Tuesday, May 3, 2011

It’s becoming habitable!



The last I posted about our carriage barn our contractors were downstairs finishing up there while the upstairs was getting spray insulation. Once that was done it was a simple matter of hanging the plasterboard and getting the barn ready for plaster.



This is part of the annex, an attached room off the carriage barn that will be part of my studio. I loved how the whole place sort of glowed a blue/gray.


The exposed beams and rafters were wrapped in thick plastic to protect them from the plaster. Trust me when I say the plaster guys can fly and they’re messy! The big pile you see wrapped in plastic with the tools on it, that would be my new/old flooring. It unfortunately got delivered ahead of schedule.


The plaster went up really fast since I didn’t want it smooth and this job took three guys three days to do…fast! Then came the wait for it to dry, have you ever watched plaster dry? I did for about fifteen minutes then it became MIND NUMBING!


drying......


I have to tell you that while the plaster was drying sitting in the barn really wasn’t comfortable it felt like the air and moisture was being sucked right out of me.
(Or it could simply be the symptoms of menopause rearing its ugly head!)


While the plaster dried, which took a week, our contractors set about putting our property back together before the excavator left. That small stonewall wasn’t there before where the boulders are now. The boulders were found when digging out for the footers under the granite wall and were saved. I wasn’t home when they decided to make this wall and I was thrilled when I got home. See that huge granite slab under the propane tank that used to be a step out back off mister man’s workshop.


That guy would be our main contractor, the boss, Rich, the guy I made crazy...;) See that small stonewall behind him that was always there but hidden under mounds of dirt during the renovation, it was nice to see it back.


Out back of the barn, that square area will be a future patio off the French doors that mister man will lay for me once I pick out some stone. Rich didn’t place any dirt there since mister man would have to dig it right back out. That long arm is where I plan on planting shrubs along the back and will be putting in new soil.

Before

So what do you think? Our carriage barn went from this....

After

To this! Unfortunately the propane tank has to be there since it's the fuel to run the radiant floor heat. I'll plant some kind of shrub to dress it up or paint it gray to match the granite wall.  

Up next paint colors and lighting!


24 comments:

savvycityfarmer said...

I thought I just saw a guest room with my name on it

Anonymous said...

I am loving watching this process. The "after" looks wider than the original structure. Loving your windows. I bet the views are inspiring.
I am confident you will come up with a solution to the tank - maybe build it a smaller version of the barn to live in.
Then you can paint a sign on the street side, either for your business or just welcome, or the family name, something.

The enchanted home said...

So very exciting...what are you going to do? It looks like a lot of room, what will it be? The possibilities are endless!! I can only imagine...cannot wait to see it "come to life"..thats when the fun really begins!!

LaPouyette said...

Progress ! Progress! How exiting!

And the "After" image - just very, very beautiful, what a transformation. Well done, so far...
xxxkarin

under spanish moss said...

Your project is progressing beautifully. The beams are fabulous. Can't believe the before and after photos!!! Wow,love it.

Deborah said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Boxwood Terrace said...

Wow, your barn is an amazing space. I'm looking forward to see more, Deb!

quintessence said...

So exciting - looking good!! You could also always have a little enclosure around the tank - some decorative fencing perhaps although planting is just as nice. Can't wait to see the next stage!!

Anonymous said...

Wow, things are really turning around! I look forward to "paint colors and lighting".
Have a great week!
Xo,
E + J

lvroftiques said...

It looks great Debra! Isn't it nice to come home and find a lovely addition instead of a "oh my goodness why'd they do that?"

Id like to hear where (and how) you found your new/old flooring? I've actually been searching craigslist for old barns being torn down for some old flooring options, so I'm really curious. Vanna

debra @ 5th and state said...

actually joy of savy city farmer and i are friends, i could share her room, certain she won't mind!

oh those beams!!!
xx
debra

Heather Robinson said...

Come on! You have made sooo much progress! Hooray! So excited to see the next steps. You know me, girly girl, more interested in the deco than the brass tacks--but fascinating and helpful to see it if I ever have to go through that process one day. Bravo!

Fabulously French said...

How exciting, what a great space! You are going to have lots of fun decorating it, I am sure :-)

Leeann x

Loretta Fontaine (EcoHappy Blog) said...

Debra- Such progress! You must be so excited!

That area for your patio has such potnential...

Loretta

Atelier de Campagne said...

I envy you! I so long to have time to start a home improvement project. Perhaps soon. I am walking away from my job as an educator to focus on the business, my persoanl growth and beautifying my home. You are doing great!

Trinidad

Mona Thompson said...

How exciting! I'm sorry I'm just getting here to see this. Life has been crazy. I'm so happy for you and don't want to miss a detail. Oh the fun part is just ahead! Mona

Trouvais said...

I hope you can "wash those men" right out of your hair by the time Summer rolls around! You must be exhausted.. but thrilled! Can't wait to see you dress the place with your fabric collection! XO Trish

Stacey said...

i think i want to move in:-). Love it and how exciting that it is already in this stage! You must be so happy! Colours next, can't wait for that! XX

Blooming Rose Musings said...

This is so exciting to see!!! I can't believe how much progress you have made. It's gorgeous! It has been so much fun watching this come together. I'm quite certain you can't wait to have it all finished. Now the fun part begins...paint colors and lighting.
Your textiles are going to have a splendid new home! Fabulous!

desde my ventana said...

Wonderful space, whaiting for the final look,

Hugs

Cecilia

Loretta Fontaine (EcoHappy Blog) said...

Debra- Please share the paint colors, soon! That blue-grey glow looked nice. I see a sunny yellow or a calm blue-grey in that gorgeous space...

Loretta

Acanthus and Acorn said...

WOW! What a difference from the outside and the inside is certainly going to be fabulous!

michele said...

amazing progress and what a transformation! very very exciting stuff and love seeing it become a reality!

michele

Christine Hooker said...

Love your blog! My "antique" friends and I started going to Brimfield in the early, uh-hum,70's! We stayed at the New England Motel for years. I am so glad to see all the current treasures you have gotten! The textiles...be still my heart! Exhausted and poor? I can totally identify! I am smiling with so many memories of slogging through the muddy fields which sucked up our boots and we'd step right out of them, fields opening at 11pm with us chasing vehicles to their spaces and looking at treasured finds with flashlights, forgetting where we had left purchases in the maze of all the fields, hornets attacking us at lunch, smelling the downpour coming on a sudden wind, finding the perfect "find" right on the side of the road, filling our rental cars-inside and out- and taking all of it as extra baggage at $ 2 a box (!), laughing til we cried every night sharing our crazy stories of the day! All experiences of a lifetime! The eternal thrill of the hunt..so glad to be reminded so often! Thank you!!

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