nancychapmon

50's House in the Woods, Design Tips Included!, Finishing!, Interior Design Interest, Remodeling Projects

Fun with Finishes & Colors, at last!

Posted on January 18, 2023 by nancychapmon

After months of renovation that turned into something much more like “new construction”, the 50’s House in the Woods has finally made it through the finishing phase! It is so much fun to see the design plan come to life, as colors, textures and finish materials are applied and installed. As the designer, I carry a house like this “in my head” for the months it takes to demo, frame, build and add dimension to the house; when it transitions into reality looking exactly as it did in my head, my sense of satisfaction is “through the roof”!

Although there are many finishing touches to be added, I am going to share some preliminary finished photos, so this post will consist mainly of house pictures; I hope you’ll enjoy peeking at the almost-complete home! Before-and-after pictures coming soon….

Here are a few pictures of the kitchen, just after countertops were added, but before appliances were installed! The white countertops are Quartz, while the island is Quartzite (which is also used in the main bathroom). Quartzite is “the real thing”, similar to marble but much harder: Quartz is man-made, and lower in cost than quartzite, though higher than most granite or marble.

A view of the almost-finished kitchen - cabinets by Keith Farr Unlimited

Remember the long wall we removed in the beginning? That allows the kitchen to be open to the dining and living areas….most importantly, it lets the cook see out both the front and back windows while puttering in the kitchen!

Cabinets are by Keith Farr Unlimited; the finish is a lacquer form of Benjamin Moore’s 2022 Color the year, October Mist in the kitchen, and Sherwin Williams Pure White everywhere else. Flooring is Mannington Endura Max, Dockside Boardwalk. All plumbing fixtures provided by Apex Plumbing Supply. Countertops fabricated by Arturo Gonazalez of Sandbox Remodeling, Dallas. Backsplash tile is natural stone, cut and honed into random circles

Soon you’ll see the completed look with appliances installed! The appliances are from Wolf and SubZero, with a Sharp microwave drawer and Kitchenaid dishwasher (virtually silent!)

This is the mud room, entering from the back deck and connecting to the laundry room on one end and the kitchen on the other. The tall cabinets are pantries; the drawers underneath hold shoes removed at the door. Note large storage drawers under the long bench – love these!

Here are a few preliminary photos of the Hall Bath:

This lovely countertop material is granite! I was on a constant search for white granite in the ’90’s, before quartz was a “thing”. I’m so glad they found a vein somewhere, and now we have it! Flooring is a tile called Marrakesh: I liked that it was patterned, but rendered in subtle colors so it had a vintage appearance without overpowering. The shower tile is all by Daltile, and stained glass windows were part of the owner’s collection, repurposed beautifully I think! (for those who wonder, the stained glass windows are high enough to prevent anyone from seeing through, as the house next door is lower on the hill AND on a slab foundation, where this one is raised by the pier and beam foundation) Paint color is Sherwin Williams Desert Twilight

If you’re curious about the gorgeous wood doors, they are a major design element of the house, but were very hard to find and finish! They are 5-panel solid hickory doors, sent from Homestead Doors in Ohio. There are 5 doors, all opening off the main hall. During the framing phase, I had all the hall openings lined up, and the door openings moved to where they made sense: I hope these pictures convey the effect this has on the ambience in the house!

Here we see the entry leading to the main bedroom; it first leads to the closets, then on into the bedroom itself; next you’ll see some photos of the main bathroom.

This is where the addition begins, which also includes the main bathroom and music room. Wall color is Pittsburgh Iron Gate

This is another stained glass window that was in the owner’s collection. Where the 3 stained glass windows were used, a matching new window was placed in the opening, with the stained glass window hung on the inside. This protects the glass from any breakage from outside, such as a rock thrown by a lawn mower, while making it just as visible through the plain glass picture windows.

This is the living/dining area; an existing wood china cabinet now rests between the built-in display/storage cabinets. Wall color in the main area is Sherwin Williams Quiet Moments; all trim is SW Pure White

Shown here is the library/game room area; to the right is the music room overlooking the back yard and deck.

As the interior finishing touches are going in, we moved once again to the exterior. Crews came in and removed the old driveway and 50’s front walk in a day! The driveway had always had a drainage problem, directing water right into the garage. It needed to be extended for a new carport (coming soon!), so we took the opportunity to improve the drainage, and straightened it out by removing an old oak stump that was in the way.

The old walk to the front door was a narrow walk paralleling the front of the house, and long overgrown; needless to say, it never encouraged one to enter through the front door! Now the walk is a curvy design that completely changes the front of the house and invites guests right up the walk to the front! The best part by far is the problem this walk solved: because the house is on a pier and beam foundation, there was no wheelchair access, as all entrances require going up steps. The front is a bit higher, so we were able to gently slope this walk throughout the expanse so that a wheelchair or walker could roll right into the front door! The slope is barely felt when walking, and probably not even noticeable by most guests. I love this solution to such a practical but necessary design problem! I’ll show better finished photos of the driveway and front walk in a later post, but wanted to share this innovative way to make the house more accessible!

Thanks for joining us on this journey to completely remake a 50’s house that had really good bones! It has been interesting on so many levels, but the finishing and decorating is, of course, my favorite part! I will add some truly finishing photos when the time is right…meanwhile, I hope to hear from you in the comments below! Let’s all make 2023 one of our best years yet!

Design Tips Included!, Empty Nester's Full Home Refresh, Interior Design Interest

Let me tell you a Color Story…

Posted on October 15, 2022October 15, 2022 by nancychapmon

“A Seaside Color Story”….peaceful, serene, yet light. Natural, textural, soul-filling…truly a feast for the senses, right? Let’s think how:

Sight: ocean meets sky to infinity, drawing your unending gaze: sun glistening on water and causing sand to sparkle: the smooth lustre, peeking inside a crab’s shell: white fluffy clouds laughing down on sunbathers…
Touch: sand between the toes: the cool embrace of water: smoothness of driftwood: supple beach grasses
Smell: the fresh scent of ocean mist: the watery scent of a summer rain shower: coconut suntan oil
Sound: endless tidal waters rushing, then receding: gulls calling for attention: wind whipping flags
Taste: the summer tang of saltwater: freshly caught seafood: sweet tropical drinks: a cool drink of water

Reading this list, how did you feel? Reminiscent of good times? Relaxed? Did you smile?

Your home and your spaces all tell a color story; this is the story of the Empty Nester’s Refresh, and it reads so well! Walking through this refreshed home, one feels peaceful, serene, a sense of order… yet the fun of surprise as well!

Color, texture & light-reflective surfaces

We used a color palette drawn from nature, meant to evoke all of those feelings and more; the colors flow from room to room, like turning pages of a book to find you’re still on the same sentence. Each has it’s own personality, yet is related to the last and the next; the color chips you see above were used carefully to create a sense of balance while keeping the plot in mind.

Though coral is not part of the paint palette, it is the pop of color giving context to the serenity of the seaside hues. Think about the surprise of a bright tropical hibiscus or the parrot’s feathers (have you ever seen the poinsettias growing as trees in the Bahamas??) Nature handles these things, creating wonderful visual excitement in the midst of serenity; the “why” of this is that coral is opposite on the color wheel from the pale blue-greens of our palette. The use of opposites like this turns a monochromatic color scheme into a complementary one. In this type of color scheme, balance is achieved when the “opposite” color is used judiciously, for “pop”!

In this room, you see Alabaster enamel used to coat the formerly wood surfaces of the paneling and wood trim; alabaster is not a bright white, but it provides a soft, clean backdrop for our seaside palette. The wood floor grounds it all, while the bright, textural coral rug provides both visual weight and the “wow factor”!

The kitchen, dining and master suite use one of my favorite all-time “chameleon” colors as their backdrop: Sherwin Williams Sea Salt. Sea salt is technically a grayed green blue, more green than blue when seen next to a clear blue. However, it goes on the wall evoking the palest of aquas, and literally takes on the mood of what is around it (thus, chameleon). Blues are the absolute most difficult shades to pick from a paint chip! I have seen so many houses or rooms painted a shade of blue, when I was pretty sure I knew what they were going for (but did not achieve!). Blue is difficult in pigment, and as all colors, so affected by ambient light and sheen. If you want a soft blue in your room, be wary of paint chips that appear blue. One must understand the mixing of paint, the undertones, to “get it right” with blue.

Sea Salt as the backdrop: coral as the Pop!

In the gameroom, we used a slightly more intense shade of blue, seen above as Sherwin Williams Rainwashed. This color pulls one in, across the alabaster walls of the pool room. Though the room is small and the color is intense, it is softened by Sherwin Williams Pure White woodwork and Pottery Barn linen draperies. (photos coming soon)

Now, the bedroom hall, guest bedroom, 2nd & 3rd baths and home office all make use of the neutral “sand” in our scheme, which took me quite a long time to choose! The pick was Benjamin Moore’s Cedar Key, and it did not disappoint. It was difficult to find this color without either yellow or red undertones that would be distracting, but in the end Cedar Key worked very well. Again, it was the contrast with Pure White trim that created the feeling of light. See how the color reacts to different moods of a few rooms here:

Please do note that colors seen on a screen are not always perfectly true; in some cases, editing to correct light issues may change a color slightly – and when it does, the lighter shades tend to glow a bit pinker than when seen in person. These are quick photos I have taken along the way, but I hope they give you an idea of what a color story is: your spaces are telling their own story right now!

I hope your color story is the one you want to live in; if not, start dreaming of your ideal environment! Remember that the story is not so much about the colors themselves, but the emotions and feelings they evoke. Does your home make you feel safe, secure, and loved? Are your space’s colors all very similar (monochromatic), complementary (think red/green, yellow/purples, or blue/orange), or ALL ONE COLOR?! If you raised your hand on that last one, and the color is cool gray, how does that make your furniture look? Builders have been using gray almost exclusively for 15 years, but most are now turning to warmer tones in the tan or rose family.

Not that I’m on board with this choice personally, but click here to see Sherwin Williams’ new color of the year for 2023: like it or not, you’ll begin to see products of all ranges in this or similar tones. Do not be influenced by the latest “in” color, unless you want to: color is personal, just as art is. Use color to express who you are, how you want to live, and how you want the world to see you and your family. If you’re unsure, always feel free to call me up for a chat – let’s consult!

I’m off to show a young couple some houses on this beautiful fall day, but I would love to hear your thoughts & comments on one of my favorite subjects – COLOR! Hopefully we will see some FALL COLOR here very soon – until then, enjoy your life and spread some cheer – happy autumn to you!

50's House in the Woods, Design Tips Included!

The 50’s House is Coming Back to Life!

Posted on October 9, 2022 by nancychapmon

Hello my friends – I apologize for the lag in updates on The House in the Woods….we’ve been very busy finishing up the exterior, and are now making big strides inside as well! Our “project” is beginning to look like a house again, and we couldn’t be more excited watching it emerge ~ hopefully I’ll be able to convey some of the excitement to you in progress photos!

I had to jump ahead because I’m so excited about the exterior paint colors and cedar shutters! The image living in my head is finally beginning to emerge, and though there are a few more exterior details that will add to the story, this part is fun to watch!

If you’re considering painting the exterior of your home, I strongly recommend testing several shades first (see below for ours). Picking colors from tiny paint chips is an art any time, but it can be especially difficult when you’re choosing for the exterior. Your color will be distorted by all of these things:

Type of siding material
Direction of sun exposure
Amount & height of trees providing shade
Secondary colors (roof, shutters, windows and doors)
Gloss level of paint and/or stain

I was looking for a color that would allow the house to “melt” into the woods; my goal is that it look like it’s always been there, belongs there & does not detract from the beauty of it’s surroundings. Finding just the right shade of warm green/gray proved to be more difficult than I expected: here you see where we tested the 3 finalists chosen from among dozens of contenders. The cedar board is leaning up against the wall to represent the shutters and outdoor living area trim: since the ‘red’ in cedar would be complementary to our color (think opposite on the color wheel) it provided an important element in choosing the final color. In chip form, all of these colors looked very good; however, the one to the right of the cedar board looked very green outside, much to my surprise! The color all the way to the right went up looking very light and more blue gray than we wanted. The color to the left seemed way too dark, but I had tested it for contrast….and I bet you guessed it already: that one proved to be the hands-down winner! It still looks different throughout the day as the light changes, but it definitely has the river rock effect I was looking for. The dark strip above the sample is the color we sampled and used for the trim, garage door and outdoor living area ceiling. Here are the colors in case you’re curious, both mixed using Benjamin Moore paint:

SW Enduring Bronze 7055 & Benjamin Moore Wildwood Crest 1538

Since the last progress post, we have also finished all the electrical and plumbing rough-in, had the finished roof installed, had foam insulation sprayed into all the exterior walls and attic areas, had all new sheetrock installed, and have had it taped, bedded and textured. The cabinets and built-ins are all being built now, and should be getting their lacquer finish sprayed this week; once they are installed, we can have templates made for all of the countertops.

This week the carpenters will be back to do the interior trim-out, which includes all door and window facings, cased openings, and closet detailing throughout. They will also finish installing the deck boards. For both beauty and ease of maintenance, we are using a composite decking material; while Trex is the best-known brand of this product, we chose Armadillo brand, which saved about 1/3 on the cost.

One of the most difficult parts of remodeling/building right now is gathering the materials; the supply chain is still an issue, and the oddest things are nearly impossible to find! For example, on my last job we used Leviton switches and outlets in white: they were in short supply everywhere! I had to get very creative to find enough to finish that job. This time we’re using the same, but in the color Biscuit, which is apparently not so popular at the moment: I ordered all we needed at once!

While we have sourced our share of products through Home Depot and Lowe’s, we have also been fortunate enough to use 2 smaller local suppliers for most of the “big stuff”, and they have cheerfully delivered each load as it was needed. When I ordered the sheetrock, Lowes had the best price, but I had to wait a few days for my delivery since every other builder in town was doing the same. As it happened, the roofer was having shingles delivered the same day from Home Depot, which I didn’t know. We had also ordered a new giant dumpster 4 days before this, which involves a big truck coming to drop it off. I always sweat the deliveries, as logistics on the job site can be challenging; but this time it was really a circus! The Lowe’s truck showed up 2 hours late to offload 300 sheets of sheetrock; as we were discussing where he could best put it to leave room for the eventual dumpster arrival, the Home Depot truck pulled up with the roof shingles. This is a very narrow residential dead-end street with drainage ditches on both sides, so there was no possibility of both trucks getting close to the house at one time. While they were discussing HOW to offload both trucks at once AND where to put everything, the dumpster truck pulled around the bend! All 3 trucks lined up down the street, which was comical in this tiny neighborhood! Then the across-the-street neighbor picked that moment to leave the house, but literally couldn’t get around the caravan of trucks until the 2nd and 3rd trucks backed up.

There’s another stack behind the white SUV: 300 sheets!

Below I’ll post a few progress pics that got us here, but here’s a preview of some of the rooms with first foam insulation, then sheetrock:

Master suite vaulted ceilings with foam insulation

Next week I will share the design plan for this home, including the overall concept and how you’re about to see it come to life through colors, texture, tile, lighting, flooring and fabrics. For now I will leave you with some photos of progress in the last few weeks….I hope you’ll find some ideas or inspirations along the way – and please feel free to reach out in comments if you have questions or observations! As always, I wish you all the blessings of the season, as we enter not only Autumn, but the beginning of “the holidays”! Dig out those sweaters and rain boots!

Jose replacing bricks where windows were removed

Brick was added where the roof pitch was raised as well

By the way, look at that difference in roof pitch!

The screened porch is coming..with this old door found at Canton!

Design Tips Included!, Empty Nester's Full Home Refresh, Finishing!, Interior Design Interest

Empty Nester’s Refresh – Almost finished!

Posted on September 4, 2022 by nancychapmon

We are nearing the end of this huge remodeling project, where we have literally “refreshed” every part of this beautiful house in my hometown of Greenville, Texas…my clients have moved back in and are gradually unpacking and finding the new normal in their gorgeous spaces! We need some time to get things all settled before taking any true “before and after” photos – but I can show you some of the fun leading up to the finish line!

This photo was snapped on “furniture day” – and what a day that was! We had ordered a houseful of furniture beginning in February for a project that actually began in June, due to a family wedding. With the supply chain being what it is today, we thought it best to start early to be sure we’d have furniture when ready. Box after box came in and was stored in a local climate-controlled storage building, awaiting the big day…and finally it came one day in August! A friend with a box truck, 2 strong guys, and a handful of workers later, my client’s front lawn was covered with many, many boxes, rugs and mirrors!

Move it all in….!

A few product notes of interest from the living room photo above: first, the rug. My clients asked for the new design to be “light and airy” with use of the colors teal and coral. In this room, the first layer of “light” came from painting the rich (but dark) paneling a light color, using semi-gloss enamel in Benjamin Moore’s Alabaster. The beautiful replacement windows by Pane Windows and Doors add the BEST light, along with a gorgeous view of their pool and outdoor park-like acreage. We had planned for the furniture to be light neutrals, but I wanted THIS RUG to be my one pop of coral to set the tone for the whole house! Back in February, I was on the hunt for a coral rug – not an easy feat at all! When I found this one, I knew it was going to be perfect – but it was a huge risk! It would either BE perfect in the room, or an expensive error….no in between!

Why the risk? Well, I’d never had experience with this type of rug, and I was buying it online. The color couldn’t be any more orange or pink; it had to be spot on coral! I have dealt with many wool rugs, usually high pile and often Persian style, with intricate multicolored designs. This one came from an old Persian rug that had been shaved and vegetable dyed: the high pile was actually shaven to make it a low pile. The Persian design would then show through a bit, but not be prominent…and the subtle vegetable dye would then overtake the colors, making it basically one color (though many various shades due to the undertones.) OK, so the rug was folded up in my warehouse for months, where I could see the back, but only a small part of the front. The back was much more ORANGE than what I could use…and the rug was much too large to get a good view of the top side! On furniture day, when everything was moved from storage, I had guys helping me lay down the rug pad and rug in the room; I was pretty apprehensive! This rug would make or break the room, the first room one sees when entering the house, and the room my clients will spend the most time in.

Here’s a closeup to give you a better idea, and the reminder of the effect of the rug on the whole room:

The result? Perfection! This is the happiest of rooms now, grounded by the visual weight of intense color on the floor – and the color is tempered and toned by the warm hickory tones of the wood floor it sits on. Soon you’ll see the further important ‘layers’ from linen panels framing the view from each of the beautiful windows, and accessories added to finish off the room. On furniture day, we all took a collective sigh of contentment when this formerly dark room came together so beautifully!

One more item of interest: notice the Samsung Frame TV hanging over the mantle? This gorgeous TV looks like a piece of art when not in use, and lays perfectly flat against the wall. It is indeed “framed” by a bezel, which comes in 3 colors at the time. Samsung sent an installer through the Handy app, so all we had to do was prepare the wall by removing some of the picture-frame moulding to leave a large enough flat surface. If you remember, the room had a much larger mantle which we removed in order to be able to hang the TV lower, the right height for the distance from seating. A few pics of the progress/process:

The kitchen is a work of art, to be revealed soon in much better photos than I have at this moment, but here is one shot:

Walls, Sherwin Williams Sea Salt, flat: Cabinets, Sherwin Williams Pure White Semi Gloss: Backsplash, Artigiano picket by Daltile: Countertops, Quartz: Appliances, GE Cafe White

My client may well be the most organized person I know! She is having a blast filling up her new cabinets provided by Keith Farr Unlimited. Just take a look at some of her killer ideas for organization here – highly steal-able and so worth the effort!

That’s a bookshelf sitting inside the high cabinet!

Here’s a shot of the breakfast room in progress on Furniture Day:

A few bathroom-in-progress shots:

Pool Bath, Jack & Jill Bath & Master Bath – in progress

I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing a few of the “almost finished” shots from my Empty Nester’s Refresh – it has been such a delight watching the design come together after all the hard work! We are still waiting on a few items to show up and/or be installed, so I hope to bring you more finished views soon! My clients and I are working on adding finishing touches to all of the spaces, including as many of their “things” as possible. Everyone has collected things over the years that have meaning to their family, or have kept certain pieces to remind of lost loved ones; it is important not the simply decorate the space of one’s home, but to use objects that evoke feelings and memories. Yes, we will add new things to the old, but sparingly. These are a couple of elements we’re working with that add their own sparkle to the spaces:

Thanks for visiting today – we are working hard on The 50’s House in the Woods, even as this project winds up. The 2 projects could not be more different, yet they’re both very special to me, as the designer! The principles of good design are universal, but it is exciting to see them play out in homes with such different elements and goals. I hope you’ll continue to follow both projects ~ having you along makes it special!

Reach out or comment if you have questions or observations…or of course, if you’d like to talk about a project at your own abode! If you’re doing renovations yourself, or have just finished, we’d love to see! Feel free to post some pics in the comments below ~ see you next time! Happy September!

Nancy Chapmon, aka The House Ladee!

50's House in the Woods, Design Tips Included!

Framing: the Key to a Successful Remodel

Posted on August 14, 2022 by nancychapmon

I’ve had a few questions about what’s going on NOW at the 50’s House in the Woods! Well, we had a short break for the past couple of weeks (for the most part) while waiting for some materials to arrive. That wait corresponded nicely with other urgent projects for the carpenters, plumbers, HVAC guys, electrician and…..me! I’ve been doing finishing on my other current project, the Empty Nester’s Refresh, and that has been intense! Now it is entering the final week, including new furnishings & finishing touches. This week work ramps up once again on the 50’s House, which is quickly becoming something much more modern, as you’ll see!

While one crew worked hanging siding on the exterior of the new addition, and various old areas in need of new materials, the framers moved to the inside to give definition to the new space. At the same time, they redefined some OLD spaces in preparation for their “best and highest” use! The photo above shows the new master suite from the entrance; you can still ‘see through’ the back wall of the bedroom into the architecturally stunning new master bath!

A large soaker tub will be featured under the peak of the vaulted ceiling, with windows above designed to frame the private view of oaks and stars, as this faces the back yard and private acreage beyond. To the right is the walk-in shower which will feature some amazing ceramic tile, a corner bench and an extra large shampoo niche that becomes an important design element. Here’s a clue from the tile display that inspired us:

What’s a modern master suite without ample walk-in closets?! In this case the former master bedroom/bath becomes the connector to the new suite: it includes a small “entrance” to the suite with a short hall flanked by his ‘n hers closet rooms, shown here:

The closets, formed from the “old” master bedroom

This might be a good time to point out HOW IMPORTANT good, thoughtful framing is to a successful remodeling project, assuming some walls are moving or spaces within a room are being redefined. In this project, almost all of the walls moved, either just a bit or totally – and one major supporting wall was removed completely! (If you missed that, here’s how that happened)

So back to framing….there are often small changes that can be made to redefine spaces for better use; it can be due to changing lifestyles, or sometimes just poorly thought-out plans from the original builder. (examples to follow). But while demo is going on, you should really think about changes that will make a difference. In this case, since we tore walls down to the studs in order to rewire, replumb and redo the entire roof structure, we had the opportunity to rethink all of the interior spaces ~ and, since this house is on a pier and beam foundation, all things were possible!

Here is an example of making the original design work better: bedrooms 2 and 3 both had long closets, which were placed side-by-side but opening into each room, of course. First, the closet openings were too large, so were accessed with overly wide sliding doors – 3 in fact. With that setup, one could never open the doors wide enough to reach all that closet space! It was needlessly tough to actually use the closets. In addition, the closets were placed in each room in such a way that they took up the whole wall, making it unusable for furniture. It may be hard to see here, but I’m going to show you how we reversed the closets in each room, thereby leaving usable space. In one room, there is now a nice large corner to place a dresser or reading chair and table; in the other room, which is typically used as an office, the closet is easily accessible (not behind the door) and by moving down the door we also created an area for the exercise bike behind it. Some of this will make more sense when you see the spaces with sheetrock and doors, but take a peek:

In what was formerly a den, JUST next to the living room and kitchen, we are creating a game area flanked by 2 walls of built-in bookshelves – carving out a “room” that will now be useful AND beautiful! This room opens to the sunroom, kitchen and living room:

In this 50’s house, there was the period-typical bedroom hallway, with 2 bedrooms on one side, the master on the other, and the hall bath at the end. While that design works pretty well in practice, for some reason nothing “lined up” in this one. The decision was made early on to make a major design statement with the use of solid hickory 5-panel doors in the hallway; while other doors in the house will be painted, these will be wood. But…none of them lined up, so they could not be seen at the same time. The bathroom door was not centered on the hallway – and I wanted it to be! I wanted one to look from the kitchen or living room and see the gorgeous hickory bathroom door in the center of the hallway – and the other hickory doors lining each side of the hall. Small changes made this happen (my framers may not agree the changes were ‘small’ but I say they were!) Again, this will all be much easier to see when we have sheetrock and doors, and finally, with paint, stain and trim! But the framework for these all-important design elements must be done at THIS stage! I think I have a couple of photos that show the beginning of what we laughingly called “lining it up” during framing!

The hall bath door CENTERED on the hallway

The kitchen is the part that will be the most fun to show you, but it’s difficult to ‘see’ right now; I’ll show a couple of photos so you can later see how well you were able to visualilze! There will be lower and upper cabinets along the outside wall only; in the center will be a large island, and all other cabinets will be ‘lowers’ only – thus opening the space to the surrounding rooms. While cooking, my client will be able to see out the front and back picture windows and interact with those in the living room, gameroom or sitting at the counter stools. Here’s an early view to ponder:

I have one last thing to show you today ~ the beginning of the outdoor living areas! First, there will be a small screened porch opening off of the master bedroom; it is just framed enough to allow the roof structure to be added. Then there is the main deck extending from the back (main) entrance. Again, the roof structure is done, allowing us to get the entire roof framed and ‘in the dry’. Soon they will go ahead and do the finish out, consisting of the following:

Build a deck “floor” the same height as the interior spaces
Connect the outdoor living area with the sunroom by building a deck walkway
Wrap the deck supports in rough cedar
Finish off the vaulted ceiling and add lights and a large fan
Finish off the vaulted ends with rough cedar

Antique stained glass incorporated into the outdoor living area

This coming week we see the plumbers starting to redo ALL the plumbing under the house, replacing old pipes with new and replacing the old tree-root-infested sewer line. They’ll then set the rough-in for all interior tubs, faucets, and appliances. This phase will not be blog-pretty!

The electricians are also starting to update all the wiring; the old wiring was not even grounded. They will then set up the proper wiring for all new appliances, lights, switches and outlets – also not a pretty sight!

The HVAC guys will set the new 5-ton efficient unit (in the newly higher attic this time!), then begin building all new flexible ductwork, with returns in each room. All of this work will be done with the knowledge that foam insulation will be used in the walls and attic of the house later. So many things at this stage are affected by that decision – so don’t let it be an afterthought!

The flooring guy has been out to measure now that everything is framed; we’ll be using Mannington Adura luxury vinyl plank, and because of supply chain issues, will go ahead and get the material on order. This house will contain plenty of custom cabinetry, so we’ll get Keith Farr out to measure for them as soon as he has a break in his schedule. Meanwhile, the sheet rockers are planning to start in approximately 3 weeks – and that’s when I’ll update you next!

As always, thanks for checking in to see our progress: I hope you’ve seen at least one nugget that somehow helps you on your own journey through life. Until next time, live with intention & enjoy every day you have! Blessings, my friends!

50's House in the Woods, Remodeling Projects

This 50’s House is Growing UP!

Posted on July 31, 2022 by nancychapmon

Happy mid-summer to all of you out there; I hope you’re surviving & thriving in spite of the heat wave we all seem to be experiencing this season! I know our construction workers on this project have persisted through days and days of 102-109 heat – mostly on the roof! When we had a “cold front”, with temps only 97-99, we all felt great relief! Fortunately, this lovely 50’s house is surrounded by huge oak trees, so there is always shade…somewhere!

Today I’m going to show you pictures of the progression over the last 2 weeks; we are just about finished with construction on this project, so I’ll try to show how it all went back together, though I’ll show you more of the interior framing/finishing next time. What I’ve shown up to now has been mostly the DE-construction of the existing structure; once the decision was made to remove and reframe the roof of this house, the project changed from ‘remodeling’ to ‘new construction’…though we of course kept the original foundation and exterior brick walls (mostly). In the next few weeks, the house will be treated to all new plumbing, wiring and HVAC. Then new sheetrock, trim, cabinets, appliances etc: today is about the groundwork for the finish-out which begins soon!

First, here’s a look at the house as the roof was removed (a long, hot, difficult process to put it mildly). It took a long week with a large crew to remove first the shingles, then the tar paper, then all the decking and joists, then finally all of the old insulation. The old insulation was not doing much good, judging by the look of it, but it was VERY difficult and messy to be rid of; we are very grateful to the crew that took on that task, without complaint.

They had to just keep cutting, over & over!

After the roof was completely off, along with ALL old insulation (and a whole construction dumpster had been filled) the framing crews arrived, ready to put in floor joists and plywood to begin framing the new addition. However, we realized we had not left under-the-house access to the new addition! There was an access between old and new sufficient to put plumbing pipes through, but not enough for a future plumber to crawl through for repairs. So….the foundation guys came back and not only enlarged the existing access between the new and old, but cut a new access into the brand new foundation to the addition. We have a nice new access vent/door to install when the time is right.

“Things I didn’t know could be done”

Next the framers showed up to begin framing the addition; this was exciting to watch! For walls and floors to take shape after living “in my head” for months was just too satisfying – here are a few pictures for you:

Watching the new roof emerge was GREAT! After such a ridiculously low pitch, this 50’s house now has a higher pitch, great angles and transitions, and will eventually wear beautiful bronze metal for the cost-effective, energy-efficient and beautiful finish!

Just one of many new heavy roof members going up

The addition, fully framed and ready for the next step

Once the structure was framed, they quickly added house wrap, the Tyvek seen in the photo above. Then a crew came in to add the cornice all around the perimeter at the top of the walls. The cornice gives a place to stop the roof decking and eventually forms the soffits. It has been interesting to watch various crews come in and out, as they are all specialized now. One does framing, another does cornices, another decks the roof, yet another attaches siding, and the last crew this past week put roof felt on to finally get it “in the dry”….and guess what? It rained that evening! 24 hours earlier and all the new framing wood and floors would have been drenched.

The roof, fully “in the dry” before the rainstorm!

The framing crew moved inside to begin redoing the walls I wanted moved; as you’ll later see, I wanted many areas “lined up” that had not been before. The finish-out of this process will not only be a major design element in the home, but will be one of those intangible (to most) features that create comfort and harmony for those living in or visiting there.

The first and most major move required bracing the existing kitchen and living areas so that the supporting wall could be removed. This is no task for amateurs, as the entire house structure is at risk when you remove a supporting wall! With proper bracing in place, they removed the wall; then it was time to replace that support to give the open concept we’ve all come to expect. I don’t always believe “open” is best, but in this case it definitely is. For one of the many reasons, now a person puttering in the kitchen will be able to look out the large picture window to the street as well as the new sunroom windows to the back, and interact with anyone wining/dining/or playing games in the surrounding rooms. Take a look at the new beam (we used an LVL, a laminated beam, but a steel beam may be used as well)

Those of you looking closely may have noticed that many of these photos include new windows! First of all, our windows came in weeks ahead of schedule, which was a nice touch of serendipity! We were prepared to keep the wrap on the window cutouts for at least a month, but instead we have most of them installed already! The windows were handled and installed by the wonderful people at Pane Window & Doors, a local family-owned company. We are using the prairie design of muntins/mullions in a soft beige shade; they will look wonderful with the gray-green shade of exterior paint, cedar accents and bronze metal roof!

Now you can see we’ve been busy at the 50’s House in the Woods, right?! It has been an exciting time; this week they’ll finish up the interior framing and begin adding new subflooring and plywood where needed. We will take a pause to get Keith with Keith Farr Limited in to measure for all cabinetry, now that the rooms are defined. We will also have the flooring guys in to measure for finished flooring, though we won’t need it for a bit. These days you order things as early as possible, as we are not quite past the supply chain issues that have plagued construction since Covid first hit.

Speaking of ordering, we will begin putting together orders for tile in the bathrooms and kitchen backsplash, lighting fixtures and other finish materials; plumbing supplies were ordered long ago at Apex Supply, so they are ready to be delivered whenever we’re ready (not yet!)

In the next couple of weeks plumbers will be in to re-pipe the entire house, including the sewer line. Because this house is pier and beam construction, we are free to move plumbing at will (and they’ll be glad for the extra-large access areas we created!) The electricians will also be in to rewire everything, as the 50’s wiring was badly out of date, and not grounded. HVAC guys will start new ductwork and add vents for the new high-efficiency unit; we have requested return air vents in every room, so it will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Please feel free to add comments or ask any questions about this project or products used; I will be naming many of the finishing products as we go, but I am always open to comments from my readers! Stay cool, enjoy the rest of your summer, and please check back often for updates! Thanks for spending a few minutes catching up on our project!

Empty Nester's Full Home Refresh, Interior Design Interest

CJ Pierce, Rock Star Electrician!

Posted on July 27, 2022 by nancychapmon

It’s not just EVERY job that has an international rock star show up to do the wiring, but that’s what happened at the Empty Nester’s Update project! The electrician we hired was super tied up with other work, so he sent a friend to help out in the meantime…enter CJ Pierce! After the first day his rock star ELECTRICAL skills convinced us to keep him for the whole job, and that was a great decision.

Now, I knew CJ was a rocker, but at the end of the first day he had worked alongside the plumbers doing rough-in; one of the plumbers asked if I KNEW just how famous he was?! He had recognized CJ and wanted me to know who he really was…so he filled me in. I went home and Googled CJ Pierce immediately, and wow, was I impressed!

CJ is one of the 3 founding members of the Dallas-based band Drowning Pool – and they clearly have quite a loyal following! In fact, CJ had to leave for 10 days (during other messy work at the house) to go on a USO tour overseas to entertain the troops! Besides clearly being “somebody”, CJ has been a real pleasure to work with: his calm demeanor when I asked him to do some magic to get wires where most would have said “can’t be done”, his professionalism and his cheerful outlook on life make the rigors of remodeling so much more pleasant!

CJ moving the dining room fixture over a few inches

That grin, when Nancy says “CJ can I take your picture…again?!” What a good sport. So, he goes on tour with the band, makes albums, does gigs….all the usual rock star activities…but in between times, he takes on projects like ours, having been a licensed electrician for years and years. I can tell he likes his work, and he’s very good at it. There were at least 2 things I asked of him on this project that I don’t think most electricians would have attempted; his out-of-the-box thinking made them happen! Both involve wiring for hard-wired motorized shades on exterior walls…done!

This is a cool demo of how CJ marked the spots for new recessed lighting on the ceiling of the living room; we had removed dated brass track lighting, but given a large empty room, how do you decide where to place the lights, and keep them in line?? Well, as you can see he used a laser tool to layout the grid on the floor, then project it to the ceiling. One of those moments when you just have to love technology, huh?!

I’m so glad we’ve had this rocker/busy father/electrician to help us with this fun transformation; next week he will be hanging some of the coolest light fixtures in the house, as we begin the final finishing phase! Wood floors are going in right now, and tile work is continuing. The tile floors are finished, and they just installed the all-important shower pan in the master walk-in shower. Tomorrow the shower tile begins – I’m so excited to see it finished! I’ll leave you with a sneak peek of some of the lighting fixtures we’ll be hanging next week!

Fun fixtures, huh? They are going to be absolutely gorgeous as the finishing touches on these rooms – I always call light fixtures the “jewelry” of the home. This home will be decked out with just the right “jewelry” in each room, and I’m so excited to share the finished look! The painting is complete, gorgeous cabinetry is in, and wood floors are going in now: next week we will have quartz countertops, then lighting and plumbing fixtures. Soon I’ll be able to start showing you some semi-finished rooms, with all the finishes showing. Until then, have a great week and stay cool!

50's House in the Woods, Demo!

Deconstruction 201

Posted on July 17, 2022July 17, 2022 by nancychapmon

Just a quick update for you this week, on the 50’s House in the Woods project! This coming week we finally get to start putting things back together, as the framing crew redraws the lines of the whole structure: first they’ll frame the outline of the new addition, then completely reframe the roof over the “old” part of the house, the new wing and the patio. I can hardly wait to see how they tie the roofs together!

Since I’m NOT going up on the roof to show you how it looks while being deconstructed, here is an idea of the back (from the ground!) with only about 75% of the rafters remaining. The guys basically peeled the roof like an onion, one layer at a time. After all the shingles and tar paper, they had to remove decking boards one by one; when this house was built, decking was not 4 x 8 sheets of OSB, but single boards. They literally had their work cut out for them this past week!

Question: how do you make it rain in Texas in July???

Answer: start removing the roof decking on a house!

Yes, the day before work on the decking was to begin, the forecast showing a solid 2 weeks of 102-105 degree weather. I quipped, “Just watch, as soon as we remove the decking it’ll rain!” Haha, but never did I think it really would! Sure enough, the next morning when I walked out to open up the job site, it was dark and cloudy – and, within 30 minutes, it was pouring rain! We scrambled to get tarps up there and to cover what was below, but we just weren’t prepared. Since it was ‘supposed’ to rain again that afternoon, I went out and bought heavy-duty roof tarps so we could properly cover the next time. Do you think it rained that afternoon??? Nope!

Just now I was walking the site with the AC guy, discussing pros and cons of keeping the old ductwork or starting over, when I was struck by how interesting the house looked with only rafters overhead…the whole house is a loggia! Here, see what you think:

Someone asked this past week why we didn’t just tear the house down and build a new one; you may be wondering as well, since you cannot really “see” the house and the site. First, deconstruction is very expensive; well-built older homes do not fall apart easily. Well-built older homes are also, well, just that: WELL BUILT! This home was custom built in the late 1950’s, one of the best eras in modern America for home construction. While we are taking advantage of modern technological advances by replacing all windows and doors, using energy-efficient appliances and systems, and insulating throughout with foam, the structure itself, and the foundation it was built on, are very sound. In an area of East Texas where slab-built homes regularly settle and foundations crack, this 1950’s pier & beam foundation is solid and the floors are level. By taking advantage of quality construction, adding new energy-efficient features, and imbuing it all with a bit of modern style, we are creating a beautiful, sound home that will last for many more years. Perhaps the BEST part is the serene park-like setting this home sits on, surrounded by numerous mature oak trees not only in this yard, but the entire neighborhood.

This past week, two trucks brought building materials for the construction ahead; this being a small neighborhood with a narrow street ending in a culdesac , large-truck deliveries can be interesting, to say the least! Between the sagging overhead powerlines, narrow lane, and bicycle-darting kids across the street, I was just a tad stressed getting this all done! My stress, though, was nothing compared to the fantastic driver, who had to figure out how he could get close enough in his big rig to shuttle all the materials to the back yard, navigating through a maze of oaks the whole way! After weighing all the options, he decided to “straddle the drainage ditch”, which I admit I didn’t understand, until he actually did it: take a look!

Straddling the ditch!

Next week I’ll show you the newly-framed structure, and the finished shape will begin to emerge! My client is making some big final decisions as we speak, notably whether to go with a bronze metal roof or stay with standard shingles. You’ll be seeing the results of all the big decisions soon, and I can hardly wait to share! So just for fun, here’s a sneak peek at one of the great design elements coming to this house….

Have a great week, stay cool in this July heat, and come back next time for fun updates!

50's House in the Woods, Remodeling Projects

50’s House in the Woods ~ Big Changes!

Posted on July 10, 2022 by nancychapmon

We’ve had some exciting things going on over at the 50’s House in the Woods project! We had a pause while trying to find just the right contractors for the foundation and framing, and for a very good reason! After doing the demo on the inside, even including removing the ceilings so the electricians could rewire…

… we realized the “attic” pitch was a mere 14″ at the HIGHEST POINT! We knew there was little to no attic, but come on! 14″! This was hard decision time in the project; and yes, the decision WAS made to raise the roof….literally! Here’s the outside of the house as it is now:

Tomorrow morning our Demo crew will be back to do a little more destruction before we start putting the house back together; they are going to tear off the roof AND the roof framing! This is a first for this remodeler – and it was not easy finding good crews to work with this situation. We have to be perfectly coordinated with one crew to remove everything and another crew to frame it back and get the new roof in the dry, because the house interior will be fully exposed in the meantime. We also have to coordinate getting the framing materials delivered at the right moment, but not so early they’ll be in the way of the dump trailer as it gets filled a few times. This task has a few “moving parts”, and they ALL have to work together perfectly I checked the weather for this period of time to make sure rain wasn’t forecast (what was I thinking?? Texas in July?!) So far, all we have ahead are 100++ days this week; while that is good for the no-rain outlook, the poor guys doing this job are going to be HOT! We are setting up fans to try to ease things a bit, but these guys will be heroes for working under these difficult and unusual conditions, to say the least.

So now you’re up on the “raising the roof” part of this upcoming week, but I’m so excited that they’ll ALSO be framing the 700 sq ft addition as well! To help you visualize the addition, let me show off our new foundation:

As you can see, this is a new pier and beam foundation done to match the existing one; with pier and beam one has the advantage of getting under the house to move plumbing or do repairs, which is WHY we’re able to do such fun changes to this house in the first place! However, finding a concrete contractor around East Texas who is experienced in this type of work was not easy: I would highly recommend Orta Construction – they did a fantastic job! It was so interesting watching the process, so I thought I’d share a few pictures of them drilling the piers and setting the forms.

Watch this video of digging a pier – I love the end!

Digging a pier

The demo crew is lined up starting tomorrow
The dump trailer will be here ready to cart off the old roof and timbers
The construction materials are being delivered Wednesday
The framing crew is ready to start Thursday
We will have the structure taking shape in a few days!

I’m going to share a small view of the plans, though you likely won’t see much due to the size; just notice the straight line of the original back of the house, then the addition of a bed/bath wing and a sunroom/music room. Now you see where we’re going with this! Next time I’ll fill you in on some style details of this MCM-ish house in the woods!

New addition on the back of the existing house

Thanks for joining us for this big project in the works – I can promise you the end will be astoundingly cool! Fortunately, my client believes in quality, so there is no skimping on this project (really, there seldom is!). Until next time, I hope you have a wonderful week and make absolutely the best of it! If you’re on vacation, I’m envious; if you’re not, I commiserate – stay cool if you can!

Design Tips Included!, Empty Nester's Full Home Refresh, Interior Design Interest

What Makes a House Beautiful?

Posted on July 10, 2022 by nancychapmon

There is no simple explanation of ‘what makes a house beautiful’….I have been in many homes, considering my interior design and real estate careers combined, but I will say there is no one thing, no formula, and no exact recipe for creating a beautiful home.

I have been in homes that felt beautiful, yet were out of date technically: I have been in homes that were fully up-to-date, with all the “right” finishes, yet seemed somehow lacking. Naturally, the warmth and personality of the home’s owners imbues the intangible magic ingredient to a beautiful home, but I can give you a few ideas of the elements that always combine to create beauty – and anyone, on any budget, can make this happen!

Throughout the rest of this series, which features my project I’ve named “Empty Nester’s Home Refresh”, I will try to point out the elements and how we’re using them in this home. Let me first say that my client’s home was beautiful before we even started! They had created a lovely atmosphere their family had enjoyed over the years; the home itself had/has “great bones”! It featured absolutely gorgeous picture-frame paneling in the living room, a wood ceiling with stained glass insert over the pool table, nicely proportioned rooms, and a yard and pool anyone would want!

All that said, my clients were ready to refresh and update the look, and in the case of the kitchen and master bath, the utility of the spaces. They expressed a desire to have the home feel ‘light and airy’, gearing off a color palette of teal and coral. So many decisions were made instantly by those simple requests!

Here are a few of the ways to create a feeling of “light” in your interior spaces:

Light reflective surfaces (more on that as we go)
Light, semi gloss mouldings and trim
Contrast! (This one may surprise you)
A combination of proper lighting, placed correctly
Balance of colors/textures
Light colors, but NOT all white (remember contrast?)

Now for the “airy” part – this is more intangible, but comes from the careful use of design elements such as balance, use of texture and simplicity. A hint of how:

Simple, clean lines in furnishings
Open spaces, wide, well-lit walkways
Keeping “visual weight” low (darker floors, lighter walls for example)
Large windows with minimal treatments

Now, this feels a bit to me like an oversimplification, as good design has so many more elements to keep in mind…one of the most overlooked being acoustics! For example, if you take away carpet in favor of a wood floor and also have large windows, you’re going to have sound bouncing around the 6 sides of the room! (floor and ceiling count). That’s where you start layering to create balance (a rug, fabric side drapery panels, upholstered furniture etc). But enough of “design class”, you want to see colors, right?! Let me share:

Color chips can be distorted online, but this shows the relationship of colors being used in the house: Sherwin Williams’ Sea Salt is a very pale blue-gray color that sets the tone for my client’s accent colors of teal and coral. Sea salt is ACTUALLY a green, but goes up looking more blue. An actual shade of blue goes on the wall looking much too bright, and overtakes the room in most cases. I’ve found this is one of my “chameleon” colors, meaning it takes on it’s surroundings as a perfect backdrop. Wall colors throughout the house will be Sea Salt, Alabaster and Cedar Key, with Pure White mouldings throughout. Two small rooms will be Rainwashed, a slightly more intense pale aqua.

Clearly the colors themselves are light, but the FEELING of lightness will come from the contrast with semi-gloss white trim. Contrast creates light, even if you use a dark wall color (in the right circumstances!) Where this home has featured many wood surfaces, most will now be white, with selected wood areas such as kitchen beams, pool room ceiling and two sets of doors plus the entry doors being left stained. To keep this overall look from being TOO light, we balance it with a medium-tone hickory wood floor (texture and balance). Then we tone further with layers of texture and pattern, sometimes from rugs, sometimes a patterned tile floor…here is one example showing toning:

Color Palette with toning, texture & pattern

These are just a few clues from the plans for this home refresh, but to create a beautiful space, just remember to use balance in all things: balance of colors, textures, light, and acoustics. Example of a balance of textures might include a room that makes use of wood, fabric, metal, glass and pattern. You can easily add balance sometimes by the simple addition of textured/colored throw pillows, for example. If you’re going to paint a room, think about where the visual weight is, or needs to be: if the floor is light, consider a medium tone on the walls, with light trim. If the floor is darker, lighten up the walls. If you’re working with stained wood trim in the home, the walls will probably need to be a shade of white, and you’ll need visual weight (color and texture) on the floor. I hope this brief lesson in balance starts you looking around and thinking! Whether you want a weekend refresh or a full redo, just keep the basic elements in mind and you’ll be happy with the results!

Now, before I let you go, here are a few updates on the progress at the Empty Nester’s Refresh: new walls in the kitchen and bath have been sheetrocked and taped/bedded/textured to prepare for finishing. After a few modifications (they left phone jacks??) tomorrow, the painting phase begins. We will use primer and oil-based enamel on all wood in the house, and flat latex on all walls and ceilings. A quick note about flat vs satin or semi-gloss: the house’s walls and ceilings are textured in crow’s foot texture. Using a paint with sheen creates tiny shadows everywhere, as it calls attention to all the lines in the texture. The use of quality flat paint lets the walls become the backdrop for the clean lines of the furniture and adds a light & airy feeling to the house.

The new closets and cased openings have been trimmed out, also ready for caulk and paint. We cannot put down new base moulding until finished floors are installed, so that comes later. The custom cabinetry is ready, but since it will be installed finished already, we need to get pretty far long in the painting before installing the cabinets.

Tile installation will begin in another week, to include 2 showers, all bath and back hall floors, and the kitchen backsplash. It’ll be fun to share those finishing details, when it all starts to look beautiful again, but for now just know it’s coming! We are finally through the messy construction phase of this project and embarking on the much-more-satisfying finishing phase! Thanks for following the progress – I hope you have read at least one thing that helps you improve your own home spaces!

If you need a bit of help, you might consider a consultation; I am truly passionate about helping others live their best lives through environment!

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