Farmhouse Modern

Our project  is officially 100% complete! We'll be back soon with a post to share photos of all the fantastic spaces and details, but for now we couldn't resist introducing you :) 

And how could I not include a before and after?

This Modern Farmhouse simply has the most fantastic feel to it - I can't even describe it. It's just happy!

More to come :)

A beautiful thing

We were SO thrilled when siding was finally complete... and equally thrilled when our very busy painters finally got in there like a small army to get this house painted! Because paint means we are that much closer to trim stage, when it all starts to come together and I can finally unwrap those fantastic light fixtures/faucets/hardware for good! And of course when those shiny new appliances go in... it really, really starts to feel like a home.

Here are a few more progress pics, starting with the custom fabricated steel railing. LOVE THIS.

And a view of the upstairs landing. Seriously like a like big present soon to be unwrapped when all that masking comes down revealing fresh paint and finished walls, millwork and ceilings.

Here are a couple shots of the kitchen/dining room/living room  in progress:

And below, a shot from the back where the deck stairs are going in. We worked with a new finish carpenter on this job, but he really can do anything, and he does it all well (for example, in addition to finish work, complicated hardware installation and drywall repair, he built the stairs/deck, and he also frames). One day he worked on the front porch for four straight hours during an insane torrential downpour (I think it helped that he was leaving for a trip to Mexico the next day). He was SOAKED but kept on working till he finished it. He is a keeper for sure. We decided at that point we may need to hand out awards to our subs who go above and beyond. Aaron definitely gets MVP on this one. 

Right now our project is officially done (well, 99% ... there are always those last details) but photography just came in and we can't wait to share the end product. Our Modern Farmhouse has turned out even better than we imagined and we are so excited.

Thanks for your patience with the intermittent posting as we worked around the clock to get this project complete (oh, how much longer things take with a two-year old in the midst!). We promise the end result will not disappoint.

P.S. please ignore the hideous goldenrod color of the exterior primer in that first shot! (Remember when it used to look like this?)

Ice Cream Party

Yup, the little guy is already TWO (!!) and we celebrated earlier this month with a party at the beach including a special guest: the Ice Cream Man! Ok, so it was really just his grandpa donning an ice cream man hat, bow-tie, and mustache but I think that made it even more special than having the actual ice cream man. Little guy's auntie volunteered use of her white Jeep so it was a really legit affair. It just seemed appropriate given his current fixation on the ice cream man (and mailman, etc. - really anyone in a truck) and constant humming of the ice cream truck melody.

My trusty food tents were back, this time covering the most delicious egg sandwiches from the local bagel shop. And of course we had yogurt-covered pretzels and jeally beans to hold the little ones over till it was time for ice cream. 

 Then we cranked the ice cream truck tunes and the kids flocked to the jeep.

 A homemade menu gave them something to think about. Decisions, decisions!

 It was a gorgeous day and so nice to be right down by the water.

Here the little guy and his grandma watch with great interest to see if the strapping lifegaurd (on summer break from Stanford if you must know) can fetch the balloons that were joyfully released into a tree branch moments earlier. (He did eventually nab them).

Happy Birthday, little one!!

Floor love

Things are coming together nicely on our Modern Farmhouse renovation/addition, including the floors which turned out beautifully! A nice good sand took out all that natural orange tone of the fir and we promptly stained it a warm, rich dark brown. 

We tested a few custom stain combinations and this is where we ended up - not too light, not too dark. We were overjoyed watching it go on. Love the grain of the wood coming through the dark stain. Many people like fir in its natural state, but I think it is phenomenal stained dark. One guy applied it while the other followed him up to ensure even distribution. 

 So pretty, no??

We are so in love with these floors. Old-growth fir (and fir in general) is so seldom used these days, it really lends a massive dose of character and interest since the grain is so uncommon.

Siding in progress

We're loving the way the siding looks, particularly with these windows - we omitted exterior window trim for a more modern look, and also because the window frames themselves are a bit wider than most. Since a few windows arrived damaged from shipping, siding was put on hold, but it will finally start up again next week and we can't wait! It will definitely be dramatic to see the front of the house clad in new siding. The combo of smooth beveled and board and batten is just right for this Modern Farmhouse.

Meanwhile, in order to continue the original old-growth fir flooring into the addition, we salvaged several hundred feet of nearly identical old-growth fir floor boards from another nearby property (slated for demolition where a new custom home will be built) as well as from Second Use. Both were perfect matches. Joel, our longtime hardwood guy, says it's ideal not to mix new fir with old-growth fir since it will take the stain/finish differently.

Drywall is now complete and today interior doors are being hung. Later this week: cabinets and trim. Still a lot to do though this is definitely the most gratifying stage. I will relish the moment the master bedroom light fixture is installed, for example :)

Leaps and bounds

 

Apologies once again for the lapse. We have been maxed out as you might expect - an expanded workload and summertime activities yield very few free moments as we're sure you all have experienced! But, here we are with some really fun photos to share :) The house is turning out amazingly well and we are growing quite fond of it. The floor plan is a hit with those who have worked on and/or toured the project so far, and the flow and views outstanding. Plus we have a TON of windows. The husband does not like to skimp on windows. The way I am passionate about silly things like a highly functional laundry hamper, Husband is passionate about windows. And I can't blame him. He did his research and these are truly great. (We even added two more windows to capture additional view once we got the second story framed out!).

Above is a view from the back. Like I've said before, this little house isn't so little anymore! 

Window installation day *sigh* ... it makes me so happy! Especially when the windows are so dreamy. We added some metal roofing accents - above the front porch, over a bay window, and at the base of the (enlarged - major improvement in the world of proper proportions) chimney.

The "galv-alum" finish is way cool and perfect for this modern farmhouse. I know for a fact Husband's heart pitter-pattered over this stuff.

Windows and doors in at the back of the house. Love the single light French doors (we have four total of those - Husband likes lots of doors, too. Makes for incredible site lines and we're keeping all our  headers at 7-feet which makes everything feel larger, more open, and brighter. We'll be back soon with siding pics!

Progress

Framing is almost complete and it's so gratifying to see the plan start to come to life. The dormer is framed, the roof framing is nearly complete, and this little house isn't so little anymore (though it still feels entirely charming, even in this early stage, thanks to the design and layout). Here's a bit of what came before.

Excavating, foundation, waterproofing, and back-filling.

Next: first floor framing.

Starting the second floor (with spectacular views of Lake Washington, major bonus).

Stairs built to code, hooray!! This made me so happy (I really despised the existing staircase, which has since been demo'd to make way for a new walk-in pantry).

 A view from the back.

And from the side, taken today. Hello, house! Roofing, windows, and siding, you're next :)

Until then, the little guy is keeping everyone in check.