Pink Lady Renovation: 2 Weeks In
Well, we’re a full two weeks into the Pink Lady Renovation and guys— things are moving and shaking! The first step in the project was a review by the BHAR (a local historic review board that approves/denies projects so as to keep the historical integrity of homes in our neighborhood) and we passed!
Here’s what’s new:
1.) THE DECK AND BACK OF THE HOUSE ARE COMPLETELY GONE
As I mentioned in our last post, the one-story addition that was previously there was structurally unsound (and didn’t match the historic footprint), so it needed to go. Well, it’s completely gone and they’ve already laid the foundation for the new (two-story) addition. Framing will begin this week! When we saw it poured, we realized that we wanted to use the majority of that space for the kitchen area, rather than including a mudroom and closet in the back right corner as we’d originally planned. We did a little reworking and found a way to maximize that space for the kitchen area.
2. ORIGINAL DOORS, WINDOWS, AND TRANSOMS ARE BEING REMOVED FOR MOVING + RESTORATION
Wherever possible, we’re keeping + reusing original fixtures— including doors and windows. The french doors and transom in the entry hall have been removed and saved so that they can be used on the (new) wall between the entry and the parlor. The windows and doors on the second floor have begun to be removed as well— some for restoration, and some to move to different parts of the house.
3. WE’RE LIKE, 5 DUMPSTERS IN AT THIS POINT.
As you might imagine, there’s been a whooooole lotta trash coming from this place. From the (many) items left by the previous owner, to the rotting wood and other craziness, there’s been a lot to demo so far. Luckily, much of the lumber can be salvaged and reused, which is amazing— one crew member even said it’s better quality than what you can buy these days. Whenever possible, Historic boards prefer that you reuse original elements of the home. Plus, it saves us money. Win-win!
4. I’M TRYING TO DECIDE ON FLOORING FOR THE KITCHEN + PRIMARY BEDROOM
The one thing in this house that’s in decent shape are the heart pine floors (PRAISE!) They’ll need to be refinished, but that’s nothin’ in the scheme of things. The only problem being that we won’t have any in the addition. I’ve been scouring the internet for heart pine floors, and I’m having a hard time finding anything that isn’t a trillion dollars a square foot. Ebay has presented a few intriguing options, but I’m still very much in the research phase. While I love the idea of heart pine in both the master and the kitchen, I’m also keen on the idea of slate floors for the kitchen. Budget will also have to be a consideration, but what do you think? Heart pine? Slate? Black brick? Something else? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
