Yes, we do windows!

               Four months...almost missed having a post for Spring. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and it is coming through our NEW WINDOWS.  Our sashes have been refitted with both new and original glass and have been installed. Also, all new windows were made for the bay off of the kitchen. Fotos:

                                                            North side, before.

After. 

Patio/rear kitchen before. 

New bay, after. 

New front windows. 

Traditional storms are now being made. 

BONUS FEATURE!

Found objects....

CF Martin ukulele with case in need of some restoration. 

Original strings and felt pick included. 

                      

Vicarious Renovation

16Feb14

Tired of snow. Tired of being cold. Tired of winter. NOT tired of having a responsible contractor manage this project. 
Without lifting a finger--except to write checks--we now have new French doors from the keeping 
room to the patio, and a bay window roughed in on the patio side of the kitchen. 

View of patio with new French doors. Black rectangle to the right will be new window replacing former rear access to 1970's addition. Note adequate supply of snow. 

Keeping room showing new doors. They add a great deal of light.

New framed-from-scratch kitchen bay window. Sized to match original windows. New sashes and storms being made to order to maintain age-appropriate look. 

The Winter of Our Discontent...

2Feb14

Again, a break between entries. Three reasons: 1)we are still not at the point where we will be able to do any significant work on our own since there are many structural and architectural issues underway being fantastically addressed by our contractor and his crew; 2) battling the cold(weather)--still no heat, the crew works with portable propane heaters on, gallons of Poland Spring remain frozen on the floor; 3) battling the cold(the disease)--lingering classic mid-winter uri, still trying to shake after three wks.
Anyhow, I will attempt to post some progress fotos, maybe before and afters, depending upon how the blog connects with the iPad today.

Top, north side of house with original windows. Bottom, sashes removed for restoration--hope to save many original panes, some windows will have to be entirely reframed. 

Top, upstairs bath as found. Bottom, view now from opposite wall. Sink and vanity were against wall that was removed to expose center chimney. 

Top, newly framed second floor landing adjacent to bedroom allows for safe egress from steep center stairs, creates walkin closet and possible work area.

Bottom pic shows newly framed bedroom with ceiling temporarily opened to attic, added 2x4s to allow for insulation and greater structural integrity. 

Two shots of kitchen showing preparation to create cathedral ceiling. 

Until next time, 

ciáo!

No heat? No water? No problem!

12Jan14

Yes, a long break between blogs.  Schedule conflicts, holidays, family commitments, weather, UConn football...the usual.  And in the interim some revelations.
The weekend before Thanksgiving we arrived at a cold house and found the heat off, oil tank empty; something we had not planned on.  So we arranged oil delivery and went on our merry way.  Our contractor checked things out and verified the furnace was working and went on his merry way.  The holiday season came and went with no significant problems or progress, then last week the same thing happened--no heat, no oil. So we arranged for another delivery to protect the pipes and went on our merry way.  And yes, this week, no heat, no oil. We have now drained the plumbing and turned off the well pump and returned the house to its original 1767 status--no central heat, no indoor plumbing.  This too shall pass, but in the meantime structural and cosmetic restoration has commenced. Walls have come down, more bracing in place and new interior framing to prep the walls for insulation.

Some fotos:

This shows the large keeping room, fireplace on the right.  At the far end, new plywood covers the old kitchen and the area where the unused staircase going up to a closed hatch in the ceiling used to be.  Stairs down to cellar also removed.

Above, how it looked before. 

This shows the old kitchen, keeping room to the right through the panel door with the square window. Basically everything here has been removed including the wall at the back which was the powder room, also removed. 

Same view now. Everything gone, fireplace in keeping room is visible on the right.  Greenish paneling is cupboard from front room; this will be taken out as well.  Many temporary braces to maintain integrity.  Two by fours on left wall typical layout to make insulating possible.  

Rough layout of possible future...

So in the next few weeks more structural improvements will be taking place.  We will be investigating reglazing many original windows and adding custom wooden storms as well.