Photo Pool Challenge: Little Things
We’ve been renovating for three years now, and we’re completely sick of it. The original plan was modest in scope: Five weeks for some minor structural and mechanical upgrades, skimcoating, refinish the floors. Alas, we keep fixing the same things over and over again, and we still have sewer gas, something (mice? rats?) living between…
We’ve been renovating for three years now, and we’re completely sick of it. The original plan was modest in scope: Five weeks for some minor structural and mechanical upgrades, skimcoating, refinish the floors. Alas, we keep fixing the same things over and over again, and we still have sewer gas, something (mice? rats?) living between floors, and leaks in the basement. Nothing is finished, nothing is decorated, and there are construction materials all over the place (behind the couch is a very convenient spot to store paint and tools, in case you’re wondering). So, this sounds like a trivial thing, but a few weeks ago we happened to buy some new pillowcases at Layla in Boerum Hill, and dressed up the bed with them and some other odds and ends we had lying around. We also put up some paint and wallpaper samples, hung a curtain and moved a rug. The second floor looks better now, even though it’s nowhere near done (that’s primer on the walls and rosin paper around the mantle in the bedroom, above). At least you can see the intention starting to take shape. What about you? Any tips for keeping sane while renovating? Please post stories and photos here.
Some wallpaper samples in the living room.
A back hall with some trial furnishings.
A closeup of the wallpaper we plan to use in the back hall. It’s Azul by Ana Montiel.
Cate, we all go through these doldrums when it just seems too big. I have restorations going on in 3 rooms right now, one bedroom on hold as-is for another few years, and if I didn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel for the livingroom (keep fingers crossed for this weekend!) I would throw in the towel. But once the livingroom is done, I’ll have that and the adjoining kitchen done, and I find that so inspiring. The best advice I ever received about restoring an old house came from Clem Labine, the founder of The Old House Journal. He told me to “get out and see some historic Victorians, like the Mark Twain House in Connecticut!” I asked if that would give me some good ideas for my house, he replied “I don’t know, but it will take your mind off the MESS back home!” That works for me! If you ever want to go out for drinks and trade horror stories, just let me know.
Cate, we all go through these doldrums when it just seems too big. I have restorations going on in 3 rooms right now, one bedroom on hold as-is for another few years, and if I didn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel for the livingroom (keep fingers crossed for this weekend!) I would throw in the towel. But once the livingroom is done, I’ll have that and the adjoining kitchen done, and I find that so inspiring. The best advice I ever received about restoring an old house came from Clem Labine, the founder of The Old House Journal. He told me to “get out and see some historic Victorians, like the Mark Twain House in Connecticut!” I asked if that would give me some good ideas for my house, he replied “I don’t know, but it will take your mind off the MESS back home!” That works for me! If you ever want to go out for drinks and trade horror stories, just let me know.
Duck, you are right on all counts! One problem we have in these projects is “preclusion”: Once you make a final decision and do something, all other options are gone. It becomes a slower process when we’re overwhelmed, but we’d rather be overwhelmed than stuck with a bad choice that would be a pain to re-do. And YES Cate! Paint the bedroom! Sometimes just one simple change lets you see everything else with fresh eyes and new enthusiasm! You don’t have to renovate first, or even do much for prep work. Just get a color you really like on the walls; it only takes one weekend, and you can change it just as easily in a year if you change your mind.