Be It Ever So Humble...
In the spirit of full disclosure, this being a new year and all, I feel compelled to give you a peek at where we stand with our little, AHEM... project.
Okay, so far so good, right? Right? Just your average 90 year old gothic cathedral being converted into a residence. A mere 16,000 square feet of rustic charm. For those of you not involved in the real estate business, rustic charm roughly translates into "hold onto your wallets, folks. This is going to be a slippery slope." Just so we're clear.
But hey, my daughter and I are designers, SIL is a real estate lender/developer, and we all have a weak spot for old buildings in need of a makeover. So one fateful day in mid 2006, when said SIL glanced up from his computer and casually asked "Hey, there's an old church in Dallas for sale. We could remodel it into a part-time home. What do you guys think?", well, heck, I was a goner for sure. He was in the process of opening up a Dallas office for his mortgage business, and would be needing a place to spend several months a year. I was smitten from the very first. (I have recently come to the full realization that my "old church as home" fantasy is an extremely rare affliction. More than a year of that puzzled look that greets me when I try to explain to someone about the project I'm involved in pretty much tipped me off to that fact. Buy hey, I'm quick like that.)
So let's move inside, shall we?
Ah, the great room. Ha.
This was the main santuary of the church. It measures 47' x 48', and the ceiling is 35' at the very peak. The loft will be converted to a home theater, and underneath is the framing for two bedrooms suites.
Every speck of woodwork, walls and trim in the entire church had been spray painted a lovely and cherubic shade of powder blue. Every.Thing. In order to bring this building back to it's former glory, it really became necessary to strip it all off and restain the wood. Painstaking. Tedious. Interminable. Expensive.
Oh, and those boxes? Yeah, they're all sinks and toilets. Don't ask. We'll get to all of it, I promise.
This is the same room, looking at it from the other side. You can see where the altar was. That is where the kitchen is going.
Here's another view of the loft, using a zoom lens. This photo just seems peaceful to me. Hazy and calm. I'm pretty sure that's because everyone is at lunch.
You might have noticed that most of the stained glass windows are missing. That's actually where I fit into this story. It's a long story. It started out innocently enough, as most things do, and then it took on a life of it's own. If you're feeling up to it, we can take the rest of this journey together. I can use all the support I can get. Seriously.
Stay tuned. And thanks for checking in on me.
Amen.
Wow, what a project. Looks amazing and cant wait to see future pictures.
Posted by: Tom Taylor | January 02, 2008 at 09:17 AM
That looks like quite the undertaking? Did you find any old artifacts during your restoration?
Posted by: Beverly | January 04, 2008 at 10:35 PM
The project looks amazing! I am sure the time and $$ budget are totally blown, but when is the new projected completion date?
Being that the building is in a residential neighborhood how many "neighbors" pop in every day to check the progress?
km
Posted by: Kathy | January 07, 2008 at 06:45 AM
Thanks for the support everyone!
Kathy, you are very astute!
Time line - blown.
Budget - blown.
Seriously, we hope to be finished by the end of March. 11 more weeks. Yipes.
Neighbors, firemen, police officers, former parishoners, ~ they all stopped by daily for about the first 5 or 6 months. I gave about a billion tours of the place. And we are talking three stories here, people!! It has slowed to a trickle now. When we appear to be nearly finished, I expect that it will pick back up again.
Posted by: Debbie M. | January 07, 2008 at 10:57 PM
so fun! i have to say, i'm looking forward to partying in a former church :-)
Posted by: Brandy | March 03, 2008 at 01:00 PM
Saw you on citymommy! Just have a moment because I have a 7 month old, but had to comment on your dogs! They're adorable!!! I have a doggie rescue at home as well as 2 rescued cats. I'm an avid animal lover, and your dogs caught my eye! Cute!!! I can tell my new son and dog are going to be great friends!
Posted by: Melinda | March 14, 2008 at 08:05 PM
Shea,
Your jewelry is ridiculously beautiful, your son is ridiculously adorable, your home/church is ridiculously gorgeous, and your dogs are ridiculously cuddly. Lots of ridiculous-ness going on there honey! All good things and hope you get lots more coming your way.
Posted by: Ariste | March 14, 2008 at 10:24 PM
OMG! This is AMAZING!!!! I can't wait to see more pictures! And your son is BEAUUUUTIFUL!
Posted by: Shanna | March 18, 2008 at 03:57 PM
i am loving this!.....what a work of love and passion and crazy genes!....you my friend will never get bored or be boring.....baby spit,dog slobber...tears....sweat....laughter....spilled coffee and hopefully wine .....i can't wait to see it someday...thanks for sharing Shea! love,Catrinka
Posted by: catrinka | March 28, 2008 at 09:07 AM