Goodbye, Our Sweet Little Callie

Unfortunately, yesterday our sweet little girl Callie had to go to heaven. She had been sick on & off for a few weeks.

We were thrilled when she made it to her 15th birthday on September 4, 2009. Last year she was very ill and we did not expect her to make her 14th birthday, let alone Christmas. But she made it a whole year past that and she was more loving, sweet and snuggly than ever before. She was our first "baby" and the first dog that we have ever had to watch die. It is extremely heartbreaking and devastating. You realize that they won't live forever, but when the time comes, you are never really ready.

Goodbye my sweet little Callie girl. I love you and miss you, and I want to thank you for the incredible gifts, lessons, love and fulfillment that you brought into my life.

Fall Colors

As the Morning Glory Blooms . . .

House Dog Blog: Drucker

While out patrolling the yard for possible bunny sightings, Drucker (13 yrs. old) decided to stop and smell the roses. Of course, he also took his ball just in case anyone wanted to play a game of catch.

Empty Nest Syndrome

Once again, some robins snuck in and made a nest on the porch. But no matter how annoyed I get when this happens (because of the mess & not being able to use that part of the porch until they leave) . . .

I still get a little sad when they all finally grow up and fly away.

Turning a Negative into a Positive - The Garden Shed

The property had several ugly unfinished structures - this "shed" was one of them. Apparently it was originally just some plywood pieces to cover the previous owner's boat. Over time, he added on to it and finally enclosed it with old pieces of misc. wood, fiberglass garage doors as walls and plastic sheeting for a roof. It was quite hideous - inside & out.

We ripped down about 1/3 of the front of the structure (since it impeded on the garage entrance), rebuilt the front and added some recycled old windows and doors purchased at a Habitat for Humanity store. We also added a small entry deck and then shingled the roof and added vinyl siding to coordinate with the house.

What a dramatic difference! A cute garden shed to add much needed charm to the property.

Water Lily

Beautiful pink and yellow water lily's are blooming in the fish pond.

Guest Powder Room

Since there was no guest bath or coat closet (which is a MUST in Michigan) on the first floor, I decided that needed to be one of the first interior construction projects. The original blue print for the house included a 1/2 bath on the first floor but the previous owners did not include it. I needed to fit the new powder room & closet into the foyer area (the only space available) so it would flow with the rest of the space and not make the foyer seem tight and awkward.

I added bead board wainscoting (I used a prepackaged kit) to give the room some architectural detail. To get the wainscoting to the needed height - higher than the sink, I needed to double the bottom trim. I used the prepackaged kit since I thought it would be quicker to install than individual boards. I would only recommend boards/kits that look like real individual bead boards and not the paneling that just has grooves cut into it.

Let the sunshine in . . .

When the house was purchased, the living room only had 2 small windows up high and 1 glass door - it was a very dark room. We immediately put in a window to the left of the fireplace, which helped a lot, but we knew we would still need more windows. So, finally, this summer we decided it was time. We hired out the work since we knew it was beyond our comfort level of diy projects.

I use to turn on lights in the living room during the day because it was just too dark and dreary in that room. What a difference the 2 new windows have made! Because the chimney runs up the middle of the wall, a window could not be installed in that area. That blank area will need to be dressed with artwork to make the wall and windows work together as a cohesive space.

The window project did have a glitch: the pitch of the interior ceiling was not the same as the pitch of the exterior roof line. Since all measurements were taken from the outside, when the windows arrived, they matched the exterior roofline but NOT the interior. So I have to come up with a clever way to disguise this unforeseen problem. I'll let you know.

And then there was light . . .

Since the backsplash walls were opened to the studs after the removal of the old tile, I decided it was the perfect time to research under cabinet lighting. Lighting also helps to bring out the depth & movement of granite. I originally wanted puck lights but after doing a ton of research, I decided to go with xenon under-cabinet lights that could be hard-wired into the existing wiring/walls. I was able to pull power from an existing switch and I added another light switch with a dimmer. A dimmer allows them to be adjusted to a soft glow during a dinner party for ambiance or turned high for task lighting. The first time I threw the switch - angels started to sing and I was in awe!!! What a difference!!

If the lighting in your kitchen is not adequate, definitely consider adding some under-cabinet lights. Low voltage lights can be added to existing cabinets without the need for hard wiring. They sell low voltage kits in the big box stores or you can go to a local lighting store and check out their selection. I decided on xenon bulbs instead of halogen because they are suppose to run cooler. I also didn't want the harsh light of florescents and I wanted to use a dimmer. So make sure you consider all the lighting options before making a final choice.

Tip: Take pictures (or use a labeling system) of your wiring before you change it so you can remember how to put it back together! Also: TURN OFF THE POWER BEFORE STARTING ANY WIRING PROJECT!! Always call a professional if you are unsure or have any questions.

Changing paint colors, one room at a time . . .

One of the more unappealing rooms in the house, and therefore first to be changed, was an upstairs bedroom. It was a hideous bright teal & purple color and, apparently, the previous owners must have let their 5 year old physically paint the room. It was a bad, bad paint job with bad colors.

Since green is one of my favorite colors, I chose a beautiful moss color (Valspar Signature Oakmoss) to showcase the white trim. The room still needs some finishing touches but it's already quite the transformation.

Decorative knobs on the closets - this one is from Mackenzie-Childs - can add a custom touch.

Tis the season for nesting . ..

Meet the newest residents at Breezy Trees:

Originally, 3 beautiful blue eggs appeared in a tiny nest.

Then one day, I noticed a little hairless bird had just hatched.

A few days later, 3 cute fuzzy babies made their debut.

Mama bird must be so proud!

10 Days old. They are so fat that mama bird can't fit in the nest.

House Dog Blog: Callie

Callie was our “first born.” She came into our lives almost 15 years ago. She’s had a hard year and we didn’t think she would make it past last Christmas, but here it is 8 months later. You go girl!!!!

Unfortunately, some of the “health issues” of older dogs can make it more of a challenge when choosing some decorative items and remodeling materials. I was hoping to replace the tile floors with wood but decided I needed to wait a bit longer – tile is easy to clean. Unfortunately, most of the beautiful plush rugs I have haven’t stood up well to various doggie functions, so I’ve had to switch strategies. Luckily, many stores now carry nice indoor/outdoor rugs in many different styles, colors and patterns. Carpet squares/tiles (such as www.flor.com ) are also another good choice since each square can be replaced or picked up and rinsed off. Rugs made of organic fibers - like seagrass or sisal – are also options.

There is one more solution that I have found extremely helpful for older dogs with special needs. However, it may be a bit unconventional for some people. Doggie Diapers. Yes, you read it correctly. I was very skeptical but after doing some research and finding a pair at PetSmart, I gave them a try. They work great! Doggie diapers can also be purchased at many different sites on-line. I use Poise adult pads to line Callie’s diapers and they work well. The things we do for love.

Isn't she precious!

Countertops can be hard, in more ways than one

Ah yes, the wild and crazy world of countertops. There are soooo many options and all have their pros and cons. The kitchen originally had 12 x 12 Chinese granite tiles – they were boring and the coloring was a little odd but at least they were neutral. Unfortunately, the grout was starting to crumble and it was very hard to clean – and I HATE to clean grout – so I knew they would have to be replaced eventually. In the fall of ’08, we decided to replace the countertops with granite slabs – granite because of it’s ability to withstand stains and heat and it’s low maintenance.

Little did I know how hard it would be to remove all of the existing granite tiles. Each tile had to be smashed and pried up, then adhesive and grout had to be chiseled off, many screws removed and then the cement board chiseled off, adhesive and screws removed from the plywood and then finally the plywood. Whew - a HUGE pain in the backside. The granite tiles were also on the backsplash and when they were removed, all the drywall came with it.

After we started that whole process, we found out we couldn't have the granite installed when we wanted so we decided to wait until the Spring - and lived for 6 months with plywood counters and no drywall - what a lovely decorating statement.

After doing a lot of research and pouring through magazine and book photos, I decided on a dark granite countertop with a uniform pattern. I then traveled several hours to view different stone slabs but nothing "spoke to me" - so back to square one. Then I saw a beautiful Jerusalem Stone (limestone) in a kitchen design book and I was hooked. I immediately called the countertop fabricator but he said it would be a huge mistake as a kitchen countertop. So I went to get a stone sample and after pouring vinegar, oil, salsa, orange juice and other items on it, I decided he might be right - it left stains and etched the surface. I still thought that over time I would appreciate the patina but I was also concerned about resale value. Something I always try to keep in mind. Others might not find the patina charming. I called a real estate agent and asked him what people were looking for in a kitchen in this area. He told me low maintenance, nothing trending or unusual (like concrete or soapstone - which I love) and definitely light, open and airy spaces. So my search turned to finding a granite that looked like limestone or marble. However, not surprisingly, I discovered that was basically impossible: Granite looks like granite.

So the end result for the kitchen countertop (drum roll please):

• instead of a dark color with uniform pattern, I choose a polished, light color granite (colonial cream) with "movement" (a distinctive pattern within the color)
• AND a honed Durango/travertine stone (similar to limestone) for the master bath countertop.

Note: Backsplashes are still in the "design phase"

One choice down, hundreds more to go . . .

Tips:

• Collect pictures of kitchens you like.
• Research the types of countertop choices and the pros and cons.
• Narrow down your choices but keep an open mind.
• If using stone, always choose your slabs in person and take a cabinet door, floor sample and paint colors.
• For any stone, make sure it is sealed appropriately if needed. Some light colored granites may need to have extra coats of sealer (mine needed 4 coats) and some dark colored granites may not need to be sealed at all.
• If you need to replace the backsplash drywall, that would be a good time to run wiring for under cabinet lighting

Details Matter . . .

"Before" Porch & Front door/side windows

Since the house was a boring blob of beige (say that 5 times fast!), it needed some changes. Some of those included:

• Replaced steel front door with stained wood and replaced all exterior lights. Tip: A wood door (without storm door) may not hold up as well when exposed directly to the elements. Tip: Ask the salesperson at the big box stores if they have any clearance or returned items, etc. at a discount. I went to order my front door at full price and the sales person told me that they had a returned door – in perfect condition – and I was able to get it with sidelights for less than the single door I was originally going to buy.
• Replaced small beige vinyl trim/J-channel around windows & doors with painted wood or larger white vinyl J-channel /trim to give the house more architectural detail. Tip: On some windows I was able to use SNAP-ON VINYL LINEALS/TRIM - which means that the existing vinyl siding did not have to be removed in order to install the new door/window trim. This is a fantastic (and much easier & cheaper) way to change the look of a house by changing the trim color on a vinyl sided house – and fairly simple for a handy person.
• The vinyl siding in the most visible gables was replaced with architectural shake-look vinyl siding for dimension and interest.
• The wood porch floors and steps all around the house were stained.
• I redesigned the posts and railings on the front porch to give it more presence and added charm. Posts were doubled in areas to give the porch more architectural interest. I tried to use Azek/pvc trim where possible to reduce the need for painting. The finishing details and some trim still need to be completed. Tip: For ideas and inspiration, drive around and look at other homes that interest you - take pictures.

"After" Porch