This past Saturday, both sets of parents offered a hand
(eight, actually) at Wee House.
“The Parents” arrived shortly after Ryan and I returned from our
favorite Saturday morning loop – the dump, to Home Depot, to Tedford’s because
we forgot something, to home. If
we’d had cash, we probably would have added a trip to Marty’s Donuts (probably a good
thing we didn’t).
“The Moms” and I got to painting and I’m thrilled to report
the front room windows are ready for window treatments! After some Internet
bargain shopping, I ordered some fabric swatch samples so stay tuned on that.
After we finished up the windows, we also primed the built-in cabinet that’s
been ignored since the exciting new mudroom project. Poor girl. We’ll get back
to her.
Not to underplay the hours and hours of collective work my
mom, mother-in-law and I have spent painting various finishes in the front
room, but some Very Exciting things happened in the mudroom on Saturday,
courtesy of Ryan and “The Dads.”
No sooner than we returned from the dump (and skipped
Marty’s… still bitter about that), Ryan busted out the Sawzall, cut back more
of the old roof and filled the truck up again. “The Dads” arrived on cue and
then the last pieces of trim were added to the gable.
One of the reasons why we stopped at Tedford’s was to see if
they had specialty shingles for the triangle, but no such luck. When Rick first
said he’d make them on his own, I admit I was a bit dubious (sorry, Rick!). But
I shouldn’t have worried. First, Rick cut down all the shingles to a uniform
width. Then, he used a Dunkin’ Donuts cup to trace a curve. America and this
renovation run on Dunkin’, so I thought it was very fitting. After tracing out
the curve, Rick used the jigsaw to cut the shingles.
Here is the end result:
How great does that look!? And like we said, it was only
fitting that like everything in this house, it was all custom.
While Rick was busy with that, Ryan and my dad did some
structural work to reinforce the existing roof and to support the new gable.
They used three cut down LVLs so that the roof is now nice and strong. The LVLs will also provide the framing
to build the interior wall – TO OUR CLOSET – off of.
While “The Dads” continued their work, us ladies headed out
to the fabric store. I was on the
hunt for material to reupholster our pink barrel-backed chair, as well as
fabric for curtains to flank the sheer I put up on our front door.
I did love this Ikat fabric, but it was pricy and I wasn’t sure
how much to buy for the chair.
I decided that I’d first speak with an upholsterer and get an exact
fabric measurement before committing.
I did find this lovely grey on ivory silhouette print and have big plans for a
front door curtain. Wish me luck…
On Sunday, I continued with my painting (does it ever end!?)
and Ryan continued with the mudroom.
He framed out the gable and added plywood to the exterior so that we
could get to the main event… installing the door!
Once we were ready, Ryan lined the tray of
the door with lead and added some silicone caulking before we hoisted the door
in, spent 45 minutes or so getting the damn thing plumb and level, and nailed
that sucker in.
Ta-Da!
As always, a Big Thanks to "The Parents" for their help. The mudroom is motoring along and I can't imagine where I'd be in the painting without all of Denise and my mother's help.
As always, a Big Thanks to "The Parents" for their help. The mudroom is motoring along and I can't imagine where I'd be in the painting without all of Denise and my mother's help.
