November – The Master “Suite”

November 12, 2015 Jeanne at No Rhyme or Reason Farm After, Before, Chester County, Renovations Farmhouse, Homestead, Renovation

The upstairs of this house was a mess. The carpet was filthy. Walking across it left footprints in the dirt that had rained down from the attic. The bathroom was disgusting. The toilet had a rag stuffed in it. The tub was falling off the wall. The linoleum was peeling. It wasn’t very pleasant.

As with everything else, it just took a plan. We knocked down the wall between the two small rooms and turned it into one gracious space. It was definitely one of the better decisions we made. The Master Bedroom is spacious and full of light with two windows facing the front yard and two windows facing the back. Out the front window, we watch the activity at the bird-feeder (we have Nuthatches, Cardinals, Wrens, Blue Jays, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Downy Woodpeckers, and squirrels who apparently think they are birds). Out the back window we watch the deer who graze their way through the backyard at dusk every evening. And I can use the tiny “back-stairs” to go directly from the Master Bedroom to the Kitchen, should I have a midnight snack attack — how convenient.

We reconfigured a closet that was in the bathroom and opened it up in the bedroom instead. It wasn’t an easy task for John and his crew. The wall was two feet thick and solid rock; it took some muscle to knock it down. In the bathroom we converted the nasty tub into a walk-in shower, added a floor to ceiling cabinet for a linen closet and a bathroom vanity with lots of drawer space!

And then here was the tiny room at the other end of the hall. It’s wasn’t really big enough for a bedroom. It was a little too big for a closet (though visions of a wonderful room-sized closet did cross my mind). It became the perfect spot for a quiet retreat and a home office. The ceiling is low in this room. It’s only 80″ tall (that’s 6’8″). We bought bookcases that are 78″ tall. I held my breath as we moved them in to place, I wasn’t sure they would fit. But they did, just barely. In fact, they look like “built-ins,” and they are the perfect place to display tchotchkes from our various trips. It looks like it was meant to be just like this. Not just the upstairs, but the whole house. It was meant to be our home.

The "Master" Bedroom was two small separate rooms. We pulled down the wall. — The “Master” Bedroom was two small separate rooms. We pulled down the wall.

The Master - spacious and clean! — The Master – spacious and clean!

The Master Bath - no comparison to what it looked like before! — The Master Bath – no comparison to what it looked like before!

Not much room, but it's functional - and a nice retreat. — Not much room, but it’s functional – and a nice retreat.

A great view out the office window to watch the deer.

October — To Be or Not to Be?

October 3, 2015October 3, 2015 Jeanne at No Rhyme or Reason Farm Chester County Farmhouse, Homestead, Renovation

Is it To Be or Not To Be???

That is definitely the question. Whether we will be able to move in on October 10^th or not, only time will tell.

There is a lot to get done yet, but John assures us it is all doable, given no major problems – like Hurricane Joaquin, or the lack of electric, plumbing, septic, propane, heating/cooling. We have windows, doors, cabinets, counter tops and some appliances. The electrician is scheduled to finish up early next week, TV & Internet on Monday, HVAC, plumbing & the concrete patio on Tuesday, carpet on Wednesday, a double oven on Friday (to replace the one damaged in transit)… it’s a tight schedule of things to be completed. An orchestra of craftsmen, all trying to play their parts in harmony; no missed beats, no sour notes, no room for error.

We are more than tired of our time at the Homewood Suites. It’s getting cold out, and back in early July, I only packed my warm weather things. I miss my wooly socks and turtle necks. It’s time to pack away the shorts and flip-flops. Everything is in transition, in boxes, in limbo. For three months we’ve dealt with a two-burner stove (only one burner works on a regular basis), a microwave and a toaster. We’ve been relatively creative with the meals we’ve prepared, but I want to roast a chicken, bake some bread and have Arianna decorate some cookies in the new kitchen.

At the moment we still have no front steps. We can’t get front steps until we get the concrete landing, and we might not get the concrete landing if we don’t get some dry weather. We have electrical outlets and light fixtures installed, but no electricity from the pole. They are supposed to hook us up on Tuesday, unless of course they are dealing with mass outages from Joaquin. The septic probably works, given that we have a new pump, but without plumbing and electric so we can give it a test flush or two – we just don’t know.

And, moving weekend is Columbus Day weekend, which means my strong moving crew will be away. They can get a few necessities in on Friday night before they skip town (like a mattress, a TV and a couch), and help us with the rest when they get back on Monday – but in the interim we’ll just schlep boxes, one at a time, and try to unpack – maybe. Or maybe not.

The kitchen -- still a work in progress, but we have counter tops and the beginning of a back splash. — The kitchen — still a work in progress, but we have counter tops and the beginning of a back splash.

Our mud room red roof gives the look of a “potting shed” — which seems fitting given all the mud that’s readily available at the back door from storm run off. If only the weather holds out and we can get the concrete poured next week.

Master closet has a clothes bar -- we must be getting close to moving in. — Master closet has a clothes bar — we must be getting close to moving in.

Repurposed half stairs to the porch. We need something sturdier for moving day!

January – A snowy day…

August 7, 2015September 19, 2015 Jeanne at No Rhyme or Reason Farm Uncategorized Farmhouse, Homestead, Renovation

I came up over a hill on a snowy day, and there it was … looking like home. It had been empty for more than 4 years, neglected and in need of some TLC — that’s all… just a little TLC. I called the Realtor.