Old House Love

The themes for this week are love and gratitude.

We are growing more and more emotionally attached to this house, and are so pleased with everything that's being done here. And we are more grateful than words can express to everyone who's helping us build this lovely home. Not only for their skill and labor, but also their patient and generous guidance as we fumble along trying to do some of the work ourselves. I'm sure that's not usually part of the deal in a builder's contract, but we totally appreciate their tolerance of our presence in their work zone. A million thank you's, guys!

We love the things we're able to preserve: deep windowsills, curved walls at the windows, old slab doors and latches, random-width flooring, plaster walls, circular stairs and exposed log ceiling beams. And the updated technology that will make it even better: windows, HVAC, wiring, plumbing and insulation.

We LOVE the changes Charlie imagined for us and that John, Dan, Garrett and Roger are bringing to life: four roomy new closets, upstairs laundry, removing the living room wall to create a spacious and well-lighted office/gym/craft room, library with vaulted ceiling and skylights, wide central stairway with a powder room tucked underneath, and attic hideaway where the kids can retreat on visits home.

Just as John promised, the wisdom and beauty of Charlie's design continues to be revealed to us as time goes on.