We have a porch!

master bedroom with closed wall to outside

After the electrical panel was installed, things started happening! They started the demo on the new bathroom and original porch. My new master bedroom will be a former space that we think was an office for Dr. Schofield, a doctor who lived and practiced in the house during the 1940s. When we began the project, it opened up to what was the original side porch, so the crew framed in that wall and I could get a sense of what the new bedroom would be like.

former porch with new closed wall

new bathroom looking into bedroom

 
The guys also tore out the two closets in the middle bedroom that will become my master bath. We had decided early on to expose the brick chimney stack between the two closets in this room that was probably originally used for a heater or wood burning stove. When they tore out the closets we got our first surprise – a roof leak. The leak is probably because the flashing around the chimney wasn’t done correctly, but it’s not a bad one. We briefly discuss taking down the chimney stack, but find out that the new furnace is vented through here, so it stays. They cut a new doorway from the bath to the bedroom, and we continue talking about the bathroom layout. We have spent hours discussing how to best fit in a master closet – should it go into the new bathroom space, or should it be a bump-out in the bedroom? I hate bump-outs so I’m rooting for the bath option, but we just can’t find a way to get a closet big enough & still have plenty of room for the bath. We finally agree to cut into the hall closet from the bedroom side, preserving all of the space for the new bath.

During this time they are also working on the porch; this is the part of the project I’m most excited about. I love porches, and it’s important for me to have outdoor space. I know how it will look, because my good friends Kathy and Marshall Day supplied a photo of when Marshall briefly lived here as a boy.

original clapboard siding exposed

When the vinyl siding and ceiling come down we get another surprise – but a good one! The original bead board ceiling is still there, as is the original clapboard siding – in good condition. People often think that vinyl siding was added to many of these older homes because the original siding was damaged, or in poor condition. In many cases, it was done for convenience and alleviated the need to repaint the house. Everyone is surprised at how good the clapboards look and we discuss taking the vinyl siding off the entire house. I would love to, but as Dustin, the contractor, points out, you never know what you’re going to find when you remove a layer. To be honest, it’s just not in the budget to remove it all and paint the whole house, so we compromise and decide just to do the front of the house and paint it to match the siding. 

enclosed porch before renovation

beadboard ceiling & windows removed