Now Comes the Fun Part

Polishing the Big House in a Small City

This is the quieter season in real estate, which means it’s a great time of year to work on a project. It’s not “quiet quiet,” mind you — one client just learned tonight that the offer we submitted for a house with a killer view has been accepted, while another deal is suddenly shaky. It’s always something.

But all the news is good at the Big House in Small City. I’ve been focusing on jobs that keep me out of the way of the skilled people…which means I’ve been in the pantry.

This is what it was after one coat of paint. And it’s quite an improvement. See the yellowed ceiling? The whole room looked like that.

But this is what it is now.

I still have to put down a new vinyl floor, but what a difference! The lower window sash is not stained glass - that’s a great stick-on window film that I have had for probably twenty years - left over from another project. I had just enough left for exactly what was needed. Now you can get things from the pantry without the neighbors having to watch. You want some? Here’s one source…

Then let’s talk about the built in cupboard in the kitchen. I’ve already showed you this, but in case you forgot…

That’s after I painted the exterior, removed, cleaned and reinstalled the hardware. But today I worked on the inside.

I don’t have enough of that wild lime colored shelf liner to do everything, but I love that surprise color when you open the doors. I want to secure it so it overlaps the edge, but you get the idea.

The priming of the tired old rooms downstairs is done, and my assignment is to get the trim painted so the skilled people can knock out all the wall painting after the holidays.

It’s also my job to pick out light fixtures, as what’s there is just discouraging.

I’m thinking contemporary fixtures for the ceilings, even though it’s not my vibe at all. I think this old house can carry off a mix of historic and modern. I’m not set on a finish yet, but it’s fun to look.

And there’s a half bath downstairs that I think is going to go maximalist. Even old houses like to surprise people.