Did it, ripped it out, hated it - Pic heavy

jejvtr

15 years ago

Day we brought dd home - she will be 6 in June

I think this is winter 08

early last summer

Rainy & dreary - but the dogwood is magnificent this year! Good by ugly bushes - Oh, happy day! I've been waiting a LONG time - dh did not want to do it - I ran to nursery & purchased a few annuals - some lavender, foxglove, hens/chicks, decorative grass

Spring clean back yard & purchased some cast iron urns - painted black (1st coat)

Bring that beautiful dogwood in!

Put it everywhere!

Oh, happy SPRING - ran around planting & transplanting in the rain!

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Comments (14)

kitchenkelly
15 years ago
Oh! Your pics are so lovely. I am in MN and still don't see much of anything springy yet. I am going to pretend that those dogwoods are in my front yard. I love that you have two colors.
ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9
15 years ago
Your house looks magnificent with the new shutter color and the plantings in the front. Dogwoods are something I can only dream about here in southern California. Very lovely!
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AJ, is that Honeysuckle? How pretty! Our's is blooming now, it's white, but the blooms don't last long then it looks like weeds. I grow Petunias but they don't do well. Everything I grow is super easy. Everything I plant blooms profusely all summer. If not, I won't plant it. lol Knock Out Roses- Floribunda Roses (my first year) Cosmos (first year and they've tripled in size already) Carpet Roses- Zinnias Coneflowers Tickseed or coreopsis Hydrangea, the easy one, forget it's name. Dianthus, the real colorful mounds you see Impatiens for shady areas Caladium, which I'll be planting more of. They thrive in front of the porch with morning sun. I still have other plants to buy! My dh planted a large plot of wildflowers so I can't wait to see them. They're on the other side of the garage which you can't see in the picture.
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Wow. I did not expect to see this thread pop up again. Thanks for the compliments! @susied3 - my spice pullouts are 3" and a standard spice bottle fits perfectly between the rails. In each pullout I can put 44 standard spice bottles in each. I also have a 12" pullout, but I use that for oils, kosher salt, pastas, etc. I think it would be too wide to organize as a spice drawer. @williamsem - I am very pleased with the quality of the Kraftmaid cabinets. I did purchase them through HD and installed them myself. @lwerner - Funny that you asked about broiling. I broiled my chicken fajitas last night for dinner. I actually use the convect broil quite a bit and have had no issues. The only change I would want would be that the broiler be a bit wider. When I broil 4 ramekins of eggs they cook faster, on the center than on the sides.
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Dear Polar Princess, I am happy to read of your recent survivorship and a getting new lease on life. I think your oak cabinets look very well made and can be a star with some new accessories. Oak is a timeless, beautiful wood. Here are the changes I would try for minimal cost: 1) As has been mentioned numerous times: remove the stenciling & ivy to freshen the look. 2) If you can easily remove the light bridge over the sink and add molding to the top of the 2 cabinets where it connected, that will also modernize the look, as previous poster suggested, for not much money. 3) Backsplash: Provide Maximum sizzle and splash, which will transform the kitchen with a shimmering glass tile mosaic. See link below as example. Your area is not big, so you could pull this off for only $200 to $250 in materials. 4) Definitely bring in the brown leather bar stools you like or even something very modern in style as a contrast. 5) Counter tops: white laminate is not necessarily bad. In fact, if you add a shimmering glass backsplash that is a nice counterpoint to the white counters, you may find they are now more pleasing to you, without going to the expense of adding granite. You already know how easy to maintain your laminate counters are. You might jazz them up with some interesting place mats or update your centerpiece to be more in keeping with the brown leather & mosaics. 6) Window valence: maybe replace the lace look with something more tailored to complement the new backsplash and stools. 7) Wall paint: See how the backsplash changes the look and decide if you want to add wall color or not. 8) If you still yearn for SS appliances, check into changing out the front panels of the frig and dishwasher with SS. Don't think that is possible with the stove. I would really keep the bisque because they will look nice with the new backsplash as well. The link is from a larger website with many different choices of mosaic color combinations. The featured one is Anima because I think it would complement your while/bisque and oak and brown leather. Also check out several of the Spectralight (with and without El Dorado), Shimmerfly (one is Honey Pearl)and others which might complement your adjacent room colors. Good luck with all your decisions. We celebrate that you are here to make them! Anna Lee F Here is a link that might be useful: Glass tile backsplash
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stacey, I totally sympathize! It took me forever to make up my mind about countertops. My island sat for 2 months with no top at all because I wanted to make sure I made the right decision. I agree with holligator that most of your inspiration pics don't have both wood floors and wood counters. For example, in the inspiration photo you said was from mamadadapaige, the white tile floor supplies the contrast. They've also broken up all the wood with a very dark countertop on the perimeter. If you're looking for a top that will still look new in 3 years, I'm wondering if wood is the right choice. Wood is softer than stone and scratches and dings more easily. I have a wood top on my hutch that is stained to match my island. It has lots of scratches on it already. It's only been in for 4 months and I've had to use the touch-up kit numerous times; consequently, it requires much greater care and maintenance than my marble. I'm not going to push marble on you because I actually think the Costa Esmerelda provides just the right amount of contrast and would be the smartest choice for resale. However, if you're considering marble, you won't have any stains if you seal it a couple times a year. I'm not sure what type of marble appeals to you, but Carrera, for example, is much, much cheaper than any Silestone/Caesarstone and many granites. Perhaps you can ask people who have had marble for 3 years or more to post photos or share their experiences with wear and tear. And here's a photo I found on the Crown Point website with light counters and what looks like a wood top on the island. The wood top matches the floor while the island is darker. I like how they injected color with the backsplash, which along with the contrasting white of the trim and hood keeps this kitchen from being too monochromatic and ho-hum.
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amac
15 years ago
I'm confused - what happened to the shake roof?
jejvtr
Original Author
15 years ago
kelly - when it comes.... it really does something to the soul! it will be there soon enough

ingrid - thank you - So Cal weather is something I can only dream about here!

Amac - see 1st pic the shake roof was painted! yes, dark black by PO - so painter stripped & put on stain to soften the look & give uniformity - the top roof is asphalt shingle over cedar shake by PO
amykath
15 years ago
Love the new shutters and door color!!! PERFECT!!!
User
15 years ago
WOW !! You have been BUSY !! Now all you need is some ...purple in the wonderful new garden !! I love all you have done. Dogwood and azaleas are long gone here. We are into our roses , my rose campion opened today !! We had dinner by the pool...Spring is here !!!

I love he shutters and door and roof. All looks great. c
sable_ca
15 years ago
Your home is so beautiful - my kind of dream house! With the soft colors of the house itself and the lovely landscaping, it is very inviting. Great job!
loribee
15 years ago
You have been busy!!! Lovely home and gardens! :)
amysrq
15 years ago
I come from a long line of ripper-outers-of-overgrown-shrubs! Doesn't it feel great? Suddenly, your gorgeous stone wall comes into view. And, think of all the fun you'll have with "real" plants! Yea, yea....shrubs are plants too, but you can't dig 'em up and move 'em around like furniture like you can with perennials. :-)

Beautiful house and dogwoods, too. I grew up with dogwoods and was told that the cornus florida was not a good choice for New England. So, I have a kousa instead. It's just not the same. There is nothing like the lovely form of a good old-fashioned dogwood.

Kelly, my condolences to you for having to wait so long. I thought it was bad here in MA. Hope Spring peeks it's head up soon.
gemini40
15 years ago
Your home has been transformed and it looks gorgeous.One little suggestion...out with the wroughtiron fencing on the additions and put up wooden posts and railings..It would be outstanding.Hope you don't mind my butting in..

June
jejvtr
Original Author
15 years ago
art, trail, sable, lori- Thank you! Yes, I have been busy, a good busy
Amy - I started ripping out yrs ago, the front of the house had way too mature boxwoods - GONE, the front steps had little dwarf evergreen (hate them) gone - I had NO vision other than I hated what was covering the house. So, I keep ripping & slowly replacing - put in holly in front 2yrs ago. The back hmmmm another story - in process of ripping

Gem - Oh, my indeed w/the railings - that is a vision/dream we priced that last yr - along with replacing the 2 flat roofs - well wood rail alone on both sides was $10K, + roof, + paint = $$$$$$$
So, I repaired the 2 flat roofs and will dream of the day I can put up railings - it will happen! Perhaps I did to good a job w/my repairs on those old roofs though

Thanks all
gemini40
15 years ago
OMG are you kidding me 10,00 for the railings alone.... that is outrageous.. I would have been on the floor if I got an estimate like that. Keep calling , in this economy perhaps you could find somebody who could do it for a heck of a lot less than that. Good luck..your home is gorgeous.

june
tinam61
15 years ago
Beautiful home and yard! I love the updates. What state are you located in? I am in Tennessee, our dogwoods were beautiful this year also, but are almost gone. We have the big Dogwood Festival here - and dogwood trails. The pink are my favorites! We have more white, but a few pink and a couple of the darker (not quite red) pink ones.

tina
jejvtr
Original Author
15 years ago
gem - yes, I did fall on the floor & that's why it's on hold.

Tin - Thank you -I'm in Ct

Did it, ripped it out, hated it - Pic heavy

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ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9

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