March 1, 2017

Winter House Project - A Good Stopping Place

I think this is as far as work on the house will go for this winter. Spring's on the way and it's time to move onto some more seasonal things. So here are two comparison photos - before and after.

House front before. Photo taken in June 2009

House front now. Photo taken February 2017.

It's not finished, but we're at a good stopping place for now. For those who are interested, here are links to all the steps we've taken over the past several years in our repair and renovation efforts of the front of our 1920s-built house. (All the posts are linked as a series, so you can start with the first and continue back to here.)


When we pick it up again we'll do something with the porch ceiling and then finish up a little trimwork. Until then it's on to other things.

© March 2017 by Leigh  at http://www.5acresandadream.com/

24 comments:

Goatldi said...

Amazing change! Love the new color and all you have done. Such fun to watch your projects from start to finish. But of course now there such time consuming issues as baby goat watching. Enjoy.

Farmer Barb said...

Now THAT says, "Welcome, please come in!"

Jason and Michelle said...

I love the front porch!

Leigh said...

That's why it's been over two years in the works and still not done, LOL.

Leigh said...

Yes, that screened-in porch hid the front door and windows. But I kind of liked that in terms of privacy. Plus we could lock the screen door so I could see who was knocking at the door. I'm not the least bit inclined to answer it for someone just wanting to sell something.

Leigh said...

It is a great porch. The only negative is that it catches the afternoon summer sun, and so is too hot to enjoy on a summer evening.

Ed said...

I've always wanted a house that had a nice deep porch to relax on. My current one has a tiny shallow one that faces the intersection out front and not really a place I enjoy. In the back we have a nice secluded deck but in the winter it is too cold and in the summer way too hot and exposed. I feel like I have a chance to enjoy it only for a few weeks in early spring and late fall before and after the bugs arrive. Someday I would like to put a roof over the deck in back and enclose a small part of it for the bug season.

Sandra @ Thistle Cove Farm said...

Every now and again one has to stop, assess and then give a little pat on the back. You've done well, very well.

Rain said...

I LOVE the before and after shots! What a difference! Thanks for the links Leigh, I'm going to look at every one of them! Wonderful...it goes to show that things will take all the time they need to take and they WILL get done! Lovely!

Leigh said...

I've always loved porches too. Like yours, however, this one is too hot is summer because of the angle of the sun. Eventually I'd like to put a trellis on the left side, and use it to grow a shade producing vine. It's on the list!

Leigh said...

It is a relief to have foundation repairs made, new windows put in, and new siding up and painted. And I'm sure the neighbors prefer looking at this than to how it used to look, even if they don't care for blue!

Leigh said...

Thanks Rain! This is why I love a blog, as a journal of things we've done! Especially on the house, because it helps us remember exactly what we did and why. We'd love to get the rest of the house done, but that will just have to wait.

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Your house looks very nice even though this is just the stopping point. Time to enjoy the next season. I will take some of your afternoon sun here! Nancy

Chris said...

So much more inviting, and looking well maintained. You've chosen my favourite colours on a house too. Pale blue and white trim. I don't know what it is about those colours, but they just seem to smile on a house. Well done.

Renee Nefe said...

It is looking great. re: angles & sun. Last night as we were finishing up dinner a guy came to the door. Hubby just answered it w/o even looking through the peep hole. :p but the guy was selling solar panels. Wrong guy to attempt to sell them to. They have attempted to try out several different energy saving things on the base and not had good results. Hubby says the solar panels are the worst. The panels themselves are okay, but there's a converter that keeps having to be replaced. So the electric won't pay for itself. On our house, we are faced the wrong direction, so there isn't any place that gets enough sustained sun. He said we might get enough power to run my computer.
Since your porch is too hot to sit on, can you put planters to grow anything there?

Nancy In Boise said...

Looks awesome and wish I had that porch :) Nancy

Leigh said...

I'll send some!

Leigh said...

Thanks Chris! It's an interesting blue, it looks deep in shade and pale in sun. But I like it. :)

Leigh said...

You know, calculating it like that is something most folks don't do, so good for your hubby. I guess sellers think that folks won't care about long-term costs because it's solar. I once figured out it would take 42 years for a solar system to pay for itself in regards to our current monthly electric payments (at least that one). And by that time I'm sure one or several components would have to be replaced or upgraded. It just didn't seem worth it.

Leigh said...

It is a lovely porch. I just wish it didn't face into the setting summer sun. :p

m said...

Are you sure you did not mixup the picture labels...

Leigh said...

On this post? Yes, I'm sure.

M.K. said...

What a transformation! I LOVE the color you chose. Isn't it good to get to a "stopping point," even if just for a while, so you can do other things?

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