Kitchen Rehab~Before and After

Before

                                                                      After

Ahh. Much better,wouldn't you agree?

Bathroom Tear Out and Away With Front Entrance

The old bathroom is thankfully gone.

The ski chalet front entrance as well.

We are changing it up so as to make a more usable closet and storage area.

The ceiling will be raised to add the illusion of space when you walk in through the front door.

Still deciding if the bath tub can be reused. It's in good shape and could save room in the budge for in the kitchen.

Manufactured in 1948. They don't make them like this anymore. And it's locally sourced.

Design Charrette

Finally the tiny house has been emptied and today we held the long anticipated design charrette.

The word charrette may refer to any collaborative session in which a group of designers drafts a solution to a design problem. While the structure of a charrette varies, depending on the design problem and the individuals in the group, charrettes often take place in multiple sessions in which the group divides into sub-groups. Each sub-group then presents its work to the full group as material for future dialogue. Such charrettes serve as a way of quickly generating a design solution while integrating the aptitudes and interests of a diverse group of people. Wikipedia

We are very fortunate to have the complete  original Liberty home blueprints to plan from. We know where every stud and header are located to aid us in making wise decisions.

Thanks to our energy wise colleagues who provided great insight and ideas.

The house look so different with the front porch gone and the awnings slowly disappearing.

 Four silver maple trees were felled because they were rotted and in danger of falling on the house.

We will will have plenty of biomass in the wood stove for years to come.

This coming week bathroom work and a new roof deck and shingles are on the top of the long list.

Deconstruction Begins

Hopefully the nastiest jobs will be completed first.

Proud new homeowners at the end of triage tour

Tear out of the wet and moldy insulation and drywall in the attic.

Let there be light. Removing the awnings and metal venetian blinds.



Remembering  how much I HATE silverfish!

Can't wait until don't need a mask to work in house.

The Wellington A~ Our 1935 Liberty Kit Home

Here she is in all her glory. The Wellington A  1935 Liberty House Kit.

And here in reality is the house we bought.

She will be beautiful again one day soon after some major reconstructive surgery.
Tick-tock...our lease on the rental house runs out end of June.

Seems like everything old is new again with the trend in small and efficient housing stock regaining popularity.
This may be the only time in our lives where the word trendy would apply to our lifestyle.

Energy Blues, School House Rock

Yea, Energy that won't run out.




Can you spell passive solar? Or maybe PassiveHaus. Or maybe net zero use.
So many options from which to choose.
Can you think of any other options?

Passive Solar Gain

My simple cat has the common sense to capitalize on passive solar gain. I, on the other hand, am still figuring this out for my house which does not have great southern exposure.

The next house will *I hope* have a perfect orientation. It will be complete with a solarium and hot tub like this ZED House.