| The house was built in 1909, and
is a nice example of an early Sears home. As with most old houses, something needs repair
every year (if you're lucky, only one thing!)  We had spent two years working on the yard. The gardens had
stabilized and were beginning to flourish. But in 1997, it was the cold porch at the rear
of the house that initiated some major changes.
 We had replaced the thin wooden back door with a steel security
door the year before, but then the roof began to leak. Almost as soon as we noticed it, we
found that water had seeped into the electrical system. The lights at the rear of the
house no longer worked. We could have continued to patch this room, but every winter this
unheated area caused the kitchen pipes to freeze. It was time to really fix the problem.
At the suggestion of a friend, I contacted Gary
Christopher from the Majestic Company in Olney, Maryland. They specialize in  residential remodeling, and I was impressed with their earlier work. I
decided to contact them, and finally signed a contract for placement of a wall between the
kitchen and living room, replacement of the rear porch, and installation of a wooden deck. |
 |
 They started in October and were finished before Christmas. The
old porch was ripped off and a 10x12 deck has taken its place. It is large enough
for two to read the Sunday Post at a table under the umbrella. The living room is now a
lovely seating area. And then there's the sun room.  What was once a cold storage room is now a
beautiful sunroom with pitched ceiling, ceiling fan, and skylight. We often sit and look
out over the gardens from this area. We find it lovely to sit in during rain and snow
storms. It has become Matthew's study.
 Unfortunately it has also
become Joya's universe. Her crate takes up an entire corner. We will be very happy when
she grows up and we get this space back.
 The living room
was repainted, and prints that I had saved for years were framed. It now has a whole
new look.
 The nicest
thing about the living room is that it is finally free of the kitchen. We cut and
installed woodwork to match the bullseye cornices; hung beveled glass doors - one pocket
and one hinged; and refinished the floors.
Still on the drawing board are installing chair rail and
complimentary wallpaper or paint on the lower skirt section, and finding 'just the right'
area rug. Sounds like a millennium project to me! |
They started in October and were finished before Christmas. The
old porch was ripped off and a 10x12 deck has taken its place. It is large enough
for two to read the Sunday Post at a table under the umbrella. The living room is now a
lovely seating area. And then there's the sun room. 
