New Front Steps

My house is getting new front steps. Although I bought solid mahogany boards to replace the old several years ago, they were very expensive at $700 but beautiful! 

The rails and posts I designed to be made of pressure treated lumber which still look great and now repainted.

Bill created a matching bullnose edge on the sides to match the front of the steps.

Another Guestroom

I have just finished a second guestroom with our family still in mind. Both our guestrooms are similar; bright white with floor space for grandchildren to play and inviting beds.

Vintage abstract oil painting from Canada, Mattisse limited print from Princeton University Press, Antique Swedish Armoire, Charles P. Rogers headboard, cotton lined linen Roman shades and bedskirt I sewed, French antique table from Westport CT.

Building A Garden Shed

Our garden shed was built from a post and beam carriage house in great disrepair, behind our house (above) on purchase. Bill methodically dissassembled it's parts; saving any usable for a garden shed constructed the same way while shingles were kindling for the woodstove. It is 10' x 14' x 8', has copper gutters, 5 hinged windows and did not require a permit. Bill hand selected each board as it was built.

Old half sash windows came from the borough lumber yard, my father helped build the doors and ramp while Bill designed & built it with beautiful, thick barn boards, beams and pegs; on poured footings. I powerwashed and pruned around it before painting.

Old pegs and beams were used for the framing.

Bill & I recently repainted this cherished shed. 

Painting the eaves was challenging; I used a ladderjack scaffold here after pruning the climbing hydrangea while Bill repaired a back widowsill.

A Five Bedroom Septic

Done!

In Hopewell, a four bedroom house requires a five bedroom septic system due to dirt being clay and rock in some areas. Lucky for Leif, he has a new septic system dug into NICE brown dirt for his house soon! The two tanks (each made in one piece and hoisted) are in and the 52' field has been dug. A new "driveway" was initially created in front of his side property for easier access and all of the lovely big trees have been saved.

We hired J. Tomaro Construction Co. to do this work who is incredibly responsive, competent, highly regarded in our area, well equipped and connected. What a wonderful experience!

10' x 21' x 52'

Amazing!

Shingling In The Shade

I love my 9' Pottery Barn Umbrella which shaded our shingling project this weekend on a Home Depot 35' Boom Lift Bill brought home with his Tesla. Terrific as the temp rose with the sun and we have used it splitting wood and with furniture. 

Christian and Bill worked together to get the peak shingling finished here in two days. Rental lift cost: $400/day.

Building An Outhouse

The outhouse was here when Bill bought our house and resurrected as he moved into the house; missing windows and doors with a foot of chicken droppings. It was later rebuilt while Bill was at Princeton University where he collected discarded slate roof tiles for it. 

This type roof ventilates the building with a screened hatch in back. We have used MoorGaurd Low Lustre paint on the wainscoating and MoorGloss on the hinged half window. It is 4' sq., 7' H and set on solid cinderblock footings. 

Below is the rebuild and original outhouse. We gave up the Dutch door but added a window, used rafters with exposed ends and battens for the slates; raising the roof for ventilation.

Building A Picket Gate

I designed this gate for Bill to build entirely from pressure treated wood; 4" x 4" posts, 2" x 4" door frame and 1" sq. pickets trapped at the top. It joins the privet hedges that front our property and adds closure. I gave it a coat of BM MoorGard Low Lustre white paint. 

Alex & Leif when it was first finished many yrs. ago. The wood is still perfect.