Sunday, December 11, 2016

Switching the Old for the New

It's been a while  - and I've been busy.
Back in my "old" home, making it new.
It's been 16 months since my return.  A year and a bit of reacquainting myself with my home while enthusiastically discovering all the changes a neighbourhood naturally goes through in the 3 1/2 years, I'd been gone.
I told myself to wait a year.  A full year getting my bearings back, enjoying my space once again, before taking on any renovations.
Ha! That certainly didn't happen!

Two months after my return I hired an electrician to replace a faulty electrical panel. Then I found mice in my kitchen cupboards! Yuk! I immediately hired Skeddadle - a humane wildlife control company (not an exterminator).  Their way of fixing the problem was to seal up the outside of my house, so mice could not enter.  So far so good.

Then, come spring, I decided I'd had quite enough of my awful-looking grungy garage floor.
It was time to do something about it.
I called a local contractor to pop by for an estimate. He and his crew advised that the best course of action would be to break up the existing floor and pour a new concrete floor.

Mulling that over (did I really want the mess and noise and expense of that?  I thought they could just resurface the old one), I figured they knew what they were doing and since a cement truck would be here anyway, why not pour me a new front porch?

The old one was starting to crumble with age. And should really be extended right to the siding on the house. There was nothing but a patch of dirt (to the right of the door facing it), where nothing would grow because of lack of sunlight.

It was a huge project, as the stone front walk needed to be repaired. I also had a new pathway constructed around the side of the house.  Well, as long as the contractor was here, had the supplies, might as well get everything done at once!  This was back in May of this year.


Looks like summer now - and this is my new front porch.  With new wider front steps.
Oh, and did I mention that I thought I'd replace the front door?
The old one was made of wood - yes very sturdy but rattled in the wind and let in the cold air. I'd had several handy-men in to see if they could make it fit better, change the hardware, but nothing worked, so I did my research, got in a few estimates and made up my mind.

I hired a reputable "door and window" company to replace the double door with a single one and 2 side panels. Lots of glass for letting in light and the decorative metal for a bit of privacy (you have to really put your face to the glass to peek in) and to make it look fancy.

I'm very happy with the results!

Yes, there are still more renos to tackle, but for now, I'm just enjoying my comfy home.

11 comments:

Abba's Girl said...

Beautiful!

Merry Christmas from Texas.

Annette AKA Abba's Girl

Abba's Girl said...

When I began blogging in earnest once more, I had to figure out how to change the background, fonts, text etc. I still cannot add music or a video. Cutest Blog on the Block have easy instructions for changing the background and many, many choices.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

So good to hear from you.... WOW---so you are back in your home... Renovations are sometimes FUN --at least the finished product. Love your front door....

Hope you continue blogging --and especially showing off your 'new' home!!!!!!

Congrats.

Merry Christmas.
Hugs,
Betsy

joanne said...

well it may have been a noisy mess but he end result is amazing. I love your new front porch! I can't wait to see what you have planned next. I'm so glad you are happy in your new/old home. I hope you feel the love that you and hubby filled it with when he was still with you. It's so nice to hear from you. Be well friend.

Maggie May said...

Wonderful results. You've done really well!
Really pleased to hear from you again.

Maggie x

Ruth said...

Your new entrance is lovely. All the best of the season and a happy new year to you as well.

Shammickite said...

I really like your new door and steps, and it's great to get all the improvements done at once isn't it. I hope you'll be blogging now, perhaps more often than twice a year???? heheheh
Happy Christmas, and may you enjoy happiness and good health in 2017.

Rose said...

Your new front door and walk look beautiful! I've been taking a blogging break during the holidays, so it was a pleasant surprise to see you posting again. I hope you had a very Merry Christmas, Wendy, and wish you all the best in the New Year!

Heidrun Khokhar, KleinsteMotte said...

I love the look of your new front door and steps. You are really making the home look freesh and updated. I am glad you are making prgress and settling back in to a place you loved. You mice solution was an intersting one. Hope they sray out for good. Our cat tends to bring us little gifts now and then. They remain outdoors and are buried. My daughter'cat brings in live ones and the hunt is a challenge when it happens.
My comment comes in the new year as I'm a bit slow keeping up so have a happy New Year and post again soon.

Beverly said...

i love your front porch and your new front door. I've been here in Virginia almost two years, and there are some changes I want to make to my house...my kitchen countertop is formica, and i want to change it to something more attractive and modern...we'll see.

thanks for stopping by and reminding me I have a blog. I miss blogging days...must start again.

Patricia said...

Hello Wendy. Well done you. Such a terrific achievement. Moving on with your life and going back at the same time. I admire your sense of purpose. Good luck and be happy.