...and the sunroom is done!

we are so excited. our first room project has been completed. and we love it. it is formal, casual, urban, vintage, modern, relaxing and best of all no electrical distractions except for our vintage record player and wonderful record collection (thanks mom and dad).

check out the before and afters:

View From the Living Room

Window Corner of Sunroom

Charlie LOVES the new carpet

New View from the Living Room

(minus the artwork)

DecorView from Living Room Window

sunroom window

so michele wanted to remove the storm window in the sunroom (it covered the window that connects the living room to the sunroom). our thought was now that we are insulated, etc that we want this interior window open all the time to connect the two rooms better. and of course it turned out to be yet another undertaking. the edging was riped out to find nothing but a hole around the window, the ledge removed to find newspaper insulation (dated June 22, 1958 Chicago Tribune) and Ace Hardware ruler/stir sticks as levelers, plus the storm window broke during removal - bad glass.

anyhoo. the window is finished, below are the before and after pics and some of the randomness found during the renovation.

June 22, 1958 Insulation

The Shelf and "stir stick" levelers

Shelf

Window Done!

sunroom update

so Sally is almost done so we thought we would take some sneak peak pictures. the 100 year old barn wood we got for the ledge was purchased at this fanastic little store in wrigleyville called American Barn Company. check them out for project ideas: www.americanbarncompany.com

Before and After:

new hardware and strip, stained wood frame/windows

replaced rotted ledge with restored 100 year old barn wood

painted brick was stripped

window trim painted and sealed

close up of the window trim and new ledge

Additional Photos:

wainscoting ceiling --> wall of windows

close up of the new ledge --> insulation through out

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 however, it is outdated, the wood is rotting, there is water damage, nothing is sealed (unusable this past winter), windows cracked, screens missing, etc.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.