old country house blog

WHEN THE WALLS CAME A TUMBLING DOWN … TAKE A ROAD TRIP – BLACK DOG SALVAGE

Hey there!!!!

I have not written much in the last few weeks.

Our house has bustled with Activity. Painters, Masonry dudes, 4rth generation radiator guys…broken leaded glass windows finally fixed…and crumbling walls torn down and built back up..

……We pulled together a team of incredible talented professionals and I have overseen the work…It is like a fine tuned machine..BUT for every GREAT professional we have hired we have had 3 or more less than great workers who have been intimidated or overwhelmed and simply not ready to tackle the unique issues of the Geriatric house and have run for the hills…THUS- I cherish this team we finally pulled together and I have the UTMOST respect for their skills, work ethics and just downright brilliance!!!

We noticed a few months ago a HUGE buckling piece of stucco almost completely detached from the front of the house….old water damage…had eventually eroded the space between the 3 rows of brick and the stucco….Kevin the Masonry Magician went right to work….!!!!

KEVIN THE MAGIC MASONRY MAN!!! HE WORKED MIRACLES!!!
KEVIN THE MAGIC MASONRY MAN!!! HE WORKED MIRACLES!!!

….step by meticulous step…you cannot “wing it” with a 135 year old house…And it is no wonder that we have lived here for 10 years and not addressed many of these OLD HOUSE EXTERIOR ISSUES…

KEVIN THE MAGICIAN!!!
KEVIN THE MAGICIAN!!!

Expensive repairs have preceded each cosmetic improvement…the costliest repairs often are invisible but MUST take place and I have made sure that A happens so that B can go ahead and then be followed by C.

NEW FACE
ABSOLUTE BRILLIANCE!!!

…and because OLD HOUSES are like a big fat can of beautiful worms……you realize that INSIDE, where the wall was crumbling…moisture had also caused damage….

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but Kevin made it happen.WE had three rooms with these issues which were repaired….. but NOT until the 4rth generation Radiator guy brought his team in…. to first drain the radiators…SUPER EXPENSIVE ORDEAL (but GOOD news, and boy did we need some, when he went to drain the system…… he found we have STEAM, not HOT WATER radiators and so there was nothing to drain…some money saved….small blessings) …..so he  removed the thousand pound heaters, and I was actually able to clean them up and paint them all purity…. so the guys could work on the crumbling walls behind them….layer upon layer, inches of 150 year old brick was taken down and rebuilt…lay it down…let it dry..lay it down…let it dry..THANK GOD the weather cooperated, we have and some of the most beautiful  autumn days I can recall….. and 5 days later….followed by Mike the painter who skimmed the plastered walls this past weekend…  followed by me…I repainted the  wall and trim…and VOILA!!!

NEW WALL.....!!!!
NEW WALL…..!!!!

The Radiator Guy comes late today to reconnect the radiators and kick on the heat….and so it goes….

……………………that is where I have been…

Tomorrow I am taking a road trip with my friend Emily…we are heading down to Roanoke to visit a great place that YOU probably have heard of but that I JUST found out about called

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“Black Dog Salvage specializes in the reclamation, repurposing and resale of architectural, commercial, and industrial elements and fixtures including:

Salvaged Mantels • Doors • Windows • Stained Glass • Wrought Iron • Vintage Plumbing & Hardware • Period Lighting • Art Tile • Unique Old House Parts • Gates • Garden Statuary • Industrial & Commercial Fixtures • Antique Store Counters and Much More.”

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Robert Kulp(L) and Mike Whiteside (R)— co-owners of one of the premier architectural salvage operations in the United States, Black Dog Salvage !!!!!

CAN YOU SAY “SUPER EXCITED”!!! I CAN BARELY CONTAIN MY EXCITEMENT!!!!

We want to replace the exterior shutters and Black Dog has 7 sets of our exact size!!!!!….. and who knows what else I may turn up..I will take loads of photos…ROAD TRIP!!!

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……apparently they have a TV show too…where in the world have I been….???

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a BIG AUNT LESLI SHOUT OUT to my BEAUTIFUL

HALEY AND PHOEBE - COUSINS ARE THE BEST!!!
MESSY BABY HALEY!!!
haleyandphoebe
HALEY AND PHOEBE – COUSINS ARE THE BEST!!!

…………SWEET AMAZING niece Haley who turns 18 today!!!!!!…WHAT!!!

How in the heck did that happen!!!!! Celebrate GIRL &  I LOVE YOU!!!! !!!!!

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DASH UP CLOSE
DASH UP CLOSE

Finally, on a SAD note, today marks one month since our beloved dog Dash went missing. It is the strangest thing, missing someone, knowing he is probably waking up every day, in a different home, living with other people and not having any idea where WE went. I miss him so much it hurts…the kids seem to be moving along okay…but it is just so very sad and strange. I still hope he will find his way back to us…

I hope your Week has been productive and fun…

I will be back with more on Black Dog Salvage and the House EXTERIOR reveal!!!!

xo

4 thoughts on “WHEN THE WALLS CAME A TUMBLING DOWN … TAKE A ROAD TRIP – BLACK DOG SALVAGE

  1. Jealous of your road trip to Black Dog Salvage! I have seen the show, but not yet ventured in that direction. The owners seem like very real, likeable guys who make a living collecting and selling some truly valuable pieces of our history and heritage. Can’t wait to see what you drag home… 🙂

  2. How I wish I could go on the road trip to Black Dog Salvage. The show is so interesting and they seem like such fun.

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