Bungalow Ranch Style

Kitchen Cabinet Paint

Originally uploaded by psymonetta

Hopefully, this will be the last paint choice we have to make for awhile. I’m leaning toward using the “Metropolitan” gray. Its the one color of the three that has just enough difference in value and hue to work on both the upper and lower cabinets. The “Pashmina” is the same color we used in our bathroom. Unfortunately, on the lower cabinets in the darker corners of our kitchen, it is virtually indistinguishable from the wall color which is “Hush” because the hues are so close. The “Wish” has the opposite problem. The value is so close to the wall color that on the upper cabinets there just isn’t enough contrast.

These are all Benjamin Moore Aura Paint colors. I really like the coverage. We’ll probably use an eggshell finish.

gate progress
Originally uploaded by psymonetta

We’ve made some progress on the gate. We still need to find what we’re going to use for the trim on the center brace and we’re also looking at ways to clad the outside of the fence posts and disguise that they’re not plumb at all. The area to the left will be getting a make-over as well.

We’re hoping that our ornamental grape will grow up over the top. We also want to hang a stained glass panel or house numbers inside the “frame”.

The rhododendrons are also in full bloom right now. It’s nice to actually see them from the other side of the fence.

Gate in progress
Originally uploaded by psymonetta

Sunday was a stellar day. We were going to load up the truck with yard debris and take a trip to the dump (well, really a Metro facility which does recycle yard debris) but we ended up goofing off in the yard and didn’t feel much like dragging half rotted vegetation to the truck.

In the end, we decided to go ahead and at least make the frame for our new gate, even if we don’t have the steel bits yet. It’s still shy two cross braces, because the sun was on it’s way down before we got to them. Still…I think it looks pretty nice so far. I think we got the proportions right.

In the background is another work in progress…our garage. Someday, it will be completely navigable…someday.

Re-arranged
Originally uploaded by psymonetta

Yesterday started out promising, got a bit muddled and frustrating and then ended on a good note.

We started out around 10:30 am with the intention of sourcing all the materials for the new gate. We managed to get all of it with the noted exception of the galvanized steel screen. At one point we’d settled on hardware cloth, only to discover that they had sold us a 30″ width when we needed 36″. Of course, they didn’t have 36″ when we returned it. So, the whole project got a bit derailed.

By then it was 1 pm and really the only thing left for the day was to start in on some spring cleaning. During the process, we ended up removing the ugly steel fireplace screen, sweeping out the ashes and cat-proofing the newly opened fire box by filling it with what is left of this winter’s firewood.

That then precipitated into completely re-arranging the living room and a trip to IKEA to pick up some new bookshelves (2 41″ Billy shelves in medium brown) for the area behind the couch, next to the juke box. At this point, I honestly think we’re almost there with the living room.

Parrot Tulip
Originally uploaded by psymonetta

This is my favorite spring flower so far. I love how it contrasts with the lupine in the background. I just wish that tulips could bloom year-round. I think that I need to find some comparable dahlias to extend these colors through the summer.

porchlight.jpg

Originally uploaded by psymonetta

We had a cold snap this weekend, so the new nursery haul is still waiting patiently in the cold frame. Steve did get the potatoes, shallots and some other root vegetables in the ground, though.

I wanted to work on a new gate, and we did do some salvage material hunting. But, it was one of those weekends where nothing in the bins inspired anything but wanting something one can not find in a bin or on a shelf, so far as the gate was concerned. We have hatched upon an idea though. I won’t say more, except that it involves galvanized steel screen and buttermilk.

So, while we were wandering around Lowes looking for galvanized steel screen (which they do not carry) I found our new porch light. We were looking at the larger version about a year ago and I was wishing aloud that they made that sort of light in an appropriate scale for a small front stoop. Lo and behold, there was one cheerfully waiting for us on the shelf. So, I suppose one can find things on the shelf, sometimes.

Now, our concrete stairs are looking pretty sad…fix one thing…illuminate another project. Sigh.

love lies bleeding
Originally uploaded by psymonetta

I desperately want to do something with our gate, and the portion of the fence, just to the side, next to the house. It really is our “front door” more than our actual front door. We don’t have quite enough resources to re-do the whole fence at this point, but we should be able to do something with this small section.The problem is, I’m a bit stymied for ideas. Should it involve strong horizontals to complement the siding? Should I paint it or stain it? Should it look a little asian, or more rustic/cottage? and what the heck should I do with the little patch of grass next to the walk?

cold frame
Originally uploaded by psymonetta

Today’s project is brought to you by salvaged storm window and scrap wood.

Steve built a cold frame today, and I painted it. Because, I have to decorate everything. The color is cactus brown and the cold frame is now prettier than most of the yard. Our seedlings are now all moving out into their new home. As you can see from the glass, even when it’s overcast, it can get pretty steamy in there.

Steve and I are in the New York Times (magazine).
Here we are standing in our unruly Eden of a backyard, along with our howling old-man dog Frodo. The excellent rock-star photo was taken by Danielle Levitt.

Front Bed and Gate
Originally uploaded by psymonetta

I’m pretty sure this year is going to be the year of landscaping.

One of the “happy problems” that comes with owning an older home is that you often inherit a lot of very large, well-established shrubs. In our case, about 80% of our property boundary is surrounded by a laurel hedge. We also are the beneficiaries of two 40+ year old rhododendrons, which are of the age that they look more like trees than shrubs, a well established pear tree, an enormous flax-like plant that I can never remember the name of, and one of the ubiquitous (in post-war landscaping) yucca.

The rest was basically grass, and a few haphazard borders near the house. And then there was the front corner, on the Northeast side of the house by the driveway, which was about 10 square yards of hypericum aka St. John’s wort. I’m not a fan, because I think it looks like an office park landscape solution.

So, we spent about two days ripping and digging. And then another day building a new raised bed. We’ve added a few boulders near the gate, an ornamental grape against the fence, some decorative grasses and various orange flowers. I’m leaning toward adding more burgundy and hot pink tones into the palette.

After that, I’m hoping I can convince Steve to let me spruce up the fence, especially the gate since it is our defacto front door. But, we’ve since moved on to the Northwest corner of the yard. Where we need to rescue a well established rose from being choked out by the laurel, and hopefully create an additional, more welcoming street entrance to our yard.