The Hearth of our Our Home

Certain tasks loom over you when you take on a renovation, and with our seasoned past it is easy to come up with a punch-list of jobs left to do, especially the major things.  The fireplace hearth was removed last Spring when the fireplace was re-pointed by our professional brick mason.  Greg wanted to finish up the hearth himself, of course.   All tasks must be done in light of our new hardwood floors being installed.  Hanging the remainder of the rough-sawn shiplap on the end that faces Congress Street, preparing and staining our heart-pine rafters, finishing the ceiling edge of the kitchen ceiling, painting our farmhouse trim are a few checks off the list.  These pictures give an idea of how the cottage appears.  Please note all the walls and ceiling need finish paint.  I have changed the color to Sherwin Williams Drift of Mist, a white in the gray scale.

This weekend has focused on pouring the firebox and lining it firebrick, and laying a bluestone hearth.  All of these proceed what we anticipate to be our most exciting part of our transformation, our Govenor’s Estate Distressed hardwood flooring. 

Original view with firebox torn out before repointing 

The hearth turned out even better than we hoped, highlighting the antique fireplace and finishing the edge.  The kitchen firebox will be decorative, used for lanterns and candles.  The living room firebox will have natural gas logs.  The small size of the house does not warrant two working fireplaces.  Greg sealed the brick and the exposed beams with a matte solution to reduce the porous surface and make for easier maintenance.  The downtown streets are lined with bluestone and after examining a local supplier stock, Greg is contemplating laying our house steps and rear patio out of the material. 

I am happy to add pictures of the completed hearth next week.  It is emotional as we see these show-stopping projects completed.  The fireplace cleaned up and is a center-piece in our cottage.  A treasure for years to come.

Greg begins to fill the box floor with cement

Bluestone is set and firebrick will be installed next time

My book, A House With Holes, Mountain View Press, releases on Amazon October 15, 2019 with more in-depth detail on our relationship to each other, this life of renovating in Charleston, and our Westside community during our years of renovation.  Much of this blog documented our journey of completing this renovation, saving this Charleston Cottage, and joining with this diverse community.  The heart of our home lies within us as yours does with you, and we as difficult as it has been seeing it through, I get emotional considering it nearly done.  We are a few months away from free weekends again.   

 By inputting your email address at my website, you will be entering to win a free weekend in stay in this cottage.  Please see full disclosure of rules for The Weekend Give A Way at www. denisebroadwater.com