beauty that moves

home tour :: pantry

I think you may know how much I adore this part of our home. My goodness, I have carried on about it too many times I'm sure. I don't imagine you will be surprised to learn that our very first "toast to our new home" (bubbly for the big kids, chocolate milk for the little one) took place is this small space just off the kitchen.  It was unplanned, but looking back I can only think how fitting it was we wound up in here!

Thankfully, all of that beautiful wood was not touched over the years. It turns out this pantry is not original to the house (1922), it was built in the 1930's by the gentleman who lived here. He was a machinist by day, and as a hobby he happened to be an excellent craftsman. We learned about the origin of this room when our home was on the Victorian Home Tour in town a few years back. A woman who lived next door as a little girl in the 1930's came on the tour and told us all about when it was built. It was so interesting to walk through our home with someone who had visited here so many times, nearly seventy years before.

The mini-blinds were of course removed right away. Sadly, replacing the 80's linoleum counter was something that never did get checked off our list in our time here (a portion of the counter is solid marble at least), and as for the floor... well, thankfully we pulled it up with the kitchen floor pretty early on.

Oh my. After hours and hours and hours of sanding and refinishing, these tired and worn (solid oak) floors were restored to their original beauty. 

And it is right in here that I have stayed through the years, with apron strings tied, making good use of this beautiful and functional space. As we look ahead, it is impossible to say for sure what life will hold, but I do know for certain that a tiny part of me will always remain in this little room.

What a lovely thing to hold on to.

home tour :: kitchen

Oh this kitchen. Thiskitchenthiskitchenthiskitchen. For all the pantry love that I felt when we first looked at this property, there was little to none for the kitchen. It is a room tucked away from the living space. It has no exterior window. The pantry is full of them but the kitchen has zero. There is the one over the sink that at one time looked out to the back yard, but an addition off the back of the house has changed that. During the warmer months I can open the door to the side porch, that let's in a little more light.

The kitchen as we purchased it was a bit of a hodge-podge. There was the permanent, probably original cabinets on the sink side of the room with a grey but forgettable laminate counter. The counter I'm sure was not original.

The other side was made up of a portable island and cabinets that were different from the opposite side. As you can see from the photo, the break-up of the two types of counter space made it an awkward workspace. Look closely and you can see the wall above the island is not flush, there are two bump-outs. Behind those bump-outs are pipes that carry the plumbing to the second floor bathroom. The house did not have a bathroom (aside from one in the basement) when it was first built. What is now the bathroom was probably a fourth bedroom at one time. Adam built out that portion of the wall so we could add cabinets and a counter that would fit smoothly into the space. If you'd like to see a few shots of what it took to make the wall workable, check out these photos here, here, and here.

And that floor...I admit it looks fairly benign in the photo, but trust me, it was stained and yellowed and just had a really weird odor. I also had a strong feeling there was a wood floor underneath. It had to go.

Typical for an older house, there was more than one layer of linoleum to be pulled up. It was such a disgusting, messy job but indeed, we found those wood floors. However, we first had to deal with the asbestos that was left behind from the bottom flooring layer. It took days (maybe weeks) to remove it all. Because it would have been very dangerous to turn all of that asbestos into dust with the sander, we had to remove it differently. What worked for us was to take large towels soaked in boiling hot water and lay them over an area of the floor. We would let it sit for quite a while, the heat and the moisture would turn the asbestos into mud essentially, then we would carefully scrape and scoop up the slop and dispose of it (the dump had a special place for it). It took forever but it was the safest way to do it. Once all the asbestos was removed we sanded and refinished the floors.

One Subaru can hold two layers of linoleum and sub-flooring from one kitchen.

We definitely went the DIY/Ikea route when designing our kitchen.

Because this room has little natural light, we painted it a very light color (Navajo White with White trim and cabinets). I love the warmth of wood and needed a little more than the newly refinished floors could offer. Ikea wooden counter tops were the perfect solution. They are easy to maintain, washing them with soap and water and oiling every few weeks with food grade butcher block oil. Adam sands them every few years. Under cabinet lighting (Ikea) really warms the space too. I replaced the glass shelves with wooden shelves and took the doors off the upper cabinets. Lately I've been thinking about putting them back on, just for a change.

We replaced the older stove that came with the house and on the newly surfaced wall we were able to add more open shelving, cabinets and counter space. Considering our small galley kitchen, I think we wound up with a decent amount of workspace. Not pictured is the stool that usually sits under the counter where the overhang is. We do not have room for a table in our kitchen so Adam designed this overhang for Emily to sit at the counter for a snack or something of the sort while I was busy preparing meals. This tiny little detail has been so wonderful to have. Of course, people always love to sit on those steps too! Including sweet Sukha.

The sink came with the house and is nothing fancy but the size is incredible! I can easily fit a cookie sheet flat in the basin to be washed, Why would sinks ever be made too small to accommodate common cook and bakeware pieces?

There's a little peek at the floors...

All in all we've made it work for us. It is by no means a dream kitchen, but it is one that we put tremendous work and love into. And over the years, it has produced countless meals that have nurtured and sustained us, and for that we are eternally grateful. 

home tour :: dining room

Today we'll head into the dining room. It's hard to tell but there was actually wallpaper in here at the time this photo was taken, a white background with tiny country blue and reddish pink flowers. It felt like a patriotic garden of sorts. Other than that, and the infamous faux brass chandelier, the room was in tact.

The room just beyond this one was an addition in the 1930's, hence the exterior window in the dining room. You can see a peek at the wall to wall carpeting that was in the back room. It was a happy day when that was finally pulled up to reveal solid oak floors underneath.

Oh those curtains...

Here we are today. I had fallen in love with this color years ago when I saw it in Cottage Living magazine (remember that one?). It is Laura Ashley, Russet. Though I think I had it mixed using Benjamin Moore, I am a painters daughter after-all. ;) I don't love it. It's fine in person but my camera does not like to take pictures in here, it's very sensitive with all the red tones. And we have two huge maple trees just outside those windows so in the summer when the leaves are on the trees it can feel a little dark in here.

My mom often reminds me of how fortunate I am to have rooms this size in a first home. I agree and have never taken it for-granted. Dining rooms are so often built too small, this one has always felt just right in size.

I have my desk in the corner. I love how centrally located it is, close to the kitchen and family action. My laptop is often open on this desk, a good spot for blogging, etsy shop keeping and emailing. It is also where I menu plan, appointment plan, list make, etc.

It's my busy mama/homemaker/creative lady zone.

 

Just to the left of my desk I keep many of my favorite cookbooks. Perfect for menu planning and cooking inspiration.

On my last post, Caroline commented that she noticed we had painted our steam radiators and asked what we used. Thank you for noticing Caroline, we are rather proud of them! Each and every radiator in this house was disconnected and removed from the wall to be cleaned thoroughly and painted properly. In the living and dining room we used a bronze colored metallic paint and applied with a brush. Using a brush versus a spray (this applies to painting walls or exteriors too) is always a good idea because the brush strokes help the paint to settle in and adhere better. (If you spray the exterior of a house, as many people do, it is best to "back-brush" each area after painting with a brush... painters daughter I tell you.)

The metallic paint can be found at most good paint stores, just ask about it. It is usually sold in small quantities and is very thin and watery so it lasts and covers a lot of area.

You can see behind the plant we also painted the pipe that leads to the radiators upstairs. There were three pipes on the first floor, all painted. I love those little details.

Some thoughts about choosing paint color when there is a lot of wood trim... Amy asked in the comments of the last post if I would share a little about this.

Our first floor has a lot of original woodwork left, thankfully. We would never paint it, however, it is a bit darker than I would choose. I guess when selecting a paint color, if you have darker woodwork, you have to decide how much contrast you want to have visually. Looking at the first two photos in this post you can see what I mean. Light walls with a lot of dark trim equals mucho contrast, more than I cared for. Darker, prominent colors complimented the woodwork and the whole space seems to flow more easily on the eye. Well, as easily as red can flow! That is what worked for my taste, of course if you prefer higher contrst in a room, than lighter colors would be the way to go.

I guess that about does it for the dining room, thank you for checking it out with me today! Next time... will I take you to the kitchen or the back room? This home tour just added an element of suspense!! Ooooh...

home tour :: entry and living room

As we continue on inside for this home tour, I hope you don't mind a few handfuls of before shots along the way. I think it adds perspective and shows how it is important maintain your own vision when looking for or creating a new home. Sure, there was that one time I put an offer on a house because I really liked the owner's CD collection, the food in their pantry, and the single stalk of an early spring tree blossom in a clay vase on her toddler's bedside table... but for the most part, when looking at a home I try to just see the bones. Good bones are all you need to make a home lovely, the 80's curtains, wallpaper and wall to wall carpeting can be tossed. But underneath it all, what do you have to work with? This home had some of the most questionable decor, but the very best bones of any house we looked at. It was a such a good decision. Oh, that other house that we made an offer on? We wound up not getting that one, but our kindred paths do cross on a regular basis now with that family. There little toddler has grown-up quite a bit and is now in Emily's class.

Inside that lovely front door is quite a spacious entry. It even has a coat closet just to the right (outside the shot). Something that is not common in this Victorian filled neighborhood. I love the practicality of Craftsman architecture.

The former owner insisted she leave the curtains and all of the mini-blinds so we would not be without curtains during those early days. Um... the mauve drapes and the navy blue with mauve flowers came down on day one. As did about 40 mini-blinds. You can't tell from these photos, but these walls were covered with about 4 different shades and sheens of white, it was a common theme throughout the house.

Are you thinking I should have kept the navy blue and mauve floral balloon drapes? ;) If you look closely you can see a glimpse of the faux brass (plastic) chandelier hanging in the dining room.

In the far side of the room, evidence that the drapes were removed immediately. Can you tell I had personal issues with those drapes.  The front door is to the right of the drape pile, just to give you a sense of place. The stairway goes up and then bends to the left and heads to the second floor behind that wall (it also splits and goes into the kitchen on the other side). I always wanted to open up that wall and carry the banister up and around.

Emily and her best friend (they still are!) re-painting drawers to one of the built-ins. I think for the upstairs bath. I see a roll of carpet in the back, the pulling up of a lot of wall to wall and wood floor refinishing was taking place in those early days. We still didn't live here, I think it was 6-8 weeks after purchase until we finally moved in.

And now. I'm standing by the front door. Not a great shot of the space (it really is a big entry), but I wanted to show you the stairs from this angle so you could see a peek at the kitchen on the other side. We do not have an eat-in kitchen, but those few steps spilling down on the kitchen side are the spot for my family to hang out and chat with me while I'm cooking.

I would say the living room feels like it begins where the fireplace is. The reddish oriental rug in the upper right corner is our rug by the front door and it is 5x7 feet. I'm a fan of the biggest possible rug size in entry-ways. Plenty of transitional space for changing out of wet boots, snow clothes, etc.

In the very left hand side you can see a glimpse of the coat closet. The front door is to the left of that.

Just for fun... that little desk in the foreground was mine as a girl... the coffee table is an old trunk that was Adam's toy box when he was young... the mission chair was a father's day gift to Adam several years ago, found at the flea market and the cushion is the chair-futon cover from LL.Bean... the dresser in the far corner is from my midwife... and that sweet little rocker was picked up over the summer at the flea market.

Turning just a little to the right. I hope you are getting a sense of the flow.

I could never tire of this mantle. Perhaps I could reproduce it someday...?

One of this home's loveliest features (to me) is the triple opening from dining room to living room. Each room feels like their own defined space (which I like), but the openness makes entertaining, especially large sit down dinners (with the table expanded) very easy on the hostess.

Here's a little peek into the dining room... we'll head in there next time.

I hope my family enjoys looking back on this home tour over the years. I think perhaps a little Blurb book might be in order once all is said and done.

home tour :: the outside

I hope you'll induldge me in taking you on a little home tour over the next week or so. I know many of you are like me and love to peek around old houses. I think I'll take it room by room, starting with the outside today. Once we get inside there should be plenty of before and after shots (there was a lot of good old fashioned DIY that took place in those early days).

After writing and intentionally deleting the no less than eight paragraphs that originally accompanied these photos, I realized that I have some bittersweet feelings around leaving this home, this town. And I might have been carrying on just a little too much. Our plan is the perfect plan for us, no doubt about that, it's just that our first purchased home is... well... our first purchased home. It's a pretty special part of our family history. Transitions and change deserve their own recognition, I think it is good to allow for all of the subtle feelings, thoughts and emotions that come up during these times. It also makes me think keeping my words simple and sparse through this "House Tour" is a fine idea.

All of today's shots (and many others you will see in the days to come) were shot with film. The photos in this post were all taken the very day we bought this house, or within those first few days and film was the only way we did it back them.

I loved the cedar shakes, the wide trim, the windows in the breezeway.

People are always surprised by the actual size of our house, From the road it looks like a tiny bungalow, but it is a very deep house. This back addition was added on in the 1930's, so it still maintains the quality workmanship of the earlier building periods.

This is the opposite (south) side of the house. The first door goes to the garage, the second, which is hard to see goes to the basement. It's such a smart design to have the roof covering in this area. You can go from garage to basement easily without worry of the elements. Plus, it makes this very utilitarian side of the house feel like a quaint little nook. To me anyway. ;)

I think it is written somewhere that if you buy a house in New England in October, the moment after you scribble your name on a few important papers at the attorney's office you must dash out the door with your new house keys and head straight to the garden center. Here you will need to purchase pumpkins and mums. Flowers on day one of home ownership are a must. I have no idea about the girl's silly expression... but look at how little she is!

The threshold carry... sweetness.

Next time we'll go inside. You all know I decided to buy the house once I saw the pantry, but it was seeing this front door that made me pick up the phone to call and schedule an appointment to see inside.

Thank you for joining me!