Week 19 of the Transformation

 And now, the focus moves to the inner self... 

Like all good improvement plans, at some point its time to take a good look inside and focus energy there. With a solid foundation, secure walls and protective roof, we are now starting to beautify the inner self.  It’s time to smooth the imperfections on the walls and prime, in preparation for painting, tiling, trimming and the like.

First step was to cover the windows for the priming. I miss the view already.

It sure was a stinky Martin Acres pop-top after priming! You forget what primer smells like until it’s already up your nose and in your eyes. And there is only one way to ventilate this:  Tear some holes in the plastic to crack a few windows!  (Yay, for the tiny bit of view again!)

The wood floors: Circa 1955, these 1.5″ oak boards were worth the effort to save, IMHO. Early on, they were covered in plastic and cardboard to protect them from the weather when there were large holes in the roof – or no roof at all. They were under constant attack by feet, tools, debris etc as the Martin Acres pop-top forged ahead. When uncovered a week or so ago, it was found they survived rather nicely but if that was the end of the story, you’d not be reading this paragraph…

The wood floors were  combo of red and white oak. It is not possible to get the white oak in 1.5″ wide planks any more and patching the areas where walls were taken down, the front room was extended out 3′ and the back room needed to be floored entirely was proving to be complicated. You would notice the difference in wood types rather obviously. Or at least I would.

Plan B: Since my neighbors were next on the pop-top roster and wanted to patch their existing wood floors, we thought we could remove mine and donate it to them, then they could save their floors.

The older wood had other ideas. To say it was uncooperative when it came to pulling it up, was an understatement. The grooves that slot together were splitting apart and not a single board would be moved without substantial damage. It was toast! Sadly, after a day of hard labor with a pickaxe, all that was left was a pile of giant splinters in the dumpster!

There is always a bright side and I was determined to find it. My budget? Hell no. That was not the bright side! Honestly though, there was so much labor cost built in to the original budget for patching and refinishing the floors that the additional cost to putting in new wood floors really wasn’t as bad as I thought it could have been. I believe I have to come up with $4000 at the end of the day for about 1200 square feet of new flooring. Not chump change but manageable.  Now… Getting back to the bright side; If you had ever visited 285 Martin Drive before this project, you might have noticed the floors were quite squeaky. Somewhere between the front door and the kitchen was the worst part, but there were other areas scattered all over the house. With the old flooring gone, the guys were able to screw down the existing 1/4″ plywood firmly to the joists, then glue and screw another layer on top of that. Trust me… the squeaks are gone. I have danced about on this new subfloor to test it – because that’s what you do in these cases!

It smells like freshly cut wood in here now. Mmmm….

And did I mention the kitchen has been unboxed?

A quick update on the exterior:  I had another appointment with my landscape architect (new favorite person!!!) this week. She is pretty awesome and yes, I think that because she humors all my crazy thoughts, control-freak tendancies and ignorance! This week I visited her personal residence to check out her work and then took her to a house that is for sale, so that I could show her the garden. (Uh-huh, the benefit of being a Realtor!)

Like I said, she humors me. You see, I’m asking this poor woman to create a “feeling” with landscape design. You heard me right. I’m showing her things I like and asking her to create a yard that makes me feel a certain way. Sure, sure, I give her pictures of things I like.  She also knows that I need privacy, peace and dappled shade. I’m looking for low maintenance and a yard that attracts bees, butterflies, birds and all manner of critters. Color and leaf variation that provide interest and look pleasant all year round, are a must.

Oh and perhaps most importantly… I want a plan that I can implement over time. Aside from sprinklers and some rock work, there is nothing much going to happen here in 2017. Time and money are limiting factors this year, but perhaps next year I will have some extra time, energy, money to get started on something fabulous and it would be better if I had a master plan.  That is why I have hired Becky Hammond, Landscape Architect.

The Surprise of the Week...

 Week 18

As far as I can tell, Rafael has been working 9 days straight, starting as early as 7am each day, to plaster the corners, gaps, screws and imperfections of the drywall inside 285 Martin Drive.  He is a happy, friendly artist. His skills are so perfectly honed that when it came time to sand, there was not much to do!

On the outside, the painting got finished… And I think I almost got used to seeing a masked man sneaking around on the roof!  Yes, it was darn near 100 degrees most of last week, yet each day, the guy with the short straw donned stocking head gear and ventilator and up he went to spray paint. (Don’t worry, it seemed that Ken and Aaron took turns and both are still kicking.)

In my master plan, the pergola structure (arbor type thing) that used to be over the back patio, would return. Or at least the idea would return in a different form. The old one was looking weathered. The 4×4’s splintered pretty quickly and it was ok, but never ideal especially for the new house. I had talked to Ken about this a month or so ago and asked if the guys could build me a new one before they wrapped up the house.

True to form, Storm Form, Ken said no problem and we discussed a few ideas. I trusted him to create something that went with the style of the house and was proportionate too. All I chose was the color. Then the other day, imagine my surprise when I turned the corner to the back yard to find Aaron, Dirk and Dustin whistlin’ away to the tune of my new pergola!  Awesome pergola.  I ate one of their donuts as I hung out and watched the progress. Good day. Yes, very good day!

It was during Saturday morning’s “burrito at 285 Martin Drive” breakfast with Mark, that he got to see it for the first time. Finished. A nice surprise to end the week.

I cannot wait to start tinkering in the garden, making it green and floral and zen again. There will be many a breakfast, lunch, dinner and drink, consumed under this pergola!

Modern Farmhouse at 285 Martin Drive

 But it used to be mid century modern. (Using the term “modern” kinda liberally.)

We are now at the end of Week 17.  Remember this? Circa 2016.

This is us, circa 2017 (so far):

Sure, sure… the landscaping could use a face-lift now. But all in good time.  I have a plan for that too – almost… kind of… maybe.

First, the update from last week:

The drywall arrived, was apparently delivered via the upstairs windows and lay in stacks against the walls in almost every room. I was sorry to have missed this adventure, but plenty of the neighbors witnessed it and were eager to recall.

The team of 3 drywallers arrived last Monday and began sticking it up in earnest. it was hot, dusty and heavy work and they took few breaks. But oh boy, when they did, you should have seen what other skills they possess! They pulled out an electric cooking element, a fry pan and all the ingredients needed for what appeared to be fajitas… cooking and eating them in my upper living room among the dust and going right back to work!!!  Im NOT kidding!

By the weekend the drywall was all installed.  The guy below showed up around 7am on Saturday morning with the goal of taping the entire house. I think he almost did it too! I visited (made a nuisance of myself) as he happily worked alone Saturday afternoon, to the sound of Spanish radio. Fiesta music! One can’t help but catch the rhythm and smile.  Sunday, he was back to do the corners and where the walls meet the ceiling with a different yet equally compelling device. His young son was helper extraordinaire. Adorable and hard working.

Meanwhile at “date night” down at Floor And Decor this week, Mark and I were getting our tile on. Torturing ourselves with the infinite possibilities and geometric patterns. Ugghhh… by far the hardest of the decisions to date has to be picking tile for the bathrooms. Help, Ken. Help!

And outside the house this week, they were getting ready to paint. An ongoing caulking event, followed by taping the windows on the other side of plastic. Then, when I was not looking, the spraying began.  A color that was chosen by Mark and I just 48 hour prior after careful deliberation and hauling sample boards all around the house in diminishing evening light!  Yep, Ken had made me color sample boards and Aaron stayed late to help us with the task of getting some perspective!

Also this week; A little roof over the front peaked window and the doors off the master bedroom.

Painting the exterior began Friday afternoon.

And last but not least, our weekend visit. A chance to say hi to the neighbors, check out the modern farmhouse and water the trees.  (I was reminded this week, by someone in the know, that I should be giving them more water or they will suffer distress during this process.)