Team AngelaIt's Like Extreme Home Makeover: Angela Edition!

Visiting the house now is like opening a present- a little more is revealed every moment.

The sheetrock is in and the plaster is finished, which gives definition to the spaces. I keep wondering what I forgot to put in the walls.

The front hall just knocks me out. You can see it in the picture of Diana and our nephew Dante making their grand entrance at the front door (Diana is throwing her coat at the spot where the coat hooks will hang above a little bench at the half-wall; Dante is busy being Dante). It has plenty of space for Angela to maneuver, and it’s partially hidden from the rest of the house, but beyond that, it has that neat half wall and a small section of lowered ceiling (that you can’t see) that make it feel great. I can’t explain why- you’ll have to come in and see for yourself.

I’m so excited that the crawlspace is working just as designed (I know, I’m easily amused). The torrential rains of this spring have been kept at bay by a crushed stone drainage layer, innovative waterproofing, and a sump pump that discharges excess water at the back of the lot, fascinating kids and dogs alike when it runs. It’s a bigger deal than it first appears, because water never rests in its attempts to get into a house. Ever.

The space is dry despite the fact that we don’t have gutters yet, which means our gentle hip roof is dumping all of its water right at the foundation. Plus, the exterior grading isn’t done so rainwater that hits the ground runs straight at the house in a lot of places- a worst-case scenario. In the end it looks like it will stay warm and dry down there, which means no mold or mildew- key elements in maintaining excellent indoor air quality.

It’s almost time for the finishes and fixtures to be installed. Allison Krongel masterminded the selection of tile, countertops, and light fixtures, and everyone involved says they’re beautiful. I nodded a lot and tried to stay out of her way, as she understands exactly what we’re after and has far better taste than I do. She’s also more organized than I am (a shocker, I know).

The house has regular visitors from the neighborhood and beyond, which is neat. As Jimmy Trudo (our ace plumber) pointed out, its red cedar exterior and hip roof lines make it unlike anything in the neighborhood, so people are drawn to it. In fact they often walk in unannounced to give themselves a little tour. And since Henry turned the plan 90 degrees from the way most houses sit, the long body of the house runs front to back; that means what looks like a very compact Cape with a little el on the right, becomes a beautiful open space that unfolds as you move into the house. It creates a sense of surprise and discovery for everyone who walks in- even me!

One more thing: we’re thrilled with John Corsi, and Natalie Doyle, and Mike King and the rest of the crew that’s building this house. They’ve made the experience fun and exciting and rewarding, and kept the stress to an absolute minimum by simply taking care of whatever issues popped up. They know our story, understand what the house means to us, and have made this one of the great experiences of our lives. I can’t imagine doing this project with anyone else.