The Front Yard

A few months ago, the front yard looked like this. The "grass" was mostly weeds and mostly dead.

I knew I wanted it xeriscaped--something I could hit with a hose once a week and be done, but was pretty. I didn't want to pay someone to design something but I don't know anything about landscape design. I discarded a bunch of ideas before deciding on this.

I like curves

I had the grass torn out and the yard leveled. Crushed granite and mulch replaced the grass and a few low water grasses and flowering plants in shades of orange, red, and purple were installed. I had the offshoot sidewalk torn out but quickly realized I needed a walkway of some sort. A friend donated flat  stones from his beach on Lake Travis.

The grass on its way out

Baskets from Target match the porch perfectly!

Granite and mulch in, no plants yet

The side of the house is clean!

River rock borders, stone pathway, and plants

Donated boulders from the lake, blue agave from my mom, and prickly pear from a neighbor. Two red/orange lantana and a red yucca went into the corner area.

Pretty close to my drawing!

The plants are small now but they'll get larger and fill in the space.

Coming home to this makes me happy!

2015 Interior Changes (photos)

Living Room

I removed the ugly brass screen from the fireplace. To do that, I had to have a damper/flue installed to keep the Texas heat from coming down the chimney. I also had a few cracks fixed and missing bricks replaced. I still need to give it  a coat of high-heat black paint. The rug is from Gilt. The red loveseat and orange rocker are Craigslist finds. I also moved the Nate Frizell painting to the dining room and the big mirror to the living room, which is smaller and gets less light.

New art from A Person Yeah

Dining Room

The rug is from Fab. The table is from Room Service Vintage. The chairs were purchased from a masonic temple. The credenza is from Craigslist. The  window trim/sill (not in the photo) needs to be repaired.

Detail of the light box my dad built for me. The panel is NOS from the '70s.

Sewing Room
The futon is from Ikea, the rug from Gilt, the desk and hutch from Craigslist. Normally the futon is set up like a couch, not a bed.

Media Room
I replaced the couch with a sofa bed (from Club Furniture--it was the least expensive mid mod looking sofa that I could find). The rug is from Gilt. I made the matching pillows from some fabric I had sitting around. 

Hall Bath
This room has the most changes. I decided against a stained glass window (too expensive) and refinished the existing weight and pulley window. One frame was too rotted to save, so I had a local carpenter rebuild it. I added a shower conversion to the tub. I realize I don't have a photo. I'll post one later. The only thing left to do is finish stripping and painting the door and frame.

Where we last left the bathroom

door hardware before

and after

still working on it

the door frame still needs to be done

2015 Interior Changes (the list)

I have made a lot of changes to the interior. Here is the to-do list. Everything in black was done before I last posted. Everything in green has been completed since then.

Restoration/Renovation Master Plan

Interior

General
Repair Electrical and Install Weather Mast
Repair Roof and Flashing Around Chimney
Paint Every Room and Ceiling
Install Shoe Molding
Level Floors
Repair Crack in Drywall/Repaint
Clean Previous Owner's Crap Out of Attic
Purchase and Install Drop-Down Attic Ladder
Add roof joists for extra support
Refinish Doors/Hardware
Replace Modern Doors with Antique Panel Doors

Living Room
Reupholster Settee (sold it)
Hang Curtains in Front Window
Replace Rug
Refinish Built-In Bookcases
Hang Art
Refinish French Doors/hardware
Refinish Baseboards

Dining Room
Refinish Baseboards
Plane Door to A/C Closet Doors/Hardware
Repair Window Frame
Build Light Box
Reupholster Dining Room Chairs (sold those and purchased different ones)
Consider Purchasing Sideboard (purchased a record stand)

Hall Bath

Tear out corner cabinet

Remove tub and sink

Tear out old tile

Open wall/floor, replace pipes to sink and tub

Replace 80% of drywall on walls and ceiling

Strip and refinish medicine cabinet (in progress)

Strip, refinish and repair original sash window including broken pane and rope pulleys

Replace bottom pane with stained glass if affordable

Refinish window

Install fan in ceiling

Tile floor

Replace and patch baseboards

Replace shoe molding

Float and tape walls

Paint walls

Paint baseboards and shoe molding

Replace tub and sink

Fabricate hook and hang antique cup holder

Purchase properly sized storage cabinet (decided against it)
Hang art and towel rack

Purchase and install shower conversion

Strip and paint door, door frame, and hardware

Bedroom
Purchase and Hang Curtain Rod
Make and Hang Curtains
Reupholster Headboard and Bench
Replace Light Fixture/Fan
Purchase Dresser
Paint Standing Mirror

Master Bath
Purchase and Hang Medicine Cabinet
Purchase Over-Toilet Storage
Purchase and Hang Towel Rack and T.P. Holder

Tear Out Old Tile Floors and Shower
Retile Floors
Tile Shower with Antique Peacock Tiles (Purchased)
Replace Shower Walls/Door Opening with Glass
Replace Sconces with Antiques (Purchased)
Consider Replacing (or at least repainting) Vanity
Replace Showerhead
Purchase Shelves

Kitchen
Replace Kitchen Cabinets, Countertops and Backsplash
Remove soffit above kitchen window
Vent stove 
Refinish Hoosier Cabinet
Purchase Vintage Refrigerator
High Heat Paint Stove Grill
Refinish Window Trim/Ledge
Purchase Curtain for Window

Media Room
Plane Door to Closet so it Closes
Replace Big Desk with Something Smaller
Hang Remaining Art
Replace couch with sofa bed

Sewing Room
Hang Vintage Light Fixture (Purchased)
Plane Closet Door so it Closes
Purchase futon

Laundry Room
Plane Door to Water Heater Closet so it Closes
Add Seating/Shoe Storage Unit Next to Door
Install Shoe Molding

Hallway
Paint Boards
Install Shoe Molding

Exterior


Replace All Iron and Galvanized Pipes with Insulated PVC

Remove All Old Gas Lines Not in Use
Add Insulation Below Floors
Replace Skirting
Paint House
Replace Missing Piece of Trim
Purchase Screens for Windows
Label Breaker Box Switches
Replace Rotted Porch Rails
Remove Overgrown Tree Lifting Porch
Remove Dead Trees from Side Yard
Remove Cracked and Crumbling Concrete Paths
Xeriscape Front Yard
Plant Climbing Rose Bushes Next to Gate Posts
Install Gate Pin in Ground
Level Back Yard
Remove Concrete Pieces from Back Yard
Replace Fence
Paint Side of Shed
Landscape Back Yard
Install Sprinkler System (installed artificial turf instead)
Build Raised Planters with Limestone (decided against it)
Replace Rotted Rails on Back Deck
Replace Rotten Boards on Deck and Wash the Rest
Replace Driveway (Pea Gravel?)

2015 Changes

Holy crap! It's been almost two years since I have posted anything here. That doesn't mean I haven't made any changes to the house--far from it! I will attempt to get caught up. My last post shows some early stages of the house painting. Here are some photos during that process as well as the after photos. I went with salsa for the porch instead of the dark salmon.

top to bottom, original color, primer, new color

rotted sided next to the A/C unit

new siding

the old mailbox

the new (old) mailbox and house numers

the porch when first painted

it's mellowed a bit