When I look out my window, Many sights to see. And when I look in my window, So many different people to be

Those lyrics are from and old Donovan song and I'm singing it today because I have four new windows in my kitchen. Light beams are pouring in at all different times of the day but especially early morning - I can just see myself sitting at the future island with a cup of coffee and the sun streaming in. The dogs will fight over the sunny spots. Harvey (terrier) will win. Right now I can't imagine putting any window coverings in these openings - privacy is really not an issue. However, my addiction to textiles will probably get the better of me.

One great thing about the new windows (besides the fact that they open and close and have screens - unlike the rest of the house!) is the amount of depth created by they way the contractor framed and insulated the openings. The display options are endless. Hopefully they won't get cluttered up with the necessities of daily life like keys and leashes and mail.
Today all of the old trim - which was salvaged during demo - has been sorted and readied for tomorrow's activity - trimming out windows and doors. We were able to save old doors and will use them for closet and powder room openings. Speaking of the powder room - I had a wallpaper contractor come out to give me an estimate. I am going to use this Farrow and Ball paper. It is a lotus-flower design drawn from 19th century French archives.

My friend, Susan, who came down from Northern Virginia last week to visit,  said that the lotus could be used as a metaphor for the renovation and sent me the following information - "The lotus flower starts as a small flower down at the bottom of a pond in the mud and muck. It slowly grows up towards the waters surface continually moving towards the light. Once it comes to the surface of the water,  the lotus flower begins to blossom and turn into a beautiful flower."  I might have to have someone write that in calligraphy and hang it in the loo.

The contractor is calling for paint specifications which is, to me, when the fun begins.  I've got the paint fan decks spread open wide and will make selections very shortly.

The laundry room is also approaching completion and I'm hoping that date night soon can take place other than in the Strawberry Street Laundromat.

A wall in the laundry had to be built out around the ceiling above the back stairs so we've designed a cabinet to hold laundry supplies and it requires some sort of top.

I hate the thought of spending a lot of cash on a custom fitted counter for a laundry room, but on the other hand I want it to be a spot that I'm happy to be in (yeah, right).   This is where Craigslist comes in so handy.  I went to the "for sale" section and typed in granite remnants in the search bar and wouldn't you know there was a posting for a company very close to me that sells remnants.   I went over there yesterday and a gorgeous piece of Carrera marble jumped out at me.  The price was right so I yanked out my credit card (hoping it would start smoking when put through the machine) and made an appointment for them to come out to make a template next week.   I never thought I would see the day when I had Carrera marble in a laundry room - I'm sure it will make the task ever so much more fun.

Things to look forward to this week:

1.  The Second Annual Jonny Z Festival on Saturday- just a few steps from our door. 
2.   The Carytown Watermelon Festival on Sunday - a decent walk but one wouldn't want to drive.
3.  Window trim and priming of walls.

A few days ago we removed the 70's track lighting from the foyer - things feel better in there already .  My next post will address the lighting changes being made around here.