Okay. We’re back. And this time with a lot of our updates for the addition involve the outside. I know… just in time for fall! No, really. We still have about two months in us with this pool season, and with our heater install, we’re riding this cash cow all the way to the bank in terms of all things weather! Can you tell I’m not ready to give it up just yet?
I think our last post focused on all things wallpaper and inside, while this one is all about the outside!
But backing up, here are all our posts from the addition so far, if you have absolutely no idea what I’ve been rambling about in sharing this process:
• the framing
• windows + door choices
• mantel plans
• insulation and drywall
• why we’re doing it – a great question answered
• inside plans – all the sources
• so close so far away – the tiling process where you can see more of the space all cleaned up.
• let there be wallpaper – the inside
Because once upon a time, we started with this.
And now we’re here!
Last week was a doozie for the outside.
So… let’s back up for a hot second. I feel like it’s hard to keep track of everything going on in between ‘real’ work stuff and this which feels like ‘pretend’ work stuff… so we’ll back it up if you have any questions.
Because we’re paying with cash, and brick is expensive, this sat for another hot second.
We didn’t want to pull from our every day {feed and clothe the kids, pay for the mortgage, adulting is no fun} funds to pay for this, because life. Sometimes, that’s how things work out. And architecturally, brick made sense on the outside here. So we waited. And then it was like all of a sudden in one week we went from the photo above, to the photo above that.
Brick, paint, deck. YAY!
We were able to brick, and by we, I mean these amazing people. Again, we save our money for the experts. Bricklayer, I am not. We actually got a great deal on some mis-matched brick, and it was such a great deal, that the head guy kind of over ordered.
Instead of asking him to haul it all away, we figured this was a great opportunity to turn lemons into lemonade {we’re kind of good at that} and expand our sitting area outside. But before I get all into that…
Jamin pressure washed and painted the outside within a day of it being finished with the brick.
Then we were in phase paint.
We LOVE our Wagner sprayer, and we have more details coming up next week on the how to for all of that… plus why we recommend it. In the meantime, just know that {affiliate link, yo!} this is what we used.
We painted it with Sherwin Williams Loxon Concrete and Masonry Primer + Exterior Architectural Super Paint Extra White. GAME. CHANGER.
It’s also what we refinished the rest of our house in, previously.
If you’re not familiar with our story, when we came across this house the whole thing, siding and all, had been refinished into a sufficient cream. It was fine. It would do. Until it wouldn’t because the cream was kind of dingy and the siding was falling off. So we changed the outside… and because the outside has this beautiful finish, we knew the addition needed to blend seamlessly, as well.
Only two coats of primer + one coat of paint over super dark brick – again, more details on all this coming next week but it was oh so fabulous.
It’s been a hot few weeks, y’all.
Someone asked us if we also did gutters and siding with the paint, but we do not have that installed yet. The top portion will match the rest of our house a-la the amazing Window World, with the gray shakes and white trim.
That will be {fingers crossed!} next week.
And when we were done, it was time to start the deck/stairs!
Side note: someone asked us if we will add a covering for this. For now, no. We have this fabulous shady tree which Jamin hates {I know, it’s a ‘trash’ tree but I love it anyway} but it will eventually come down when we add our master addition where the tree is standing.
We also {stay with me} intend to add a small pool house on the other side next season {ish – depending on how the second master addition goes} where our gross little shed stands now, and the eyesore of the pool pump. So stay tuned for that. We have a lot of covering now and wanted to maintain all the light possible on the inside – again, complicated answer but isn’t that how houses go?
So the majority of the decking {the framing part} was built over the weekend, and because we’re bad at math, the rest of the planks come in today.
We’re using these gorgeous faux boards in the prettiest shade of gray, available at any of your local home improvement stores. But no splinters, and it’s easy to hose off. We have some fun plans for the back porch, so stay tuned for that. Also, freakishly long finger toes alert.
But… we had it all cleaned up last week, nails and all, just in time for our 14 year old’s {HOLD ME} birthday party.
He’s not big into parties, and this time he wanted a lot of people to come. {A lot = more than two people.} All eight boys showed, and according to a few who let us know, this was the best birthday party they’d ever been invited to. Who knew giant bubble balls and a bull in the pool with tacos could be such a fun party? Winning. Also, who knew simple things in the world of parenting can make you feel so good about yourself? I don’t know about y’all, but I need simple things like that.
In the meantime, on the inside…
Our La-Z-Boy furniture has arrived! YES, FELICIA! That means we take selfies with psychotic poses.
We’ll be sharing more coming up I PROMISE but in the meantime, here’s a nice little sneaky peeky. I’m working on a project I hope to share with all of you in the future, and even though the inside isn’t finito yet, I already have my little corner in this chair.
And we had our logs installed this week – still putting the finishing touches on that fireplace with tile a-la Jeffrey Court. We’re loving it all so far.
We also installed our barn door from Artisan Hardware. {I know… we still have more trim work}
If you caught our instagram stories we showed a whole large and in charge un-crating and its so fun how they all arrive! We adore their work, they do custom orders and more… be sure to check them out.
Vanna on display a-la stories. We saw Fitz after the fact. ;D
Our dogs are perpetually confused. Cue hard core side eye.
Here it is all cleaned up {kinda} – but isn’t she glorious?!
But back to the bricks and the really fun work also going on outside. Here’s what I’m most excited about. Remember this post where I rambled about that street lamp outside?
PS. if you’re still reading, you da real MVP because we’re all over the place with the house. It’s hard to stay focused.
This is an overhead of our house taken circa 1983 a few years after it was built. But you see that light?! It’s been there. All along. ALL THIS TIME.
Also, that’s what the pool looked like when we took possession of the house. We were out of town so we didn’t know. Also also, we were pretty positive poltergeist-level coffins would pop up if we fell in.
I was so glad to see this puppy come down. UGH. GOODBYE LIGHT.
No worries, because it had already been disconnected by a professional electrician.
BYE FELICIA, again.
We also took it too a recycling center, so I feel like you should be happy that we were being responsible. Maybe he’ll be recycled into a prettier light. I know it doesn’t work like that but let’s pretend. He always just felt so street-lampish and unnecessary.
Our friend came over and didn’t know what we were doing, but graciously volunteered his time. There were two layers of concrete. I’m pretty sure some ghosts came out with it.
I basically stood there and cheered them on and made sure no one was dying. RIP light. And onto something really great from Kichler because the ELECTRICIANS are coming tomorrow, and that means lights everywhere!
Cue Oprah. You get a light and you get a light… WE ALL GET LIGHTS!
This thing probs has aesbestos somewhere. No, I don’t know what I’m talking about. Also, yes I am light shaming.
Which has brought us all the way around, back to the outside.
Because lemons into lemonade, and you saw how crowded our back looks now with tables and chairs and loungers, oh my!
So we plan to expand with brick pavers, and I’d like to pull a little old school mortar wash on the final product to spruce it all up. Cue the patio lights again and we are down for a party.
So here’s where we are. We won’t let it go so long next time without the updates… I feel like it’s been a while.
We just get a little bogged down in the every day of it all, and we’re oh so close! Can’t wait to share more. It won’t be too much longer now.
As always, let us know if you have any questions. Have an inspired day!
Hannah says
This update is awesome. I love that the light came down! That might be my favorite part 😂
Jackie K says
This is looking so great! What kind of decking did you use?
ashley @ the handmade home says
Hey Jackie! It’s just the basic faux decking that we purchased at a local trim company nearby. ;} You can get it anywhere and it comes in all the different colors. I hope that helps!