What a Deck!

When Herb bought the house, he knew that the deck was going to have to be rebuilt. We just didn't realize we were going to have to work on this this season.

BEFORE

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The deck was a multiple weekend project. The first weekend, it began with the demo.

Herb demoed the deck all on his own. (I was certainly impressed)

The second weekend, Herb bought the lumber and had it delivered to his house. But, of course nothing can be easy and it was left in front of the house in the driveway and the deck was being built in back of the house. In order to make things move faster during the weekend of building and to avoid lumber poaching, it had to be moved piece by piece to the back yard.

Herb, Marty, Bones and Panda enjoy a cold one after their day of hauling lumber.

The third weekend, the rebuild began by Herb's friend Billy and his team. 

Herb, Andrea and Ben admire the work.

Our new enormous hammock purchased from One Kings Lane.

Table and benches from my apt in Brooklyn and fab new umbrella. 

Lastly, we measured and bought the stainless cable rail. And last weekend, it was finally installed.

Next season, we will stain the deck. But for now, its finally time to ENJOY!

Happy Mother's Day

To commemorate my mother this Mother's Day (per her request), we planted not just one, but TWO japanese maple trees in our front yard. Please wish them well...

She's on her way

I rode this 7'4' board in the DR and had to have one.

In transit and due in Bklyn at the end of the month.

Nearing "The End"

Work on the house has been coming along...

Last weekend, the kitchen cabinets were finally completed.

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AFTER (Bones was very proud.)

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The living room is almost done. It is furnished with the following:

– Herb's Man Couch. It is a Lazy Boy. I feel like Chandler and Joey in friends every time I recline.

– Mongolian Fur Pillows from One Kings Lane to help soften up the black "leatha" couch.

– A hand-me-down love seat from Lance

– Chair purchased on eBay, Fabric from Mood and Upholstery by a guy on Graham Ave in Williamsburg.

– Hanging pendant lamp, Nesting Tables and Lamp (still awaiting a shade) from a Long Island Tag Sale

– TV Stand/Credenza courtesy of a craigslist purchase down the street from our apt in Brooklyn.

– Rug is from West Elm

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AFTER

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The small bedroom needed some major help. The former owners used it as a home office.

– Ripped up the carpeting to reveal a hard wood floor

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AFTER

– Demoed the built-in black scary wardrobe. It was not only an eye sore, but it was really spooky.

"BOO!" BEFORE

AFTER

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These dressers were Herb's Family's. I mean...they were literally passed from person to person. 

AFTER

So, being the next person to get my hands on them I updated the knobs on both sets. 

The Master Suite of the house was originally the garage. Not a whole lot of work needed to be done. The bedroom wall color is a strange very light lavender color. I would repaint but do not have the time nor energy. However, the Shamrock Shake colored bathroom annoyed the Grimace out of me.

– Replaced the shutter knobs

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– Painted bathroom a lovely white.

– Ripped out the glass shower door and replaced with a good ole shower curtain.

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Next week stay tuned to see the deck. And we are still working away to furnish the third bedroom.

Kitchen Confidential

People have been wondering where my posts about the new house in Montauk have been. Well...I was looking to post impressive "before and after" photos  like those you see on DIY home decor blogs and NOT "before and currently frustrated". But for your entertainment, here I go.

When Herb closed on the house, there were two projects that captured my attention immediately. The first was painting the wainscotting in the living room and the second was painting the kitchen cabinets. 

The wainscotting was my maiden project which took me about a week of priming, painting and filling in every little ridge and crevice. It was a pretty straight forward task. You could say my studio art major in college may have helped.  

BEFORE

AFTER (notice the kitchen cabinets drying on floor)

The second and current project has been the kitchen cabinets and drawers. It has taken much longer than anticipated (I think we may be going on a month) to get it back to working order. I wanted to share some of the Faux Pas we have encountered: 

1) Even though paint appears to be dry do not stack or lean painted pieces on eachother because they will stick together. (Is it now undeniably obvious that we are novices at this?) I spent all of this last weekend, re-sanding and touch up priming and painting the cabinet doors. Can you say déjà vu?

2) All "vintage" wood cabinets are NOT created equal. It has taken us 3 attempts to buy the correct sized hinges. We finally purchased ones that fit,  but they only worked on 5 cabinet doors. What a nightmare! Now we plan to cut into the cabinet casing in order to make this work. 

Live and learn...the hard way. More photos hopefully to come after THIS weekend.

BEFORE

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Hinges BEFORE

AFTER (actually all 4 fit on!)

Spring Cleaning

I am purging some toys to make room for new ones!


I am selling my Rawson 5'10" Twin Fin Fish and Biria 3 Speed Folding Bike and asking $300 on each. (both originally about $700) Contact me for further details and to see more photos.

Long Island Pickers

Yesterday, I went to my first tag sales on Long Island in search for decor for the Montauk house. We only hit two of them. But, I was lucky at the first house where I found all of my purchases. Check them out!

Light Fixture. Love the green color! $5!

Bling lamp. $15 New lampshade to come.

Set of 3 Nesting Tables for $20. Will replace glass tops with selvage mirrored wire glass.

Tiny Travelling Vintage Washboard.

$5 (which I thought was a bit expensive, but it evened out for the overall cost)

The second tag sale in an old Jewish neighborhood, felt like I was shopping in a dead woman's closet (which was probably the case). This only came to me after I was snapped out of a picker frenzy in the middle of trying on vintage fur coats by a little old lady saying in a thick high pitched Lawng Island accent. "Oh muy gawd... that fur coat looks amaaazing in ya. Let me know if ya don't want it becawse I am going to take it."