This was a very ambitious project for this timeline... and with two major migraines... and a week of sick kids. While the attic didn't get as far as I had hoped, I am extremely happy with the work I've done, and the progress we've already made! Just looking at our insulation, we made major gains keeping our heat in. Through our solar array, I can see our energy usage down to 15-minute increments. The added insulation has so far saved us about 20 kwh per day, and we haven't gotten to the real cold that is sure to come! It's not the pretty parts of this project, but it's a huge step toward making this house really work for us. As this is One Room Challenge Finale week, make sure to head over to check out the projects that are wrapping up, and all the details to come! Meanwhile, I'll still be working on making the attic usable space, building a pocket door jamb with a salvaged door, and incorporating a ton of built in storage. To see all the progress here over the last eight weeks, catch up here: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 The DoorMy biggest accomplishment was finishing the door move. When I worked on the kids' room this summer, I started the process of moving the attic access from their room into the dining room. Moving the door was one of the most stressful parts of that project, but it has already changed the way our house functions for the better. Storage is much easier to access, and there is no awkward turn at the bottom of the stairs. In the last two weeks, I've completely finished the door with repurposed and salvage hardware as well as a few new pieces from Charleston Hardware. I elected to make this door a dummy ball latch instead of the typical turn knob just in case a fall down the stairs lands someone into the door. I'd rather it open than cause injury (been there!). The casings are all stained to match the rest of the dining room, and the remaining bits of original baseboards are back installed. It's been a challenging and incredible change. InsulationWhile I'm happiest with my millwork, the most important change I made to the attic was getting it insulated. It isn't pretty, but it's vital to how our house functions. With the data from our energy audit, we had a really good idea of what to do next, and I'm glad we could make some big gains in it too. The mixed-type insulation was definitely an interesting way to do things, and I'm really glad we were able to get what we needed laid out in the eaves before things got too cold upstairs. With the extra rigid insulation, I'm lucky to be able to put off the window install until spring. The StairsWhile the stairway isn't yet the glamorous bannister-clad walkway of my dreams, I have to consider both the overall budget in building it and what will work for the stairs long-term. I'm very happy with the bead board wall, and I love seeing it as I peek through the door glass toward the stairs. It's a really lovely moment. I do have a stair runner ready to go when I'm ready to install it, and it'll be just the right touch with the stair colors and the wallpaper. The Dining Room "Side Quest"Since the attic access is more directly related the dining room than the attic, I took the time the last few weeks to get the dining room buttoned up. We had quite the time this year with the dining room, from installing colonnades to finding placement of long-gone plate rail... It's been quite the adventure.
With the new door finished and the stains at the ready, I wrapped the rest of the dining room millwork around the colonnades. Since that was one of the last big things to do before this room could really be considered complete, I did that with the door casings. Half of the walls had been repaired, skimmed, and primed this summer, and I completed the second half late last week. Then, all that was really left was a fresh coat of paint. Like the basement library, I went with Sherwin Williams Riverway (6222). It's perfect. A great dark balance to the pools of light that we now get in this dining room.
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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
January 2025
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