Big House Blog

One of the many rotting beams.

2010-12-26T11:50:00.004-06:00

Here is one of several rotten beams we found. This one was under the side door on the North side of the house. A porch had been built here but wasn't flashed properly causing water to run down on the beam for years. Had to tear it out and replace it.

Paint and trim work in Guest Bedroom

2010-12-26T11:33:00.006-06:00

Well we got the guest bedroom painted and the trim work done. Now just need a little final touch-up painting and the carpet. Damn it feels good to be getting some things almost completed.

More work on the Master Bedroom

2010-12-26T11:17:00.005-06:00

Getting closer on the master bedroom. Here are some shots of the beaded ceiling that Trey helped me put in along with shots of Terri hanging wallpaper and border. Got the accent lights in and the you can see the partially finished product.

Kitchen Double Beaded Ceiling

2010-03-20T20:50:00.003-05:00

Here is the center of the kitchen ceiling. Sheet rock on the sides but the center section is double beaded wood. Several shots of the progress.

Pantry Wall

2010-03-20T20:47:00.002-05:00

This is the pantry wall with the hole for the microwave. First shot is just the framed up wall then covered with OSB. Sheet rock to follow.

Terri's Closet/Dressing Room/Washroom

2010-03-20T20:18:00.003-05:00

Here is Terri's closet/dressing room/utility room. It was a bedroom that had a large closet in one end. We opened up part of the wall between the room and closet. The washer and dryer will go in what was once the closet. The rest will be for Terri's stuff.

Guest Suite

2010-02-22T20:03:00.007-06:00

Click on the image to see a full view.

I want my guests to be comfortable and have privacy if needed. We decided to enlarge the opening to the guest room and basically do a quasi-mirror image of the master suite sans the washroom, large closet, and screened porch. It does have an entry that can be closed off to the rest of the house for privacy.
First shot is of the entry to the guest suite. The next two are of the guestroom itself and the last two are of the guest bath.

Kitchen Area

2010-02-22T19:33:00.005-06:00

Click on image to see a larger view.

I've been really dreading starting the kitchen project. We tore out the old utility room and ceiling. I also removed the old kitchen counter top and upper cabinets. It really opened up the whole downstairs. Talk about open concept. The greatroom/kitchen will contain over 1000 square feet. There will be a cooking/sink/dishwasher island in the center. Refrigerator and cabinets/counter on the back wall. The pantry will be just to right with part of it extending under the staircase. Don't have pictures of it, but the bottoms of the support beams were rotten and had to be cut off and repaired. I also had to reposition on support to open up the kitchen area.
First shot is a full view of the greatroom/kitchen. The others are of the kitchen and pantry area.

Master Bedroom

2010-02-22T19:21:00.010-06:00

Click on the picture to see a large view.

I know I've been away too long but will try to catch up now. Here are a few shots of the master bedroom. The first shot is the entryway leading to the master suite. It is totally separated from the rest of the house for privacy. Next is a south to north view showing the entrance to my closet in the end. The indention at the top of the wall is a shelf to be used for some type of decoration. The last two views are in the opposite direction showing the double French doors that will lead out to a private screened porch just for the master suite. You can also see the entrance to Terri's closet/dressing room. The washroom is also in one end of this closet. Don't worry, its plenty big. Including the porch, the master suite will have somewhere in the neighborhood of 1000 square feet. Hell that's bigger than my entire first house. Almost forgot. The ceiling in the master bedroom will be double beaded planking.

Grand Entry-way Re-do.

2009-04-05T20:29:00.004-05:00

We decided to re-do the entry hall. The library had a very small 32 inch door in contrast to the 8 foot entry into the office. With the 13 foot ceilings and nothing to break the wall up, it looked like a tunnel. We decided to enlarge the opening into the library to match that of the office. We also put Wainscoting up to break the wall up. Terri plans to texture above the Wainscoting and hang family pictures. We think it opened things up and gives it a more even appearance. We like it.

Office is almost done.

2009-04-05T20:24:00.001-05:00

Well we are almost done in the office. Ran out of "double beaded" ceiling lumber before I finished and we still need to do the electrical, trim work, clear coat, and sand the floors. Well maybe not almost done, but getting there. Here are a few pictures from different angles of the work so far.

A couple of pictures of Terri Working.

2009-01-18T21:09:00.003-06:00

Here are a few shots of Terri putting in some time. The first is her cleaning up the stained glass windows in the office, in the second she is puttying nail holes in the bathroom to get ready for the final paint job, and in the third she is cleaning up a mess.

Terri's closet and laundry room.

2009-01-18T20:56:00.005-06:00

These few pics are of what is becoming the laundry room/Terri's closet/dressing room. It was originally my parents bedroom and closet. I have taken out part of the wall between the bedroom and closet. The washer and dryer will hide behind the part of the wall I left. I also moved one water heater into here. It is a 50 gallon and will be used by the master bath and washing machine only. The kitchen and guest bath will be on a separate water heater and the upstairs bath will also be isolated.

The first three pictures are of the laundry room area.

The last picture is looking from the laundry room into the dressing room/closet area. I plan to build a wall across the back of the room creating a closet for hanging clothes and shoes. It will be lined in cedar.

Keep checking back and please leave comments.

Office

2009-01-11T17:11:00.002-06:00

Here are a few pictures of what was the formal dining room and what will become our office. I didn't get any truly before pictures so these partially torn out and re-built will have to do. Notice the stained glass windows in the top of the west wall. These came out of my great-grandmother's house in Timpson. The house was built in 1896 I think as a wedding gift to her from her fiancee' Thomas Augustus Trammell. I plan to cover the walls in wood and we are going to tear out the carpet and re-finish the hardwood floors.
Keep checking back, as I will add from time to time.

More of Master Bath

2009-01-01T10:28:00.003-06:00

I guess I should really start by saying that it is not a master bath in the sense that it has jacuzzi tub, bidet, double sinks, shower, and closet area. It is just a small country home bathroom. I really should re-name it the main bath, but it is all we need or want. After all there will be another bath downstairs, one upstairs, and one out by the pool (when we get that put in).
These are a few more pics of the almost finished bath.

Pic 1) The wall of the shower with the spindles at the top.
Pic 2) The back corner where the toilet goes.
Pic 3) The lavatory.

And a few more from the other side.

2009-01-01T07:48:00.001-06:00

Didn't realize I was limited to five pics per post, so here are a few more from the other side of the house.

More shots of the outside.

2009-01-01T07:34:00.002-06:00

Here are several more shots of the outside of the house from several different angles. As you can tell from the construction debris, lumber, and tools, renovation has begun in earnest. I'll try and get some more shots of the inside up hopefully later today.

Master Bath

2008-12-29T21:47:00.009-06:00

First two pictures are of the floor that was rotten from years of leaky toilets and showers. I had to cut the floor completely out and replace it. The next two pictures are of the almost finished shower. You really can't see the walls. The spindles at the top of the shower wall were found in a bucket in the back yard. We salvaged several of the best and Terri cleaned them up. We thought they gave a nice touch to the decor. The bath is almost finished now and I'll upload some finished pictures soon.

Picture of "Big House".

2008-12-29T20:33:00.003-06:00

This is a picture of the front of the house. To give you some idea as to the scale of the house, it is 30 feet wide not counting the porch. At the time of this picture, there were 6 bedrooms (3 upstairs), and 3 baths(1 upstairs), a library, a formal dining room, a den/kitchen/breakfast room/great room, a large laundry room/pantry, an upstairs den, and tons of storage. Grand total of @ 5000 square feet. We are going to move the laundry room to one of the downstairs bedrooms and enlarge the great room to @ 30' X 40'. The downstairs has 13 foot ceilings. The formal dining room will become our office and the library will stay as is. We really don't need or want a formal dining room.

Here is the first picture, and more will follow. Thanks for looking.

Introduction

2008-12-29T20:14:00.003-06:00

By introduction, this blog will be used to chronicle the trials, tribulations, and epitaths, of the continuing renovation of what is known in our family as the "Big House". With the death of my father on March 5, 2008, my wife Terri and I purchased the family home from his widow. (My mother died in 1994.) Our original plans were to make some quick fixes and move on in. But as is usually the case and with apologies to J. M. Tennett, "the best laid plans of mice and men gang aft aglay". Upon further inspection it was discovered that there was extensive damage to the floors and support beams from not only water but neglect. My dad tended to cover up damage rather than repair it. Well that's just life soooooooo; after much gnashing of the teeth and numerous ugly words (all from Terri as I would never talk like that) it was decided that we would rip it out and build it right and that is what we are doing now.
I invite any comments, criticisms, and suggestions. Please check back often and keep up with our progress.

I will have some pictures up in the next few days.

Thanks and check back with us,

Tom and Terri Hooper