The past year has been very exciting for me.  I've not been able to complete all the work on my farmhouse at one time but I've been working with some really great people who have helped me according to my budget.  I skip around trying to complete projects based on their importance.  This blog features the sag in the front porch, the new window and vents on the gable and the new soffit.

The sag didn't seem noticeable to many but it was very noticeable to me.  I didn't realize the repairs would be as extensive as they would be.

When I asked my Facebook friends to refer a great and meticulous carpenter, my friend Kendrick quickly asked me what I needed work on.  He came over, looked at the job and wasted no time in getting it done.

It's not easy finding someone that is willing to work on small projects with a lot of rotten wood and masses of spider webs...

...especially on old houses.

But after a few days he had reinforced the attic wood, replaced all the rotten wood...

...and added new support posts.  The work didn't help with the aesthetics of the house but I was just as happy knowing the saggy porch and all that rotten wood had been replaced.

It was several weeks before I found the greatest vinyl guy to install the soffit on my house. Mr. Larry and his team did an amazing job on the soffit.  Mr. Larry did not cut corners.  He takes great pride in his work and took the time to level and straighten out the uneven sections.  When finished the entire house was level and the soffit looked great. Adding the soffit was a total transformation and I couldn't believe how stunning it looked when it was all finished.

I debated several months on whether to install Hardy board or vinyl siding.  My old house absolutely deserved Hardy board but with so much work that had to be done on the house I simply couldn't afford it.  I had to quickly get something on the gable to prevent the wood from rotting.  The house had lap siding that was in good condition and I knew I would be painting the rest of the house to match the gable. I had other damage that required my attention so I didn't need to worry with the rest of the vinyl at that time.

 Absolutely thrilled was an understatement when they finished the gable.  I got my inspiration for the vents and window from "The Cottages at Southport." A friend had told me about them and my family and I drove there just to see all of them in person.  They have built brand new homes identical to my 100+ year old bungalow.  I chose a three light window that matched all the others in the house.  Now it's time to paint!

There were three different styles of windows in my old house.  They were all basically the same size, give or take an inch or so, and they all used the same pulley system.  The house is over a hundred years old and the pulleys have been broken for at least half that long. As far back as I can remember they were always propped open with tobacco sticks. They were drafty, broken and always sweating when the heat was on. Sometime in the seventies storm windows were added but I removed them when I painted the house this lovely yellow color!

Fast forward to June of 2015.  It had been several years since I had done any major work on my house.  I met a contractor through my husband and I asked if he'd replace a rotten window sill in one of the bedroom windows.

After looking at the rotted window sill he talked to me about replacing the window too.  He gave me a good price on the job and within a day or so he'd put in my first Pella craftsman style window.  I didn't have any intention of replacing all the windows at the time but it looked so nice when he finished he told me he was willing to work with me in putting all new windows in my craftsman bungalow. It took eight long months to get them all installed. I was so happy, thankful and excited about all the new Pella windows in my old house...they looked amazing!

All of the windows are this craftsman style.  They are double insulated and energy efficient.  Gone are the drafts and tobacco sticks!  After 100 years my old house has windows that open and close with ease.

This was the saddest kitchen I'd ever been in.  The entire floor was spongy, the 1970's cabinets were an inch thick in grease, the paneling had seen better days, the textured sheet rock ceiling was dingy and there were many pipe holes with large gaps in the floor and walls.  It could've easily won an award for "America's Ugliest Kitchen".

This is the spongy floor that came out of the kitchen.  The cabinets had already been removed and hauled away.

This was a very tiresome demolition.  Thankfully, my son helped in tearing down the old wall paneling.  The ceiling had been lowered to 8 foot and I'm afraid had he not helped me that day I could've have taken down the studs, plywood and sheet rock from the ceiling by myself. The kitchen was a sight but I was thrilled to discover this beautiful wooden ceiling.

The kitchen was finally beginning to look a little nicer.  Again, my son came over to help hang the drywall and I was more than happy to be on clean up duty.

My daughter took a break from the fireplace project just in time for a photo op.

After finishing and painting the drywall I started thinking about window trim. 

I wanted to duplicate the trim like the other windows in the house by giving them a craftsman flair.  These windows were original to the house but were not alike.

I was so excited to finally get to the point to purchase and hang some light fixtures.  I chose simple lighting that I thought would add personality and charm to my new kitchen.  I especially loved hanging the smaller three light fixture with the chain swag over the table. 

 I found some old valances to temporarily add to the newly trimmed windows until I found the perfect color and style of curtain I wanted.  The refrigerator will be moved to a new location in the kitchen after the flooring is added.

Unfortunately, my kitchen is a work in progress.  I hired a contractor to replace the kitchen floor and found out after I had everything finished that the floor wasn't level. I cannot install the cabinets, counter tops or anything else until it has been redone.  The house has other more pressing issues, so those projects have taken precedence over the kitchen.  Stay tuned for  upcoming news on our kitchen beautification.

Fast forward 25+ years to the house I inherited in 2003.  Little did I know when I took on the challenge of remodeling this house it would be a labor of love.  This is my story of how I was blessed to become caretaker of "the old house" and how I've been restoring her back to her glory days.