The Great Outdoors

we've worked really hard on the outside of our house to realize very small changes.  again, the house was virtually untouched since 1973, and it sat vacant for over a year.  everything structurally on this house is really nice.  the roof is some kind of 50 year "lifetime" roof (it's really cool), the ac is a huge really nice new unit, there's a new furnace and hot water heater.

and little things like these garage doors.  they're really super insulated.  everything's nice just not very pretty.  i can do that.  i can do asthetics.  structural things and remodeling are not things we can afford.

on the list of exterior home projects are new lights and painting the brick.   it'll probably be another year before i can decide on a color ;)

so here're the garage doors before:



they're beigeish cream and dirty and old.  i gave them a quick coat of primer and two coats of sherwin-williams-suggested outdoor paint in white.



then jon and i screwed these bad boys on.  one set per door.  home depot just under $13.



now we have that "carriage door" look that was going to cost $2600.  i know.  i priced it before settling on fakies.  they make "window" attachments that go on the top.  we're thinking of saving up for 'em too. they're $100 per door.  still significantly cheaper than new garage doors, but so charming!   it crossed my mind to paint faux windows on top, but i don't want it to look to arts and crafts projecty.



here's the front door when we were having the house inspected.  we quickly removed the storm doors and sold the bench on craigslist.  oh, and we took out that obnoxious bush plant thing there to the left.




and this is the front door now!  again, purchasing pretty new doors would be cool, but painted old doors are going down as "charming" once again.  the color is ben moore's "wyeth blue" though most people think they're green.

i should also note that a family of mice has taken up residence in the hay bails.  jon has set about to evict them since they don't pay rent.  so far he's caught one innocent little baby mouse in a horrific trap.  such a sad way to go.

also of note, all those big pumpkins are from our garden!