Spring 2010: Outdoor Improvements

As you can see, it was a busy spring! Nesting much? Along with the inside improvements, we also did a couple outdoor ones. First, the brick pillars at the foot of our driveway needed some serious help. They were originally built with brick tops, which allowed water to get into the grout and over time, the tops began to crumble. Then, on windy days, the lanterns on top of them started to blow over, due to the crumbling brick!

After the brick tops had been ripped off. Our landscaper, Carl Cincotta, did the project.

Finished product below! 3" slabs of bluestone, with rough, rather than finished, edges. New lanterns (more about those to come) and a nice wooden house number plaque made by Carved Home Signs on the Cape.

Additionally, at some point before the pillars (I forget exactly when), Cincotta also re-did our front steps. They too had been all brick, which just doesn't fair well in all types of weather. At some point we'll also need to re-do the front walkway. The steps are now bluestone as well.

Spring 2010: Basement Bathroom

We have a great finished basement- it has main room, a bedroom, and a workout room that we have turned into another guest bedroom. Off this room, there is a full bath. We hadn't touched it in years- hadn't even opened the door! But we decided to fix it up since we know it will get future use as a guest bath, or even if one of our kids wanted to have their bedroom down there. I don't think I have "before" pics, but the bathroom was painted cream of course, with cream wood cabinets and a beige tub and toilet. The countertop on the vanity was this awful dark green formica. We wanted to keep the project low budget, so I found a granite countertop with built-in white sink at Home Depot- just $199!

The workout room turned bedroom.

We also got a new white toilet and Larry from Winchester Mechanical was able to install both the sink/countertop and toilet for us. I painted all the cabinets white, and bought a new shower curtain and towels. We also replaced all of the brass hardware on the cabinets, as well as the towel ring, TP holder, and towel holder. The mirror and the new vanity lights are from Home Depot. All we need to do in the future is replace the tile floor!