Wednesday, July 8, 2009

The Guesthouse Project... Can This Really Be Done?


Remember back in March when I said I'd found my dream house? Well, it just happens to still be for sale & they have lowered the price by $25,000. I want it even more than ever now, which means it's time for me to really buckle down and get this place in shape to sell. The true bane of my existence are the outer buildings, which include the guesthouse/workshop/art studio/storage of inherited things & things for sale in my shop (all one building), the storage house across from it, and the ancient, crumbling playhouse/fox den.

Whenever we can't find a place for something in the house, we're known to throw it out in the guesthouse, when it probably should have just gone in the trash.





If I can manage to clean out the guesthouse, I think it will enable me to move all of my art supplies back out to the studio, from various nooks and crannies around the house. I am really beginning to resent this house & the shape it's in, so I need to take action, which I've already started on. I did manage to take a few dozen shots of how really bad the guesthouse is. I thought the end result would be more impressive if I showed Before & After pictures, right?





I really want the Georgian/Federal townhouse in La Fayette Place! I want it so badly that it hurts! I probably need to quit driving by the place so much, but I can't. I think I'm obsessed.





So, to keep my mind busy as well as work toward the sale of this monstrous house & property, I am beginning the cleaning out of an accumulation of 23 years of crap. The new roof is scheduled to go on soon and the painting of the exterior of our house & the outer buildings begins when the roofing is done. Remember back in the spring when we had that horrendous hailstorm? We failed to check on the guesthouse for a couple of weeks and when we did go out there, the damage was unbelievable. As if my mess out there wasn't bad enough, it sort of tripled the mess. Argh! However, we received a check for $36,000.00 for a new roof and other repairs. One of our skylights was severely cracked and gutters seem to be hanging on by a thread. We've neglected things far too long, which is why I've put this off as long as humanly possible.





When I get everything eventually cleaned out, we can begin the few remodeling jobs we plan to do before putting the house on the market. The real estate market here has really slowed down, so I'm hoping La Fayette Place won't sell very quickly. I'm keeping my fingers crossed at any rate. I'm not worried about our place selling because of its size & prime location, especially being across the street from the largest & most expensive home & property in town. Hopefully, that will help sell ours quickly along with all the work we're doing.







So, my absence will continue, with brief updates & pictures throughout the summer & possibly into the fall. Tune in periodically to see me transform this mess into organized clutter.





At first I thought I'd have a garage sale, but I just don't think I have the *get-up-and-go* to manage that, so my housekeeper is receiving lots of things for free. So far, she hasn't minded it a bit…

18 comments:

I Am Woody said...

It's amazing how easy it is to forget about things and move on to more important things like blogging!

Daryl said...

OY ... See what you can donate, I am sure you can get a nice write off ...

cornbread hell said...

yikes! nice mess.

tell me about the "floorcloth". is it silk screened or what?

Unknown said...

Wonderful news!!! I am praying for you! Why don't you have a few give aways or sell some of the things on your blog!!!

Sjn said...

so you're saying it's a good thing I don't have any storage room right?! That way I have to get rid of it now, and not worry about it later.

I love that Townhouse! Coming from one who has downsized, do it! We don't need all that stuff anyway! Call the organizations in need NOW to come and get what you don't want. So much work but the reward is great! More time for golf after you move, that is!

cornbread hell said...

living on the spit is on the right track...

i think you should have a contest here on the blog for some of that stuff!

Snooty Primadona said...

cornbread: the floorcloth is made of canvas. I start with the heaviest cotton canvas I can find, put primer on front & back, staple it down on a board, hand-paint it with acrylic paint, put several coats of varnish on, take all staples out & turn it over, staple down again, put a couple of coats of varnish on the back, hem it with glue, and apply a few more layers of varnish. Then, it has to *cure* for several weeks. For this big greek key floorcloth, I used a feather to make the marbling in the squares. I'd sort of like to finish the damn thing since it's supposed to go in my entry hall...

Actually, Marlene's idea was perfect! Hidden in all those boxes are actually some really nice items. I'll have to work on this give-away thing.

It's over 100 degrees today (and predicted to last through the weekend) so I'm only going out to work in the mornings. I don't need to make the news for dying from heat exhaustion.

I cannot believe that I actually took pictures & put them on my blog. I never let anyone see it. I just figured that if I showed my blog buddies, it would make me get my derriere in gear and DO IT!

snooty daughter said...

This is hilarious- I had no idea this was going on back there! Haha, good luck!!!!!

Roan said...

Oh my, you need my daughter. She is the queen of organization...her spices are alphabetized! Good luck. The townhouse is gorgeous!

Mental P Mama said...

Go Snooty! I want you to have that townhouse!

imom said...

It looks like much of it is already in boxes, that's good right?! We just finished cleaning out a storage room, just one room, I can't imagine doing a whole guest house!

I say get rid of the sled, but keep the tiki torches!

I can't wait to see the progress you make.

noble pig said...

I can't wait to see the transformation! Good look and I want you to get that place!

nanc said...

It's nice to know we're not the only people who procrastinate. Now that you have a short term goal I'm sure you'll fly through the clean-up projects. Good luck and keep us updated on your progress.

That Janie Girl said...

Sweet! I hope you get that house!

Anonymous said...

Snooty, I am keeping my fingers crossed that you get the place of your dreams. I absolutely LOVE it...that style, the pool...everything about it!

Heather Kerrigan said...

I meant to clean out so many closets this winter, but got way to caught up in writing. It's a must now--after golf season!

Good luck and I love that you shared these photos with us.

Clippy Mat said...

photos are a great idea because they will motivate you to show us the progress you are making. good luck with it.
I hope you get the house.
:-)

Bodacious Boomer said...

Doug would feel right at home there. He could even bring some extra debris if you're running short.:)

BTW- I never knew a floorcloth needed to cure. I just finish them, coat them with 5 coats of varnish ( with drying time of course) then wax it and send it out the door.

 

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