Distraction #472

I lied, no Photoshop rendering quite yet. I'm easily distracted.

This week's distraction: interior colors. Here's a glimpse at the initial color scheme, I like where it's going!

Manuscript

Exciting news everyone - we may have nailed down a color for the house! I want to paint the front of the house this fall, followed by the back and sides next spring.

Knowing it has to compliment the red brick while not competing with the gray roof... "Manuscript" seems to provide the perfect balance... Soon enough, the paint will be up and will offset fresh white trim and a new black door!



Thoughts, concerns, suggestions?! In the words of my mother "nothing can look worse than what it is now"... fair enough, but I'm aiming for perfection. Photoshop rendering coming next... :-)

Grand plans

Hello all - with the trees gone and the sidewalk edged, I'm starting to see what the house really looks like from the outside!

The obvious benefit: I can start visualizing what the house will look like.

The problem: I don't have the funds, time, or manpower to act on that vision yet!

Luckily for me, I am perfectly content doodling, thinking, and planning until the appropriate time comes. Next step, I'm going to meet with a friend of mine who has his own landscaping business to discuss plant selection, sourcing, etc!

In the meantime, here's a sneak peak at the plans!...



*cough* did I mention demolition volunteers are also welcome at any time?! ;-)

Nice and neat

Avoiding turds like land mines, I managed to edge the entire front yard. The sidewalk is so much wider than I thought!!

Pet Waste Transmits Disease

I like to think I'm a nice person. But every time I have to pick up someone else's dog shit, I want to take that smelly slimy pet waste and smear it in their faces! Is that so wrong?!



I know the house is on a great street, perfect for walking dogs - but my yard is not a private dog park! What happened to common decency and respect?!

One more turd, and I'm placing my order...

Tree-hugger -> Tree-killer

Let me preface this post by explaining that these trees had lived good lives: 50+ years of meticulous pruning and evergreen vibrance. 50+ years of love and tender care. 50+ years of Christmas lights and adoration. 50+ years of air-purifying greatness...



...which is why - in a moment of weakness - I took out the saw and started hacking away at these yew-rrific beauties. It is true, they had lived wonderful lives and provided happiness to thousands of passersby. But good things often go sour, and these trees were starting to outstay their welcome. Their fallen needles were breeding grounds for disgusting little creepy crawlers. Their uppermost branches were just out of reach for pruning. Their scale had started killing the bushes around them and blocking any access to the gutters and walls.



It will be a while until I truly establish my landscape plans, but clearing these trees early has certainly opened up the front of the house and given me a clearer idea of the yard's potential. There are a few other large trees I hope to take out in the coming days, stay tuned for updates...

The Great Ranch Rebirth, on holiday

Hello all - my apologies, it's been much too long since my last posting. I've been traveling on a bit of a work-cation, and have not had the opportunity to do much on the house.

That said, I have been hard at work gathering insights and inspirations for future work, such as...


...dramatic night-time lighting (Milano)...


...vibrant color schemes (Nice)...


...lush annual plantings (Como)...


...understated garage ornamentation (Milano)...


...and water-view pools, of course(Bellagio).


Perfecto!