Old House My House

Could you please tell me what vendors you used for those great second floor interior wooden shutters? You mentioned somerwhere in Indiana. Thanks for your help.
Enjoy the project very much.

Hi Bryan,

here's the info on the shutters:

Custom Wood Cafe Shutters
Supplier:
Budget Blinds, Inc.
1927 N. Glassell St.
Orange, CA 92865-4313
tel. 714-637-2100
www.budgetblinds.com/ProductRomanShades.aspx

Manufacturer:
Lafayette Interior Fashions

In the future, you can go on to thisoldhouse.com and under "Television Programs" on the left, you can click on "Products and Services Seen on TV" to find anything from either of the shows.

Chris, I'm curious about your 3rd floor laundry with the wonderful front-loading machines. I have been told I shouldn't get them for my second-floor laundry due to excessive vibration. Everything I've read says they need to be on a cement slab. Was there any discussion of this at your place? There was no mention of it on the program.

Did you really stay within your $250,000.00 budget? or did you run just a little bit over. I'd guess you ran over by quite a bit for all the work that was done to the house. I have remodeled my home exstensivley over the past ten years doing most of the work my self and I have a pretty good idea what you can get done for that amount of money. Whatever it cost you it looks great and it preserved a older house.

What were the brands and colors of paint you used in your kitchen? I live in Va. Beach close to the bay and I would like to use your colors, if you don't mind.

I really enjoyed your show most of all.

Thanks.

Why are the after floor plans not posted. It would be nice to compare them with the photos.

Thanks, love the house as it reminds me of homes in my hometown.

I am interested in how you did the two separate entrance ways both enclosed. One up and one down. Nothing shows on how the up was done. Thanks for the info.

Hi to Robin Kaspar...have been out of the country, hence no earlier response....the washing machine and dryer are great...I never heard of them having to be on cement...obviously we didn't have that being on the 3rd floor and all...wow..I wd think that wd make them shimmer and shake but what do I know?? I really thought they were way over the top...but of course, I now love them...also, at first, they reminded me of so many years at the laundromat with the front load style but that faded quickly....so, do i have the answer? no! just describing my sentiments...anyone else out there know anything re: cement bottoms?? I only charge 70cents per pound!!!

Hi Bryan...glad that Alex had the info for you..you're right..THE SHUTTERS ARE GORGEOUS...I'm not kidding...such a beautiful finishing touch for the project...I always thought the shutter look was great...but having the ones that I have really has made a difference in how the light is controlled...and it gives it such a clean look and of course i bought one of those old fashioned hand dusters and just glide it over them...I'm sure there is a real and better way to clean them but so far very little dust...look into getting them as i can really tout how great they are...I sound like an ad for them but I am serious!!! Chris

Hi Paul, I'm not ducking the yuk yuk $64,000 question re: whether we went over budget...Liz was steadfast when she negotiated with everyone in the beginning...$250,000 and that was the bottom line.....I am sure that Tom has not fed his family since the project as he was very kind and probably took a bath (without the bubbles)...you have to remember that it was not a "normal" home projet and that we got he BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK...no doubt... but it was still very costly by our standards....The extra stuff that came up, i.e the roof was negotiated with suppliers etc. BUT the caveat is that we will be paying taxes on the donations. Other things came into play i.e. I wanted a whirlpool in my bathtub (like I ever dreamt of that previously!) They brought me in and told me that it wasn't affordable...then I wanted a fireplace in the kitchen...I thought I was on Queen For A Day! Our back hallway is the same as it was before which adds a lot of soul and comparison to the new...paint stains on the floor, etc. the extra room where we put the piano, sofa and big stuff so that they could strip the floors went undone..no time, $ .. but I am working on it myself right now...painting the floor white, adding old cornices, etc. Yes, the reality spars with the dreams...everyone involved went way over and beyond for us..I'm sure at times they realized that we really didn't have the money to go way over the top...alot of stuff that was there was used which was great...I kept my old sofa and new pillows were placed accordingly....to bring it up to snuff....I can only imagine what it would have cost had we tried to do it ourselves... be proud that you did your own repairs and renovations....ther is such a sense of pride and accomplishment...and the thing is... a HOUSE IS NEVER FULLY DONE...what fun would it be otherwise??

What type of stove is in the downstairs kitchen--we missed the info and I can not find it on the web site--it would go great in my kitchen--thanks

Hi Chris,
I just finished watching the last episode and house looks terrific. I was wondering if you can tell me where you found the coffee/cocktail table in your TV area. I looked on Circle Furniture and could not find it. I am trying to do a beach theme in my family room and the idea of the table with beach items is great. Any information you have would be great.
Thanks so much!

Hi to Helene....the paint for our kitchen which was approved by Kathy Marshall (Kitchen designer_ and Lisey Good (Decorator) and applied by Buzzy and his crew from Zimco in NH and donated by Sherwin Williams was Ta Da.........Sandpiper #8068 (Martha Stewart Signature) It is great... I never wd have thought of putting a "beige" in the kitchen..I always leaned towards yellow/blue..it is fab...ebjoy! Plus it looks so unique when the sun circulates...chris

Hi to Trevor

yeh..what floor plans?? we had some done, and then Craig helped with some of the stuff...but, honestly, there weren't any REAL floor plans...I am sure there are somehwere i.e Tom/Norm but for us it was more"Whay we wanted, what we could have, and what was agreed upon" and then voila!...anything in particular that the "lads" could answer vs. the layperson???

hi Sunny...I know..if I wasn;t familiar with a good old fashioned blue collar 2 family iy wd be hard to figure out....nothing changed with the entryways...they are always as they have been...but they are is as basic as you can get...looking at the front of the house..there are two doors...the one on the left (Liz's) is all on one floor..(Whaddaayaknow?) then going into the other entryway, there is a staircase on the far right side...when you get to the top it is the same floor plan/layout as the bottom floor..tricky, huh??? Not really..but they did build them that way around here...chris

Hi to Trevor

yeh..what floor plans?? we had some done, and then Craig helped with some of the stuff...but, honestly, there weren't any REAL floor plans...I am sure there are somehwere i.e Tom/Norm but for us it was more"Whay we wanted, what we could have, and what was agreed upon" and then voila!...anything in particular that the "lads" could answer vs. the layperson???

Patty.. hi this is the third time I have tried this.. anyway, nice friend..i can write this but not call...anyway...glad you are doing the family room over...call Lisey she has tons of ideas and is very aware of budgets, etc...go to a store if you can't find it...may have been a discontinued item....the other thing is...you cd do this yourself...get an old coffee table ( you must have a lobster trap from the 70s, right?) and put a flat piece of something to cover it....place sand and kids memoirs (shells, dead crabs) onto it...have a piece of glass there to cover it...hold on... let me go look....yeh, this table has two pieces of wood app 2" wide in a cross pattern, cutting it into 4 quadrants (you, that Latin schloar knows that that is redundant...anyway) I bet you cd have alot of fun with this with a change of seasons/holidays (leaves, pine cones etc) hey this cd be the way to our retirement...i will be home in 3 weeks I'll help you...it doesn't look like brain surgery>>love flynn

Hi Chris,
I was wondering if you could send me direct links or pictures of your kitchen. I have ordered Shenandoah cabinets in Breckenridge Cherry Bordeaux and best that I can tell, that is what you used as well. Can you please do this for me? thanks

Hi Chris & Liz! Your home is beautiful & makes me wish I could have enjoyed seeing the renovations on my 4-family (Leyden & Breed) come to fruition. My hubby passed away right around the time your TOH adventure began, so I missed all the excitement in Eastie as I was knee-deep in depression while trying to get our place ready to sell after 30 yrs of accumulated "stuff" turning 3 floors, a basement & garage into a huge warehouse. I'm now back in my homestate of Indiana, after selling to Century 21 Mario so Joe could "condo-ize" the 4 units. How I would LOVE to see My Old House now after the modernization! I've really enjoyed reading about your renovation & viewing the galleries. It's gorgeous - congrats! No idea if you'll ever see this since its This Old Blog now, but thought I'd leave you with good wishes, anyway, from a Hoosier gal who misses the good people & excitement of Boston.

Great work on this house Chris. I agree with some of the others above, the shutters are fantastic!