I'm totally in love........

With this floor!!  I actually teared up a little when I saw it. The color and the character is just fantastic!!

Joe did SUCH a great job finishing it off.  He sanded it quite a bit apparently- lots of places where there was paint splotches along the edges, and a few marks where someone dragged something very heavy- we think probably the wood stove at one point.  And we all know there was a wood stove, as  A. a little old lady who used to live here stopped by a few years ago and she told me so!  And 2. there are cool spark/burn marks that just add to the history of the place.  So these pix were taken between the second and third coat of poly, which btw, does not really smell at all!  Pleasant surprise!!!

Front room view

Kitchen angle and a peek of the Builder!

window angle

Hallway angle

Hallway angle, left

Hallway angle, right

Footsie angle- there are the burn marks, too.

Tomorrow it will actually be finished- the trim boards go up!  I will be shopping for a few things I need in Eau Claire.  I of COURSE know I could probably find these things closer than that, but hey, I'm on spring break.  It is the closest thing to a vaca as I am going to get! :) 

Now the question is, what sort of shape is the kitchen floor going to be in?? We won't investigate that for a few weeks yet, but I have been wavering between the wood and tile.  It seems a shame to cover the the gorgeous wood that has been waiting to make it's appearance.  I do like it so very much.....  And with the new sealing materials, apparently the wood is quite safe from water damage.....  so I guess we will see what lurks below!  I am again leaning towards the wood.  It would be a nice warm color and it is such a legitimate material- local tongue and groove maple!!  

Such a joy!!

You just never know- or - the tale of go with the flow

HEY, you know, I just love it when things go way different than what you think they were going to be and it turns into something even cooler than the original plan!!

Hidden pleasure - from window

detail of metal arch

Take note of these photos!  LOOK at the beautiful thing that is hidden in the wall- an arch!  THIS is fantastic to me.  First of all the curve of this arch and the size is lovely.  It will open up the space a bunch, in a different way than I intended, but how can I not take advantage of this original graceful part of the house?  After the amazing discovery of these lovely hardwood floors, this is a room that is demanding a little attention.

Another little tidbit that very few people will understand, except perhaps my sister, is that in the house I grew up in, there was an arched door way similar to this- between the livingroom and the diningroom.  Several of us in the family were irritated when my dad did just what the remodelers of this house did- cover it up because  they couldn't be bothered to deal with it.  Realizing these similarities, the covering of original finishes, floor and structural details just cements in my idea that the 70's were a time when people were so anti-old fashioned that they needed to obliterate any semblance of the previous decor and style of the house.  So the inside was a total disconnect to the outside of the house.  That is how our old farmhouse was as well.  It is interesting - and I guess I am having the same reaction.  I just need to update, and maybe in this case, to restore a little, the work of others.  I think this makes sense.  And somehow seems respectful in many senses of my life.

looking from kitchen

At any rate, it feels right and feels like an authentic thing to do for this place.  BTW, all of  you electrically inclined and do-it-yourselfers, breathe deeply and relax.  The electrical issues you see here WILL be addressed.  Like tomorrow, or Thursday!  Meanwhile, there is a little bit of demo to do yet, I DO want electric outlets on the wall under the window, so the drywall there will go, and the ceiling "tiles" or whatever those are, will be going as well.  Not much left in that regard.  Then the task of putting the place back together again will commence.


The floors will ONLY need a light sanding and sealing, which is so amazing, I can hardly still believe it.  So far I have one expert thinking it might be ash (but he only saw pix) and one thinking it might be maple (he sees it in person) and no one else really knows. It is northern WI tongue and groove, so oak is doubtful.  REGARDLESS, it is beautiful.

Here are my pix, and now I am taking them from 4 angles!!  I was so surprised when I walked into the room yesterday, having taken a pix from the kitchen door to turn and see the west wall.....  amazing.

OLD drywall!!  

looking from front room

Looking from kitchen

Looking from hallway door

Yes, Virginia, there was a light fixture in the room before......  

So,  until tomorrow- keep your eyes open- you might find some hidden pleasures and unexpected joy!