10 Jun Catching Up
Hello All,
With the ending of my oldest’s kindergarten year, finishing up a couple of big client projects I cannot wait to show you, and baseball baseball baseball, it has been a whirlwind couple of weeks. Consider this post a little catch-up before we move on.
Of course, this update would not be complete without explaining this situation I posted on Instagram a few weeks ago.
The Car…
Yup, this happened to us. Our porte cochere ceiling collapsed on our car, and the car has been in the hospital ever since. We thought it was totaled, but lo and behold, it has been saved, after getting a new…basically front half.
Why did it fall? We have no idea. And neither does the insurance. Which is why they won’t pay for it, but at least the car is covered.
I don’t know if you can tell from the pictures, but that ceiling up there was about two and a half inch thick concrete and plaster. It weighs a ton, and yes, it is a bummer this happened, but more than anything, we are so so thankful no one was in the porte cochere when it fell. Our kids play in there all the time, so we will take a broken car and some mess any day over hurt little people. Or worse.
We have had several people out here to look at it and give us bids, and we hear the same thing over and over. “This is built so beautifully, they just don’t make them like this anymore”.
I think we will probably leave the knob and tube wiring, although I know people have differing opinions on this. Some electricians say, “Take it out, it will burn your house down!”, while others say, “It’s great! Leave it alone, it will last forever, and has less problems than today’s wiring”. So there you go…
We have since had the entire porte cochere ceiling removed (about half of it fell – around 450 sf), and the weight was about 8,000 pounds. TWO TONS!! Can you believe that? The plan is not to replace the ceiling with that material (obviously), but put something up there like we have on our front porch ceiling, which is that narrow beadboard. We also want to insulate before we put a new ceiling up, since there are two rooms above this area.
I have spent a ridiculous amount of time on the phone with the insurance company, and talking to contractors and people with expertise in this area, so it has definitely been a pain. Although if you think about it, that ceiling is nearly a hundred years old, and when I am 100, I’m sure I will be falling in some places, too.
The Bathroom…
It is so close I can taste it, but it is still not done. Month six. It always seems like a few nit picky details end up dragging projects out forever. And that is exactly what is happening here. Tomorrow’s post has some updates, plus a change of plans.
The Garden…
We have also been gardening like crazy, and enjoying the fruits of our labor. (photos via Instagram)
Foraged Flowers…
After feeling inspired by this post, I made my own foraged flower bouquet from my backyard. This is fun to do! You should try it.
Oh, and did I mention baseball? Baseball. Every. Night.
P.S. And because I am so excited, here is a sneak peek of this nursery project. Coming soon! And it’s good, folks.
Hope you are having a good day today.
Tiffany
Posted at 11:45h, 10 JuneGrace! I am so sorry about your car, but I absolutely LOVE your positive perspective on the whole thing. Way to always look for a silver lining, so inspirational. Also, that gold leaf striped ceiling is too good. I am so ready to see the finished bathroom! Good luck getting it all finished up, the devil is in the details!
Grace
Posted at 15:58h, 10 JuneThanks Tiffany! I actually just got my car back today, six weeks later. It’s great to have it back. 🙂 Thanks for the comment. xo, G
Sheri
Posted at 12:01h, 10 JuneOh my gosh that mirror in the bathroom. LOVE IT!!!
Grace
Posted at 15:59h, 10 JuneThanks Sheri! It came with a dresser I used to have in my room. I sold the dresser, but just couldn’t part with the mirror. The shape and color and details are so lovely to me. It picks up the color in the painting so well, and I love it, too. 🙂 G
Emily S. Davis
Posted at 12:06h, 10 JuneGoodness you have been busy! So sorry about your car, but you seem to have a great outlook on the whole situation. And that is really half the battle 🙂
Grace
Posted at 16:01h, 10 JuneEmily, so true! The last year and a half or so has been so crazy around here that I feel that approach is usually the best way to go. 🙂 I am a pretty laid back person too so that helps, but all of these minor disasters definitely help you keep your focus on the bigger picture! Thank you very much for taking the time to comment. G
TRANG
Posted at 12:22h, 10 JuneGrace this looks so great! I love what you did with the walls!
Grace
Posted at 16:02h, 10 JuneTrang! Oh man, can’t wait for you to see the rest of the photos, the room looks so great! The mobile turned out amazing, love it! xo, G
pam stanek
Posted at 13:19h, 10 JuneSuch a shame about your porte corde…your port cour…drive through carport, but on a lighter note, the bathroom is gorgeous. I also took 6+ months to redo mine, but that was to ease the financial factor. One month, have the tile and vanity ripped up. Next month, buy the tile. Next month, install the tile, etc. But it turned out great, as will yours. I especially love the tub…and the mirror…and the shower. Hmmm, all of it, I guess.
Grace
Posted at 16:05h, 10 JunePam, haha, that made me laugh. We have totally done projects that way before; actually, we have done most projects that way. 🙂 Thanks so much for the kind comment, I’m sure your bathroom looks amazing. I guess it makes using it someday all the sweeter, right? G
Nancy
Posted at 18:10h, 10 JuneGrace, your bathroom is spectacular! And can’t wait to see that nursery. Makes me laugh when I think of the nursery I decorated 22 years ago. It was red and white with brown teddy bears, and I thought it was the bomb!
Grace
Posted at 18:22h, 10 JuneThank you, Nancy! I’m sure your nursery looked just as great in its heyday. 🙂 I do wonder sometimes what my kids will think of the home they grew up in aesthetics wise. Will they look back and think, “That couch was awful!”, etc.??? I’m sure they will go through stages…there are things in my parent’s house that I thought were so “dated” in my teens that I appreciate now. At any rate, I hope they know and feel that their home was decorated with them in mind, with beauty and practicality. I look back at how I decorated our first couple of homes, or elements of them, and think, “I thought that looked great, funny!”, but I also look at them with sentimentality…from the boxes I covered with fabric to create coffee tables to the palm tree duvet :), I placed them with love. That’s what matters.
You caught me at a sentimental moment. 🙂
Thanks for the comment! G
Emily
Posted at 05:51h, 11 JuneOh the joys of being a homeowner! I’m so sorry Grace, but I love that you backed up this sad bit of news with other beautiful tales and pictures of your master bath, yummy food, and man that chandy in the nursery! Good luck with the repairs, and I am glad no one was hurt!
Grace
Posted at 13:37h, 12 JuneEmily, thank you! Yes, there is usually more good news than bad around here so I try to keep that the focus through these “adventures”. 🙂
cassie {hi sugarplum}
Posted at 07:55h, 17 JuneThat is the craziest thing…I can’t believe that happened to you guys!!! Thank goodness no one was under it! I’m dying over that nursery sneak peek…love the combo of gold and colorful pom poms.
Oh, I talked to Kip yesterday…2 rods on their way to me!! xo