I’ve been really busy over the last few months. Not only did my son and I put down a new floor in the hallway and kitchen…I have repainted the kitchen cupboards, replaced the tap in the kitchen and new lighting.
The kitchen is almost done. I just need a cupboard over the fridge, a small pantry beside the stove, and on the other side another lower cupboard with a under the counter shelf for the microwave.
The second floor stairs still need to be trimmed out. Not sure why the last owners took off all the quarter round, but it is a nasty job to replace it with all the strange angles. And I still need to replace the quarter round in the upstairs bathroom.
I started the outside jobs. I have kept the weeds down to a dull roar in the backyard but with the rain this week, they have a headstart on me again. Unfortunately, I will not get to them this weekend. This week I started replacing the front walk, and my deadline it tomorrow to finish it. I have laid the stones, but they will need to settle before going any further. Bascailly they need a little sand to get them level and I ran out of money for sand and joint grout. It will have to wait for next pay. Even half done it is still a big improvement over the old side walk.
Tonight I need to take all my measurements and design a wood stair up to the front door. I was hoping to complete the entire walkway in stones, but the elevation was just too steep, so wood stairs it is.
Once that is all done, I will fix the crack in the front porch, and paint the whole thing – as well as the stairs – with a chocolate cement paint. There is a product called Stone Effects that I have been looking at that should do the trick.
I also need to repaint the entire front of the house. I have 3 colours in mind, but I need to get the porch columns squared up and trimmed. Right now they are turned. I much prefer a squared column with a raised panel…that way I can put the dark brown on the inside of the panel and the complementary lighter tan on the outside.
That will almost finish the front of the house. Only 1 project for next year. I plan to create a flowerbed going up the side of the new sidewalk. It is mainly for visual interest and to highlight the walkway up to the front door.
At this time, I’m planning on 3 Japanese Yews in standard form, and underneath golden spreading junipers. The plants will not be the biggest job or cost..it will be the triple mix that I need to create the bed, and the digging of the grass and heavy clay based soil.
Because I did the sidewalk this year, I may have to sacrifice the fence for the side yard. Oh well, Rome wasn't built in a day. I will post pictures when I get close to completing my summer jobs for this year.
