**UPDATED** Interior photos!!!

Well it has been a LONG time since the last update! But now I am very pleased to report the plaster, electric, interior trim (windows, picture and base) was installed and then finally the painting was completed last week.

The entry and fireplace projects have not been completed yet. We will have future updates on that as well as completing the basement.

Now for the dramatic reveal.............. :-)

Exterior Painting COMPLETED!!!

All of the exterior painting is now completed! All of the new and old windows and gutters went Benjamin Moore Onyx (2133-10). The rest of the trim is Benjamin Moore Providence Olive (HC-98) and Abingdon Putty (HC-99). Here are two of the pictures of the front! Please see the first picture for two "before" shots. Since we bought we have installed the new front door, windows, gutters, other doors, landscaping and new roof.

Final Design Drawings - Fireplace and Entry

We decided to go with Option #1 below (even before the overwhelming response to our poll). THANK YOU for voting!! :)

StudioSML swiftly finalized the drawings based on additional meetings and came up with the final design--- which we LOVE! We are going for a "traditional modern" look with the interior renovations. For example, we plan on adding new, dark wood floors with picture molding towards the top of the walls (traditional) and then adding colorful glass tile, recessed/wall washing and 3/4 glass front door (modern). Everything is blending together very nicely! Demolition of all of the first floor molding (windows, door and base molding), fireplace mantle, door surrounds, etc. were complete last night.
The plaster contractor arrived first thing this morning to refinish the ceilings and the walls (the living room/entry/foyer are up first)!

We are finalizing our design choices but the tile company is complete. We are using OceanSide Glasstile and one of the many custom choices is in the picture below. There will be a mix of amber, black and red. We are debating about throwing in some olive as well. The other tile we believe will be travertine. Please enjoy the final designs and let me know if you have any feedback! :-)


Sample glass tile mix - this will be a custom mix and we can pick the percentage of which color we would like to see and they will turn it around within a couple of weeks.


Fireplace #1 - Converting to gas burning and possibly with an insert and gas tube (with remote)

Fireplace #2- View from front with varying sizes of wood paneling (stained to match new flooring). Surround will be small glass tiles to tie to the entry.

Entry #1 - New floor - glass tile with travertine surround

Entry #2 - Side wall across from the bench. This will be a custom built-in mirror to mimic the shape/size of the new front door that was installed last week.

Entry #3 - This shows the wood paneling and bench in the entry. This is standing from the living room looking out towards the front door.

Our new front door, some new windows and mailbox!

Here is our new front door and new mailbox! Our last door had a mail slot, so we needed to make a quick purchase and we found one we loved! Check out: http://www.moremailboxes.com/ I ordered on Saturday and it arrived on Tuesday. I put a rush on it for 2 day shipping ($20) and customer service responded (without asking) and credited it back since they were based in NY and said it was not necessary! WOW!

The door is by http://www.hmidoors.com/ and qualifies for the tax credit!

You can see some of the composite windows on the upper level are installed (white but ALL trim will be painted Benjamin Moore Onyx Black next week).

StudioSML presents four design options for the Entry and Fireplace!

StudioSML presents four design options for the Entry and Fireplace! Please vote on your favorite!

OPTION #1 - Stained wood and tile

OPTION #2 - Glass tile and wood

OPTION #3 - Vertical Slate

OPTION #4 - Custom wrought iron bench and mantle with stone

Per request I have added "Before" pictures of the entry and fireplace. The new front door by HMI will be installed in early August. The door is 3/4 glass and it will be black on both sides with black caning on the glass (See picture below-- obviously this door is white, ours will be black on both sides).

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We hired a design firm- studioSML!

We just hired a design firm: studioSML for two projects:

1. Entryway - we recently ripped out the entry closet and we are looking for some design ideas to open up the space along with a small bench, built-in hooks, mirror, etc.

2. Living Room/Fireplace - we are looking at several designs to make our fireplace the true "centerpiece" and focal point of the living room. Some ideas include: wood to gas conversion, metal/stone, etc.

Once Andy and Spencer finish the designs (and with their permission), I will upload the options here and perhaps even put a vote out for it!

Measurements were taken last night and we plan to review the designs next week.

Elecrician Update and Termite Damage- Day 3

The electricians are done!!! Final walk through is next week. We only have a short list of items to address (including one old outlet that is still working). Plus, some minor complaints but besides that we were very happy.... the biggest complaint was a 2 week project that turned into 5 weeks!

Termite Damage- Day 3!

The contractors removed all of the old wood on the interior and the walls on the sunporch had no framing or insulation! So for another $450 we are having the walls properly framed and insulated as you can see in the picture below.

Day 4- painting and project complete!

**The landscaping we had installed last year sure looks great!

Master Closet- wow what a difference!

Before a gloomy closet with very little storage and a lot of mess! Once again the Container Store saved the day with their Elfa Closet System! This time with the walnut and stainless steel finish.


And the AFTER.........

Basement Closet!

This was a very odd, small room in our basement. The ceilings are very low and we decided to turn this into a large, walk-in closet. We painted the drywall and still need to replace the flooring and trim. The new hopper window will be installed in August.

**After: All of the closets installed! The Container Store Elfa birch and white system was installed throughout our basement. This is the closet and we also installed pantry shelves and a laundry shelving system as well.

Doors!

Yes I am finally making several new posts today! The next is a before/after with the new french doors on the sunporch.


Old french doors- yuck! Wood rot everywhere!



New Provia, 20 gauge steel French Doors! Thanks Beth and Bruce from Better Windows and Doors!




New French Doors (Exterior). Here you can see our new color scheme and exterior lighting as well! Out with the "Tudor Brown" and in with the Onyx Black paint (Benjamin Moore) and Rustic Bronze (Provia) Doors.

Termites--- expensive little pests!

$1,100 later we are finally replacing some termite damaged wood on our front sun porch. The wood literally crumbled when it was removed today! Take a look!



Before (Previous Owner's picture)

Demolition!

Upcoming Projects!

OK-- two posts in one day! But now we have a better idea of where we are going and the timeline. Here is the timeline (tentative to change.... suprise, suprise):

To date we have put on a new roof, gutters, landscaped the front yard and new Elfa closets in the Master bedroom, laundry area, pantry and basement "dressing room".

May: New rear door and french doors added

June: Electricians to finish up entire house re-wire, Cat5 cabling, recessed lights and all new light fixtures!

July: New front door (this will be a dramatic change-- a bit nervous)-- it has 3/4 glass and a new full glass/screen door. In addition, 7 new windows (4 basement and 3 on the first level) to be installed and painted. We went with composite wood windows which are supposed to be the "best of the best". We wanted to keep the wood look and the character of our neighborhood. Vinyl was immediately ruled out. We seriously looked at wood windows but the maintenance was much more then we wanted to deal with.

August: On 8/17 we begin a 6 week project to have all of our plaster walls restored. This includes smoothing out all surfaces and putting a 1/4" drywall on all of the ceilings.

September: Re-painting interior of house.

October: New moulding (base, window and picture moulding)

**Back yard landscaping: We just had the two plans drawn up and immediately fell in love with one. This includes a 3 tiered wood deck, all new landscaping, patio area and new fencing. We hope to complete the project by fall (date TBD).

Tangled up in all this wire! But we can finally see the light!

Today started WEEK 3 of the electrical re-wiring project! We are having the entire house re-wired and brought up to code! We also have had 30 recessed lights installed (Picture 1: Living room with new recessed lights and Picture 2: Sample recessed light). The plaster will all be smoothed and repainted in August/September.:

Today started WEEK 3 of the electrical re-wiring project! We are having the entire house re-wired and brought up to code! (Picture 3: Living room- old light switch and box for new light switch about to go up)

We also have had 30 recessed lights installed:

Living Room: 6 recessed and 4 wall washers
Dining Room: 4 recessed and 2 wall washers
Foyer: 2 recessed and 1 wall washer
Basement: 8 recessed
Upstairs: 2 recessed

The new dining room chandalier is up! Well by new... I mean we have had it sitting in a box for 3 years in the garage (awaiting the start of this project).

In addition, we are running Cat-5 throughout as well!

Yesterday, Gary and Sam busted out the closet in the Foyer and I ripped out the base moulding.


Recessed Lighting by Lightolier

My first post (and blog)!

Welcome to our blog! This is actually my first blog and I will do my best to keep up with it! After reading several friends blogs to track there various home remodeling and renovation projects, I thought a blog would be a great idea! The goal is to keep everyone up to date on the progress and on the various projects we will be working on.

We bought our home in 2006 after completing a full renovation of our 1940's Cape Code in historic Leesburg, VA.

This home is located in a gorgeous neighborhood in Arlington, VA. It was built in 1928 and is one of a handful of Tudor homes in the neighborhood. As you will see in various pictures, this house has a TON of charm and that is why we knew this was our house as soon as we rounded the corner and saw it.

Please enjoy the blog and feel free to follow along as we go!