A New Year

Happy New Year!!

With so many changes in 2010, we are both looking forward to enjoying all the hard work that has gone into our new home. The paint is on the walls (almost), the trim is on the windows (almost), and the flooring is just about half done. All those hours watching HGTV is definitely paying off!

So many of our interior design decisions have been influenced by the timbers. With so much white oak in the house we decided to trim the windows with primed and painted pine. The trim is 4" wide and although there is a lot of work involved in creating your own trim, it's a real cash saver and looks great! Some of the angles of those higher windows were challenging, but they turned out really nice. The secret: caulk! Caulk can make ANYTHING look professional.

After shopping for months for the perfect flooring, we finally decided on natural white oak pre-finished tongue and groove from Lowe's. And thanks to our general contractor Ron, we have the tools needed to lay the flooring. Can't imagine doing this job without the proper tools! By the end of a 10 hour flooring session you're feeling pretty close to death!! The results however, are totally worth it.

What's next? It's on to the kitchen! Not that the one I'm using right now isn't good enough, but it will be nice to not have to rinse dishes in the bathroom sink. Currently we have a fridge downstairs, and a coffee pot, microwave, and a Coleman camp stove set up in the future kitchen. I've become a creative cook and quite an expert with a crock pot.

With the loft floor finished, we've taken up residency upstairs. It's probably the most beautiful room in the house and will be a great spot for guests. At night you can hear the timbers "check" as they settle into their permanent position. Although checking leaves small cracks in the posts and beams, it's part of the mystique of a timber frame.

Now that we've reached the new year, springtime is just around the corner. It won't be long until we're floating down the river and finally enjoying all the hard work we've spent during these winter months. Until then we'll continue to paint, caulk, and hammer away!