Wedgewood Ranch

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-26T15:07:00.000-08:00

May your home be blessed with an abundance of joy, peace, and love from above.

May the warmth of His gifts overwhelm your heart as you reflect upon the many blessings of the One most high.

Have a Blessed Thanksgiving!

Feedback

2008-09-05T09:30:00.000-07:00

For over a year now, we have been working very hard on transforming the outside of our home, front and back. We started last year by replacing the ugly, rotting siding on the house, and painting it a fresh, new color scheme. After that, we were so spent (both physically and financially) that we decided to wait on landscaping and other improvements.

Well, this last Spring, we were finally ready to take it on. We started by ripping out all of the old shrubs, and replacing them with new, lower maintenance plants. Also, as you can see in a previous post, we replaced our deteriorating concrete patio. Over the course of about fifteen months, we can finally say that it's done, and it looks fantastic! We were pretty darn busy during that time, but the final results are amazing...exactly what we had envisioned.

So, last night we were sitting in our living room, when this older lady comes to our front door. She tells us that she lives in the neighborhood and drives by our home everyday. She then goes on to say that she just wanted to stop by and tell us that she thinks we have the best looking house on the entire street. She loves every single thing that we've done and even wants the name/number of the company that replaced our siding. She just went on and on. It was really very sweet.

It was so nice to hear some feedback from one of our neighbors. We really put a lot of work into everything, and it feels good to be told we did a good job. Now we can finally relax and enjoy our hard work.

More Home History

2008-08-06T12:28:00.001-07:00

I finally discovered who built my home...well, I at least found the names of both the contractor and the architect. The other day, I found a very old copy of the original building permit dated 11/25/1957. On it is listed a description of the property, the proposed building design, as well as the contractor's name and address, architect's name (no address), and all the legal jargon associated with the parcel.

When I learned the names, I decided to do some research to find a little more information on each man. I couldn't find anything about the architect, and sadly, the only thing I could find on the contractor was his obituary. He actually just passed away in March of this year. However, I did learn that he was a very successful general contractor, land developer, and real estate broker throughout the 1950s and 60s. In fact, he was President of the Northwest Home Builder's Association in 1959 (just one year after my home was built). Pretty neat, I think.

Also included in his obituary was a photo of him which appears to have been taken around the time my home was built...he would have been about 40 years old:

RIP

Yay!

2008-06-13T10:00:00.000-07:00

Well,
Our new patio is finally done! The work started 2 weeks ago with tearing out the old patio, but came to a complete halt due to our 'lovely' June weather. I find it ironic that the day after the old patio was ripped out, the rain started pouring. And when I say pouring, I really mean it. It rained for two weeks straight! I really have the worst luck of any human being ever.

It doesn't end there. On top of all the rain, it was frigid outside...one day this week the high was only 47 degrees...Fahrenheit!!! It was so cold, it actually snowed in parts of the region! What was that song...'sometimes the snow comes down in June...' well, that would be this June.

Anyway, the weather finally started to come back to normal just yesterday, and our concrete contractor jumped at the chance to finish the job. It took them most of the day, but it looks soooo good. No more potholes! I have pictures, but not on my computer yet. I'll post them as soon as I get the chance.

I'm probably going to be MIA for the next couple of weeks as we have a new baby on the way...she's coming on Monday, and we're so excited!!! As a matter of fact, I never posted photos of her awesome retro-style nursery. We based the design on nursery photos from a 60s/70s magazine we found. The 'before' and 'after' pics are amazing...

Look at how much brighter it is! We don't have any artwork up yet, but we're continuing to look.

Update

2008-05-28T15:01:00.000-07:00

I have very sad news to report. Yesterday morning, I went out on my front porch and noticed three smashed blue robin eggs. My heart broke when I looked up at the wreath and noticed that it had been pulled down on the left side, causing the nest to spill its entire contents. The mother robin was nowhere in sight. So sad.

I'm pretty sure it was my neighbor's cat. That darn thing is always in my yard, and uses a spot right next to my porch as its litter box. I was angry at first, but after a few minutes, I remembered that it was just a cat. It didn't know any better. Still pretty sad, though. We had really come to enjoy our little "pet" robin. Oh well...it's the "circle of life," I guess.

On a lighter note, we will finally be getting our new patio! The crew is coming out on Saturday morning to rip out the old one, and will be pouring the new one beginning Monday. We have waited so long, I'd forgotten all about it.

Anyway, that's all for now. I'll post pictures of everything as it happens...oh boy!

New Neighbor

2008-05-21T16:25:00.000-07:00

We have this large yellow forsythia wreath hanging right next to our front door. We have always put a wreath up in this spot, and never really thought anything of it. Anyway, a few weeks ago, we noticed that there was this robin spending ridiculous amounts of time out on our front porch. Every time we would step outside, there she would be, watching every move we made. Well, needless to say, a few days later we noticed that there was a perfect little nest built right on top of the wreath! No eggs yet, but the 'mother' is spending a lot of time in there.

I was finally able to snap a few photos of the robin sitting inside her nest today. Too funny...

Neat!

2008-05-15T10:15:00.000-07:00

Ever since our first summer in our house, I had been wanting to get a really good fan for our living room. Even though we have central air conditioning, the living room gets very warm on 90 degree days. I mean, it gets very uncomfortable to even sit in there for more than a couple of minutes. I think it has something to do with the way our house faces the hot afternoon sun. Anyway, I heard a while back that Vornado had released some vintage-style fans - replicas of their originals from 50-60 years ago. So, I headed over to their website and found one that I thought would be perfect. It's their classic green, air circulating fan. You know, the kind your grandparents always had running during the summer (at least mine always did). They are kind of pricey, but well worth it!

Now, our living room will be a little more comfortable (and stylish) this summer!

Artwork

2008-04-28T11:15:00.001-07:00

The other day, I was going through all the old photos I had saved on my computer. I had way too many so it was time to clean some of them up. Anyway, while going through each folder, I found several photos I took on a family trip about 5 years ago. As I browsed through each one, I realized that some were actually pretty cool, and might look nice printed and framed for hanging around the house. So, that's just what I did! They look good all framed up! Now, I just need to find spots to hang them!

Here is my mini-gallery (let me know what you think!):

The first three were taken in Walla Walla, Washington, near the site of the Whitman Mission. The last four were taken in Redwood National Park, in Northern California.

Ideas

2008-04-25T10:32:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I wrote about how I was planning on replacing my old, deteriorating patio with a nice new one this summer. Well, I got multiple bids, and coincidentally, the least expensive bid seems to be the best one. So, the other day, I called the guy to set-up a time for him to begin the job. Our major obstacle at the moment, however, is the terrible weather we've had these past several weeks. The daytime highs can't seem to break 50 degrees, and that's over 10 degrees below average for this time of year. That said, it's just too cold to start pouring concrete.

Anyway, when I spoke to the guy, he said that they could come and tear the old patio out and pour in the gravel base now, and wait to pour the concrete when the weather was more suitable. This got me to thinking...how would a gravel garden/patio area be in that spot? I envisioned garden boxes, chock full of herbs, tomatoes, etc. A couple of Adirondack chairs, a fire pit...you know.

Well, after daydreaming for a few minutes, reality crept back into my mind. Would a gravel garden/patio really be practical? I just don't know. I mean, it sounds like a great thought, but would it really materialize in the way I envisioned? Has anyone else ever tried something similar and liked it? Or, is this just something that I'd eventually turn back into a concrete patio because gravel was a bad idea?

Cool!

2008-04-02T12:12:00.000-07:00

Has anyone else seen the new feature on Google Maps called "Street View"? Type in your address and it shows you a 360-degree view from the street in front of your home. Maybe I'm just a total dork, but this is pretty cool! Check it out!

*Note that it doesn't have the Street View feature for all addresses yet.

Here's a Cool Home...

2008-03-25T10:17:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos of another great mid-century home (built ca. 1950) for sale in my neighborhood. Check out the awesome built-in cabinetry! I really like the original birch paneled den...very retro. The green tiled bath (with pink sink) is great. There's even a shuffleboard inlaid in the basement linoleum floor! Very cool! Have a look:

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

2008-03-17T11:45:00.000-07:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day from Wedgewood Ranch!!!

Getting Ready for Spring

2008-03-06T11:53:00.000-08:00

Now that the snow is all melted (finally), I'm starting to think about outdoor projects I never got around to last year. Number one on the priority list is the backyard patio. One word best describes it: disgusting! It is in horrible condition...so bad that we never even set foot on it last summer. It was sad, but when there are literally potholes in your patio, you really have no choice, but to avoid it.

The two photos above were taken last March, so it has actually been cleaned up a little since then, but you get the idea.

I've already gotten two bids to have the patio demolished and hauled away. The first one said it would cost anywhere from $800-1,300 for this, and another $3,000 to replace it with a new paver patio (they don't pour concrete). Yikes!!! That price seemed very steep to me. Plus, I just plain can't afford to spend that much. Anywhere from $3,800-4,300? No way.

The second bid came from a smaller company that specializes in residential concrete work. He checked everything out and said that it would cost $1,375 total to demolish and haul away the old patio, and pour a brand new "broom" finish patio. $1,375 for everything! Seems too good to be true, compared to the first bid anyway. I'm reluctant, though, to hire him. Does that price seem a little too low...sketchy even? Oh well, I guess we'll see.

The next project on my radar screen is replacing the fence next to the patio. This one may be a little easier as I have several fence contractor connections...we just can't decide on what type of fence to put up. Probably wood, but there are so many other options. Anyone have any ideas?

You Make My Day!

2008-02-25T10:15:00.000-08:00

Jen, over at Ranch Revival (one of my most favorite blogs...I only wish I could nominate her back!), kindly nominated me for a "You've Made My Day Award." I'm terribly flattered that my humble little blog has made someone's day! Thanks, Jen!

Anyway, it's now my turn to nominate 5 blogs that "make my day!" Here they are (in no particular order):

StuccoHouse - I love this blog!!! Go here to read about the ups and downs of restoring a 1924 bungalow. Great photos and restoration tips!!!

Retro Renovation - There's only one word to describe this blog: Awesome! Great insight into restoring a mid-century home. Tons of resources, as well as retro ebay finds.

House Made - Read all about restoring a 1922 Spanish/Pueblo Bungalow from (as they say right on their site) "disaster to de-lovely." I think it's one of the most de-lovely things I've seen!

Foxcroft - A veritable "blog celebrity!" Everybody knows about this blog. Truly amazing!

1951 Ranch Redo - This is the blog that inspired me to start one of my own! Awe-inspiring!

You all make may day!!!

Here are the obligatory “rules” that go with these sorts of posts…

The ‘you make my day award’ works like this:

1) Write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think and/or make your day.
2) Acknowledge the post of the award giver.
3) Tell the award winners that they have won by commenting on their blogs with the news!

Snowed-in

2008-01-31T11:08:00.000-08:00

Here are just a couple of photos showing my backyard. During the rest of the year, we have a terraced backyard. However, due to the amount of snow we've received over the last several days, the yard is almost level. Crazy!
We were hit with a snow storm that dropped almost 14" of "new" snow!!! Not to mention that we already had about 10-12" of older snow pack. Anyway, we've gotten a little bit of a break for today, but they're already forecasting an additional 3-5" over the next several days...oh boy, that's just what we need!

Old House Photos

2007-12-06T13:57:00.000-08:00

I know some people are probably getting sick of this, but I found more old photos of homes in my neighborhood (taken anywhere from 1959-1964). I now have photos for nearly my entire block. These ones took some time locating, but they're pretty cool! The last photo I have posted is actually not in my neighborhood. It is significant because it is my home's "twin"...identical in every way except garage size (my home is "one car"). Also, my home is built into a hill, so half of the basement is "above ground", the other house's basement is all below grade. Immediately following these four photos (in the same order) are photos of these homes now.

Here are the same houses now:

Fox Theater

2007-11-16T15:50:00.000-08:00

For those of you who love Art Deco style, here are some photos of a big old theater (The Fox, built 1931) in my hometown that is currently undergoing major restoration. It will be the new home of the Symphony. It is absolutely breathtaking to see in person.

Have a look:

Another Cool House

2007-11-14T10:06:00.001-08:00

I couldn't resist posting yet again about a cool home for sale. This one, built in 1953, originally belonged to the man who built the housing development where my house is located, the Cozza Addition. Apparently, this home retains most of its original characteristics. The bathroom makes me laugh - what were they thinking? I love it! Sadly, it's a bit out of my price range...$800,000!!!

Check out these photos:

Cool Old House

2007-11-13T11:46:00.000-08:00

From time to time I like to post about a house currently for sale that I really like. This house is in a neighborhood not terribly far from my own. It's a neighborhood of homes mostly built in the 1920s and 30s (and as anyone who knows me, I'm a sucker for homes built in the 20s and 30s). This particular one was built in 1937 and is very cool. It retains a lot of its original characteristics and has been very well taken care of. The kitchen looks like it was remodeled in the 1950s or 60s, so it really doesn't fit in with the rest of the house, but I like it anyway. This home would be really fun to completely restore! Anyway, here are some photos:

Still no Ding Dong (Doorbell Part 2)

2007-11-07T15:39:00.000-08:00

It occurred to me today that I never followed up on my doorbell installation post. My reasoning for this is due to the fact that the doorbell is still not installed. I have been screwing around with the whole set-up for over a month now and I can't figure out (for the life of me) what is wrong with the system. The doorbell itself is perfectly fine. The buttons (front door and back door) are brand new, so I would assume they're fine as well. The transformer (also new) works like a charm. The wiring seems to be fine (when I test it with a low-voltage meter it has power). So, what the heck is the problem, then? I have literally tried everything.

I have to admit, I'm not totally convinced that the wiring is intact (I say this only because the lighted buttons I purchased won't light up when connected to the wires). But it doesn't matter anyway, because I don't have even the slightest clue how to repair the wiring , since it is completely inaccessible.

I probably should just give up and put the old wireless piece of crap back up. I don't know what else to do...

Metlox Dinnerware

2007-11-07T09:09:00.000-08:00

On a recent trip to a local antique store, we spotted these very cool dishes. They looked like they were from the 50s or 60s, but didn't really know much about the brand. The underside of each plate was stamped "Metlox - California Poppy Trail". It was a huge set of dishes for only $30, so we bought it, without hesitation.

When we got home, we researched them online and found that the style was actually called California Tempo. I'm not sure if the markings on the plate are incorrect or if the Tempo line was part of the Poppy Trail collection, but we discovered that they were produced around 1960 and came in several different colors.

Anyway, we haven't used them yet, but are definitely pleased with our purchase.

We'd like to paint our kitchen just to better match the dishes!

Toilet blues

2007-11-06T12:07:00.000-08:00

This is a terribly pathetic post.

Ever since we moved into our home, I have been very proud of the fact that the toilet and sink in our main bathroom are original to the house. I know, that's weird. Let me explain, though. Our home has seen a lot of crappy (pardon the pun) updating/remodeling over the years and through all of that, the original toilet and sink survived. It gives me some sort of "satisfaction" knowing that those two items have always been part of my home.

Well, happiness doesn't last forever. In just this last week, I've noticed that both the toilet and sink are cracked (and are leaking like sieves). It's especially sad because both are in otherwise perfect condition, no chips, stains, etc. Here are some photos of what my toilet looked like exactly (I found these pictures on ebay...the toilet is listed for $495!!!):

So, needless to say, I've decided that they need to be replaced. I bought the new ones today and was actually cheered up a little when I noticed how much water they will save compared to the old ones. That's good news...right?

Here are the new fixtures I bought:

The toilet
The sink (not this faucet)

The faucet
I'll post actual pictures soon...

...

2007-10-31T09:45:00.001-07:00

2007-10-26T16:58:00.000-07:00

If you haven't already noticed, I like to collect old postcards and photos of my hometown which date to the time when my home was built. I really like to see how much things have changed. Anyway, here are just a few images I really like.

This one is a shot of the downtown shopping area, circa 1957-58:

This one is of the Pay Less drugstore (downtown). I remember going there as a child. It was there until only a few years ago:

This is a photo of Washington Water Power Company. This building still stands today (built around 1912):

This is a postcard from around 1958 depicting an artist's rendition of the skyline:

This is an aerial shot of the downtown area, circa 1959-60:

This is a photo of the beautiful St. John's Cathedral, circa 1960:

Kinda neat...

Cool Wallpaper

2007-10-11T16:33:00.001-07:00

A friend of mine who lives in a beautiful Arts & Crafts style home was telling me about the great wallpapers made by Bradbury and Bradbury. I had seen some of their collections (i.e. Victorian, A&C, etc.) before and thought they were very cool, but didn't really pay too much attention since none of it would fit in with the style and period of my home.

Well, as it turns out, Bradbury and Bradbury has just recently added a "modernism" collection of wallpapers ranging from "Art Deco" to "Atomic Age". It's very cool stuff, check it out!

Here are just a few samples of the Atomic Age collection:

Ding Dong...or not...

2007-09-28T16:20:00.000-07:00

So, I finally bit the bullet and bought a new doorbell. Ever since we moved in, when someone would come over and press the dreaded button, we had to listen to the hideous sounds of the cheap wireless model installed by the previous owners. The sound this thing produced was just short of grade-c horror movie quality...does that even make any sense?

Anyway, the one I bought is a really cool vintage chime from the 1950s. It's "new old stock" and came in its original box with the instructions. Here is a photo:

As soon as it arrived, I immediately went to install it. I first removed the "old" wireless chime to reveal a hole in the wall containing three wires (shoved deep in the wall) from the original doorbell. Next, I managed to install the "new" doorbell (inside) and button (outside) without a hitch. Wow...I never thought a home project could be so easy.

HA!!! In all my excitement, I ran to the front door and pressed the button...nothing...I pressed it again...nothing. WHAT? I thought I did everything right!!!

I rushed back to the doorbell (inside) and checked my connections...all good. Then, I went back to the front door and removed the button...perfect. What's the deal? Suddenly* it occurred to me..."the transformer".

I ran down to the basement and found it right next to the electrical box. Upon closer inspection, I discovered that it was a Nutone 16V transformer, circa 1958. I used my volt meter and found that it was dead.

After the transformer funeral, I jumped into my car and headed to the nearest hardware store and purchased a brand new 16V transformer. I took it home and quickly installed it. Guess what...the doorbell STILL doesn't work! ARGH!!!!!!!!!

I figured the problem must be in the wires connecting the transformer to the doorbell...but how can I know without ripping out walls to trace the wires through my house? So, just for fun, I used my volt meter on the new transformer...nothing. What? Then I was really confused. What's going on?

To be continued...

*Actually, "transformer" occurred to me after about 3 hours of searching the internet for information on "doorbell troubleshooting". I thought transformers were totally righteous robots that could morph into different things like cars or animals, etc. But what do I know?

Who knew doorbells could be so exciting!?

My New Favorite Show

2007-08-20T09:20:00.000-07:00

Maybe I'm just really slow to catching on to new television shows, but has anyone seen the new series "Mad Men" on the AMC channel? My wife and I accidentally stumbled upon it the other night and were instantly hooked. If you haven't seen it, the show takes place in 1960 New York and centers around a high profile advertising agency called Sterling Cooper. As the show's website says, "The series depicts the sexual exploits and social mores of this most innovative yet ruthless profession, while taking an unflinching look at the ad-men who shaped the hopes and dreams of Americans on a daily basis."

I really like it, you should definitely check it out! It airs on Thursdays at 10PM/9C.

House for Sale

2007-08-15T09:32:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of a home for sale near mine. I believe that it's the original owners selling it. It was built in 1956, and looks like very little has been changed (including the furniture). Anyway, these may give you some ideas/inspiration? for 1950s interior design...

Kitchen (original birch cabinets...how retro):

Bathroom (cool tile!, but the shower curtain?):

Bedroom (check out that furniture!!!):

Living Room (love the front door):

Dining Room (Neat light fixture):

Furnace Woes

2007-08-08T17:04:00.000-07:00

Like many old house owners, I need a new furnace. While the one I have is the original 1958 American Standard, it still runs with very few major glitches. Obviously, the biggest problem with it is its efficiency. I've had several different "experts" tell me that it was running on about 60% efficiency. That's really bad news considering the average winter temperature here is about 30°F. This last winter, our heating bills were horrendous, and we were still freezing to death. That's after I put up all that stupid weather stripping crap around the door and window frames!

Anyway, since this is not a terribly busy season for furnace installers, I decided I would give a few local companies a call for replacement quotes. I did some research, and found that Lennox is the "way to go". So, I visited their website and I found that they make a high-efficiency, energy star rated furnace that is also reasonably priced, or "economical" as they put it.

I then looked up my local Lennox dealer and called them up for a quote. The guy came and gave his seemingly never-ending spiel on how Lennox is the best, blah, blah, blah...Anyway, to make a long story short, the quote was almost laughable. The funny part about the whole thing is that the guy made it a point to tell me that his company wasn't used to selling "low end" models. What??? Either Lennox really is the best, so they can demand those prices (even for their "low end" models), or the installer was feeding me a load of you know what. I don't know. At any rate, I won't be using this company for a new furnace installation.

Now, I don't know what to do. Should I call another Lennox dealer or start researching other brands? My dad told me to look into another American Standard. His theory is that they have to be good if the 50 year old one I have is still running. Also, I just recently read that American Standard and Trane are the same company. I know Trane makes a good furnace. So, does that mean anything?

I really need some input...Please help.

More Old Photos of the Neighborhood

2007-08-06T15:16:00.000-07:00

Just for fun, here are more old pictures from the neighborhood with current ones to compare:

I was careful about cropping the old photos so you could see the dates on them. I know that my home does not appear in any of these photos, but thought they were cool nonetheless. All of these homes are very close to mine, though (either across the street or behind, etc.). I love old photos, there is something about looking into the past, if you will, that really intrigues me.

More of My Home's Past

2007-08-03T14:52:00.000-07:00

I recently discovered some photos of my neighbor's homes taken between 1959 and 1960. Who cares, you say, about photos of the neighbors homes??? I do...mostly because they show different views of my beloved neighborhood back when my home was new, and each photo shows a tiny sliver of my house from another angle.

For instance:

In this photo, you can see part of the backside of my house. It seems that nothing has been changed, except for a fence between the two yards. Also, it appears that the much hated retaining wall in the backyard is original to the home.

And in this photo, you can see...well, you can't see much of anything, but the garage. I like it though...I can see that the neighbor's house hasn't changed much since then.

Here are the two homes now:

Anyway, I know this is complete boredom to everyone else...I just thought it was interesting.

I'm baaack

2007-07-31T10:00:00.000-07:00

Not that anyone has noticed, but I'm finally back from my extended vacation. My family and I drove down to Southern California where we visited Disneyland, SeaWorld, etc. (very hectic, to say the least). Then, we drove up to the beautiful Oregon coast, where we spent the last few days of our "vacation" recovering from the previous 8 days. Anyway, it's good to be back home, even though we had some house sitter issues and came back to a filthy mess and a dead yard...oh well. A lot happening at the ranch. The new siding is complete and we just finished painting it. We installed the new garage and porch lights too. It looks fantastic. I don't have any pictures yet, but should try to post some soon.

We're still trying to figure out what to do about plants in the front yard. The old ones were terribly unhealthy to begin with. Then, being trampled on for three weeks straight by big, burly siding contractors put them over the edge. We want something low maintenance that holds its shape well. I like English yew and my wife likes boxwood, but would love more ideas. We think we may wait until September or so, when it cools off a little, so we still have some time to decide.

Also, we can't decide on new address numbers. The old ones were destroyed during the siding replacement, so we have none. We definitely want something unique, but that fits in well with the style of the house. We like these numbers, but are they too reminiscent of the Arts and Crafts style?

Non House-Related...

2007-06-22T09:50:00.000-07:00

I just had to share this photo with everyone of my 15-month old little boy. We just took him in for pictures and they turned out so good, I couldn't help myself. Also, he's actually wearing an outfit I wore at the same age. Too cute, isn't it?

Funny

2007-06-08T09:56:00.000-07:00

I just read this article and got a kick out of it. I think a lot of you will also appreciate this...it's pretty funny:

For sale: 1970s Victorian -- I swear!

Clearing up confusion about architectural styles

By Arrol Gellner
Inman News

The names of architectural styles are often invoked, but seldom used precisely. Even people who should know better conflate styles, whether intentionally or not. In real estate listings, for instance, nondescript old piles are routinely elevated to Victorians, Bungalows or whatever else happens to be selling. Architects aren't immune from such stylistic confusion, either: Many of us bandy about terms such as Tudor, Elizabethan and Half-Timbered, or Mission, Mediterranean and Moorish without really knowing how they differ.

Still, you'll never find more stylistic muddlement in one place than you will browsing vintage items listed on eBay. Casual descriptions from lay sellers are understandable, but the many others who represent themselves as antique or collectibles dealers really ought to know what they're offering. Granted, the idea is to cram as many keywords into these listings as possible so that they'll show up under various search categories -- but many examples go well beyond the pale. Here, for instance, are some actual listings for vintage lighting fixtures being auctioned on eBay:

"1920s Victorian Fixture." By definition, the term Victorian refers to things dating from the reign of Queen Victoria (1837 to 1901), making this object pretty much of an impossibility. What the seller meant, I suppose, was that the lamp was ornate, and perhaps he or she should have just said so.
"Vintage Victorian Art Deco Lighting Fixture." Here's another time-warped description. The Paris exhibition from which Art Deco took its name didn't even take place until 1925, nor did the style get much traction in the U.S. until the early 1930s. This, you'll recall, was long after poor old Victoria had joined the choir invisible. Perhaps the seller could have classified his lamp based on this simple test: Victorian objects typically have lots of floral and/or classical motifs more or less jumbled together. Art Deco objects, on the other hand, have stark geometric decoration in shallow relief.
"Circa 1920 Art Deco Ceiling Lamp." Once again, time runs miraculously backward.
"Art Deco Nouveau Ceiling Lamp." If this description were accurate, it would be a lamp worth seeing, since these two styles are just about diametrically opposed. The earlier style, Art Nouveau, spanned roughly the years 1890 to 1905. It made lavish use of sinuous plant motifs such as meandering vines and leaves, with hardly a straight line to be found. Art Deco, as we've just noted, caught on a generation later, and was uncompromisingly geometric.
If you think the foregoing descriptions run the gamut, how about this one: "Art Deco Medieval Tudor Porch Lamp." Let's see -- the Middle Ages, the early English renaissance, and the eye-popping modernism of Art Deco all in one lighting fixture. It turns out that the actual imagery on the lamp -- a ring of three fretwork panels depicting speeding chariots, each separated by a flaming-torch motif -- was Roman. I can say this with confidence, because the lamp is now hanging in my office.
Lastly, amid all this stylistic hooey, here's an accidentally accurate listing: "Rare 1910s Victorian Deco Pendant Fixture." Yup -- that's a rare one, all right.

***

Artwork

2007-06-07T15:57:00.001-07:00

I've been looking for some artwork for my "rec-room" in the basement. I thought it'd be fun to use some tacky mid-century advertisements. I've found several that are great. One in particular, though, really grabs me...does this look too disturbing? Tell me what you think:

Exterior Paint Mock-up

2007-05-22T15:52:00.001-07:00

With new siding comes new paint colors. Here is a mock-up of the exterior color scheme we may have finally decided on:

We are soooo indecisive. We change our minds everyday. We think this is it, though. Too many colors? Do these colors even look good together? HELP!!!

Plans for my home?

2007-05-22T13:35:00.000-07:00

Recently, I found a book of house plans from the late-1950s or early-1960s. In it, I think I may have actually found my home. Although there are some minor details that differ, the overall house is identical. I found all of this very interesting. Who knows, it could very well be (and most likely is) just a coincidence. It's called the "Friendship" and is dated ca. 1961 (my house was built in 1958, but this seems close enough).

Here are some pictures:

What do you think?

Changes

2007-05-16T10:17:00.000-07:00

A Few weeks ago, I was talking about the exciting new colors my wife and I were going to paint our house this summer. Then, we found out we had termites and carpenter ants living in our yard. It is for that reason, that I have to get everyone's opinion regarding our newest project. We have unfortunately discovered that our original masonite siding has been destroyed by carpenter ants. Thankfully, they have never gotten into the house, and everything underneath the siding is perfectly fine...it's just that the siding is irreparable. So now, we have decided to replace all of the siding on our home, except for the "decorative" vertical cedar siding on the front of the house which, by the way, is completely unscathed.

We are now faced with making a decision on what type of siding to use. We have already gotten bids from several contractors for four different types of siding:

1. Wood

2. Fiber-Cement

3. Vinyl

4. Metal

I've listed the four above in the order of total cost to replace, with wood being the most expensive, and metal being the least expensive.

There are many pros and cons to each siding, as I'm sure many of you already know. However, after receiving the bids and researching extensively, we have decided against wood (too expensive) and metal (too cheap and doesn't hold up well in our climate). This leaves us with fiber-cement and vinyl.

Yes, I know that most of you think that vinyl is the anti-Christ of sidings, but I've done my research on it, so I am fully aware of its pros and cons. On the other hand, I really love the fiber cement. I love that it's just like wood, only without the maintenance. The only problem with the fiber cement siding is that it costs about $3,000 more than vinyl, and it has to be painted.

What do I do? Wouldn't you agree that anything is better than carpenter ant infested, rotting masonite (which actually is worse than any of the sidings mentioned above). Thanks for reading this...I just felt the need to put this all "out there".

ARGH!

2007-05-01T15:35:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, while out in the yard, I noticed some very large, creepy-looking ants crawling around my patio. Upon closer inspection, I found that they were (unfortunately) the much dreaded carpenter ant. Because I'm sure you all have a pretty good idea of the damage these little, er, big things can do, I wasted no time calling a pest inspector. Well, he came, and sure enough, they are carpenter ants...two species to be exact. Great. It gets even better, though. When he was inspecting some wood in the backyard, he also found...termites!!!

Oh sh*%!!! Thank God, when he checked the inside of the house he found no trace of them. So now, we have to have our yard treated for termites and carpenter ants...oh boy! Man, I really love homeownership!

More Exterior Stuff...

2007-04-26T16:15:00.000-07:00

Now that Spring (weather, that is) has finally decided to "make an appearance" this upcoming weekend (70+ degree temps are predicted...I'm keeping my fingers crossed), and we just got done replacing all of the old, rotten fascia (see previous post), I'm getting antsy to paint the front of my house. It has taken us a long time to decide on a fitting color scheme, but we think we've finally done it. The reason it took so long stemmed from numerous factors. First, we didn't want something that looked like everyone else's in the neighborhood. Second, we didn't want something that would potentially be copied by numerous others in the neighborhood. And third, we wanted something we (my wife and I) both agreed on (this coincidentally, wasn't the hardest part...go figure!).

Well, to make a long story short, we've decided on this palette:

The main color is called "Sycamore Tan" from the Sherwin Williams "Suburban Modern" exterior paint collection. The reddish color is called "Rookwood Red", also from SW. And finally, the black is SW's "Tricorn Black".

Here's a photo (old) of the front:

1. Painting the yellow portion with the Sycamore Tan.

2. Keeping the black window trim, just freshening it up with the Tricorn Black.

3. Painting the front door in the Rookwood Red.

Not a whole lot, but we think it will definitely give the house better curb appeal. We also bought some really cool new light fixtures for the garage and porch. I think they are sort of "arts and crafts meets mid-century modern"...very cool. Here they are:

Fascia, Soffit and Gutter Fun!

2007-04-16T10:54:00.000-07:00

About four months ago, I noticed that the fascia on my home was beginning to split and warp in various places. At first, I thought it was nothing, but as most of you know, any "little" problem with your home is always something far worse than you originally expect. It turns out that when my roof was put on about two years ago, the "genius" that installed it didn't leave any overhang. He simply cut it off right at the very edge so that water would constantly run down the front of the fascia when it rained...and of course, we don't have any gutters. I'm pretty sure you can see where this one is going. Let me put it in algebraic terms:

(Water + Wood Fascia) - Gutters = Rotten Wood Fascia

Argh! The sad part is, it doesn't end there. When I got to the garage, I discovered that in addition to the fascia being rotten, the soffit was also destroyed (dry rot). Great!!!! More work!!!!

Hey, don't leave yet...there is a happy ending to this story. These past few weeks, I decided to replace all of the fascia, wrap it in PVC-coated aluminum fascia wrap, replace the damaged soffit and install new seamless gutters. Yikes! I did all of that? Not exactly. I actually hired a reputable company here to do the brunt of the work (i.e. the stuff I was too scared to do myself). It turned out beautifully! I'm very happy!

Anyway, I'll post some photos in the next few days.

To those born between 1930 and 1979, please read:

2007-03-23T11:26:00.000-07:00

This post is 100% non-house related, but I read it and thought it was interesting and pretty true. Take a look:

Those Born 1930-1979:

READ TO THE BOTTOM FOR QUOTE OF THE MONTH BY JAY LENO. IF YOU DON'T READ ANYTHING ELSE---VERY WELL STATED

TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED the 1930's, 40's, 50's, 60's and 70’s!!

First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant.

They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes.

Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-based paints.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking.

As infants & children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, booster seats, seat belts or air bags.

Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was always a special treat.

We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.

We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.

We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank Kool-aid made with sugar, but we weren't overweight because,
WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.

No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound or CD's, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet or chat rooms.......
WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.
We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.

We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we w ere told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them!

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!

These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever!

The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.
We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL!

If YOU are one of them, CONGRATULATIONS!

You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good.
While you are at it, show this to your kids so they will know how brave (and lucky) their parents were.

Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it?!

The quote of the month is by Jay Leno:
"With hurricanes, tornadoes, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"

Living Room

2007-03-14T14:42:00.000-07:00

Here are my latest shots of the living room:

Don't pay any attention to all the stuff in the two built-in cabinets...we're looking for places to put it everything. Also, we're still looking for a cabinet to put the TV in, we just aren't sure what style to go with.

Anyway, just to refresh your memory, here are the before pictures:

Better???

Dining Room

2007-03-14T14:29:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally got around to hanging a new dining room light fixture. I know that the fixture isn't exactly "mid-century modern," but my wife and I really fell in love with it. Plus, we wanted something reminiscent of those retro crystal chandeliers from the 50s, 60s and 70s. At any rate, I really do think the "after" is much better than the "before"...don't you?

Before

After

Yard Help

2007-03-12T11:15:00.000-07:00

It's finally that time of year when I turn my focus from interior home renovations to exterior. I have to admit, the yard is always something I dread. From mowing the lawn to constant watering, I just don't get any joy out of something that requires so much work, but never really has any pay off...for me anyway. Well, this year, I'm going to make it pay off. I really want my yard to be something special. The only problem is, I haven't the time or money to do anything grandiose, and I have no vision for what the yard needs. So, I'm asking for help from whoever reads this post. Please look at the pictures I have posted of my front and back yards and tell me what you think I could do, being conscious of a tight budget.

Any ideas?

Front Door Dilemma

2007-02-15T11:31:00.000-08:00

I don't know if you've already heard, but David Erwin (over at Erwin House) has started a business that sells 1950s-inspired doors called Crestview Doors. Until now, I had not really considered the need for a new front door. The one we currently have is fine (although I don't believe that it is original to the home), painted white with eight square panels, it really screams boring. Well, needless to say, I am now seriously thinking about purchasing one of those doors. Here is a very primitive "drawing" of my current front door (was this style even popular in the 1950s?):

Walking through my neighborhood, I can see that many of the homes still retain their original front door - many of which resemble those at Crestview Doors perfectly. I love all the doors, but one style in particular (The Woodrow) completely enthralls me. I first saw it in this home that was for sale a few months ago (near my own home):

I love this door!!! I don't know why, I just do...I must have it.

V-Day

2007-02-14T11:44:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you house bloggers out there!

I know, I know...who cares about Valentine's Day? Isn't it just another one of those holidays concocted by the greeting card industry to get more of our money? Well, not anymore (to me, anyway). You see, as a gift this year, my wife bought me a new drill, and it's a real beauty...top of the line. I've needed a new drill for waaaay too long and therefore I've been putting off many "important" home projects.

So now, in my mind:

Valentine's Day = getting stuff to make my "home improvement" projects a little easier

Plus, who could resist a new "toy"?

You know, Valentine's Day isn't really that bad...

My hometown in Pictures

2007-02-06T11:23:00.000-08:00

Just for fun, I would like to give everyone a better idea of the place I call home (Spokane, WA). In order to do this, I've created a Flickr photo set. The set contains about 45 pictures/postcards, etc. of my hometown spanning from the early 1900s to the present. If anyone likes this sort of thing, please take a look by clicking the title of this post.

Enjoy.

Our Living Room

2007-01-29T14:46:00.000-08:00

Well, we've finally decided to tackle the living room. Being that it is the first room you see upon entering our home, it's about time we do something. In all actuality, though, there's not really a whole lot that needs to be done in there, basically just cosmetic things.

We decided to begin with an area rug, since most interior designers say to start with the rug to get color ideas. We searched for the perfect rug, but had little luck finding something we both agreed on. We finally chose this one:

It's hand-hooked wool and it's absolutely perfect for the color scheme we're hoping to go with. Right now, the wall above the fireplace is already painted a color we actually like. It's the one in the upper right corner:

We think that it will really warm it up in there. Right now it has a hideous faux finish on the walls which looks really cheap and pretty boring. Anyway, we're hoping this will all come together soon. Actually, it's kind of fun when you only have to worry about paint and a rug...compared to the rest of my projects, this one's a piece of cake!

Bathroom

2007-01-18T10:36:00.000-08:00

Well,
We've finally redone our main bathroom. We decided to go for an antique look. Although not consistent with the era of the house, we wanted to do something different.

Here is the light fixture we chose:

And here is the color scheme we went with:

A new counter top is soon to follow...we've got to get rid of the mauve formica...ick!

Sorry I don't have any "real" pictures...I'll post some later.

Just for reference, here is a picture of the bathroom when we moved in, the official "before":

"After" will be posted when my camera's battery is charged...

Winter

2006-12-21T11:19:00.000-08:00

...Don't you just love this time of year?

Winter Reminders

2006-12-20T16:26:00.000-08:00

This is a photo taken just a few miles north of my home. I like to come here to remind myself how beautiful and peaceful this time of year can be. It is here that I'm also reminded to stop for a few moments and reflect upon the past year, a place where I can ponder all that I've accomplished. Finally, it reminds me that it's already December 20th...only four more shopping days left before Christmas...AaaaaH!

Dining Room Light Help

2006-12-18T14:41:00.000-08:00

Okay, I know that the time periods are way off, but there's this light fixture by Rejuvenation that I absolutely love! It's called the Fremont. Here's a picture:

This is such a cool light fixture. I really want to get it to hang in my dining room. The problem is, would it look stupid to hang such a fixture in my style of home? For reference, here is a picture of my dining room:

This picture is old, but it still gives you an idea. It looks a lot different now that we've painted it and removed the hideous wallpaper border. I really hate the light in there now (the one seen in the picture). It looks more like it belongs in a hallway or an entryway. Anyway, I'd love some feedback. Would an Art Deco light fixture look out of place in a ranch-style home?

Separated at Birth

2006-12-18T10:51:00.000-08:00

I found my home's twin. The resemblance is amazing. The only difference is garage size, but everything else is the same...floor plan, square footage, etc. The funny part about the whole thing, though, is that the "twin" is across town. I just happened to be driving through that neighborhood and was amazed when I saw this house. I know, I know, who cares. I just thought it was interesting...must've been a popular floor plan and design in 1958. Who knows, maybe there are others out there.

Here's the twin:

And here's mine:

Can you see the resemblance?

Thanksgiving 101

2006-11-22T10:35:00.000-08:00

Here's a little Thanksgiving tip for all you house bloggers out there:

"If you're at a Thanksgiving dinner, but you don't like the stuffing or the cranberry sauce or anything else, just pretend like you're eating it, but instead, put it all in your lap and form it into a big mushy ball. Then, later, when you're out back having cigars with the boys, let out a big fake cough and throw the ball to the ground. Then say, 'Boy, these are good cigars!'"

-Jack Handey

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Basement Potential

2006-11-08T14:56:00.000-08:00

Now that the weather is getting too cold to lounge around outside, I've been thinking a lot about creating some sort of comfy oasis to escape to on those particularly cold Winter nights to come. Naturally, I first thought about making one of our spare bedrooms into just that spot, but after thinking about it a little longer, I brushed that idea off...our spare bedrooms really aren't large enough to facilitate my "vision". Then, it occured to me, why not use the basement? I'm a genius, I thought to myself. Who would have ever thought to turn a basement into a family room? DUH?

I've never really had any real attachment to our basement. It seems like such a blah. It's one of those daylight basements with an outside entrance, blue-green carpeting, and that quintessential knotty pine paneling that was painted white several years ago by previous owners. It really screams "boring". Hopefully, I'll change all that, though.

Here are some pictures to give you a better idea:

The second photo is a little nook, or, "office", if you will (that's what we call it anyway). There is also a kitchenette thingy and wet bar area.

I have some pretty big plans for this room. If you're smart, you'll stay tuned to see the whole transformation...whenever that may be.

Beautiful Bungalow

2006-11-07T09:38:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I think (to myself) that I should have bought a craftsman bungalow to live in and restore. That style of home has to be one of my favorites. Our first house was sort of reminiscent of that style and we loved it. Unfortunately, it was too small for our growing family and we decided to move. When we found our current home, we fell in love with the functionality of the ranch-style home...so open and large. Anyway, I thought I'd gotten over my love affair with the craftsman style until I saw a house for sale in a very desirable neighborhood in town. I had to see the inside (even though I wasn't even considering purchasing it). Anyway, here are some random pictures for all you bungalow lovers to drool over:

Garage Woes

2006-11-03T09:43:00.000-08:00

Our home has a single-car, attached garage. While we have two cars, we figure that it's better to have at least one car protected rather than neither car (maybe). Anyway, during our home inspection, we found out that our garage was originally a carport. Then, I found a picture of the house taken in 1959, and it proved to me that our garage indeed used to be a carport. I didn't really give any of it a second thought, though.

Well, enter in cold, wet weather. Now, I've come to realize that converted carports are a joke. First of all, the bottom row of siding is rapidly deteriorating from water damage, leaving us with big gaping holes where the siding has completely rotted-through. Shouldn't there be some sort of "concrete wall/barrier" around the bottom perimeter? There's water everywhere! I'm not really sure what can be done. Is there any way some sort of concrete wall or cinder blocks could be built up around the bottom perimeter? Do I just need to replace all of the rotten siding with new water resistant siding? Or, do I need to start saving up to rebuild/remodel the garage? I just don't know. All I do know is that whatever the solution, it's gonna be really expensive.

Happy Halloween

2006-10-31T15:41:00.000-08:00

This ad says it all. . .Happy Halloween everyone!

The House We Almost Bought

2006-10-16T16:38:00.000-07:00

Here is a photo of the house we almost bought. I know, it kind of looks like a double-wide and the colors are horrible, but it was really a cool house. Built in 1957, it's in the same neighborhood as our current home (Wedgewood Ranch). When we first saw this house, we immediately fell in love with how retro it was. It had cedar beam ceilings that literally went throughout the house (even the bathrooms and garage had it), floor to ceiling windows, an enclosed sun porch, and a huge fireplace. It was being sold by the original owner, so virtually nothing had been changed in the nearly 50 years since it had been built. I still dream about what we could have done to this house, it was that cool. Unfortunately, though, we realized that it was not a practical house for us to live in. With all of its charm, it still needed mucho work. Anyway, in the end, we got a way better house for our family.

My Dream House

2006-10-16T16:12:00.000-07:00

This house is up for sale in a very prestigious part of town. Is it not the most amazing house you've ever seen? It is truly my dream house with a price tag of about $460,000. . .yikes! Beautiful, though, isn't it? It was built in 1930 by a very wealthy banker and his wife. It has some pretty interesting history associated with it. Pretty cool. . .I want it. . .

Metlox Contempora

2006-10-06T16:49:00.000-07:00

I saw this "platter" on ebay and thought it was pretty cool. My wife has a collection of Metlox dinnerware from the 50s and loves it. It is some of the most durable stuff we've ever had. This piece is unlike anyhting I've ever seen. . .very cool. The boomerang shape is the greatest. Sort of reminiscent of the old formica countertops with a similar pattern.

Bathroom Lighting

2006-10-06T14:55:00.000-07:00

My wife and I have been looking to replace the light fixture in our main bathroom. The current fixture is one of those 80s style chrome bars with the exposed globe light bulbs (you know the one I'm talking about). Anyway, I really want something modern and unique while my wife would like to stick to something a little more traditional. I think we may have found the perfect compromise:

This light totally screams retro/modern, but says subtle/traditional at the same time. I really like it, but the price tag may hold me back. . .

Was Everyone in the 1950s an Alcoholic?

2006-10-05T17:10:00.000-07:00

I'm just curious. Our home is decked out with a cool wet bar in the basement. Something I noticed when we were house hunting was that almost every home built in the 1950s and 60s had some sort of "bar" in the basement. What is up with that? Did people back then really drink so much that they decided to incorporate a bar into their own home? It's really bugging me trying to figure that one out. I know, I'm crazy, but I just thought that it seemed kind of funny. Does anyone else have a theory about this?

Ideas for Exterior Colors

2006-10-05T14:46:00.000-07:00

I saw these color swatches today and really liked them. I'm not too sure, though, if they'd look good on our home. My wife may be right. The red, gray and off-white combination could potentially look very good. On the other hand, the other two combos look pretty spiffy as well. Although, maybe the blue is too much. . .I just don't know. I definitely like the grays and the tan color. I am trying to get some ideas by looking at different home color schemes around my neighborhood (not that I'd copy anyone exactly), but so far, I'm out of luck. Oh well, maybe I just need to keep looking.

A Brief History of Our Home

2006-10-04T17:37:00.000-07:00

It all began in 1958. Mr. Alex Kosmin and his wife, Gloria, find the perfect home in suburban Eastern Washington State. They buy the home in mid-March 1958 for a whopping $15,000. Mr. Kosmin, a traveling salesman by trade, provides a comfortable life for his family. They live very happily in the home for about 5 years until, due to a job relocation, the Kosmins sell their home to Herbert (H.W.) and Bernice Herzer in March 1963. The Herzers, both retired, don't make many changes to the home, but take very good care of it. They live in the home for some 20 years. When Mr. Herzer dies in the early 1980s, Mrs. Herzer decides to sell the home and move somewhere smaller and more appropriate for someone of her age. The home is then inhabited by two more small families over the next 20-odd years until. . .us. We buy the home in September 2006 and live happily ever after. Fin.

*Picture above ca. 1959

Cool. . .

2006-10-03T11:06:00.000-07:00

I think that these house numbers are awesome!
Although, I'm not sure how visible they'd be from
the street. . .they are pretty cool, though. Very
Retro.

So many things to do, so little time. . .

2006-10-03T08:50:00.000-07:00

OK, first things first. My wife and I want to paint the yellow portion (see picture in previous post below) of the exterior and the front door before it gets too cold. We like the rest of the exterior color scheme as it is now (white body and black trim), so it would be nice to find colors that coordinate nicely with those. Of course, being the indecisive couple that we are, we're having a hard time deciding on what colors to use. My wife thinks we should paint over the yellow with a dark shade of gray, and then paint the door a deep red. I, on the other hand, have no clue. I do think that the colors she's picked would look good with the white and black, but it may be kind of boring, too. I'm not stuck in the mindset that it has to be "historically accurate" to the time period in which the house was built (1958), but it might be kind of interesting to go by those guidelines. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

*For reference, the original color of the yellow area was a hideous caramely brown (as seen in the above picture). . .really ugly! The door was originally unpainted wood, but it's a little late to go back to that.

Now, for some interior photos. . .

2006-10-02T16:53:00.000-07:00

Here are some interior photos of our "new" home (these were taken the day we bought it):

Our "New" Home

2006-10-02T16:24:00.000-07:00

Well, here is our new home. We absolutely love it. It definitely beats our old sardine can. Anyway, I can't wait to start renovating. It'll be great! Stay tuned!

Our "Old" House. . .

2006-10-02T10:46:00.000-07:00

Pictures of our "old" house (aka Milliken House). . .great home, too small : (