Update - Progress on our house

Summer on Cape Cod is definitely not a time to try to accomplish a lot of WORK. Between the gorgeous weather, the lure of the ocean or the pool, and out-of-town friends visiting us, I have done very little work on the house. BUT....now that Labor Day has come and gone, I have a renewed energy for getting things done around our house and garden. Here is a peek at some of the few projects or additions that actually have been accomplished during this past summer.

The Art Gallery:

We painted and hung the official sign, once Jack's design was approved by the historical commission. Together, we chose the colors to complement the facade of the building, as well as Jack's color palette, that generally pervades his paintings on view inside the gallery. The trim of the gallery facade got painted, although admittedly, the rest of the exterior has yet to see a paintbrush!

Before (old colors, ridiculously small shutters, overgrown hedge and temporary sign)...

during...

...and now.

Inside the gallery, Jack built a couple of movable walls, significantly increasing the square footage of wall space. We also painted the entire inside of the gallery - all walls and trim - pure white. It had been a mixture of grays, which really pulled light away from the artwork. Now the paintings shine against the reflective white background.

Before...

...and now - almost done. (We need to finish painting the portable walls and install better lighting before the darker winter months arrive.)

The Pool Terrace:
For my birthday, our oldest son and his family gave me a beautiful set of three turquoise pots which match the color of the pool water and cushions so incredibly well! I just love them (the kids AND the pots!) What a great addition to the terrace. And I will be able to use them indoors over the winter, too.

The Living Room:

For a full process report on the living room, with lots of details, check back in a few days - I'm still working on it. For now, here are some shots of work in progress.

The walls have gone from white to a soft, not-too-bright yellow, custom matched to my couch fabric background color. The woodwork was painted the same color, which I then glazed over with a darker shade from the same yellow family.

Painting the walls

Woodwork glaze before and after.

And I have chosen the fabrics for the curtains and the new table skirt. Those will be done soon. Can you guess which fabric is for which project?