Each time we renovate there are some interesting discoveries. Some good and some bad.
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| Really? there were rotten boards underneath all that paint .... |
It's an old house, whaddya gonna do?
We're making excellent progress despite some glitches. The old gal is more brown than white these days.
But you have to see this....
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| pre-sanding |
Look very closely... somebody learned their alphabet.. that board is around waist height..
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| post-sanding |
Do you think they got into much trouble for that?
26 comments:
What a huge undertaking! You continue to make such impressive improvements. And I love seeing the history of the house right there on the boards...amazing.
How absolutely precious to find the alphabet carved in the board. Me...I would cut it out and save it if possible (or make it a feature and frame it). Look how the top of the B is so much larger than the bottom. We were taught opposite growing up.
I am loving the reno..and in fact...can see an ochre variant in your future. J knows the solid stain tint to chose. Make it warm though.
I am going to suggest that you save that board, what a unique piece of history.
Loving your old house, it must be a lot of work though.
Jen
Old houses have their challenges but what a beauty it will be gorgeous when you are finished with it. Well worth the work and worry.
That's awesome!. We've built 2 houses, leaving our mark in lots of different ways for future renovators to find. Be sure to leave your mark too :)
Your blue lawn is fabulous. I've planted squills and Puschkinia in mine, thinking of planting crocus this year, I'm going for the patchwork look.
How exciting it must be to be progressing so well. And I love the alphabet board. Perhaps whoever was practicing couldn't help themselves and they grew up to be a writer or journalist!
I have similar etchings into the beadboard in the front hall. I have often wondered just the same thing!
P.S. Be sure to pop around and enter to win a Loblaw's gift card.
A lot of older homes have some real finds. I think this is cute, hopefully it will stay.
I know some friends who started to fix plaster holes in the walls and found old photo's of farm animals inside the walls, old coke bottles, clothing, garden bean shells etc.
You are doing a very nice job of removing the paint. It will be worth it in the end.
How intriguing -- someone did alphabet practice on your siding. Oh, the stories . . .
That's awesome! I'd keep it. :o)
This is a massive job ! but what funny discoveries you are finding .. I hope more good than bad Marguerite : )
It is going to look amazing when you are almost done with it .. we know our homes are never "still" or finished .. there is always something more to move on to.
Hope you are going to have gorgeous weather for the long weekend .. we are so I HOPE to get some quality gardening done myself .. it is going to be a mad house around town .. that is the down side .. but hey .. beautiful weather .. a garden full of singing birds and plants to play with .. who could ask for anything more? LOL
Joy : )
Michelle, it's really surprising and cool the things we uncover as we make changes around here. Gotta love the history behind these old houses.
Brenda, we're actually going for paint again as there is no way to completely remove every trace of white paint. Well I suppose you could but OH MY the work! We're leaning toward some off white variations but keep changing our minds so who knows what will happen by the time summer ends!
The board is actually going to stay right where it is :) The sanding didn't erase the artwork so we'll leave it as is for future owners to admire.
challenges is right :) we do love this place though so every bit of work is worth it.
Melanie, one of the first things we did when we moved in was to carve our initials into some cement work that we had done. we're part of the history now.
I wonder too Sandy. How old is that alphabet? was it as recent as the last owners or does it go back much further? so entertaining to imagine the possibilities.
Just one more reason to love these old houses!
Our next door neighbour is also doing a major renovation, tons of liquor bottles found hidden in the walls! Just never know what you'll find. We're hoping that by doing such a thorough job sanding the paint will last a lot longer so hopefully this won't need to be done again anytime soon.
wish I knew a little more of the story but it's fun to guess the possibilities
Tammy, it's staying right where it is. We're quite happy to preserve it.
Joy, we've been very fortunate. This old house had some great work done before we bought it so there hasn't been anything disastrous found at this point (knock on wood!). As you mention though, there's always another chore to take on. sadly our long weekend looks COLD but there's work to be done no matter the weather, I'll just be digging beds with mittens on :)
That is too funny. I wonder who might have learned their ABC's this way and how long ago they wrote them.
What a great find, the history of the old house speaks! There is always so many interesting finds in old homes, and many don't take the time to ponder.... love that you posted this.
Marguerite!
As you may have gathered, I don't have the greenest of thumbs and take only a slight interest in gardening (although I did perk up seeing all your basil plants and that little red wagon!).
I love the look of your character home. It's something we wanted when we relocated here. We didn't quite get all the character we'd hoped for but our view is a fair trade off! I can't wait to see what you will do in terms of colour. Can you share or will it be a surprise!
that's the version that speaks to me. Part of the story of the house.
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