A Renewed Ceiling and a New Rear Entrance

Prior to prep work as seen previously.

After the first coat of Kilz2

Each weekend we are seeing continued progress.  The highlights of this week's progress is the finishing of our kitchen beadboard ceiling original to the kitchen (circa 1940).  After removing the gypsum to see the original beadboard below, we were filled with excitement to preserve this find.  Restoration is so much more time consuming than putting back new sheets that replicate, but there is something Charlestonian about keeping the old materials when possible. I have 10 hours of preparation in order to paint.   Below is the clean ceiling ready for design ideas.  We have to fill in the joints yet for a uniform look.  Some of the boards have separation that is more obvious with the first coats of paint.

We are considering painting the ceilings a blue color to bring in a punch of color and create personality.  We are planning on most of the wall color being in the white/gray scale to open up the space.  We felt a ceiling color would break up the white pallet.  We would love to have your personal input on this idea.  Feel free to comment.  I am leaning toward a color that occurs somewhere between these two hues.  The lighter one is SW Vast Sky and then next one darker in that same family.  The darker gray would be above the chair rail and the lighter to cover the beadboard below the chair rail.  This is no where set in stone, but in our thoughts.  Greg set this idea board up for both of us to consider.

The sheeting is installed.

Siding being removed.

 The back door was the bulk of Greg's work this weekend.  He tore off the house siding and closed in a back window.  We have decided to remove both windows on the back of the house for privacy with the close neighbors and to give us more usable wall space. 

 The original house had no sheeting under the siding.  The sheeting provides a foundation for the air barrier material which seals the house. This should already begin to make a difference in our heating and cooling issues though we have much left to do overall.  I have wondered how previous dwellers had handled the elements during the heat of the summer and coldest days of the winter.  The house has been very drafty since we have lived here.

The internal picture of the new back door.  We have been closing it with a metal bar at night.  This feels more secure.

Until next time, this is Charleston Renovators signing off.   This has been such a large project.  We are anxious to see our electrical and plumbing inspections completed and insulation and drywall being installed in the coming weeks!