21 April 2010

INSIDE OUT

At the moment, well actually for the past several weeks, the cottage has been getting its GUTS.  Electrical; ducting; plumbing; roofing (not the shingles just the papering-in.)  None of these things make for very attractive photos and surely are not a feast for the eyes.


Told ya.



Even putting in the lighting right now just means the overhead cam lighting, not the pretty sconces or chandeliers.  Yet!






Ugly duckling.

However, we now have the bones of our new staircase.  Let me just tell ya, this is awesome for us.  In our old cottage, originally built in the 1950's as a summer home, the staircase leading down to the bedrooms below was outside.  Yep, you heard me right.  Outide, as in, open the door from the family room, walk onto a landing and down a flight of stairs to another door, where you entered the bedrooms.



Watch yourself there pup.  That last step's a doozie!


When we first moved down here to the beach, our kids were a lot younger.  We were pretty skeptical about having them waaaay down there, sort of disconnected from the main house.  The two youngest kids got bedrooms upstairs and the two teens got the downstairs which, was kind of like having your own apartment.  What kid wouldn't love that, right?  Wrong.

My oldest son didn't like the idea of being so far from "home base" and we heard about it plenty. We made sure for safety, to put in a light which turned on automatically when they went downstairs.  We put in a security lock so they could lock themselves in and feel safe.  We worried.  Then one day I heard my son talking to a friend about why he wasn't fond of having to go outside to get to his room.  Lighting?  Safety and security?  Nope.  He was concerned because it was so far from his room to the kitchen where the ice cream was!  Needless to say, he got over it and he and his big sister soon figured out that having a bedroom detached from the house is every high school kids' dream.  And why wouldn't it be?  Duh.

You can see said stairs and a bit more of the deconstrucion before the reconstrucion right here.  Now that I look back at that, even though we're not where we thought we would be by now, WE'VE COME A LONG WAY BABY!

This was the new staircase a couple weeks ago before the plywood was on the treads.


Now, along with plywood on the treads, I proudly present my new indoor staircase.  Hold on carefully.  I'm going to take you on a walk down the new stairs and it may make you a little dizzy.


Oh, what a lovely landing.  And now we continue our walk down the rest of the stairs.


There ya go!  Soon a carpenter will come in to put beautiful cut and dried wood flooring on the treads, and a cottage railing with bannister.  I'm hoping that I will find my brain the time, as we continue to make progress at the cottage, to learn to Vimo so I can post some video for you.  I think the final tour would be lots more fun that way, don't you?

And now, because you've been so patient and because I went and got you all dizzy going down my new stairs, I'm going to give you another sunset picture.  I hope it takes you away to a beautiful place where you can calm your soul and find some rest when you start your day anew tomorrow.  Night, night.



Blessings,

Tia

6 comments:

Margaret (Peggy or Peg too) said...

You should really make a photo of yours your header for your blog. This one is perfect.

I am having sleeping issues and I think I may just sit here quietly and star at this - this may calm me enough to allow me to sleep. Hubby and dog are asleep already - both exhausted from very long days. I haven't had more than 4 hrs yet this week.
I'll let ya know how it works.

"Cottage By The Sea" said...

I hope it works for you Margaret. Sleep sweet.
Tia

Lisa said...

I think it is coming along very, very well.

And thank you for the beautiful picture. It takes me where I want to be!

mimiomimi said...

I am going to try AGAIN to leave a comment, but I have been unceremoniously DUMPED the last 2 times I have tried!! Love love love your new tubby!! I figure it won't be a problem for me to drop by a couple of times a week for a quick (or maybe long)soak - right? I figure you'll be fine with it if I promise not to tell our water nazi mayor that that sucker uses 72 gallons of H2O per soak!! Also I must mention that I am so proud of you for using such technical construction terms, like "treds" and "cam lighting" and "ducts"!! Can't wait to see the real thing!!

Grace in my Heart said...

Thanks for your sweet and helpful comment, Tia! You are a dear and are in my prayers. P.S- Love your home!

Tina said...

All this buliding work is looking fabulous Tia! You must be so excited to see so much progress:) Love your beach photo, just gorgeous! Wishing you a wonderful weekend ~ Tina x