It really is astounding, even for a house as simple and tiny as ours, the complexity of details, materials, and timing of building a house. For instance, in order to insulate our house with dense-pack cellulose, we first need to wire for (solar) electricity, put up the exterior siding, and install the wood stove and chimney. To install the wood stove, the stove pipe needs to be ordered, a platform constructed, then tiled, then trimmed, then grouted, and so on and so forth.
And so Brian plugs along daily: sourcing, ordering, and gathering materials, sketching plans for electrical wiring, consulting with online forums, videos, and friends.
Occasionally, my skills come into play – making decisions, selecting materials, brainstorming the layout of the house – and even more occasionally, I have the opportunity to actually help build. I have always wanted to plug into the interior work of the house. Truth be told, I’m just not that into framing or siding or making complex measurements. But I love creating beautiful spaces, have a good brain for details, and I’m neat and organized. Tiling really appeals to each of these assets.
Ta da!
We found this gorgeous stone (possibly limestone) tile at a Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Columbia. We were able to get two boxes for $10! In a day or two we’ll grout the tile, and then we can install our beloved wood stove.
And on the outside of the house…
It’s so beautiful! This is some of the reclaimed barn wood that Brian’s been collecting and purchasing over the past few months. Some of it was ready to cut to size, but other pieces were rotting on the ends and the good parts needed to be rescued from the center. Two sides of the house are just about complete.
Our timeline is still very tight, but we’re moving along, making good progress each day.
Love the barn board!! It’s so dang fitting for that perfect little rustic house.
Repurposing is the way to go, right? Good materials, fraction of the cost, and keeps it all out of the landfill. Plus, it tends to have more character than the hum-drum taupe blah-blah tile found at the local megalopolous store.
Of course you can’t build it all from rescued and repurposed, but what you can use looks awesome!
Thank you, and I completely agree! Brian actually sided the front of the house today and it looks so great! It’s all reclaimed barn wood as well, but from a different barn. Has some quirks to it, but I think it adds a lot of charm.
The siding is absolutely gorgeous! I love the variation of colors – and it looks so cozy (if an exterior can look cozy – lol)! Those tiles are beautiful also! Well done!
Thank you! I do agree that it looks cozy.
How are you “weather-proofing” the barn board? Or do you just put it up? Your blog gives me such inspiration, and something to dream about. 🙂
This barn wood is probably over 100 years old, so it’s already shrunk to size, and Brian installed it very close fitting, so it should be fine as a weather barrier. We put tar paper underneath, as I’m sure you probably saw in some older photos.
You have made so much progress. It’s wonderful watching it all come together.
Thank you! It is fun from our end too, although a lot slower!