Just Listed - 24B Myrtle Ave, SoPo

Fishing shacks at Willard Beach

NOTE:  Many people are having problems with the Blogger platform and it won't load the photos.  Here's a link to the MLS listing so you can see the photos.

At long last, we're finishing the last few punch list items on the Centennial Cottage and are putting it on the market.  It's a fantastic house with an amazing location - just steps from Willard Beach, adjoining open space with beautiful views.


Built in 1918, this little gambrel started with 2 bedrooms, 800 square feet and a staircase that didn't work well for tall people or large furniture.

We've changed all that - the house is now almost 2,400 square feet, with all the modern amenities you could want.

The first floor boasts an open floor plan with a large living room and a gas fireplace.

A dramatic open staircase winds from the entrance all the way to the third floor (note: the custom made railings just got delivered today, so tomorrow is installation day!).

The new kitchen is bright and light with all new cabinetry, Thermador appliances and quartz countertops.

And the original, dysfunctional staircase is now a pantry with lots of storage.

The first floor also has an office, providing a quiet spot to get away from the rest of the household.  It also has a convenient full bath - great when you come back from the beach!

What's on the second floor?  At the top of the stairs is the laundry closet.  And just beyond that is the new master suite.

This large room has room for a queen or king size bed.

The master bath has a large shower and double vanity.

The other two bedrooms are part of the original 1918 structure - don't you love the quirky angles and original fir flooring?

But my favorite spot is still the 3rd floor.  It has bonus space for an office or just relaxing.

And with a rooftop deck, you can sit outside with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine.  The deck gets great morning sun and is protected from the wind, so it's the perfect spot on sunny days most of the year!

I'll have a lot more photos to share soon, with all the before and afters.  But for now, we need to finish the staircase and find a buyer!







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Getting Across the Finish Line

The last few weeks of any project feel like a treadmill that just keeps running faster and faster.  It's a world of punch lists and details and problems (because unfortunately, things don't always go as planned!), but somehow we sail through it all and eventually get to the finish line.

We're on site 7 days a week with all the trades finishing their last set of tasks.  I think we broke a record the other day with 11 people onsite at one time.  Crazy!!!

The painters came in and worked their magic.  All of the trim work has been sprayed, resulting in a mirror like finish.

I debated long and hard about doing a 'feature wall' in the master bedroom and am in LOVE with the result.  Seriously, I can't wait to get this room put together!

From a completion standpoint, our biggest worry has been the exterior.  It's been a mild winter, but we have still had a lot of storms with snow/ice/rain that have made it hard to get the siding completed.  The recent spate of warmth and thawing gave the guys a chance to get a lot done!

Board and batten siding under the front porch provides a bit of variation from a sea of clapboards 

Now that the siding is done on the back, the heat pumps are getting installed.  This is my first experience with heat pumps and I'm amazed at how much equipment is required!

And the lighting went in last week.  I have some pretty bold statement fixtures in this house!

While the guys finish up the exterior, the staging furniture has been delivered and I'm starting to put the rooms together.  I love unpacking the boxes and rediscovering my 'treasures' that are part of my staging collection.

Many of you have asked when the Open House will be.  If everything goes perfectly this week, it's possible we could do it Sunday.  But we rarely have things go smoothly - especially at the end.  So stay tuned, I'll be sure and let you know!



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Centennial Kitchen

The kitchen has had so many updates, I just had to share some progress pics!!

Old kitchen - will be home office in renovated home

As a reminder, we moved the kitchen to the other side of the original house, to make it the true center of the home and in a much larger space.  It also lets the new owner stare out the window at Willard Beach and the shipping channel - not a bad place to do the dishes!!

Soon-to-be New Kitchen

Once we opened up the walls and updated the windows, the guys got the white cabinets installed around the perimeter.  We added a big stainless farmhouse sink (which promptly got wrapped in cardboard so we wouldn't mess it up during the rest of the kitchen build).

To offset all the white cabinets, we installed a black island in the center of the room.



Kyle custom cut a walnut butcher block top for the island.  The curve provides room for a couple of stools - the perfect spot for a quick breakfast or a glass of wine while chatting with the chef.

I started finishing the walnut top.  Can you believe how beautiful the wood is as it gets coated???


The rest of the countertops are made of hard wearing quartz.  It's easy to take care of and looks so good!
 

And my favorite feature?  This dramatic tile.  It ties our color scheme together and provides a bit of a wow!

What else have we done?  Well, the old staircase is now a kitchen pantry, with lots of storage for all your non-perishables.  Can you tell where the stairs were?  It's certainly a quirky conversation piece!

The new gas Thermador range has arrived and will be installed next week.  And of course all the knobs and pulls need to be installed as well as the dishwasher panel and exhaust hood.  Still lots to do, but it's all the finishing details that really make a kitchen shine.

Stay tuned for more updates!!




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Living Room Update

This living room might be the brightest room we've ever done.  It has lots of windows on 3 sides and catches both the morning and afternoon sun.  It just glows!!!  And of course the new fireplace will have its own special glow!

This is a big room - 26x15 - and is the first thing you see as you come in the front door.  So we wanted it to have a 'wow' focal point, something warm and inviting.

The fireplace was installed during initial construction and we put a spotlight above it, so the owners will be able to highlight artwork on the mantle. We added drywall to each side and a non-combustible cement board to the face.  That let me install herringbone Carrera marble tile on the front.


Kyle built the rest of the fireplace wall for me - we started with nickel gap paneling above the mantle, which helps make the room feel much taller

For the fireplace surround, I wanted something sleek and simple, topped with a custom built oak mantle top.

The oak mantle will mirror the giant stair treads on the new staircase, at the opposite end of the room.

The guys from Embers Stove Shop came out to do the final install - what a difference the trim makes!

We added window seats to either side of the fireplace, to provide additional storage and seating.

I'm pretty excited about the color scheme.  I found this amazing rowboat fabric that is a bit contemporary, but also very 'Maine' with its boating theme.  My friend Faith is custom making cushions made of the tweedy Sunbrella fabric pictured below.  It will be able to take a beating, but still look and feel great!  (remember when these hard wearing fabrics felt like plastic???  They've come a long way!)

The 'to do' list is long, we still need the room painted.  And I need to stain the mantle and finish the window treatments.  It's getting so close - can't wait until it's all finished. But doesn't it look great already?  That warm, cozy focal point is going to be amazing!



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