Fireplace Makeover: Part Three of Three

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I started freshening up and softening our large living room fireplace at the end of October here and here.

Brass trim painted black and surround painted white.

So far I painted the black and brass fireplace insert all black with high heat paint AND painted the terracotta tiles white using primer and a top coat.

Look closely — I stopped just above the tops of the sliding doors until we bring in some taller ladders.

In the meantime I put a pale color (Alabaster by Sherwin Williams) on the  2-story wall.  I have a plan for more color but that will come later.

A modern mantel — 72″ x 5.5″ x 9″

The next step in the fireplace refurbishment was to hang a mantel.  I looked online and was overwhelmed with the choices.  After reading hundreds of reviews of different mantels on different websites I selected Dogberry 72-in W x 5.5-in H x 9-in D Aged Oak Poplar Hollow Farmhouse Fireplace Mantel from Lowes. The very same mantel was available on Wayfair for $10 less but if it didn’t work out I could have returned it to Lowes more easily than mailing it back to Wayfair.

The mantel is securely installed. (Photo is before our furniture was delivered.)

With Charlie’s help we hung the mantel centering it over the fireplace and about 3″ above the tile.  Actually I looked at it at different heights and just eyeballed the installation which turned out to be 5 feet from the top of the hearth platform.

The fireplace has been painted and the mantel has been hung and adorned with some Greek items for Christmas.

After taking the risk of painting this tile fireplace I was in my devil-may-care mode and decided to make a truly avant garde design decision for the vertical space just above the floor which had originally been terracotta tile.

These 8″ tiles come is a mixed variety of shapes which look like sea spray to me.

I ordered 8″ by 8″ Big Sur tile in “Off the Hook” colorway to  underscore the entire area.

Before affixing the tile to the hearth I tried out a few different arrangements.

Before sticking the tiles down some of them needed to be trimmed at the top with a wet tile saw to make them fit under the rim of the horizontal painted tiles.

Charlie glued on the tiles in groups of 3.

We used tile adhesive to affix the squares to the wood backing all around the platform.  We snugged the tiles together because I did not want to grout them.

The brass screen picks up details in the rest of the decor.

I found a brass screen on Facebook Marketplace for $20 which brightens up the black hole. Ultimately I am very pleased with the outcome of this adventurous project.

Before (the original real estate photo)

After

The only thing that remains is to put the cherry on top.

Jo

Tiling the Fireplace Hearth

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After painting the terracotta fireplace white and adding a wood mantel I finally was able to tile the bottom of the hearth.

This project has been hanging over my head all winter.

I started the task with tiles that would fit without cutting.  I knew then I would love it.

The tile saw was easier to use than I expected.

I had been waiting most of the winter for weather warm enough to cut porcelain tile outside with a wet saw.

Before affixing the tile to the hearth I tried out a few different arrangements.

I decided which tile would go next to another.

Charlie helped adhere the tiles to the base of the hearth in tight places.

I also made a plan as to the order they should be attached to the hearth starting at the outside corners and working toward the inside corners.

Cutting tile requires a little finesse — I wouldn’t want to have to do this everyday.

Once I started cutting the tiles the installation went smoothly.  I cut half of the remaining tiles and Charlie installed them.

Charlie glued on the tiles in groups of 3.

The last area to be tiled was across the front which I cleaned up with a chisel before marking the tiles.

The final tile was at the inside corner between the woodstove and the fireplace.

Happily the rest of the tiles now fit without being trimmed (except in the last, most visible corner).

Waiting for the adhesive to fully set up.

Woo hoo!

I have more plans for this area.

I had a few extra tiles which I used to replace some of the terracotta ones on the hearth deck.

Jo

Moving Stuff Around

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The area under the stairs gets really dusty since the stairs have no risers.

The Young Chang fits perfectly under the stairs.

Charlie’s piano is under there and so is the internet hookup.

This little table was under the steps but now it’s in the downstairs bedroom.

I was also keeping my guitar and ukulele under there (in cases) and had changed out the blue stool for a small table.

Dash is always nearby to give assistance or advice.

I really wanted a closed cabinet but wasn’t sure the one we had would fit.  Happy day, it just fit snugly.

The router is easily accessed in the cabinet.

Charlie drilled a hole in the back so wires could feed through to the internet router.

Out of the way but handy.

I imagine Charlie will use any free space for music, his tuning equipment, and other music related items.

Jo

Utility Shelves in a Small Closet

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We have a small, strange closet in the back bedroom that I thought would be way more useful if it had a few shelves.

Shelves would improve the function of this closet.

This does not have to be a pretty closet as the inside isn’t finished and we’re not sure about the electric switch and capped lines that just end there.

Charlie took up the project for me since it involved huffing lumber around, using his circular saw, and being very particular about fit.

The shelves are not destined to hold a lot of weight.

Maximizing a piece of plywood that had been used in the built in king-sized bed that I took apart, he cut 3 shelves.

Charlie was careful to level the shelves in every direction.

Then he screwed 2 by 4s onto the side walls as supports.

The shelves were put in bottom to top.

The shelves were simply laid on the supports.

The middle shelf cannot be seen on the other side of the wall — the bright area is actually a vent.

Voila!

Shoe boxes, sewing supplies, and off-season bedding among other things will be stored in this closet.

More storage.

Jo

A Few Necessary Repairs

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I could have called this post: It’s Only Money.

Charlie noticed some frozen water on the outside of the house which turned out to be a leak in the kitchen.

While we do many repairs ourselves some things we leave to the experts.

The plumber replaced the broken gray lines with updated red and blue pipes.

A leak in the kitchen went behind both the refrigerator and the dishwasher.  Sadly we found out that the water lines, in the kitchen at least, are of an outdated type because they tend to burst.  Hoping the rest of them hold until we remodel the kitchen. Hundreds of dollars.

The whole heat pump contraption looks complicated to me.

Also on those very cold days one of our furnaces would not kick on so we called an HVAC company since we have electric heat pumps. The technician discovered we needed a new 3-ton heat pump.  Great! Thousands of dollars.

Charlie found a brand new flange among our supplies.

I discovered the final issue:  cold air coming under the door from the garage.

The door had weatherstripping around 3 sides and a new flange at the bottom.

Charlie attached a rubber door flange on the garage side of the door to block the incoming air.  It looked like there had formerly been something there which was gone. This totally fixed the issue. Zero dollars.  Whew!

Jo

House on the Market: SOLD!

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I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time — more than 6 months.

I am no longer the owner of the beautiful Glade where I have lived since 1997.

In the middle of January we had 3 offers to consider.  I accepted the one that reflected the offering price.

The morning light shines on the mini-meadow next to the greenhouse.

The new owners saw the property when there was snow on the ground; they have a beautiful spring to look forward to when the myriad dogwood trees come into bloom.

We emptied every room.

During February Charlie and I cleared out the house.

The movers wrapped each piece of furniture and carefully packed it on the truck.

We hired a company to move our big furniture.

Now we live on the edge of the brackish bay waters of the Chesapeake.

And on the first friday of March we closed on the sale.

Jo

March, 2025: Aims

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February was brutal! Bad weather, bad injury, and lots of waiting.  I’m looking forward to March’s milder weather to begin some of the tasks I put on the back burner now that we have fully moved into the house on the Chesapeake Bay.

In February we had a wet snow in the middle of the month on both sides of the bay.

Here are some tasks that must be attended to in March when the weather may finally be warm enough to work on projects that must take place, at least partially, outdoors.

  1. Take a road trip.

    The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC.

  2.  Set up the primary bedroom.

    We are a little further along than this.

  3. Have contractor begin work on downstairs bathroom.

    Need to get started.

  4. Research local theatre, activities, dance, and tai chi.

    We live in a remote spot with fewer nearby services than we’re accustomed to.

  5.  Start attending Bible study.

    Lots of small churches in our new neighborhood.

  6.  Begin Lenten devotions and fasting.
  7.  Work on fireplace tiles.

    This project has been hanging over my head all winter.

  8. Put shelves in back bedroom small closet.

    Shelves would improve the function of this closet.

  9.  Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word: BREATHE
  10.   Write a goal list for April, 2025.

Jo

February, 2025: Score

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February began with a lot of snowy/sleety frigid days which continued throughout the month.  The Glade was covered with mud most of the month while prospective buyers examined the house and the yard.

This original ceramic mug was one of my inspiration pieces for the colors at the Bay House — sand, sea, and sky.

Sadly I broke my favorite morning coffee mug on the first day of the month.

We had a wet snow in the middle of the month on both sides of the bay.

We made some progress on non-list items in February.

  • I visited my new dentist.  I went to my former dentist for 40 years.  Since we moved I knew I’d need a new one — he’s young enough to treat me until I no longer need a dentist.  Woo hoo!
  • I got a radical haircut.

    I was tired of fooling with hair below my shoulders.

  • I got a dog license for Dash in our new county.
  • We celebrated Dash’s 7th birthday with his buddy Rory.

    Rory was basking in the sun when I shot this photo of the boys.

  • I made arrangements for a springtime visit to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville.

    We’ll travel by car.

  • We celebrated my birthday.
  • I updated files at the cemetery where my family has been buried since the 1930s.

    My family’s graves are in a historic cemetery.

    I wanted to make sure nothing went away after 100 years — good news, everything remains status quo by Maryland law.

I got started on these tasks early in the short month and happily completed them all:

  1.  Upgrade the outdoor flood lights at the bay house.  I bought new fixtures and fell from the ladder while wiring them.

    Charlie was careful to chock the ladder.

    Charlie had to finish the job.

  2. Get 2024 tax information to our accountant.  I filled out the annual questionnaire and collected all pertinent paperwork for our tax return — 2024 was a busy year.
  3. Contact contractor for bathroom reno.

    Need to get started.

    We contacted a well-recommended contractor who took measurements and started putting our design in his computer.

  4.  Order bathroom fixtures.  I started from the bottom up with tile first, then furniture, then fixtures.

    Angora Geometric 12″ x 12″ Polished Marble Mosaic Floor and Wall Tile has been ordered for the bathroom floor. It will help determine the wall color.

  5.  Get a mani/pedi with a Christmas gift certificate from Charlie.

    2 and a half hours of nails.

  6.  Have furniture delivered to the new house.  Scheduled with Von Paris Moving and Storage who were efficient and reliable.

    Still lots to arrange but we have furniture.

    Not the cheapest but I would use them again.

  7.  Work on choosing exterior color for Bay House so we can start painting/staining in early spring.

    Something like this.

    I have decided on a dark blue stain.

  8.  Clear off kitchen counter.

    Before

    After

    This was the true challenge of the month but I have freed much of the kitchen counter that had been housing all sorts of disparate items.

  9.  Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word: APPRECIATE
  10.   Write a goal list for March, 2025.

Jo

Outdoor Floodlights

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Since our new house is on the water we have lots of outdoor lighting.

Much of our outdoor lighting adheres to “dark sky” rules.

The deck and dock are wired with electric lights.

Electric lights are wired all the way to the end of the dock.

Every bedroom has a deck overlooking the water and a floodlight to illuminate the area.

This is a dark area at night since there are no street lights.

The only area that was really lacking was the front of the house.

This old fixture doesn’t work very well.

There were lighting fixtures but they didn’t seem to work very well — either they stayed on all the time or came on when we walked by and quickly flipped off again.

Utilitech 180 -Degree 300 -Wattage Equivalent Hardwired Halogen White 2 -Head Motion-Activated Flood Light with Timer

These lights are on one switch so I decided to update both fixtures with a double light controlled by a motion sensor that only works when the light is low.  I was careful to find a fixture that would work with LED bulbs.  (The fixtures at The Glade started to flicker when I replaced incandescent bulbs with LEDs.)

Before the fall.

While I was up 2 stories on the ladder leaning against the house, the ladder slid to the ground with me on it.  Although I am very sore in everyplace you can imagine I am able to walk.

Charlie was careful to chock the ladder.

Charlie has taken over the final installation.

The front of the house is now well lit even at night.

Now when we drive in at night or walk around the property after dark we get some illumination without having to intentionally turn on the switch.

Jo

Travel Plans: 2025

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So far this year we’ve been staying close to home.  Since last July we’ve actually had 2 main residences: one we’re moving to and one we’re moving from.

The Glade —  soon in the hands of a new owner.

They’ve taken up much of our time and energy.

Our new home.

It seems that we’ll soon be the proud owners of ONLY ONE house so I have turned my thoughts to some relatively simple travel.

Southern BBQ with all the fixins is on the menu.

I have not made travel plans in the order in which we plan to travel.  Some ideas take longer to establish.  Our first trip (and the one I organized most recently) is a 5-day road trip next month — Asheville, North Carolina.

The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC.

We’ll be staying at the Biltmore Estate hotel where we expect to tour and enjoy the house and grounds. (Last summer we daytripped multiple times to the duPont estates in New Jersey.)

These wild ponies will be herded and vetted then swim from Assateague to Chincoteague.

In midsummer we’re headed to Chincoteague Island to watch the annual pony swim and auction.  Chincoteague is in Virginia but the ponies come from Assateague Island which is mostly in Maryland.

We’re hoping to see some whales.

Finally in early fall for our wedding anniversary we’re cruising round-trip from Baltimore Harbor up the East Coast to Canada.

The humpback whale is the most prevalent species in that area at that time of year.

I’m hoping to see some frolicking whales so I can mark whale-watching off my 101 in 1001 list.

Baltimore Cruise Port

I’ll post more details as they emerge for each trip.  We’ll be doing some things we’ve never experienced before so I’m really looking forward to all the excursions.

Jo