Renovations, Part IV: Window trim
Tony Jakacky fits the first wide windowsill for my approval.
All the trim work on the windows is done now, and after living with them for a few weeks, I know these extra wide windowsills were a good choice. The windows have become furniture in the house. I can set down my coffee and lean on the sill to see what’s going on outside, Gavin has turned his into a racetrack for matchbox cars, and Olga can gallop her ponies around the room.
The windowsills are made from 1×8s, and we used one of my Baba’s pot lids to make the corner radius. If she knew, I’m sure she’d say something like, “See, I told you not to throw that away. Look how useful it turned out to be.”
Jim VanCamp cuts the back hedge as Gavin plays in the windowsill in Olga's room.
We’re really enjoying the new windows. They let in so much light that the whole house seems more cheerful. I’ve noticed a definite reduction in drafts, too. And having windows that lock has certainly helped me to feel more at home.
I haven’t finished painting all of the window trim yet, but I’ve put two coats of semi-gloss on the windows in the master bedroom and in Olga’s bedroom. I’ll try to get most of the painting done this week, but I may not have much time since deadline is creeping up on me again.
All the windowsills will have two coats of semi-gloss paint.
While Tony was trimming the insides of the windows, Mike was working on the outside, carefully trimming and nailing in little wedges to make the trim look like it was original to the house, without damaging any of the aluminum siding. You really can’t tell now that the windows are recent additions. They look like they’ve always been here.
Mike Neil finishes the exterior window trim.
August 24th, 2009 at 8:19 am
Great Windows! Cats and houseplants also love wide window sills. I’ve been adding them to my house of late, all the original sills were just the original brick. Windows will be replaced, by myself, as I save the money for some moderns.
Congratulations on finding workmen that are as much artisans as carpenters. Most wouldn’t do the exceptionally fine attention to detail as your’s obviously are.
August 24th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
That last picture is just one of the reasons I hate vinyl siding. Nevertheless, it’s good to see it actually being caulked, because I’ve seen far too many that DON’T get caulked, and the results are ugly.
Is there no bug screen on the windows? I like the fact you can open it right up to the outside but I would be concerned about bugs. Do you live in a mild-climate part of the U.S? Are those windows energy efficient?
August 24th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Agree with Matt on finding good workmen who love what they do and take pride in doing it! Thank you for sharing the house renovations – very informative and knowledgable. Love the site and the magazine!
August 25th, 2009 at 6:15 am
Hot Wheels and matchboxes. Beware Hot Wheels and matchboxes – they gouge lovely wide boards like that. ((And they leave great figure-eight scratches in the side of your husband’s truck, we found this week.))
We took out a bar in our renovations, and capped off the divider it sat on with a nice routered piece of lumber (painted and sealed by yours truly)… the Matchbox cars wreaked havoc on it – it’s… yeah.
So word to the wise! ((grins))
August 25th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
All of the new windows have screens, they just weren’t up yet when I took the pictures. Also, that is actually aluminum siding and I LOVE it. We are in a fairly mild coastal climate. Daytime temps stay in the 50-70 F range most of the year, and it rarely drops below 40 in winter. Even so, the windows are low-E argon gas filled double paned windows.
August 31st, 2009 at 2:37 pm
I just showed my husband your new woodwork–I really like the bigger ledge too. We haven’t put any wood work in our home yet– I like how your’s looks and hope to do something similar.
October 14th, 2009 at 5:31 am
Wow, you sure are a busy lady! Congratulations on expecting a new little person to love. It is wonderful to have a large family. I have five and think it is the most amazing thing a woman can do, to grow another human being, and watch them grow with such wonder and love!