We live in an old West Indian Great House with a long, narrow verandah
missbengal
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How Long Have You Lived in Your Home?
Comments (43)About three years - it was old step-uncle's 65? year-old farmhouse until his death, and I'd spent some time here with him, about 5 years ago, after his wife died. The buyer of the farm, a sod farmer, asked whether I might like to rent the house. It's the most recent of 22 locations in my 80 years, and at about 17 years, I'd spent longer in the former 2 Br townhouse than any but the one were I was born. It was of a similar size to this, except smaller, but newer, basement. This is a 2 Br. bungalow aboutf 25' x 40', with 10' addition later, with smallish kitchen up a few steps from back door, turn the other way to go to the mostly full basement, mainly unfinished except for a small room in the far corner. Oil tank and furnace, freezer, washer, utility tub and dryer all down there, plus clothes press and jam cupboad, wood for wood stove. The water pump's down there, too - but the well is too close to the barnyard, so water bad for both e Coli and coliforms when the executors tested it ... and the water (especially hot) smells ... so I bring water in gallon jugs from taps in the city for cooking and drinking. Dining room beyond kitchen, left into small hall with doors to med. sized bedrooms either side, straight ahead to bathroom, old style tub, closed in, no shower. Pull-down stair in hall into unfinished attic, I'm thinking of adding stringers, studs for storage space, but can stand in only about 4' wide space - about 40' long ... includes hole for stair. Living room beyond D R, family room added later beyond living room, no basement under it, furnace doesn't serve it - woodstove is its sole heat source. Seldom-used front door (no sidewalk approaches it) just to the right of entrance from L R. One-car garage near house, 2-car plus extra space larger than enough for third car in drive-shed near it. Another storage shed and two barns plus shed a short distance away, I can use parts of them. Also an old silo - but it has open top, not used for years, so a couple of feet of swamp in the bottom. Substantial garden down near the barn - water pump there to provide water. As I live about 20 miles from city, 8 miles from village, I figure that I can probably live here as long as I can drive (and I have my 80-year-old test on Friday). Or the landlord wants the place for his nearly-grown sons (he's doubtful) ... but I think that they may want a place somewhat more upscale than this: time'll tell. I hope that all of you are enjoying your places. ole joyful...See MoreShoe/coat storage for a long and narrow living room with bay windows
Comments (28)Alas never took a photo of it as far as I can remember. This one is similar and looks to be about the same size. MIne had more detail outside but no drawers. I was looking for a larger piece but the labels on the shelves won my heart and being small it fit nicely into the small bedroom. Celestina, I had a half rack of that sort of design made of cast metal that might have been brass that fit nicely in the front hall. Fastened to studs it took up far less room and couldn't fall over. Sold that on eBay long ago and had never seen anything like it since until just now. Pictures are upside down but it is exactly the same design. If you could find a shoe cubby that looked okay with the old fashioned vibe it would terrific looking so long as you manage to keep it cleared off. You wouldn't think something that simple could hold so much! I really like the pieces acm found particularly the wood and metal 3 shelf one. Just work really hard to keep the number of things hung to a dull roar....See MoreRug in a long, narrow living room with walkways
Comments (31)Because the sectional can be changed and for better tv viewing and traffic flow. Very rough sketch. Everything could move closer to the windows if you wanted to add a sofa table behind the entry couch leaving just a walkway in front of the windows. Or if room possible to add 2 smaller chairs with table between at the window with walkway in front of them. start with the rug centered a foot in front of the fireplace /tv wall and place the furniture from there....See MoreLighting/paint for a large dark living/dining room in an old house?
Comments (16)Just a few personal opinions: Many New England homes have 8' ceilings; the 1905 I grew up in had 8 1/2. Pot lights at that height are visually jarring to me and compromise the serenity of an expanse of ceiling. Also, people tend to put in too many because once they decide on that option, more is not excessively costly. The result is a runway look. For an early 1900's home you're dealing with plaster and lath unless someone already tore it out. Once you make holes in that, you can lose the plaster - especially on a ceiling it can pull away from the lath. Then, dusty reno mess and call the sheet rockers....See MorePatricia Colwell Consulting
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