Our Exterior is Complete!

Our Exterior is Complete!

October 15, 2020

It’s been a little over two months of construction, but we are finally done! We are so pleased with the outcome and the work done by Catenacci Construction. It took a lot of work and a few tears but it is complete. Angelo and his crew at Catenacci were awesome to partner with and they took my vision of modernizing our 1930’s tudor and made it happen! I’m so happy to share some of my favorite photos and details here with you.

AFTER
BEFORE
Original home built circa 1930.

When we started this process there were elements of the house that I knew I wanted to try to save. The original stone, two porches, ivy, front door and the stained glass were important to me to keep the character of the house. I wanted a fresh and modern tudor that still reflected it’s history. I knew I wanted to paint the brick and stucco but lose the tudor vertical bands. I knew I wanted to use a white paint and lighten the whole house up while keeping the original limestone and ivy.

Original front door and stained glass after getting new hardware and paint. Hardware is from Schoolhouse.

The paint colors I decided to go with are Snow Bound for the painted brick and stucco, Iron Ore for the porches and Tricorn Black for the doors and trim. All paint is from Sherwin Williams. The Iron Ore brings drama to the porches yet doesn’t compete with the Tricorn Black on the doors and the Snow Bound gave us just the right color of white- clean, crisp and modern.

I am so thrilled with the new materials we chose to add to the project. I wanted the new windows to make an architectural statement and the Andersen Windows we chose did not disappoint. Not only are they energy efficient and beautiful but they really bring contrast to the white painted brick and stucco. One design decision that I made in the process was to not add trim around the windows. Most homes have trim around windows but I wanted the stucco to come right up next to the window keeping it clean and simple so that the window would get all of the attention.

From the very beginning, I wanted one of the new materials in the design to be copper but I also knew it was pricey. My dream was to have copper gutters and I knew that was not in the budget. I fell in love with the Carson Wall Sconce in copper from Rejuvenation before the project even began. I envisioned it on the little side porch against the Iron Ore paint by Sherwin Williams. It shines so beautiful here. When I saw it on the side porch I knew somehow I had to work a little copper into the design of the front of the house too. So, after weeks of going back and forth, I splurged and decided to do a copper gutter on the front of the house above the porch too.

I am so happy with my decision to add the copper to the front. It is the largest section of gutter and really added to the statement of the facade. I am amazed how you really don’t notice any of the other white gutters around the home because the just blend into the white paint. That was my goal. I was able to add the copper but do it in an affordable way that still makes an impact. I love how it looks when the sunlight hits it through the trees.

We are so thrilled with the final product and how it blends the old with the new to fit our family. We are also so thankful that everything finished up before cold weather arrives. I was able to put my Autumn decor out for a minute and get a few photographs.

My youngest has been begging for Halloween Decor since October 1st! So, last Sunday, the giant purple spider (it’s been a part of our decor for 15 years) and it’s web dropped with some bats. My youngest and a sweet neighbor friend led the decorating in one of our favorite traditions. Happy Autumn Halloween! Thanks for following along on this journey!

xo -Lindsay

Our Exterior

HERE WE GO: EXTERIOR RENO

May 27, 2020

Sometimes you really aren’t ready for a home project but unforeseen circumstances force it a little earlier than planned. We have known for a while that we were going to have to do some exterior updates to our home but we weren’t quite ready for a full blown exterior remodel. We started some wood rot repair a few weeks ago and we knew we wanted to replace a few of the last remaining original windows and paint our home. But then the wood rot contractor came in and found some unexpected surprises that changed the scope of the entire project.

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A picture of our original tudor built in the late 1930’s above and a few recent photos below.

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Our 1930’s tudor had an addition put on about 25 years ago and long story short, earlier wood rot had not been repaired correctly.  As a result, the stucco and siding around almost all of the windows has allowed moisture to get inside and now the window and siding damage is extensive. We appreciated our contractor’s honesty as he told us he could not repair the wood rot knowing there were bigger problems internally. Here are a few photos of the damage once they used their tools to dive in and see how deep the problem really was.

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We now know that we are looking at a bigger project as mostly all of the windows are damaged and moisture has gotten behind the stucco. We are getting bids and trying to figure out how we can find a solution to the problems and update our exterior while staying within our budget. It’s definitely going to be challenging but I am excited to bring a fresh and more modern look to our home while still retaining it’s original character.

I have been collecting inspiration for years and these exteriors have amazing curb appeal and some of the elements I want to incorporate into our project. At the top of my wish list is to lighten the whole house up. This means no more red brick. We will paint the brick and likely go white with dark accents. It’s going to be a really dramatic change. I love the black accents and the contrast in this stunner.

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Design by Mark Kirby and Dixon Kirby Homes

I am leaning towards a stained door. Our little house has had a red front door forever! It will be a drastic but good change! The doors are so beautiful along with the painted brick and amazing roof line here.

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Design by Grandfather Homes

Windows are so overwhelming and I could write an entire post on them alone. We will have to decide between light or dark and the style. I am leaning towards dark and I am love with these windows! We have never lived in a house with new windows as we have always had older homes. I can’t even imagine how that will be!

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Photo by Andersen Windows

Two of my favorite things about our home is the original limestone and the ivy that grows up the front peak. We want to keep both and I think they will look beautiful with the lighter paint and the dark accents while retaining some of the original character.

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Design by Gulf Shore Design

This charming home below has light windows that also look so stunning with the white brick black accents and arched door. I love the sconces and potted boxwoods too.

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Photo by The Potted Boxwood

The painted brick tudor below with dark windows, white plank and copper accents just gets everything right! Copper gutters would be my dream.

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Design by The Fox Group

That’s it for now. I feel both overwhelmed yet excited on the decisions we will have to make rather quickly. For now, they have sort of saran wrapped our house to help keep the elements out. We are thankful it is almost summer and we are not dealing with winter. I hope you will join us for the ride. Stay tuned for more!

-Lindsay

Mission House Remodel

MISSION HOUSE REMODEL

February 4, 2020

Downsizing is an exciting but sometimes overwhelming adventure in life. I had so much fun working with this family to design a functional, fresh and beautiful home that incorporates some of their past and works for them in this phase of their life.  Now they can spend more time on the important stuff: time with their kids, grandkids and friends, traveling more and not worrying about keeping up a big house and yard as much!

The family loves spending time around the water and the soothing blue tile had already been chosen for the backsplash when I entered the project. They also had a gorgeous commissioned painting that tells part of their story and love for the water that they wanted to incorporate into the design. Since the remodel included a very open floor plan, I decided the calming blues would set the tone for the entire project and I am so thrilled with how it all turned out.

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The living area really needed a larger rug to ground the space and fit with the furniture. I found a beautiful neutral rug that has a vintage feel and is very soft underfoot. It pairs nicely with the client’s existing couch and we added the rich navy velvet chairs for texture and warmth. They are perfect next to the fireplace for a cozy reading space!

The client also had an awesome solid dining table they wanted to use but the extra large formal dining chairs needed to be updated. For contrast, we swapped those out for four simple black wood side chairs of a timeless design. We added two classic upholstered dining chairs to the ends and a new rug to finish the look. I love how the beautiful painting is the centerpiece in this room.

BEFORE

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The client needed help with this existing built in book case area that was staying. They also wanted to use a current buffet somewhere in the design if possible but it just did not work in this space. We found some new hardware for the buffet, giving it an instant refresh, and used it in another part of the living room. It now works perfect next to a game table that can be used when entertaining too.

We then had a custom reclaimed wood console built to fit the unusual space. I love how the reclaimed wood brings in a calming contrast and the mirror really opens up the space! The bookshelves were simplified and I added in a few new items to give them a refresh and soften the space.

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BEFORE

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By adding some new furniture, textiles and accessories and mixing them with some of the client’s existing treasured items, this family has a fresh and calming new home to take them into the next decade. I hope it will be a place they can both entertain in and find relaxing!

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A Little Trip to Denver

A LITTLE TRIP TO DENVER

July 24, 2019

It’s been almost fourteen years since I visited this little big city. When I was last here at the beginning of the century, Denver was leading the way in Downtown revitalization. Downtown Denver was experiencing enormous residential growth and investment was high. With the Regional Transportation District (RTD) transit system expanding, this beautiful, sunny city placed perfectly at the bottom of the mountains was poised for greatness.

A work trip turned into an opportunity to enjoy a long weekend in this special place and see the results of what was underway the last time I was here. My heart craves all that a city offers and I leave more inspired than ever to create beautiful spaces that are rich in culture and experience. If you are looking for a chic city getaway, you will love Denver.  An arts and cultural mecca; a place to find inspiration. Here are a few of our favorite destinations and experiences from our weekend away. Enjoy!

Union Station: This 100 year old treasure located in Lower Downtown (LoDo) was renovated five years ago and fits perfectly into modern life. They nailed it because despite it’s grandiose size, it makes you want to stay and linger. The great hall is filled with comforts of home; think cozy couches and chairs for reading and tables that are equipped for mobile working and communication. Sit down here and you are surrounded by architectural beauty and all the conveniences you need; coffee, books, amazing food and more.

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Be sure to visit Mercantile Dining and Provision by James Beard award winning chef, Alex Seidel. Modeled after a European market, the restaurant fits beautifully alongside it. A  must experience destination for lunch, dinner or provisions. Try the truffled kettle chips and don’t leave without the dill pickles and a few pastries!

Photos by Mercantile Dining and Provision

Another charming Union Station destination is Tattered Cover book store. This curated little book store is a good place to get lost for a while. We loved spending some time there after lunch. Also a great place to find some souvenirs if you have littles.

Outside Union Station you will find yourself at the Transit Center, where you can be connected to multiple elements of transit all under one roof. We took the Light Rail from the airport to reach LoDo. It was super easy and only took about 30 minutes. I am envious of Denver’s impressive mass transit system. It is such an important part of a true modern city.

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Red Rocks: This was on our bucket list and wow, just WOW! It doesn’t matter what your jam is, experiencing a concert here is a spiritual and emotional experience. A quick uber ride to Red Rocks Amphitheater from Downtown is recommended for a stress free night. We were lucky enough to catch The Head and the Heart on one of their two sold out nights.

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Some other great Downtown destinations included Hearth and Dram for an amazing Happy Hour, and our stay at the sophisticated Indigo Hotel. While in LoDo, be sure to take in the historic charm of Larimer Square for incredible boutique shopping and fun nightlife!

Craft Beer: Did you know Denver is often referred to as “the Napa Valley of craft beer”? Offering over 35 breweries on the “Beer Trail”,  It’s a fun way to explore the local beer culture. Two of our favorite brews from the weekend were Buffalo Gold Golden Ale from the Boulder Beer Co. and the Agave Wheat from the Breckenridge Brewery. Give them a try!

Cherry Creek: We ventured out of LoDo for the rest of our trip for a little R & R still close to the city in the Cherry Creek Neighborhood. Our stay at the Halcyon Hotel was everything we had expected and more. This stylish and art filled boutique hotel tends to every need and the staff was incredible. It’s so nice to encounter people that make you feel welcome and clearly enjoy their jobs. Their “kitchen counter concept”, complimentary bikes and the use of other outdoor recreation equipment is brilliant.

Did I mention that they have record players in every room? How well did they know us to have Johnny Cash’s Fulsom Prison and Prince’s Purple Rain waiting for us. Last but not least, their rooftop pool and bar offering mountain and Downtown skyline views makes it easy to stay, relax and be inspired.

This little neighborhood is filled with local restaurants, art galleries and boutique shopping. You must stop into Grind, for eclectic southern fare with a twist and order the fried chicken sandwich. Another one to try is Machete, what’s not to love about powerful hand crafted margaritas and street tacos?

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We rode bikes all morning and were quick to realize why people make Denver their permanent home. The fresh mountain air and big blue sky are pretty irresistible in the summer.

Check out Cheesman Park by bike. A perfect place for a picnic, reading a book or taking a nap! We also biked along Cherry Creek and through the historic Country Club Neighborhood designed in the early 1900’s taking in the stunning architecture.

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Finally, we parked our bikes and ended our morning at the local award winning Cherry Creek Fresh Market. Offered every Saturday from May until the end of October, the outdoor market offers both high quality local growers, gourmet food vendors and live music. We sampled our way through the market and if I didn’t have to get on an airplane, I would have purchased some of the beautiful purple Agrostemma.

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What a weekend we had! I left feeling inspired and reenergized by all we had done in this city that does it right; Good design, food and culture are a powerful mix! Hope you can experience some time in this cool city!

The Autumn Front Porch

THE AUTUMN FRONT PORCH

October 7, 2019

 

Autumn is well underway and one of my favorite things to do is take in all of its beauty while exploring neighborhoods and seeing how people incorporate the season into their front porches.  Pre WWII, the American front porch was a symbol of gathering and community; it really was the living room space of the day.  Almost everyone had a front porch and that is where you congregated to find cooler temps and engage in activities. The porch was a place to relax and be with your people; it was inviting and warm.

As a design element, front porches all but disappeared post war as society became more dependable on the automobile for transportation and many preferred to gather privately in the backyard or inside. Today porches are again finding their way back into modern architecture and it makes me so happy.  I love the front porch and all that is symbolizes. There are plenty of easy and beautiful ways to bring Autumn to your porch making people want to linger.

No matter the size, styling your porch does not have to be complicated or expensive.  Invest in quality pots that you can use all year while changing out the plantings. Hardy Mums, kale and spinach are just a few plantings that bring awesome color and texture to your exterior and will last for months. If you have a chair or bench, incorporate it into your porch. It instantly encourages visitors to sit and rest. Grab a favorite throw or blanket and put it in a place someone can easily find it.  Add in a few pumpkins and unusual gourds and layer a few outdoor rugs to ground the space and you’re done.

Autumn Exterior

Design by Lindsay Hargens Design

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There is plenty of inspiration out there to celebrate the front porch in every season. Here are a few of my online Autumn favorites. Happy lingering and happy Autumn!

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Design by Jeanne Oliver

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Photo by The Front Door Project

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Design by Boxwood Avenue

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Design by Liz Marie

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Photo by The Heart of the House

 

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Photo by Sincerely Marie Designs