Our New Cottage - Progress Report #7



Hello Cottage Friends,

We've been very busy with finish work at  the cottage since the last update and I'm anxious to show you the progress.  But first I want to extend a HUGE THANK YOU for all the nice things you have to say about our project. I get so much encouragement from you. You bless me so much.

I also just want you to know that between all the long hours spent working at the construction site and the ongoing computer problems (yeah, like a new $240 hard drive followed by a new challenge. . .why is my cursor now jumping all over the place when I type? Argh!), I'm unable to visit your blog as much as I'd like.  Honestly, I miss you and look forward to the day when we're just living a normal life and I can catch up with all you wonderful people and your blogs.
 
Okay, let's see what's  happened at the cottage since the  last report.

May 5, 2015  

Drywall finish starts.



 
Footings are in place for concrete pad pour where the porch steps will go.


 
 


Working from the drawing Dennis penciled on the front porch column, Scott begins the finish trim construction.





He constructs and installs the bottom piece.






Dennis spreads gravel in preparation for the garden shed foundation.

 


May 6, 2015 

I paint the first coat of red on the south walls of Dennis' studio and the cottage.






May 7, 2015

Scott finishes the porch column.





And builds the footings in preparation for the garden shed concrete pour.




May 8, 2015

Dennis paints the eaves



while I paint the front porch window and door trim.




and our beautiful new porch column.



I'm so glad my husband was inspired to add the column detail. Scott did a great job building it; I love it!



May 9, 2015

Dennis paints the garden window.


Uh, what about the wood on the brackets? 
Oh, we'll paint those later.





Scott installs the rebar in the garden shed footings.




May 10, 2015

Happy Mother's Day!

We go for a drive. 

I see the perfect cottage arbor.

I take a photo.



Some day I will have a arbor covered in blooms.

Oh yes, I will.


May 11, 2015

Greg Bales is on site with his massive concrete truck.




The porch steps are poured.







 
 

 The garden shed foundation is poured.




Dennis uses the leftover concrete mix to pour a pad under the garden hydrant and carves a loving touch. I add the rocks (no, those are not potatoes on the top right...they're rocks).




May 12, 2015

Scott starts framing the garden shed.





I paint the first red coat on the east and north cottage exterior walls.
 






La Grande Drywall finishes all the drywall with a skip trowel texture on the walls of the cottage.



 




And a light orange peel on the cottage ceilings and the walls and ceiling of Dennis' studio.





May 13, 2015

I prime the walls and ceiling of the kitchen-dining-living room, hall and my creative space.





The garden shed framing is completed.


 


May 14, 2015

Walls are going up on the garden shed.






May 15, 2015

I start applying paint to the interior primed areas.



The color is Natural Canvas.



I use the same color on both the walls and ceilings. The result is the old world look I want.


Some of the garden shed windows are installed. (I have so much more to tell you about this shed. I promise to share the details soon.)




May 16, 2015

Dennis jumps in to help with the painting, finishing my creative space





while I work on the kitchen-dining-living room. (Um, should I be calling this the small great room?)
 




May 17, 2015

Dennis and I sweep the painted rooms where hardwood flooring will be installed next week.




Latest view of the cottage exterior. . .



We've had a lot of rain the past week, with more predicted.  I'm not sure when I'll finish the exterior painting, but I've got plenty to keep me busy inside.

Have a great week!




If you missed previous progress reports, you can find them here:

Progress Report #1
Progress Report #2
Progress Report #3
Progress Report #4
Progress Report #5
Progress Report #6


You can find our awesome builder at their website:
BLH Construction.


27 comments

  1. Hi dear friend !! Cuantos avances hay en su casa .. Se ve mucho trabajo !! Espero que tengas un buen comienzo de semana
    Cariños

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  2. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!! Inside and out, I am in love with your space. Dennis' heart is unbelievably sweet. I imagine future generations looking at it and trying to imagine the life of N&D. The inside wall treatment is very unique. I didn't expect that and I really like it. So different and definitely interesting. The windows on the garden shed look great! Did you reclaim them...am I remembering this correctly? AND there is no other word than love (I think I use that word too much!) to describe the way your scrolled supports look under the window. The white really pops! Can't wait to see more, Nancy. Hope your computer behaves!

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  3. I don't have much to add beyond what Kim has said. I find so much inspiration here. Where do you get your energy!?

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  4. Love following your progress! Love the color you chose for your exterior!!

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  5. Fascinating,intriguing, Inspiring!

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  6. Nancy this is a long awaited magical vision of yours coming to be reality for you and Dennis. Every step of the way I've felt priveledged to follow your progress. It has been an adventure and I am so thankful you shared your journey along the way. So excited to see the rest of the cottage grace your lives.
    xoxo,
    Vera

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  7. It's really coming together now, Nancy! I love the columns, paint color, and that future arbor ;) I can't wait to see more details soon!

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  8. Much progress. Looking good.

    When you find out what makes your mouse jump, please let me know. Been having that same problem.

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  9. I absolutely LOVE your cottage! But, then, I did from the moment I started reading about the plans. It's coming together and soon you will be making the house a home. I can't wait to watch that happen!
    ~Adrienne~

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  10. Hi,
    Looks great. :-)
    I love the garden shed! So excited to see more.
    Carla

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  11. Hi...it looks like the drawing now..and i like the red..to be honest..i liked the other one better in the samples..but this one looks pretty good..look forward to the next update.! as well as the garden....

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  12. Lookin so great. Woooo Hoooo so much great things accomplished. You are getting so close.
    Kris

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  13. Very! Very! Love the red color on the house! So exciting! Enjoy!

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  14. You go girl it is looking fantastic. You have really gotten a lot done in a short amount of time. You will be in before you know it. Do you have a finish date set? Have a lovely week and don't work to hard. Hugs, Jo

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  15. Leaps and bounds have been made. It looks so much like your header, now! And I can't believe how fats the inside is progressing as well!

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  16. Wow Nancy it's coming along nicely. It must be so exciting to see your blueprints coming alive!

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  17. My goodness gracious, this is an exciting bit of news and FUN, NANCY!!!!!!!!

    You are getting there, you are creating the iconic photo on your header into a reality, and we are loving this. AND that photo of the arbor and the white flowers? PERFECT FOR YOU! You will do this, I know, and it will make your cottage so perfect.

    OK, I have to run off to school; finals are this week and I have much to do, but I'd rather be tucked away in a sweet little cottage, with friends like you.

    PEACE! Anita

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  18. It is looking more and more like home! I just love the texture on the walls! What a fabulous idea. The red on the outside is just perfect.

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  19. Absolutely fabulous everything Nancy! Love all the details you describe so clearly - can't wait to see you and Dennis settled in after completion. Interior decor is going to be another great story I just know. You certainly are well on your way now. . . . . . . . . and the garden shed will be the icing on the cake!

    Hugs - Mary

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  20. Everything looks so fabulous! Love it!

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  21. Oh Nancy, every time I see that red I smile. Definitely brings alive your blog name "Joyful Cottage." The walls in my condo cottage are textured that way too. I never knew it had a name. I love the texture it gives to the room. I do find one drawback, not being able to use Command Hooks for hanging pictures and quilts.

    I have the same question as Pondside, "Where do you get your energy?" I know that part of your energy comes from fulfilling your dream with your husband by your side. What a sweet gesture from Dennis with the heart. As for those potatoes, are you sure they are rocks?

    Looking forward to the next update. Debbie

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  22. Oh my, I just love, LOVE your cottage . . .
    Charming, Sweet, Inspiring . . .
    and the red is so perfect . . .
    I get so excited for the updates!

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  23. So excited for all the progress that you are making in your darling cottage - I had no idea a garden shed was in the plans in the beginning, but then I remembered you saying something about salvaging windows - wow - what an amazing little shed that is going to be, and I believe you when you say you will have your perfect little arbor overflowing with flowers soon! This has been such a JOY to follow along your journey with the Joyful Cottage Nancy! Appreciate you taking the time to update in the middle of your busyness, and your computer headache! Love and hugs!

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  24. I am so happy that you are able to work inside if the weather doesn't co operate! WoW you have made so much progess!! It looks absolutely wonderful and you haven't even got to the fun part of putting all the special touches on your property and home!! Have a wonderful day and we will keep checkin in on you!

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  25. It just looks so beautiful Nancy, it's definitely a joyful cottage to look at. I'm sure you're the envy of the neighbourhood !

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  26. The red looks so good. I love those brackets under the windows, they were a great find. How cute that your husband wrote your initials in the cement! I love that!

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