Comments : 38

Hi everyone,

Hope this finds you doing well! I realize I haven’t shared a renovation update in a while, but that’s about to change. Things are finally starting to chug along at a much steadier pace, and I’ll be posting more consistently from here on out. We are definitely making progress — though let’s be honest, no matter how far along we are, it will never feel fast enough. I’m just so anxious to get into our forever home and (finally!) start decorating.

Here’s a little irony some of you might find surprising: in our last house, as much as I thought it was beautifully done, we really didn’t custom order much. Most of it was furniture we already had or pieces from the warehouse. Very few things were purchased specifically for that home — even my “famous” pug dining chairs in the breakfast room were about 18 years old and had been through two houses before! Somehow, it all came together.

This time around, though, we’re doing things differently. We’ll be taking our time, being intentional, and customizing almost everything — from furniture to finishes. It’s equal parts exciting and overwhelming. I keep a big collection of inspiration photos on my phone and computer, and they’re a lifesaver for keeping me focused. With so many things I love, I’ll need to be very strategic. I’ve even toyed with the idea of hiring a designer to help streamline the process — not something I’ve ruled out.

At our meeting last week, I was caught off guard when the plumber and electrician asked for the line sheet of all the appliances. Truth be told, I hadn’t even begun to look! While I already know what I want for some pieces, the one thing I’m stuck on is the range. I’m really drawn to enameled ranges and am determined to go that route — so if anyone has one they love, I would love to hear your experience.

As for construction: the windows in the old section of the house are just starting, the roof is underway, and all the roughing is in progress. Every day it’s getting a little closer.

I often dream about what the finished house will look like. The one thing that gives me comfort is knowing I don’t waiver much in my taste. What I loved ten years ago, I still love today. I’ve never been one for trends; my heart belongs to timeless, traditional design — but always with a fresh, updated edge. Being on the water, I’m envisioning mostly softer tones, but I also adore the combination of rust and slate blue that I have spoken of, so I’ll be working that in somewhere.

There’s no getting around the fact that this is going to be a long process — but I feel like the truly exciting part is right around the corner. Here’s the latest-

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These are fuzzy pictures as they were “screenshot” from a video (with all the flying lumber it was too dangerous to go in there) But this is master bedroom with the vaulted ceiling opened up! Its quite a mess but it will make seeing the before and eventual after that much more exciting!

Same here this is the attic! We are turning it into a large closet and a “mans cave” for my hubby. Not a very exciting before but I do think the after will be amazing!

 

Better pictures here because these are actual pictures not videos.

 

Team meeting with builder, electrician and plumber

 

 

Eventual kitchen and breakfast room

 

Side wall of breakfast room that goes to covered porch

 

So here are some of my boards for our his and her baths as well as a concept for the guest bath.

 

I have had a serious banquette crush for a while. I wanted to find a way to incorporate one into my old house but there wasn’t room. But this house, I am absolutely going to do that in not one but hopefully two spaces. Here are a few ideas that I love and have had in my online album for a long time. I hope to incorporate one in my breakfast room, possibly living room and/or family room.

 

 

Right now the focus is on finalizing appliances as in this week.  I am, in the meantime, planning out bathrooms and in fact already ordered all the bath hardware,fittings, etc.. the fun parts are yet to come though.

Looking at ranges and making a decision is the big goal this week, if anyone has any experience with any of these, would love to know! Shown are Le Cornue, Cornue Fe, Viking (they have been resurrected and have a new enameled line) La Canche, Bluestart and Kucht (a name new tome but a friend said to check them out). Or if there are other enameled ranges that you. know of and recommend, I am all ears!

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And that the lasted over there. I will be posting about the house on a more regular basis going forward. Hopefully 1-2 times a month as we chug along. Its fun and fulfilling but my husband and I both agree that we are happy this is our last hurrah, our forever home. Eventually you run out of steam and we forgot how much this process takes out of you! Also a first time doing a renovation, which has different challenges.

If you have any questions about this renovation please ask them in the comments and I will answer them there as well. if you want to see previous posts on the renovation, click here.

Thanks as always for stopping in, wishing 3everyone a fabulous day!

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Since I spent a month in Paris in an apartment that had only induction, that is the only stove I would have and purchase for 3 houses we have been in. Gas gives off too much carbon dioxide and will pollute the air in the kitchen. Very dangerous for people with lung problems and children. And induction is far better for the serious cook! Much faster and you have many degrees of cooking. You should look into it, especially if you are going to order a stove made in France. The best!

I agree. Only thing I would change in my kitchen. While I love the way my black range looks, I would definitely go with induction now, knowing what I know. There are amazing choices in European style ranges too.

Hello Faith,
Last year we stayed at a holiday rental with a Smeg induction and it took 45 minutes for water to boil for the pasta we were cooking for dinner. Another hour for the pasta to actually cook. We cook most of our own meals, and the experience put me off induction. I also have a friend who mentioned their mother has induction and the friend complained about how long it takes to cook a meal in comparison to using gas. However, I do realize it is the way to go when we come to replacing our gas stove top. Could you please advise which induction you have (I’m in Australia so may not be available here).

Hi Rita,
We went with the Miele induction, and it is incredible. It heats water faster than my kettle. I would never go back to gas.
Jenny in Queensland 🙂

I have heard good and bad. Looking into it as I have been sold on gas and always happy with it. However am totally open and look forward to my appt. later this week!

What a beautiful update! This is going to be spectacular. I LOVE your taste, loved it in your old house and love that you have not changed your eye for classic traditional interiors.
a few questions
which wallpaper is the lower one on your bathroom board
is the roof wood or slate
are you keeping any remnants from the old house

so look forward to following along!

Thanks!
Sister Parish wallpaper
Roof slate
yes keeping mantles, hardware, doorknobs, fountains and some other beautiful relics.

Just came here to mention that as beautiful as the LaCanche stoves are, there is a blogger online who put one in her kitchen and on her next kitchen put in an Ilve. I wrote her and asked her why she did not go with LaCanche again and she said it was disappointing to her. I also would check out how easy it is to service any appliance you are considering esp the specialized ranges.

Oh interesting! Would love to know who. Funny, i owned an Ilve in my old home and wasn’t thrilled with it which is why I am not going that route again. I loved the look of it but in terms of cooking, though I tried to love it was never 100% satisfied.

La Cornue with the double doors is beautiful to look at but not practical for cooking. There is a fixed wall for each individual oven. Check out the dimensions. You will not be able to use a large sheet pan. The La Cornue with a single door is more practical.

Yes am aware and this is of concern. Going to an appt later this week to look at all of them and I don’tlove that there’s no glass doors. If I cannot fit a big turkey or large baking sheet in the oven, is out. My kitchen person suggested putting 2 singles next to each other which is a possibility.

Tina I love your choices for both bathrooms especially the marble floors.. Timeless and practical. Yes Marble can be practical just seal it regularily.. Thanks for your renovation updates. Loving it..

Thanks and totally agree! I always use Europe as an example, they use marble everywhere!! Look at the Spanish steps, the restaurants, bakeries, monuments, etc….marble is forever~

Induction cook top is the way to go.
It is the superior future of cooking.
Your pot of water to cook pasta could be boiling in 1-2 minutes.

I have heard good and bad. I love the no cleanup factor the most! But I have always had gas and am leaning towards that BUT taking a look at all later this week adn hopefully will get an education.

A friend owns one too and is happy with it, don’t think they do the enameled but will look!

When I remodeled my kitchen 10 years ago, I purchased a La Cornue range. Absolutely LOVE it! Yes it is gas and I know about the supposedly current issues with the emissions from a gas range. I’ve been using gas for >65 years. I would purchase another one. I also use LeCreuset pans. Purchased them in 1978 while in Paris. I don’t own a metal pan and never have. They are toxic to humans. Good luck with your decisions.

I am partial to gas myself. Love LeCreuset pots too, have a few. Looking at La Cornue and Cornue Fe later this week. ONLY thing I don’t love is no glass doors, I like being able to look through during the cooking/baking process.

Over the past 20 years in three houses, I have had 48″ – 60″ Viking, Wolf and Thermador ranges, all of which have required endless repairs. My excellent appliance repair man told me that the only brand he would buy is Blue Star, as they have the fewest electrical parts (which are compromised by high heat and often fail). I also recently installed Cafe line appliances at our vacation home and am loving them (although they don’t get the serious wear and tear of every day use).

Good to know, that’s the one I know the least about but have an appt later this week to look at a bunch of these brands. I actually love my Wolf in PB and when I had a Viking 16 years ago was very happy with it (but know there were changes with the company) though now am hearing good things again.

That recipe for Chicken Soup on Sunday was FABULOUS! Best ever….. thank you! Another culinary delight just like all the recipes you’ve shared…… please continue to share…… yummy!

Makes me so happy to hear, I love it! I make it weekly in the winter. So hearty and delicious.

Ok… you have always been my reference point for style and design, BUT, I may have help to share with you. I just installed an app on my IPhone called Home AI. Yes.. it is artificial intelligence. The beauty is that you take a pic of your design project, download it on the app and it will show you some PHENOMENAL ideas based on your design preferences. I have only played around with it a little bit, but I love what it has suggested so far. I would love to know if you give it a try and if it works for you! Good luck. You have a ton of fun/exhausting decisions to make…

Yes! Heard of it, used another app similar. Such fun, you can get really carried away (in a good way)!I will check it out. Thanks.

I have never thought about having a banquette any place other than a breakfast space, but now I am picturing just how wonderful a banquette could be in a living room. A more intimate space to have a conversation during a larger house party, a fantastic space to read stories with Master Phillip, and just a nice place to sit with a magazine or a journal. I hope you are able to include a couple of them in your remodeled rooms. I really enjoy following along with your renovation diaries.

Yes I love the idea of one in the corner of a living room with a game table or in a reading nook (which we will have), also love them in a breakfast room. I am determined!

Sorry – don’t like banquettes. They are hard to slide in and out of and once in you feel trapped.

You don’t have to be sorry, they are not for everyone. I personally love the look and find them cozy:)

I have to agree with Jayne. I grew up with a kitchen table banquette and both of these points are REALLY true!
I also agree with the comments about induction. The fancy gas stoves are all about looks and don’t necessarily have the performance. I asked a service person about this once and he said most of the people who put them in their homes don’t cook!! Not for you, Tina!!🙄

Dear Tina,
We have followed your many moves and renovations. My husband and I are planning our move from the home where we raised our children to a smaller place. At this point, the empty rooms are just gathering dust. How did you handle liquidating all the material memories you amassed over time? School papers, gifts from family members, holiday decorations? I’m close to needing an intervention. I am so attached to “things!” I have many happy memories associated with them. Discarding is heartbreaking. PS I am not a hoarder! LOL. Any suggestions are welcome. Thank you.

Great question! I am also not good at all at throwing things away though I literally threw away an entire 40 ft dumpster of stuff last move in addition to giving countless bags of clothes to various people/organizations. School projects I cannot bring myself to part with, I hvae boxes of them in the attic (now in storage) though I don’t do anything with them, i just cannot throw them out. Too many precious memories attached. I have gotten much better at giving away clothes, “things” but photos, anything from my kids or from someone really special to me will always have a place in my home.

IF i can think of a creative way to use them an incorporate them more instead of sitting in boxes, will be sure to share!

I think I’m more excited than you…..can’t wait to see how you furnish because I love antiques and collected look. I’ve had a passion of home and garden decorating since 16yrs old and that now is long ago. Don’t like gas anything in my house reference to your stoves.

Haha thank you! I get it because I follow a few new build/renovation projects and love watching each stage. I have always had gas so likely am sticking with it but looking at all options.

I love how intentional you’re being with this renovation! It’s a balance between being overwhelmed with the choices and getting excited about the possibilities. I’m sure the end result will be worth all the little decisions along the way.

Love your bathroom ideas. I have an induction stove and love it! No noxious fumes, etc. Very fast and super easy to maintain the surface.

Hello, any of your finish choices are fantastic…as I have come to expect from you…unwavering in your classic, timeless, elegant taste. I have no recommendation by way of ranges …. My forever kitchen is a thing of beauty…two and three of everything…2 refrigerators, 2 refrigerator drawers, 2 freezers, 2 sinks, 2 dishwashers, 2 islands, one fully gas range, two electric wall ovens, 2 microwaves…and everything on different drains and circuits….yes, I’m married to a belts. & suspenders man and I couldn’t be happier with having built it so that we are never without even if one is in need of a repair. I love the gas range. My gourmet cooking mother switched to induction when she redid her kitchen for the last time in her 70s and regretted her choice…hence, I’d be anxious with the choice But technologies do get better. I’d ask if there is someone who would allow you to actually cook/bake with such a range prior to making a choice…we were able to try out an indoor wave system for a pool prior to choosing it….which helped tremendously…allowing more space for splashed water……BUT I’d wish to help you out with something else….upon reviewing the rough framing, I noticed that there aren’t any blocks where you may wish to hang artwork. At the very least, in the center of each wall space, place a few 2×10 wood blocks so that you can easily hang things…even for the curtain rods, shower rods, tiebacks, sconces….anything you can think of Before you sheetrock….same with adding blocking for electrical boxes…they sit much more secure and level….and, add blocking behind the walls in the bathroom(s) so that you can add grab bars and seating should you need them in the decades to come. Doing this, even if you can’t foresee placing anything on a specific wall, you will thank yourself should you decide otherwise in the future. This was a tip we received and I’m forever grateful to have done this….The carpenter who came back to placing a row of ‘hooks’ perfectly parallel to the floor in the mud room once the kids were in elementary school couldn’t believe the foresight we had had ….so take some time to walk around the space, photo everything and place blocking all over the place….oh, we used 2 x 10 boards to give us some flexibility. As always, thank you for sharing and wishing you continued good fortune.

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