Southside Exterior Storyboard

Our Vision

Buying an old house, fixer-upper is definitely a labor of love.  I don't know how else to say it, but every little thing we do to the house & back 30 brings us closer to our vision of home.  Don and I work very well together, especially when it comes to choosing projects, and design.  We both have similar tastes, get  excited when even the littlest thing comes together.  

To the outsider looking at our work these past summer months, it may seems like progress has slowed to a crawl, or maybe...the summer flew by way to fast.  Either way we haven't stopped working toward our dream home.  

Here are some of our accomplishments this spring and summer.

• Our porch is underway and deck boards on 
• We've replace all of windows on the 1st floor
• Removed all the vinyl siding and donate it to a family in need 
• Cleared the south-facing door yard of grapevines and thorny bushes
• Carved out a spot for some raised beds to grow vegetables
• Split all our firewood for this winter
• Bought a used John Deer mid-sized tractor and bush hog
• Cleared / bush hogged the back field (1st time in many years)
• Bought a farm truck to pick-up supplies and haul debris (work in progress)
• Painted and stained the front step
• White washed all the ship-lap for the kitchen ceiling (now we can put it up)

Yes, there have been many accomplishments towards our goals, but what are these goals for the South side / porch?  Let's look back at our original plan, and at some inspirational photos to get an idea of where we hope to end up. 

For real guys, these visions are what keeps us going.

We laid out our plans for the South side here at
our 2nd blog post "Proud Home Owners! Ummm?"  

https://diyouroldhome.blogspot.com/2017/11/proud-home-ownersummm.html

Photo taken by house inspector. embellishments by Lulu

1. Remove vinyl siding on southeast wall (long side of house) and replace the siding with new stained cedar shakes on the cape part, paint trim, and replace any rotted boards
2. Replace 6 windows with larger better suited windows and add new trim 
3. Add a beautiful long farmers porch 
4. Reclaim more land and maybe make a garden 

Wow! Looking back I can see all the changes.  Sadly this side is still a work in progress with half a porch, new windows and old peeling clapboards and Tyvek for siding. That's a classy New England look, Right?  

The new look is not complete, as much as I wish it was, but very happy with every positive change.
(Image taken on 10/06/18)

So excited for our porch,  We still have to make the new steps, roof, and rails. It will be so beautiful
(Image take on 10/06/18)

Back to our Vision
Totally in love with a big farmers porch. I really had to sweet talk Don into the making it 32 feet. That brings it past the back door and  and just before back window.
Just enough space to in squeeze my porch swing.

I love this floating bed / swing.
We'll place this towards the back end just after the 2nd door
Image taken from My lists of lists

I really wanted a porches without railing, but for new construction we are required to have a railing for a porch floor that rises over 30 inches off the ground.  (The ground towards the back of the house slops so we'll be about 40 inches up)

(Image from daspitphoto)

So... if I have to have railing they'll be the simple style like the railing below.

We love the rails and the board and batten siding . It's very clean and fresh looking
(Image from farm house on boone)

The entry into our kitchen  will hopefully come out something like this.  We plan on using board and batten siding in the porch area and painting it white, with grey details like the support beams below.  We'll also paint the doors to match our front door in a deep turquoise.

Simply beautiful

(image from Better Homes and Gardens)

 Love love love this, it's so so cute.  Granted we have sliders for my big kitchen window, but I like the idea of having a little built in place to eat.  We really don't want to clutter up the porch to much, so we'll see if this fits once we get closer to being complete.

This reminds me of South Beach or Key West,  with their the cute walk up eateries just off the beach.
(Image from House Beautiful

These are the goals for our porch.  Of course, We'll have to wait till next summer to see it all come together.  I can't wait!!  But until then Don and I have lots to finish up on inside, like the kitchen we bought a year ago.  Guess the good news there is it's paid for. 


Stay tuned in for all the fun project to come like making a screen door, painting floors, tiling the kitchen wall.  

Later Lu 💙😉