Street Side Front Porch | One Room Challenge Week 4

It’s week four of the One Room Challenge, and finally, I have progress to share. Last week, I was open about my shaky start due to our neverending winter. I asked for reader advice about how to move forward, and so many of you encouraged me to keep going. Most of you wanted to see me continue working and if necessary, reveal an incomplete project at the end of the six weeks. So, that’s precisely what I am doing. Right now, I am on track to complete the construction portion of the Street Side Front Porch. Having time to decorate and style will be icing on the cake. I remain cautiously optimistic.

In some ways, reducing the project down from six weeks to three weeks has been perfect. Week four is typically a stressful one as the deadline looms. However, I have already worked through the week four angst during the weeks that I missed. Now, I am in the focused and determined phase that often follows a complete melt-down. I may be onto something here. Perhaps, I should start each ORC with a panic attack and move on from there.

Painting

The bulk of my time this past week has been spent painting. I am about 85% done, and I plan to finish up today. My project plan has been to work from the top down, so when I install the floor, the only thing left construction-wise is touching up the paint. Working in this order will protect the new floor from drips and spills.

Details

Even though we often schedule the details last, this is a bit of a haphazard project. With Andy’s travel schedule, and my plan to work from the top down, we have jumped forward with a few small projects such as the doorbell installation and hanging the new light fixture.

I love this little doorbell. It is such an upgrade from our old one.

For one, the button is intact, so no one gets poked with sharp bits of plastic when they ring the bell. But aside from a functionality standpoint, it is solid brass, and it makes me happy. I’ve got nothing more profound than that right now. My thoughts are all shallow ones.

Unfortunately, the light fixture arrived missing a decorative piece, and we did not know until it was already hanging on the wall. I contacted House of Antique Hardware where we bought the light, and they are on the case.

The Floor

The new floor is scheduled starting tomorrow, and it will end when I am done. In other words, I have no idea how long it will take. Although I have not started on the labor portion, I have spent a ton of time researching the process and purchasing supplies.

Last Monday, I borrowed a truck from my friends and drove to the lumberyard to pick up the tongue and groove teak boards. They are currently acclimating to life at BHH.

In a future post, I will write about how we settled on Cumaru instead of something more historically accurate. Until then, please know that we thought long and hard before we bought exotic hardwood.

Well, that’s it. I have done three week’s worth of work in one week, and it feels good.

Until next time, please visit the One Room Challenge website to view the projects from the featured designers and the other guest participants like us.  Because I am so behind, I have missed following a ton of projects this round. It will feel great when this is all behind me, and I can grab a cup of coffee and catch up with all of my blog friends and make some new ones too. Don’t be me. Start reading today. You won’t regret it.

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Start at the beginning:
week 1 | week 2 | week 3 | week 4 | week 5 | week 6

PS: Here are the links to our past ORC projects:
Breakfast Nook | Library | Dining Room | Kitchen Pantry