Sunday, October 6, 2013

Outside


It's been a frustrating two weeks.  I came down with a cold that left me
with bronchitis and there's been very little progress in the kitchen. 
The major construction part is done and now we're waiting for the
plumber, electrician and HVAC guy to do their thing.  


There has been some progress on the back porch and I'll
admit that I was excited to see the French door go in.

The tongue-and-groove fir decking is down on the first floor
and most the beadboard ceiling is up.

Two wall sconces will flank the French doors.


I used an onion lantern at the front door...



...and I found these industrial-onion hybrid lights
at Home Depot.  A really nice look for little money
but they only come in silver and this odd "brick" color
so I picked up some Rustoleum black spray paint
to make them match the light on the front. 



A few coats of black satin later...


...the look so much better.


I'm really happy with how they turned out.



I'm kind of toying with the idea of staining the beadboard
ceiling dark brown and painting the deck a very dark gray
like Kendall Charcoal.  The back porches face South and
the sun beats down on them most of the day.  I was thinking
the dark colors might eat up some of the light but I also wonder
if it's a color palette that reads craftsman.  Know what I mean?

It requires more thought.


Anyway, back to the French doors.

They're made by Simpson and have true divided lights.
One would think that a single pane with applied wood mullions
would be cheaper but, no, true divided is the less expensive route.

The down side is each of panes has this rubbery adhesive that
squishes out around every single pane when they install them.
I'm doing all the painting so trimming all this goop off is my job.
It's tough stuff.  


I did a few this weekend and each pane takes about 15 minutes.



So while I patiently wait for progress in the kitchen, I'm spending
a little down time enjoying the fall foliage.   


We had a little rain today and that
always makes the color a little more intense.


This all seems a few weeks early this year.
If only the plumber was on the same schedule.

74 comments:

  1. Well, Steve, I have to admit that while I enjoying reading through your posts, the thought always crosses my mind as to what type of work you do in "real life". Photography is a possibility, as is gardening, interior design, painting and decoration, handyman ..... I think the list is endless. Congratulations, the house will be such a credit to you when it is done.
    Greetings from the Blue Mountains in Australia. Tricia.

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    Replies
    1. Tricia, my day job is nothing creative at all. All of this is a creative outlet that provides a nice balance to my 9 to 5 life.

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  2. I love everything! The French doors are beautiful, as is the floor and the fixtures. I feel like the leaves have turned early this year too.

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    1. Thanks, Jen. I'll love the French doors more when they're painted.

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  3. Looks like those gorgeous doors went in just in the nick of time. It appears it's going to be getting cold soon on your side of the country. I want to know how you got that goop off.

    Regarding the colors, love the idea of the darkness eating the light, but also wondering about the ensuing radiant heat? Fingers crossed for a miracle coalescence of plumber, electrician, and HVAC dude.

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    1. Camille, I've also wondered if lighter colors would be cooler. I'm using razor blades to cut into the adhesive goop and then a widget to scrape it off.

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  4. Things are coming along well on your project! Sorry to hear about your sickness. It's that time of year! I have a suggestion for your porch. Have you considered staining the porch floor? We did this on our front porch and it's so nice not to have to repaint! It does require restaining every so often, but you don't have to deal with chipping, peeling paint. For the ceiling, you may want to try a very pale blue, an old tradition in the South meant to ward off evil spirits. Some people choose more vibrant blues or shades of aqua, but a very pale light blue can be lovely on a porch ceiling.
    Claudia

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    1. Claudia, I was actually planning to use an opaque stain on the deck but hadn't considered a transparent stain since I was thinking dark gray. As for the ceiling, my front porch ceiling is a pale blue called Clear Skies but I was looking to buck tradition a little bit on the less formal back porches. Painting a "night sky" color is another option.

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  5. It may feel to you as if the work on your kitchen and porches has slowed to match the proverbial 'snail's pace', but I see a LOT of progress in your photo of the new French doors! Ceiling and floor, of course, but also trim and lattice ... it's beginning to look (dare I say it) ... finished!

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    Replies
    1. There's definitely some progress outside. It's inside that I'd rather see the work getting done.

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  6. Why is it that big box stores only make fixtures in finishes that are so 10 years ago? I like the painted fixture, nice save.

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    1. Feedback on the Home Depot website said the fixtures rust quickly so I'm thinking the Rustoleum will have the added benefit of making them last longer

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  7. I can relate to workers not showing up quickly enough...we are just about done here, finally! I painted the front door at our last home black, and quickly had to change the color. We faced west and the door got really, really hot...it was a metal door though, so that probably had a lot to do with it. Maybe you should paint a couple of samples on poster board and tack them up there to see which effect you like...don't worry, everyone's going to show up on the same day, there will be chaos and then you'll be finished...tada!
    am

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    Replies
    1. I can see how the metal door would be a problem. When the sun is high in the sky during the summer, the sun beats on the deck more that the door so I don't think that will be a problem. Looking forward to seeing your finished kitchen.

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  8. I'm glad you're feeling better. Nothing worse than feeling miserable and then having the work slow to a crawl to make yourself even more miserable.

    The lights came out great. Good idea on the paint. And your French Door looks fantastic. We're thinking of staining our front door Rosewood or Burgundy using Minwax. We figured we'd go with stain route first knowing that we could always paint afterwards. What color are you thinking on yours?

    I hate waiting for contractors. It makes me even more impatient…

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Larry, I wanted to have a mahogany front door but I watched some local houses that stained their doors and if it gets any weather and/or sun exposure, it seems they need yearly maintenance. The color and finish seem to fade really quickly.

      My windows are aluminum clad on the outside in black so I'm painting the door black to match the windows. I found that Ben Moore black is an almost perfect match for Marvin's ebony aluminum cladding.

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  9. I love the doors. Tres chic and simple with the lighting, the onion lamp is very appealing.

    So sorry to hear about the cold/bronchitis.

    ain't nobody got time for that.

    Take care of yourself Mr. Man.

    xo J.

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    Replies
    1. Not a bad light for $33 and a little spray paint. Can't believe they don't come in black though.

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  10. Lights in black satin... isn't there an old rock song called that???

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    1. Oh my god, Meg; that's so funny. I think it was Nights in White Satin by the Moody Blues but I might be dated myself.

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  11. I've been anxious for this post. Wow! Looking good. The doors and porch are fabulous, and you are a clever minx with your lights.
    Thanks for the beautiful autumn leaves, where I live seasons run into each other and blink and we miss the autumn leaves.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I probably wouldn't attempt the spray paint if they were going to be out in the elements but under the cover of the porch, I think they'll be fine. Time will tell.
      Glad I could bring you a little New England color.

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  12. Yay for true divided lights! You don't see that as much in new doors and windows these days. I love the black lanterns...they turned out great. I would have a hard time choosing a color palette for the porch too....so much to consider!

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    1. It seemed a little counterintuitive that the true divided lights were less expensive to make than a single pane, but I won't question getting something better for less money.

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  13. Hope you're feeling better! There is very little Rustoleum can't fix - that and mr. clean magic erasers!

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    1. I guess I've missed the magic of the erasers! I'll have to get some and give them a try.

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  14. Wow, that is one intense tree! I agree the leaves are changing earlier this year. I wonder why?

    Feel better.

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    1. It's unusual for us to see such intense color in the city. We did have a few nights in the 40s that I think set them off. Sometimes we don't get a frost until closer to Thanksgiving.

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  15. I have used those home depot lanterns...they are great with a little zhushing! They will be wonderful! I love seeing the fall colors we miss that here on the west coast!

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    1. The lights have a great form and they're cheap enough but not sure who decides they're going to paint them brick with faux copper on the inside.

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  16. Hi Steve,
    Wonderful job on the sconces! They look great with the onion lantern. Is that antique? I love the wavy glass.
    Cheers,
    Loi

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    Replies
    1. Loi,
      The lantern on the front porch isn't an antique, it's just a much better quality. I've learned in this recent search for fixtures, you really get what you pay for. I'm really spoiled after looking at all the Circa options and/or handmade by craftsman.

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  17. Ok, I have to ask, how long have you been without your kitchen??? You must have the patience of a saint. But what is getting done looks fantastic and once you do get your kitchen back it will probably be a joy to work in. I like the idea of staining the ceiling. I have seen that done and it looks timeless, perfect for a craftsman. I also like the idea of staining the floor--could you stain it a dark gray to allow the wood grain to come through? The lights look perfect. It has been fun to watch your home grow into something truly beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Two months and counting! I thought was going to be torture but as long as you have a good place to wash dishes, it's not so horrible. I've been cooking at a friend's house so I eat leftovers all the time. It would suck if you had kids.

      I'm leaning more in the direction of staining if I can get a color I like.

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  18. Time for a new plumber. All people in the building trades take every job that is offered because they have no way of knowing when the next job is going to come along. My contractor didn't show up for over two months. When he did show up the job was done, I'd hired a new contractor. "I'm really sorry, I had to get it done"! Shop around, I always have an extra tradesman on my Rolodex. Nothing personal it's just my business plan against their business plan. Good luck. Ann

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    1. I love your contractor story. You're my personal hero right now.

      If the guy hadn't shown up to start last week, I probably would have had another plumber by now. This is my contractor's subcontractor of choice. He does great work but he has his own plumbing business so his "customers" come first. I guess I'm not viewed as a customer for some reason. I have a feeling he's making less per hour at my house.

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  19. Hi there! I live in western NY (where it's not very sunny) and we painted our porch
    deck "black pepper" and it was super hot...our dog hated to go outside that way because it was so hot, so this year we had it refinished in a dark brown. In hindsight I wish we would have chosen something more transparent because once it's opaque there is no going back to wood! BTW, I love your house and your style!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Western NY? My homeland!

      You're right about not being able to go back to transparent. That's really good feedback.

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  20. I love the doors and know exactly what you mean about the putty around the panes. Many years ago in another house we had those installed to replace what I call "motel room doors" in a couple of interior rooms (yes, the carpenter thought we were crazy since they are external doors but they looked gorgeous) and we painted them. It was a pain but worth it in the end. I also love your onion lantern. Since our house is newly painted we were thinking of replacing the front lamp and that one is a real beauty, will have to see if the front door clears it. Can you tell me who makes it?

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    1. Amelia, Here's the onion lantern I bought. This was a real splurge at the time: http://arcadianhome.com/TL-F-1877-BB The lights I bought at Home Depot, just for contrast, were $33.

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  21. The porch is looking great! I'm so jealous of beautiful porches as mine is nothing special nor can I do anything to really improve it since it's ground level concrete that was originally a patio and someone put a roof over it years ago. However I have learned with many projects over the years to cut the budget on lights, knobs and things that are easily changed out and get the best for the foundations. Later on when I'm not spending tens of thousands on cabinetry, windows and the such its not much of a stretch on the budget to go and buy some better lights or knobs. Plus i like to "spruce" things up so that is my excuse.

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    1. I think the advice about the lights and hardware is great. I'm looking for places to cut the budget and I've found some really nice looking lights for a fraction of the cost of the lantern I originally chose for the kitchen.

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  22. Isn't spray paint da bomb!! I spray painted (satin black) 18 lanterns on shepherds hooks going down our drive way FIVE years ago and they still look pretty darn good! Spary paint is my Windex...almost... franki

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    1. Franki, That's great to know the spray paint has held up for five years. Love the "spray paint is my windex." That's funny.

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    2. Yes!Great quote! My husband is the Windex half and I am the spray painter. The boys and I just did a huge chest of drawers with three cans. So much less mess!

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  23. Those french doors get me -- love them. I'd worry about drastic fading of the dark colors on southern exposure. Great looking if you do it, but it would drive me nuts if it were mine. Just sayin. repainting is such a pain in the butt! Sorry you're not feeling well!

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  24. I love your aesthetic. I can't wait to see the finished results in your kitchen.

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  25. The charcoal is lovely as are those fabulous lights. We couldn't find anything when we were doing our porch recently and the other half bought home some bunker lights and a few rather unattractive space ship ones. I'm a little past caring now. These things can drag on a bit can't they?
    I envy you fall as it is ridiculously hot here for October!

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    1. I hear the space-ship bunker look is really big right now.

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    2. OMG!! I laughed till I had a stitch!! franki

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  26. Hi Steve...it looks great, love what you did with the Home Depot lanterns, very clever thinking. Hope you are feeling better...the autumn colours look glorious. :)

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    1. Hi, Jeanne. These intensely bright colors seem really unusual for the city. I'm really enjoying them and pleasantly surprised how well my phone's camera captures them.

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  27. everything's beautiful Steve, love the black lights, the idea of gray stained deck and brown ceiling!!! Your leaves are ahead of ours and are gorgeous. Enjoy the foliage and hope youre feeling better.
    xo Nancy

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  28. Love watching a great cottage renovation! Can't wait to see your progress. I would love to invite you to link up weekly at Modern Cottage Monday a new link party for Cottage Lifestyle enthusiasts at http:// www.curatebycarriecorson.com. Best of luck with your Reno! It will be so worth it in the end. We are just finishing our year long Reno.

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  29. Another consideration about dark paint colors: they absorb more UV rays than lighter colors, not only making it hotter to walk on, but more importantly, cause the paint & underlying wood fibers to break down faster.

    I've been curious for a while - why mahogany on the front porch & not something like ipe or a painted wood? I like what you have, I'm just curious about why you chose it over something else. ie. durability, maintenance, cost, etc?

    Great job Steve - I always look forward to your posts. ~ James

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    1. I can't remember where it was I first saw a porch with a mahogany porch -- This Old House maybe? -- but I loved it and was laser focused on having it. I just wasn't aware of ipe at the time. I would have chosen the same surface for the back porch but because there's an upper porch, I would have had to basically construct a rubber roof under the upper porch to drain rain water or have tongue-and-groove mahogany decking custom made. It was completely a cost consideration.

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  30. Interesting, thought provoking, instructional, beautiful.......what more could a reader ask for?!?!?!?! Sending you healing thoughts!!!!!

    All the best!!!

    Rob

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  31. I grew up in a house with exactly those French doors, painted white and a long enclosed white porch. When a window broke, I used to be able to fit my whole little body through one window pain. They look great and I love the real wood porch in front, no worries it is coming along fast by Italian standards.

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    Replies
    1. Nat,
      I'm a little disturbed about the idea of people fitting their bodies through my window panes!

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  32. Side porch is looking really great. Hang in there!

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  33. I wanted a black roof but was talked out of it because I was told it would draw in the heat and when I was considering painting the house and wanted something dark, (to contrast against the lighter roof) everyone told me that it fades fast. So, I agree with the other comments expressing concerns.
    I want that light! It's perfect.
    I love coming to your blog and seeing everything so carefully thought out and flawless.
    It's just lovely.

    Glad to hear you are feeling better and that the plumber showed up!

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    Replies
    1. But wouldn't the black roof be better in winter?

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    2. Probably would be a good color if there was a concern with snow staying up there.
      (I remember your post with you out on the roof shoveling) but my roof has such a sharp pitch that it's not a problem. Besides, I'd rather put on a sweater than sizzle in the summer. ;)

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  34. Sorry I'm late to the party Steve. Crummy news about your cold and bronchitis. Horrid bugs! I love the progress. You've certainly put in your share of elbow grease on windows. :)
    LOVE to see the reds in your autumn photos - glorious yellows here but no maples so no reds...

    Take care. xo T.

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  35. oh those french doors look GOOD. how pretty!

    and the fall color...i hate you.

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  36. Your porch looks great! Hope you're over that nasty bronchitis!

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  37. Those fall images are sumptuous. We're nowhere near that gorgeous color down here. Pondering our idea to stain the beaded ceiling dark. I think it is a nice departure not to do the expected light blue paint but I'm wondering if a whitewashed finish would also create a cool, breezy feeling to counteract the heat from the sun.

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  38. I'm so sorry to read you are not feeling well. The light fixtures are looking fantastic. Watching the leaves change, never gets old.

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  39. Maybe I just haven't noticed it but I don't remember seeing any trees that color around here! It is 73 right now and we have only had a few days where it got down to 60 or so. Kind of ready for some crispness. Those light fixtures turned out so cute painted black.

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