Life before Mid Century Modern

and what we've learned along the way.

Before we moved into town we lived here.

(click on photo for detail)

We raised our kids here and learned

a few things along the way.

We learned what we can live with...

and a few things we can live without.

A comfortable outdoor space

is at the top of our list.

We lived on this deck most of the year.

One can never have too many twinkie lights

and an outdoor fireplace or fire pit really

extends the outdoor season.

We grew herbs and tomatoes in containers right

outside the dining room door.

It was very convenient and the breeze

sent delicious fragrances inside.

I love the smell of basil.

We love big windows, lots of them, and

rooms that open to the outdoors, and to each other.

Shortly after we moved in, we removed the wall

that divided the dining area

and the living room.

We also took out a slate wall

and wood stove that was where the

large middle window is..

I'm not sure what our style was then.

I think we were moving from "southwest"

to "mediterranean" via mexican restaurant(ish).

We added the wainscotting and painted it lime green.

People either were totally puzzled by the

color scheme or they really liked it.

We learned to be daring with color.

If we didn't like it, we could paint over it.

I painted our dining room table black

and the window sills red.

I loved opening the french doors in the

dining room while I cooked.

It brought in the view and a nice

breeze on the warm summer days.

We bought a tile cutter and learned how to tile.

The floor in the master bath

was my first tile project.

Chuck did the shower.

I attempted to and felt like Lucy Ricardo.

The tiles kept sliding down the wall

and I was holding them up with

both feet and both hands.

I used the leftover tile

to tile a little niche where

the medicine cabinet was removed.

We learned that we probably will

not have this much tile in our next home.

Grout is not my friend.

I don't want to be stooped over a tub

scrubbing grout when I'm eighty.

We'll go for the solid surface shower

surround next time around.

Low maintenance is where it's at.

We learned that if you have good redwood decking

that has been painted and doesn't look so great anymore,

you can flip the boards over and it will look new again.

From that we learned we will not have any

decking in our next home.

It will be ground level with patios or

decomposed granite.

Decks are too much maintenance.

We also learned that we like kitchen islands....

even if they're tiny.