Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Monday: Eduardo Souto de Moura - we knew you had it in you! (3/21/11)


It was announced on Monday that Eduardo Souto de Moura was awarded the 2011 Pritzker Prize, the top international architecture award.  We showed several pictures of his residential work to our architect before he got started on our renovation design.  We particularly liked the minimal courtyard designs.


This is one of the photos we showed him, which might have been part of the inspiration for our new hallway.


Sunday, March 20, 2011

Sunday: The sun is coming out... (3/20/11)

As we hit the equinox and Spring was later sprung suddenly upon us at 7pm today, things were starting to look a bit brighter.


A lot more of the porch ceiling, if you will, was completed, and is looking better.




Here it continues toward the front door.

And our back yard is starting to respond as well...
 
Hellebore 1...


Hellebore 2...


Hellebore 3...


and Hellebore 4...


a Corylopsis...


the first primula...


and one of my favorite shrubs whose name I can't remember.  I'll edit when I can ask Jack - an Edgeworthia.  My spirits are lifting considerably.



Tuesday: More stucco and an outdoor ceiling (3/15/11)

As you can tell, there's been an incredible lull in activity around here.  We're still struggling to see a sample of stucco that looks like the finish we're looking for.  Color should be easier, but of course, it's not.

Here's the previous sample in Winter Gray on the left, and the larger new sample of Blue Gray on the right.  I won't go into all the wrangling back and forth between all parties involved, but it's been ...  well, that's enough on that topic for now.

They also started putting up cedar plywood panels on the roof over the decking.  I was kind of concerned about the water mark you can see on the near edge of the panel on the right, but they seem to have cleared up since then.  It's nice to have at least a little bit of activity...

Monday, March 7, 2011

Saturday: At least something's happening in the back yard (3/5/11)

With no progress happening on the house, we're taking delight in the first blossoms in the back yard.


An Adonis...


A Daphne...



A double Hellebore...


A single Hellebore...


And a Gentian.

AND NO WORK BEING DONE ON THE HOUSE!  Sorry.