden!

Barney and Allie (in the crate)

There are a couple of items for the builder to finish and I have to pay at least one more payment, but I think we are very close to the end!  I am very happy!

Looks Like A Home and Feels Like Home!

It's been a journey of about seven months, but the end is in sight!

On December 3rd, one of my brothers, my sister-in-law and I set out from Florida in a three vehicle caravan to take a load of furniture to South Carolina.
Doug drove the 16 ft rental truck, Katie drove one of their cars and I drove the pickup truck filled with "treasures" for my house.  It was a whirlwind trip and Doug and Katie worked tirelessly while here so my house is starting to look like a home. Nancy O. has been here (again) helping and working very hard.

Take a look back at all that has been accomplished...
Please note that I still need to:

• paint the woodwork and doors
• complete the touch up painting on walls
• add window treatments (on backorder)
• set up and decorate the larger bedroom (no pictures of that room  in this post)
• finish recovering sofa in living area (The pinkish fabric will soon be  completely gone!)
• turn piano into a desk (Piano is in pictures, but draped with sheet.)

Living Area - AFTER

Guest Room - AFTER

Kitchen - AFTER

Kitchen - Looking into former bedroom area

First meal in new house!  (Take out, but delicious.)

Small seating area with paddle arm chairs.

Next:

Final grading of lot, landscaping, installation of post lights,complete driveway and parking pad.

Certificate of Occupancy!

My house was inspected yesterday and I may now stay there next time I visit.The yard has not been completed but here are a couple of pictures showing the inside:

The rods on the wall will hold an open shelf.

  New vinyl floor in foreground and refinished hardwood in background.

Floors in both bedrooms have also been refinished and look great.

November 2nd

See What's New...

Take a look at the latest progress on my house:

Railing around back  deck area.

Back steps from deck down to back yard.

Completed now with railing all around. Kitchen Counter top Installed Counter top and appliances ...  and dust Wood floors have been repaired and sanded 

and stained !

And a peek down the hall !

Floors will receive 3 top coats of satin finish.They look great now so it should only get better.

The plumber has also finished up and I now have running water and a working toilet INSIDE the house.  

Two or None!

My granddaddy would sometimes say "two or none" in response to a question and Wednesday was a  TWO or NONE kind of day.

Two trips to the trash center.
Two trips to Lowe's.
Two trips to Home Depot, followed by a third trip on Thursday morning.

I was working on sorting out some issues with my lights and fans and wondered if  I would ever get it right.  Of course, I did get it taken care of ... eventually.

I also did some painting on the front of the house and selected the color for the front door.

Front doors and windows will have painted trim.  Black for door and window trim with "Cloudburst" for front doors.

Kitchen pendant light installed with more lights to be be added.  Outlets also added.

Hood for range is partially installed along with several ceiling fans and lights.

Back porch with ceiling fan installed.

More " Then and Now" Photos

Sept. 27, 2016

I took a few more pictures to show the changes...

Bedroom changed to part of Same great room.

Window changed to French Doors.

Same bedroom showing it is now part of the great room.

Still waiting for wood floors to be repaired and refinished.

I'm pleased with the progress in the kitchen...

 

Looking Back and Moving Forward

I've been in SC for most of  September and I'm trying to wrap up a few chores before I head back to FL.  I've been painting,  working on flooring, cabinets and making an island for my kitchen.  I've been blessed with excellent help from family and friends  throughout the month and  I could never have gotten this far without them.

Today I sort of hit a wall (figuratively)  and needed a break.  I headed back to my home away from home, cleaned up and took a nap (one of only a handful of naps I've taken since I arrived, but a daily activity under normal circumstances).  Right before I drifted off to sleep I started thinking about all we've accomplished.  Take a look...

ThenNow

Bedroom with added linen closet

Back porch - On the way to becoming a laundry room.

I believe my friend's expression says it all, but look at the bathroom now.

New everything and a water closet instead of a giant linen closet.

Note:  I would have salvaged the green and black tiles, but they weren't tiles, just plastic.  We salvaged some for a future project.

  First look at the kitchen and dining area ...

 Same area with new floor.

Cooking up a kitchen.

This was the living room or "parlor" and now it's a bedroom with a nice new closet.  Piano is in storage and will become a desk - eventually.

There is still a lot to be completed, but I am re-energized looking at all we have accomplished so far! 

Back to work tomorrow!