One of the big things we did when we put in the basement bathroom back in 2022 was to add a little nook for laundry machines at the back of the space. The layout of the bathroom space was particularly tricky… since it was a storage/laundry room that also housed the electrical panel. Since an electrical panel can’t be in the bathroom, we split the room in half and created a little nook for a stackable washer and dryer.
Planning for the bathroom project can be found here and the reveal can be found here! As progress went on, the laundry hall got some attention here. Even though that was a while ago… we waited for the right machines to come along, and it turns out that’s just one laundry machine.
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As promised when I installed the new door last autumn, I'm moving ahead with a review of our smart deadbolt: Schlage Encode. This product was not sponsored in anyway, and all experiences are fully my own.
So far, it's been a great addition to our front entry. For the first time since moving in, we actually have a deadbolt that works! And with our precocious three-year-olds... this one is definitely keeping them in while giving the big kids a little more flexibility as they get older. We mostly use the basic function with a programmable code to get into the house, and a simple tap on the lock button to secure the door when we leave. With the antique doorknob and some aggressive winter winds, we also relied on the deadbolt to keep the door tightly closed this winter. Last time I wrote about our solar system, I wrote mostly about the process of getting solar on our roof, but not much about the system itself. So, this is more on the system and the science! I've wanted solar since I was my kids' age, so this process has been really cool to see unfold on our rooftop.
Solar science is really interesting, and it's gave me even more incentive to understand more about electricity and how it is delivered. Particularly direct current (DC). I understand alternating current (AC) pretty well, but I'm a little fuzzy on how DC works! Well, I've finally done it! I swear, I have wanted to add rooftop solar since I found out the technology existed when I was a kid. Probably from watching Bill Nye or The Magic School Bus. Either way, it's been on the list of things I wanted to do for right around thirty years, and we finally got there. Even just going back to our old books about how electricity is made reinforced the idea that what we were doing back in the 80s and 90s couldn't last forever.
Going solar isn't without its troubles though; I want to start by writing that even being able to do so comes with a huge dose of economic and financial privilege. It's almost impossible to get solar on a home that isn't owner-occupied in our state. Each company that we talked to asked multiple times if we owned or were renting and if we planned to stay here long-term. Since both are true, getting set up was a much easier process. I'm not sure an installer would have approved our project with financing if we didn't meet those conditions. And financing a project this big -even with the IRA tax credit- is definitely necessary. Full financial break down is in this post! It's been a full year since our house went fully-electric! With the new systems, there have been some struggles. When we replaced the HVAC last year, we also went through a full house rewire, but haven't had a chance to completely reinsulate the attic yet! So, I'll have a two-year follow up as well that will go over our energy usage after we revamp the insulation as part of the attic project.
That project is just barely underway, and we're definitely looking forward to having the space usable year-round even to help bolster our storage capacity. More on that later! |
Katie SwansonI am a parent, creative spirit, and old house lover. My big passions are sustainable design and preservation. Bringing these together is key to moving existing homes into the future. * By subscribing to the monthly newsletter, you consent to receive links this month's blog posts and other relevant blog updates, a round up of things I love, and as a throwback to my DIY days, I may toss in an exclusive knit or crochet pattern of mine. Archives
May 2024
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