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.

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.

And The Paint Goes On

This week the exterior paint went on. Our Contractor matched the paint to The Bunny Bungalow...green and tan, sort of a Ralph-Lauren-does-Arts-&-Crafts look.

She's Come Undone!

February 3, 2010

Yikes! What happened to the wrap? It seems that the Structural Engineer visited the construction site and decided that more nails and metal bracing had to be added to the structure...remember we have hurricanes in these parts. So off came the Tyvek and on went the heavy metal. This little puppy won't fly!

There are more photos of the...hold on!... AC and spacing of the eves in the slide show to the right.

Wednesday's Shot

Wednesday, the Builder, the Architect, Tall Husband and I had our weekly meeting at The Bunny Bungalow to discuss the progress and the next steps in the construction of the garage/studio out behind the Bungalow. There were some tense moments, as the architect found some things that were not executed according to her plans. I'm so glad we asked our architects to oversee the project...it's worth the extra expense. Plus, we have a great builder, so we know he'll get things corrected.

See that little crape myrtle in the right foreground? It is one of three that we had professionally transplanted to make way for the garage/studio. Let's hope they all bloom this summer!

Note: As usual, there are more photos in the slide show to the right.

View From the Rear Window

View from the rear window. The window will be much larger when the construction crew cuts out the section.

Tall Husband inspects the construction progress at the garage/studio behind the Bunny Bungalow.

Note: Additional photos are in the slide show on the right of this posting.

Slab Happy

The slab for the garage/studio is completed. This morning the workmen remove the wooden forms. Miraculously, no dogs, cats or children left their paw prints.

Houston, We Have a Freeze!

The pad has been prepared, at just $4,600 over budget for this item (remember the "water bed" soil that had to be augmented?)

The slab was to have been poured this week; however, the temperature is in the teens...unusual for semi-tropical Houston. So, the pouring of the cement is postponed until next week. Monday, we hope.

Curious Cat Visits the Construction Site

Today, a curious cat visited the construction site at the Bunny Bungalow. Tall Husband spotted her from the kitchen window as she inspected each change that had taken place since she last prowled these grounds.

She is, perhaps, wondering why we are building over her huge sand box.

She strikes a dainty pose...

then takes her leave.

Note: These photos were shot through 90-year-old window glass.

Porta What?

A new photo has been added to the slide show (right) about construction at The Bunny Bungalow...a portable toilet was delivered today. Who could have known that Tall Husband and I would be so happy about such an arrival?!

P.S. I'm a really happy woman today...the post surgical swelling in my left hand has decreased, so I can wear my wedding ring. I'm married again!

There's a Cat Tearing up my Back Yard

As you may know, Tall Husband and I have two homes in Houston and due to pending retirement and the economy, we have been faced with making a choice. It was a long and tough decision process but thanks to the encouragement and advice from so many of you, we have chosen between My Ranchburger and our weekend house, The Bunny Bungalow. The Bungalow will be our full time home. Since it is so tiny, we hired great architects and a builder to design and build a garage/studio out back. We did not want to add on to the bungalow, as we want to keep its original 1920 beautifully simple design.

You can follow our progress and adventures via a slide show right here on this blog, in the right hand column. Meanwhile, we're both bugeyed!