A Tiny Tree

 

 

Bunnies and Bones adorn our tiny Christmas tree.

Tall Husband and I could not resist this perfect four-foot fur tree at our local nursery.  I made iced sugar cookies (bunnies and dogie bones) for decoration.  You may notice that some cookies are missing from the lower branches...Scooter and Skipper loved "trimming" the tree.

Mother Nature's Whimsy

Mother Nature displays her whimsy out behind The Bunny Bungalow on a gray, rainy afternoon.  If you use your cloud gazing skills, you will see a bunny scooting up the tree.

And is that a butterfly leading the way?

April Flowers

Small bouquets of Gardenias and Jasmine around the Bunny Bungalow, fill the air with scents from my childhood.  Isn't it splendid how fragrances trigger pleasant memories?

 

Design a Bathroom Around This

And they did. Our tiny guest bathroom with its original clawfoot tub is a little masterpiece, making our two Cote Bastide wall hooks at home.

Note: We had been saving the two wall hooks for two or three years...not knowing where we would use them.

Remodeled Guest Bathroom

Before

The old bathroom with inexpensive cabinets, vinyl flooring and a wonderful old tub.

After

The remodeled guest bathroom is a jewel-of-a-place with marble, tile, custom cabinets and v-groove added to take it back in time. We kept the original clawfoot tub, repainted a wonderful pale gray.

Links:

Rogers+Labarthe Architects

DD&L Enterprises, Builder

Flipping Out

Tall Husband and I are flipping out. We are so excited that The Bunny Bungalow and the garage/studio are to be on the Houston Heights 2011 Spring Home & Garden Tour...but as you can see...the bungalow is not yet ready. The kitchen (above) shows promise,

the old clawfoot tub is waiting in the dining room.

The Stickley bed has been under wraps for awhile,

and from the upstairs screened porch of the studio, Scooter is keeping a worried watch on the progress. Stay tuned to see if we make the April 2, 2011 deadline! We may have to hand out hard hats.

Bungalow Report

Here's an almost-after shot of the back of The Bunny Bungalow remodel.

During...

and before (after the garage/studio apartment was completed and after the tacky deck was removed from the bungalow.)

Our Gang:

Rogers+Labarthe Architects

DD&L Enterprises

Gregory/Henry Landscape

If You Can't Take the Heat...Build a New Kitchen

That was our kitchen on the right.

The framing carpenters are at work at The Bunny Bungalow today. They are preparing the back of the bungalow for the new French doors. The demolition crew had previously removed the door and three windows. Tall Husband is fearless; I'm not! I feel as though the bungalow is bruised and bleeding.

Bungalow Demolition...or Don't Watch While They Make the Sausage.

Sometimes things have to get really ugly before you can make them beautiful...a concept that is frightening to me. Yesterday, a great crew showed up to begin demolition on The Bunny Bungalow's kitchen. I didn't have the courage to take a peek until today. Tall Husband keeps reassuring me that the entire process and the skill with which the job is being managed and executed is beautiful.

OMG!! I hope the cake didn't fall.

Decades of wall coverings are exposed during demolition. Walls do talk and they say, "Tacky, tacky, tacky!"

Our Crew:

Production Contractors

Houston, Texas

281-265-6671

Never Say Never

Allegiance by Patrick Medrano

Tall Husband and I swore that we had enough art, that we would never buy another piece, however, we live dangerously close to art galleries...walking distance. We were out for an evening walk when we saw that the old Heights-Theater-cum-art-gallery was having an opening. What could it hurt to just look? Well, you are looking at our latest purchase, an edgy sculpture by Houston sculptor/painter Patrick Medrano.

There are additional photos at My Ranchburger blog of the piece after we installed it in the art niche in the garage/studio behind The Bunny Bungalow.

Welcome home, Baby!

Note: The piece is from Gallery M Squared in the historic Heights Theater. There is an interesting back story associated with the sculpture, which I'll reveal when I know the ending.

Moving In!

Architects: Rogers and Labarthe; Builder: DD&L Enterprises

It's finished! The garage/studio behind the Bunny Bungalow is finished and Tall Husband and I have begun to move in. Also, the hard scape, sprinkler system and French drains have been completed. Most of the landscaping is in. The new Adirondack chairs are on the screened second-floor porch. What a great place to sit and read or to chat with Tall Husband.

Gregory/Henry Landscape Design & Installation

The landscape architect had an antique-brick patio installed and our two crape myrtle trees moved...those trees are in their third location!

Jasmine is being trained to cover the fence and the old well is still with us. We are considering turning the well into a water feature and have inquired about an antique French pump.

See the back of the bungalow? The door and three windows on the right will be replaced by double French doors and a new porch. Oh, and that ugly gas meter will be moved.

Have a great weekend!

A big thanks to our friend, Mac (AKA Linda's Cute Husband) for moving all our boxes of books upstairs!!!

The Back House

The garage/studio, out behind The Bunny Bungalow, is so close to being completed! The second-story porch has been framed and is being painted today. Next, the porch will be screened in and a punch list of final items will be completed.

After the studio is ready for occupancy, we will move in, then begin remodeling on The Bunny Bungalow. So, I'm off to peruse the architect's plans for that project.

Link:

Rogers+Labarthe Architects

DD&L Enterprises (Builder)

Slide Show of the Construction Progress

Let's Be on the Level Here

Before Pfister

The Bunny Bungalow is being leveled (no, not demolished; just made level, so that when Tall Husband walks across the room he doesn't have to hang onto to me.) A great Houston Company, Pfister, is doing the leveling job today.

After Pfister

So, this is after Pfister. Why are you still hanging onto to me, Tall Husband? Awwww...gotta go now!

pfisterlevel@att.net

Lights, Camera...Front Door and More

The construction doors are gone and we now have the permanent doors to the garage/studio.

The exterior lights have been installed and outfitted with CFL lamps. All exterior lights are on timers. The new timers are tiny, programmable units built into the light switches.

The full view from the driveway of the garage/studio. Our builder took away his sign, as he kept getting calls from people wanting to rent the "garage apartment."

Work has also begun on The Bunny Bungalow: the old deck has been torn down and hauled away; temporary steps have been built; the architects have begun the design of the kitchen and bathrooms renovation; and the piers were straightened and reinforced. Landscaping design is also in progress.

Today, our contractor had the roofing company take out the flooring of the second-floor porch and redo, correcting a problem the architect discovered this week. Next, the ceiling fan will have to be raised so as not to give Tall Husband an unwanted haircut. The above porch will be screened.

When the garage/studio is completed, we will move out of the bungalow and into the studio while the bungalow's kitchen and bathrooms are renovated. Fun, fun, fun!

Have a great weekend.