Progress

It's been a busy few weeks of tearing out bathrooms and an entire basement, and framing in a bathroom, powder room and two closets. Thankfully, we budgeted for the basement ceiling to be replaced because it turns out that the former resident cat found it entirely unnecessary to go to the bathroom outside. Poor Luke!

Above is the mirror for the powder room and I'll order sconces today. The walls will be an inky grey-blue. Luke is going to frame in the counter and I'll have Carrara marble installed and attach an unpleated skirt in a white and grey patterned linen.

The photos show the library with the powder room framed and sheet rocked and the master before and after the addition of a bath and closet.

A New House

June saw the purchase of a new house and work has now begun in earnest. The new house is significantly bigger, in a pricier area of town. It's been well-maintained and the bones are very solid, so there's fewer demoralizing projects than in the last house. Nevertheless, sometime around week two is the most difficult in the remodeling process. All decisions are due and everything to be torn out is now sitting in the dumpster whilst the house sits in dust. It's not a pretty site/sight.

Our primary projects to update and beautify this 1960s well-cared for, but aesthetically ignored house include:

• converting the casual family room and guest bath into a ground-floor master suite,
• new moulding throughout the main floor and paneling the library,
• new baths throughout,
• updating the kitchen,
• gutting and redoing the basement (removing pressed board walls, carpet, etc.),
• building a deck for proper entertaining, and
• replacing the 1960s wrought iron columns on the front exterior with traditional wooden columns.

We see little of Luke and lots of interiors shops these days. One recent delight is the Circa Lighting (dining fixture above) store in Atlanta (http://www.circalighting.com/). Their products are amazing and their staff were wonderful with our children! I also found some long desired linen in a "not sure if it's grey, purple or brown" nubby hounds tooth weave. It was on clearance at Lewis & Sheron for $11 a yard instead of $45!