Stinking double Hung

Well, back to the drawing board with the windows, for the millionth time. Einy's totally hell bent on having double hung windows. I for one can't stand them anymore because that's all I ever know and wanted something different. Well that discussion nearly ended up in an argument that would've put me grabbing the car wheel from him and taking us into a ditch. But we had strawberries in the back and I didn't feel like wasting food.

Instead I came home and went looking for ideas in homes that had double hung and in a look that I didn't loathe or find boring. As luck would have it I was blessed with not only finding a home with windows, but with a floor as well that we both really liked. For those of you that don't know Einy and I too well when we get into it both of us can be the epitome of brick heads till one of us gets our way.

Double Hung Windows and Rich Wood Flooring

Follow the link to see the rest of the house on display. Meanwhile I'm going to search for pink paints for the bedroom. If I have to live with double hung after I've been hoping for casements he's living with light pink bedroom walls. ]: 

Informed in our Discussion

Well Einy and I had a talk on Friday evening when he got home from work about the house and when we're going to start working on it. He's got a bad habit of telling me one thing then denying it later on when I bring it back up. So this is to put him in cement shoes as proof.

*The electricity is going to run underground from the pole to the house and not across the porch roof. One, because it's safer, two we won't have to worry about the line snapping in a tree.

*The electric panel in the basement is moving away from the wall right inside the door to the opposite wall to the left of it. So you'll walk in and look to the right and you'll see the panel instead of having to look behind the door.

*The creepy crawlspace in the basement is going to get cleaned out, and a cement footer poured. Einy is having thoughts of placing a squatted water tank up in the crawlspace and routing a path, should a leak occur, to the drain in the floor.

*The porch roof is coming off completely and being raised up to the gutter/roof line. I want to have a wisteria growing along the front of the porch but it looks like I'll have to start it from the bathroom corner of the house and grow it across the front and to the porch. Unless I can get a climbing purple flower to grow up via pot and LIVE annually.

*The drain in the basement is getting drilled and fixed along with a slight slant in the floor to encourage water flows to head towards it.

*DSL instead of the monopolizing local cable company with 3 star rating service and quality.

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Now for  windows, as I said I narrowed it down to the casements and here's an option I found.

All Idea Images Up

This is the photobucket where you can find all of the images I liked or had a inspiration for.

Bathroom Folder

Bedroom Folder

Door Floor Window Wall Folder- My largest folder of favorite ideas dealing with doors, floors, windows, and walls.

Exterior Folder

Garden and Yard Folder - Mind you at the moment we don't have a lot of space to work with at all. But I do want to make the most of the small space that we do have for the moment as well as on the porch and along the drive.

Kitchen Dining Laundry

Living Room

Storage and Closets Folder

If you like any of the designs or ideas for the house let me know by leaving the picture link in your comments. It helps getting second opinions on what's all out there. I also have to look into door: knobs, knockers, bells, locks and security for the house.

Moroccan Lights and more Images

I found the light I would love to have in the living room when the time came. Here's a link to it as well as several others that I find just too pretty. Some are even under 99$ which is a lucky break!

Living Room Light - I think it would be so pretty not only casting shadows but hanging from the ceiling.
It's different and will give a more personal taste touch of me. I like exotic things, as well as luxury but I dislike heavy prices so I try to find the ones I like for less.

All the Lanterns on this site

Another site with cheaper lights - I loved the Kobra Brass table lamp that looks like an egg. The shadow it would cast on a bathroom or bedroom wall so pretty.

One of my Favorites - Because they're always adding new lights to the site and have some really good deals going.

Ebay Lamps - This seller also has a lot of pretty lamps for sale at half the cost of the others. I'm really tempted for the silver plated ones.

Top Left: The windows were once again a favorite along with the crown moulding.
Top Right: A close up and different angle. I loved the brown leather Chesterfield couch as well as the faded rug on the floor.
Bottom Left: The Moroccan lamp idea in a different setting. I liked how it blended in an yet stood out.
Bottom Right: Loved the large round Mirror. Was thinking about it for the bathroom to have, but then thought of a large rectangle along the far wall.

Storage and Wardrobes

Oh where to start. To keep up with my personal theme of the house I really loved how the old trunk is used as a mini wet bar with a mirror and small lamp. While we're not avid drinkers I wouldn't mind having a little bit of fun sitting in the living room. The second picture I fell in love with the dark interior of the closet. I think it would look so pretty in the kitchen and in the storage closets through out the house. Especially if I only did the storage closets half way up with dark to allow the light to refelct down. And I loved the glossy interior black of the doors.

As for these two above pictures, one on the left I liked how the bottom drawers were done, and the library shelves on the right were pretty nice too. Granted that's not 100% how the living room will look. But it's a nice clean start to get a rough idea for how the shelving will go. Since it's built into the wall. Exactly how I want the two walls in living room to go for books.  

<- This is another view of built in library shelves. I'm only hoping that we can achieve a good comfortable desk like area at the base of it for the computers to sit.

Bottom left with blue walls, again, another library set up. We're deciding on a style that works for both of us. I want something clean, elegant and functional. Einy would be happy with slapping up hardware and 2x6's calling it a day.













Right: Is a mirror and wardrobe/closet idea for the bedroom. Like I said I'm hoping to be able to move the wardrobe to any wall allowing us to change the pace of the bedroom once in a while. Nothing major but Just in case we decide to move something around it won't limit our options.

Below we get into Kitchen Storage. Something I am getting extremely anal about because Einy is a kitchen Gadget whore. We have a gadget for everything and half we don't even use more than twice a year. While I love that he likes to cook and he wants to spend his money on things to help him do it. Right now in the apartment we have NO SPACE for it. The kitchen in the new house however, is small, and going to be a galley kitchen. But it will be built specifically to HOUSE all of his stuff behind closed doors allowing only the daily essentials to be left out on the counters. No Kitchen Clutter is the goal and maybe it'll help me want to be in the kitchen more often. Right now I can't stand to be in the kitchen. It's one of the most hated rooms in the entire apartment.

Clockwise top Left: I liked the open shelves and cup hooks. Right: The peg drawer keeps lids in place by size so it's not a digging fiasco. Bottom left: The ultimate under sink set up. Need I say more. Right: Perfect place to hide the knives in a section of under counter top space too narrow for use other than cutting boards.

Bottom left: Again a double drawer making one space more functional than just a single storage layer. Bottom right: Cutting board and knife drawer. I'm sick of the knife block being on the counter. It's clunky, takes up space and the knives are not that good of quality.

Top Left: LOVED the Transom over the book case to keep it from going completely to the top. I'm also thinking of using that Transom idea as a hidden storage area for linens for holiday and extra what nots. It'd be nice to have a spot for overnight guest things to be kept. RIGHT: Another book case Idea. I wasn't too keen on painting the entire thing black but the high gloss of it I may sway my thoughts slightly on it. At least for the interior of the shelving.

Bottom Left: Bright Yellow towel and linen closet made from a an old china cabinet painted. Thought it was a cute idea and wouldn't mind it in the bathroom for storage near the shower of towels, soaps, and extra restock items.  Bottom Right: Loved the left side of the picture. Those are old, looks to be victorian doors painted white and with a clear glass window. I liked that idea for the closet in the bedroom. I have another idea similar to it but it's in another picture folder. Oh yes. I have more pictures than you can imagine.

Want to see ALL my picture ideas? I'm setting up photobucket so you can just click on any of the albums you want. They're separated by rooms and yes, sometimes I messed up and put the wrong photo in the folder. It's a lot of pictures so I'm sure you'll forgive me. Plus you can leave the link of the photo to show me which ones you like.

Narrowing Down the Final Ideas

New Year, New Ideas and narrowing down the final likes. While Einy and I failed to get into the house this year, we have made it a goal to enter into the home by 2012 Christmas. But once again, I can't hold my breath as I do not know what all the year will bring and how quickly things will move along.

List of Things Left
Gut the Kitchen and Bathroom
Remove the nails from Wall and Ceiling Studs
Remove remaining 2 chimneys
Remove floors
Fix Basement Drain
Rewire
Re-plumb
Re-gas
Extend 2x4 walls into 2x6
Move Front Door
Add inside Basement Stairwell
Fix Basement Crawlspace
Fix underside of Porch
Replace all windows
Replace attic vents
etc....

Yes, the list is LONG and is quite a task to accomplish when all you have are warm weekends, and long daylight hours to work by. Einy works till early evening, so it's hard for him to come home, change then head back out to go work on the house, then come back home shower go to bed then get up the next morning to go to work. That's like a 16 hour day for him and rather unfair to expect him to jump and do when he just gets home.


BUT let's escape from the depressing drone of daily life and look at the images I've gathered in the mean time.

First set is dealing with the final window look. I was hell bent on grills but the more I played with the grills in paint, got some second opinions about windows and looking at smaller homes I realized that I liked being able to see out more than I did having a pattern to look at. So, these are the two window looks I've narrowed it down to. Whether or not Einy approves 100% is still in the air, however I don't think he'd mind too much.

The second picture shows more of the style I think we'll go with. The left side of the room where you have the transom over top of a slightly curved top set of casement windows I believe is how we'll go with the look in the Living Room, Bathroom, and Bedroom. With the transom on the right wall, how there are 3 of them across the top will be in the bedroom on the upper portion of the front wall to give light but free up wall space so the bed or wardrobe can move to any 3 walls and not just have it permanently in one spot.

Below is a photo of a floor that I very much like as well as Einy, but as to what type of boards they are is beyond either of us. I'm tempted to send the photo to Baird's Brothers, which is where we're looking to get our flooring from, and see if they can tell us what type it is or kind. It's worth a shot even if we do end up finding out that it's just reclaimed lumber and some buffing, with tinted primer gave it the patina that it shows.  

The second photo to the right above here, with the black doors and Lilac's is my absolute favorite photo. I don't know why it is, I just really enjoy the bold color of the door, the simple wood flooring and the white walls. It's both elegant, and laid back at the same time. I'm highly tempted for that to be the final look I base the house off of.

Okay next photo, going to drop down through the floor into the Basement. This picture taken from a Horchow magazine inspired me for the ugly little basement. Keeping it industrial looking with metal pipes, the nifty basement lighting from earlier posts, I thought the half brick exposed, half smooth stucco look would be a nice addition to the basement. To, A) Brighten it up B) Give it some character and C) Not make me want to set the thing on fire or loathe going down there to do laundry till the new bathroom is finished.

Back up stairs! Before I spoke about stained glass transoms above all the doors. I still very much would like to pull that off, but just in case I have two back up plans. Back up plan one (left photo) a panoramic picture in a frame over the door. A painting preferably, or something without a glossy poster finish to it. Back up plan two (right photo) the crown moulding transom above the doors. Not in THAT heavily of an ornate style but still one that gave the door a nice look.

Also, in the right photo, notice the glass transom above the stained door. I Love that front door. But as you'll see in some future posts, I have A LOT of doors that I love and would want in the house. However, I'm stuck as we only need 2 exterior doors, 2 interior doors. And the kitchens two glass french doors.

Final piece is the photo to the right ---> Featuring Moroccan Lighting. The first picture with the dark pink curtains and clear and black lantern is what I want to have as the main light in the living room and in the bedroom. I'm honestly thinking of carrying the look throughout the house as I really like being different. Having some elegance with freedom to decorate from all cultures. Who knows, maybe if I keep my cards right I'll have the Tiny Toilet House featured in a magazine.

Future Memo: DIY Cleaning

A link or so of some very good at home cleaners to keep the house work lasting longer.

Car Wax as Stove polish to Coffee filters as TV and PC cleaner

Epic Grout Cleaner

Everlasting Dryer Ball and Downy Sheet While the link shows you to use a foil ball to eliminate static in your dryer instead of expensive dryer sheets. I also found a way to give the laundry a burst of scent that won't cost you 3-8$ for a box of pre-cut throw away dryer sheets.

The 40+ load Dryer sheet:
1 Old hand towel or flour cloth

Favorite liquid fabric softener

Soak the old hand towel or flour cloth completely with fabric softener. Wring it out and let it dry completely, then throw it in with your next load. This mega-fabric softener sheet should be good for at least 40 loads of laundry, stretching out softener use and lessening waste.