Tuesday, May 1, 2007

sunroom (our happy hour room)

we have the most perfect sunroom. it is 8.5 x 7 feet with waist to ceiling windows that all open in. we are close to the lake so their is a great breeze that comes in. however, it is outdated, the wood is rotting, there is water damage, nothing is sealed (unusable this past winter), windows cracked, screens missing, etc. so basically we have an unusable space that really could be so many things. so where better to start. by the time we are all done it will be almost like we added on another room to the house.

we have grand ideas. our inspiration comes from one of my photographs that i took while at the Adirondacks. this place is where happy hour occurred every night to toast to the most amazing sunsets. my photograph captured the mood we want our new sunroom to embrace. a lake house within the urban condo. a resting place to a hard day at work, an indoor porch for dinner for two, star gazing, and a place to read the sunday paper in your slippers and robe and hot coco as the snow falls.


restoration plans:

  • strip all brick to expose the red worn brick
  • strip all wood and window frames
  • replace rotted window ledge with leveled ledge
  • replace all window hinges/latches
  • replace all window screens
  • scrape and repaint outside windows and seal
  • re-glaze window panes and seal windows
  • replace broken glass
  • stain window and frame
  • insulate and seal all possible areas
  • replace false ceiling with insulation and stained wainscoting
  • replace particle board wall with insulation and new dry wall
  • replace all floor trim
  • install carpet
  • repaint and buy lounge/outdoor furniture, candle lanterns
  • hang vacation photographs
of course we know that there is no way we can handle this first project on our own as the most i have yet to do is patch a hole on our plaster walls. so we talked to the best handy woman in the chicago area, our good friend Sally Beaumont. she has been extremely patient with us and understands that restoration is full of surprises, derailments, and ideas continually evolve as you get farther and farther in.

we will keep you posted on any got ya's, lessons learned, and the before and after photos.